David Bowie ‘Secretly’ Cremated In New York

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David Bowie

David Bowie has been secretly cremated in New York without any of his family or friends present, according to reports.

The music legend is said to have expressed a wish to “go without any fuss” before his death on Sunday, telling his loved ones he did not want a funeral service or a public memorial.

The cremation took place soon after his death, avoiding a funeral service for the star who had valued his deeply private lifestyle.

A source in New York told the Mirror: “There is no public or private service or a public memorial. There is nothing.”

A publicist for the singer told the BBC they were “neither confirming nor denying” the story.

A family statement issued on Thursday and titled “Thank you”, said: “The family of David Bowie is currently making arrangements for a private ceremony celebrating the memory of their beloved husband, father and friend.

The Mirror reports:

Since the singer’s death on Sunday music lovers have been speculating about what plans the legendary showman had for his funeral.

But unbeknown to his millions of fans around the world, his body was quietly cremated shortly after he died.

As the star bravely battled liver cancer over the last 18 months, he made his plans clear to his family, including wife Iman, 60, for what he wanted to happen when the time came.

The Starman singer said he only wanted to be remembered for the good times they shared and the music he made.

A US source said: “In many respects you don’t need a memorial or service to remember David by…you have his music instead.

“He would have wanted to just disappear with no fuss, no big show, no fan-fare. This would totally be his style.

“His last album Blackstar was very much his goodbye to fans instead.”

Bowie, who wasn’t religious, released the album to rave reviews on January 8 – his 69th birthday.

On Monday, Bowie’s producer, Tony Visconti, wrote on Facebook that the album was his “parting gift” to fans.

“He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way,” he said.

“His death was no different from his life – a work of art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift.”

The singer may have had what is known as a “direct cremation”, described on the New York State’s health department website as “the disposition of human remains by cremation without a formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony”.

Bowie 1
Flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the apartment building where David Bowie lived in New York

 

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