David Bowie: A life in pictures

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Image caption, Born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London, Bowie's first release was Liza Jane/Louie Louie Go Home in June 1964, under the name of Davie Jones.

Image source, Alamy

Image caption, But Bowie began his professional music career in a more sedate band, the Konrads, seen here in 1963.

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Bowie adopted many guises throughout his career, his best known is probably his glam rock alter ego created for the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, in 1972.

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Image caption, Bowie's 1971 Hunky Dory included the haunting Life on Mars? and Oh, You Pretty Things and redefined serious rock for the 1970s generation.

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Image caption, Bowie married Angie Barnett in 1970 with whom he had a son, Zowie (now film director Duncan Jones).

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Image caption, Bowie's last performance as Ziggy Stardust, in 1973, was known as "the retirement gig" - many thought he was ending his music career, but it was just the Ziggy persona he was leaving behind.

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Image caption, Having killed off Ziggy, 1973 brought Aladdin Sane, which cemented Bowie's reputation in the United States. Songs like Cracked Actor explored the dark, seedy side of fame, while Jean Genie was an old-fashioned rocker. As well as writing and performing, Bowie now branched out, producing Lou Reed's Transformer album and writing and producing Mott the Hoople's hit single, All the Young Dudes.

Image caption, Bowie's look and sound changed considerably over the years, including for his album Diamond Dogs in 1974.

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Image caption, Many musicians worked with Bowie during his career, including Iggy Pop, pictured with him in 1977.

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Image caption, The pop star also took on several acting roles, performing on Broadway in The Elephant Man in 1980.

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Image caption, Bowie also starred in the film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, which was well received by critics.

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, He performed a duet with Mick Jagger, a cover version of Martha and the Vandellas' Dancin' in the Street, for the 1985 Band Aid project and Live Aid concert.

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Image caption, Bowie is believed to have sold about 140 million albums during his career and performed all around the world including here in Paris in 1991.

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, He headlined at the Glastonbury Festival in 2000.

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Image caption, In 2001 Bowie stared with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the film Zoolander, his penultimate appearance on the big screen.

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Image caption, After a decade without a studio album he released The Next Day in 2013, surprising fans who thought he had retired. It became his first UK number one for 20 years.

Image source, PA

Image caption, David Bowie, 1947-2016.