David Bowie has died after a battle with cancer, his son has confirmed.<br />He was 69.<br />"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.<br />While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief," read a statement posted on the artist's official social media accounts.<br />The influential singer-songwriter and producer dabbled in glam rock, art rock, soul, hard rock, dance pop, punk and electronica during his eclectic 40-plus-year career.<br />He just released his 25th album, Blackstar, Jan. 8, which was his birthday.<br />Bowie’s artistic breakthrough came with 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.<br />Fusing British mod with Japanese kabuki styles and rock with theater, Bowie created the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
