First posted 1st November 2016.

I just learnt the sad news that David Bowie just died, aged 69, from cancer.
I am saddened by this much more that I would expect and it got me thinking why.

First of all I can say that in my life I have had very few Idols…in fact I don’t really like the thought of idols. To me looking up to a person with such reverence is weak….Bowie was 100% an exception to that rule.

I grew up in the 80s and to me the 80s Bowie was and still is the coolest person ever alive. He was truly fuckin dope and I knew that I would never be that cool.

My uncle could play all of Bowie’s songs on the guitar and that made him fuckin dope too.

Id like to write the rest of this to Mr David Bowie.

Dear Mr Bowie,

I bought EVERY single music magazine (remember them?!) that had you anywhere in its pages…most of them making it onto my walls. I have most of your albums on vinyl and tape and CD and on my computer.

I never got to see you live as I was just a few years too young when the glass spider tour came to New Zealand and I didn’t go when you came in 2004 because I thought it was going to be all your new stuff (stupid, stupid mistake), my parents and friends who went said it was great. I’m bummed I doubted you and sad that I will now never get that chance to see you live.

You were so important in that you make being different not only cool but the best, I remember dressing up as a kid in tights and a fur jacket and rocking it proudly thinking I was Ziggy.

I felt some sort of pride in the fact that the actor in Little China Girl was a Kiwi. You seemed to embrace NZ on you few visits here.

Lets Dance was one of the first 5 albums I ever bought and it is still one of my favourite albums of all time.

and then there’s The Labrynth! Man I love that movie. How to you look so cool with that hair and those tights?

Farewell Thin White Duke.

Thanks for the music, the movies, the style, the memories.