One year ago today, on his 69th birthday and 2 days before he would pass away, David Bowie released his final masterpiece, Blackstar. Reflecting on this week one year ago, our friend Dave shares with us how he felt when he discovered his hero had left the world.

Disbelief. 

My first reaction. Maybe everyone's first reaction. 

Just. Not. Possible. 

But it was true. 

Friends and family, we reached out to each other as word spread. 

People I'd grown up with, who influenced me, who had discovered music when I did. People I had met in the years since, equally passionate about our mutual and differing tastes, sharing and expanding horizons. People I helped bring into this world, and their friends, all consumed with their love of the sounds of yesterday as much, if not moreso than those of today. Generations bonded together in a way no one wanted to accept.

Disbelief. 

And then shock. 

The entire world in a state of shock. The kind of shock experienced when someone or something happens to you, personally. The kind of shock that makes you feel as if you want to just sit down and cry, but the tears won't come. The kind of shock that puts you in a daze, a hazy sense of disconnection from the reality of the moment. And absolutely everyone you know in exactly the same state.

Disbelief. 

Shock.

And then anger.

Anger at what we had lost. Anger at the suddenness of it all. Anger at the bastard disease that crushed our hearts. Anger at him for leaving us.

Disbelief.
Shock.
Anger.
And then... Clarity. 

The songs, the voice, the words, the music, the melodies, the stories, the inventiveness, the personas, the pleasure, the pain, the magic, the joy...  the memories.

And life began to make sense again. 

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Now it’s 12 months later.

We haven’t recovered.

We haven’t stopped mourning.

But we haven’t stopped celebrating everything that was left behind, the legacy that impacted each and every one of our lives, even if just a little.

And thank you, 2017, for arriving at last.

At least it’s no longer the year that David Bowie died.

Huge thanks to Dave for sharing this heartfelt piece with us.

Compelled to pay tribute to your favourite artist? We love reminiscing with you. If we like what you're about, we might feature you on our blog. Write to us.