Passing of the Thin White Duke

OK, I had another post ready for today, but in light of the news, it just doesn’t feel right.

Overnight, it’s been reported that David Bowie, singer, actor, icon, has passed away after a private 18-month battle with cancer.

shakespeare-bowie

I’m not aware of him doing any Shakespeare (though he was known to toss a little Hamlet in and carry a skull when he performed “Cracked Actor” in concert)…

Photo by Michael Tweed (via The Genealogy of Style blog)

but he did make an oblique reference to The Tempest in his song “Station to Station”…

The return of the Thin White Duke
throwing darts
in lovers’ eyes
Here are we one magical moment
Such is the stuff from
where dreams are woven
  • “Station to Station”
    from the album Station to Station (1976)

“We are such stuff // As dream are made on” (The Tempest: IV.i.156-7) is transformed by the Thin White Duke to “we (are) one magical moment; Such is the stuff from where dreams are woven.”

Can you even imagine what a Prospero he could have made?

His son Duncan Jones verified the news via Twitter: “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all.”

I totally get the “offline for a while“…

rest in peace, Thin White Duke (of Milan)…

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