A revealing new biography has shed unprecedented light on the final, intensely private months of music icon David Bowie, detailing his secret fight against terminal cancer and a serious health scare he was fortunate to survive just a year before his death.
The Private Battle Behind the Public Persona
According to the forthcoming book, Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie, the legendary 'Ziggy Stardust' singer was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in November 2015. Bowie, who passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69, went to extraordinary lengths to conceal his condition from all but a handful of close collaborators.
The biography confirms that his diagnosis directly inspired his final, critically acclaimed album, Blackstar, and its accompanying stage production, Lazarus. Playwright Enda Walsh, who co-wrote the play with Bowie, recalled that as late as the summer of 2014, the singer "seemed completely fine and in great shape," a testament to his ability to mask his illness.
A 'Heartbroken' Man and a Circle of Trust
Those few brought into his confidence have shared poignant memories. Ivo van Hove, director of Lazarus, described seeing "a heartbroken man in his eyes." He elaborated in an extract published in The Telegraph, stating he could perceive "a troubled man, anxious about dying and also about leaving a family behind."
Bowie's secrecy was so effective that most musicians working on Blackstar in 2015 were unaware he was undergoing chemotherapy, with the singer hiding hair loss beneath a cap. Jazz guitarist Ben Monder admitted, "I was the only one in the room that had no idea that he was sick. I thought he looked great."
The truth only emerged to key members of the Lazarus team via a stark Skype call when concealment was no longer possible. Van Hove recounted his shock upon learning the news, saying, "I was blown away. I don't think I uttered two words because it was totally unexpected."
'Lucky to Survive': Earlier Health Struggles Revealed
The biography also corroborates and expands upon previous reports regarding Bowie's longstanding health issues. It reiterates a claim made by biographer Wendy Leigh in 2014 that Bowie had suffered six heart attacks prior to his death.
An anonymous source within Bowie's circle confirmed to the new biographer that the star had severe health problems "for the last 10 years before he died." Most startlingly, the book claims the singer "was lucky to survive" a significant health incident that occurred just a few years before his passing from cancer.
Lazarus: The Second Coming of David Bowie is scheduled for release on 1 January, offering a profound and intimate portrait of an artist's courageous final act.
