David Bowie’s Producer Confirms ‘Blackstar’ Was Bowie’s Poignant Way Of Saying Goodbye

Since news of David Bowie’s death broke early yesterday evening Australian time, there’s been a collective outpouring of grief which rivals that previously given to any other artist. Musicians have issued distraught statements acutely mourning the loss. Politicians, actors, and a number of other notable figures have shared stories of what he’s meant to their lives. And, perhaps most important of all, his regular fans — from diehards to casual appreciators — have banded together online to remember his life through his extraordinary work.

Your news feeds are likely stacked with links to ‘Starman’ and ‘Life On Mars’. There’s probably even the odd mention of Flight of the Conchords’ 2007 tribute ‘Bowie’. Each is inevitably captioned with a broken heart and a lightning bolt. In many cases, there’s little else that can be said.

Though most have dived into this nostalgia as expressions of their connection to Bowie’s music over the years, many have instead looked to his recent work. His latest album Blackstar in fact dropped just a couple of weeks ago and a music video for its latest single ‘Lazarus’ was released just two days before his death. The clip features a frail-looking Bowie blindfolded and laying in bed as another version of himself dressed all in black furiously writes at a desk.

“Look up here, I’m in Heaven! / I’ve got scars that can’t be seen,” the lyrics begin.

“Oh, I’ll be free / Just like that bluebird /Oh, I’ll be free / Ain’t that just like me?”

For its loaded imagery and forthright lyrics concerning death, fans have argued it was intended as a self-written epitaph.

Judging by the lyrics of Bowies latest song "Lazarus". He intended it to be heard by an audience who have experienced his death. Legend

— Rubber Bandits (@Rubberbandits) January 11, 2016

Good lord. He was saying goodbye and we never knew it.

— Matthew Sweet (@DrMatthewSweet) January 11, 2016

This idea has now been supported by Bowie’s long-time producer Tony Visconti. In a message posted to Facebook overnight, he’s described a sense of bleak pre-meditation the artist had with the project. The album was recorded mere months after Bowie was diagnosed with cancer and this was front and centre in his mind during the whole process.

“His death was no different from his life — a work of art,” Visconti wrote. “He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it.”

Time to crank this one up for an old friend: