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Thousands belt out Bowie classics at impromptu London street party

Fans shared beers as his songs rang out through the winter air.

https://vine.co/v/iM56Bt0HX3L

FROM HIS BIRTHPLACE in London to his adopted home in New York, to Dublin city centre, David Bowie fans around the world gathered yesterday to mourn a star who many said had shaped their lives.

A crowd of more than 2,000 people spent the evening in the south London district of Brixton where he was born – some clutching beers, others wearing Bowie t-shirts – to lay flowers beneath a giant mural of his face.

“I don’t think there is another musician in the world that can bring this crowd with so many generations at the same time,” said Dan Hunt, 28, his voice wavering with emotion.

This is the sort of thing that happens only once in any of our lives. It would have been stupid to miss it.

ptrAsmith / YouTube

Tweet by @Christopher Hooton Christopher Hooton / Twitter Christopher Hooton / Twitter / Twitter

Lines of Bowie’s hit song Space Oddity rang through the chill winter air as fans played guitar and others sang along, several wearing the lightening bolt face makeup or shocking red mullet of Aladdin Sane, one of Bowie’s many stage personas.

From a building nearby a speaker blasted Let’s Dance, while Brixton bars dedicated their playlists to the artist. 

“RIP David, a starman gone to heaven, love his old friend,” read one bouquet at the mural, a portrait of Bowie’s 1973 Aladdin Sane incarnation.

bow2 Fans in Brixton last night.

yucarocho / YouTube

bow FilmmakerMichael / Youtube FilmmakerMichael / Youtube / Youtube

FilmmakerMichael / YouTube

New York and LA 

In New York, mourners gathered in tears outside Bowie’s building in Soho.

“I feel devastated,” said Penelope Bagieu, a 33-year-old French cartoonist in New York, crying as she left a bunch of flowers outside Bowie’s former home.

Michelle Lynn, who stopped off on her way to work carrying photographs of the pop icon, in her handbag, said she had been “a fan forever”.

Others placed flowers and candles on Bowie’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Obit David Bowie Associated Press Associated Press

Obit David Bowie Associated Press Associated Press

Berlin

Berliners left pictures and candles outside the building where Bowie lived during the 1970s as he was trying to kick drink and drug addictions in Cold War-era West Berlin -one of his most creative periods.

The city’s Hansa Studios, where Bowie recorded songs, including the hit Heroes, said it would hold a memorial for Bowie on Friday, possibly with a public party for city residents featuring live music.

“I think he would have liked that,” organiser Thilo Schmied said.

Germany David Bowie Obit Flowers and a portrait are placed in front of the apartment building where David Bowie once lived in Berlin. Associated Press Associated Press

Dublin

In Dublin, some 200 fans gathered at the Grand Social venue next to the Ha’penny Bridge, which hosted a David Bowie festival at the weekend.

A tribute band played acoustic version of Bowie’s songs and concert videos were shown.

A book of condolences was also opened, which organisers of the event said would be sent to the singer’s management company.

AFP with reporting from Daragh Brophy.

Read: David Bowie has died of cancer at the age of 69

Read: “Look up here, I’m in heaven”: Lyrics to Bowie’s last single show mortality was on star’s mind

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    Mute Temp Stuff
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    Mar 25th 2025, 12:42 PM

    Just change his name to Brian Adriscoll and sorted!

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    Mute Luas Vuitton - Penneys Drag Queen
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    Mar 25th 2025, 1:36 PM

    @Temp Stuff: is he the one married to Amy Youtuberman?

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    Mute David O Brien
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    Mar 25th 2025, 12:48 PM

    Looks very angry in that picture

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    Mute Jonathan Sheridan
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    Mar 25th 2025, 12:52 PM

    @David O Brien: Not exactly the crime of the century but the picture is a great choice.

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    Mute p gert
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    Mar 25th 2025, 3:44 PM

    @David O Brien: Just smelt one.

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    Mar 25th 2025, 4:13 PM

    @p gert: Ha ha, that could be it.

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    Mute Susan Walsh
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    Mar 25th 2025, 2:19 PM

    Hold on Caroline O’Mahony isn’t allowed to promote her own business on her own page? What? I mean I’m all for labelling ads on social media by individuals but surely if the individual is promoting their own business that’s named after them, it’s really obvious? Does that mean that someone couldn’t promote their own podcast or book for example on their own page without the hashtag?

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    Mute Luas Vuitton - Penneys Drag Queen
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    Mar 25th 2025, 1:31 PM

    Add #ad is the requirement? Lets not worry about the actual BS they promote.

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    Mar 25th 2025, 1:52 PM

    @Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: The bare minimum should be to label paid sponsor spots as being *paid*.
    That a lot of them have zero morals beyond how much they can milk off the audience, saddens me.

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    Mute larry smith
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    Mar 25th 2025, 1:24 PM

    C.O.D

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    Mute p gert
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    Mar 25th 2025, 3:43 PM

    Bodacious.

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