There was an outpouring of grief from fans of all ages at David Bowie’s mural in Brixton, close to the house he was born in.
Behind fans adding to the growing swathes of flowers and tributes were those who stood shocked and silent.
Some hugged and cried between the assembled camera crews, others sang Space Oddity and the famous lyrics ‘Can you hear me, Major Tom?’.
The inescapable urge felt by many to pay their respects has made the musician’s stunning Brixton mural a centrepiece of the collective sadness.
There have also been tributes laid outside his home in New York, his former home in Berlin, his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and his childhood house.
It was at the Brixton mural, which within hours had turned into a shrine, where we spoke to Bowie’s grieving fans.
Had to stop at the David Bowie mural in Brixton, flowers and tributes are growing, fans are dressed as Ziggy… pic.twitter.com/9blUeSU5k8
— Lia Nicholls (@LiaNicholls) January 11, 2016
There were mourners of all ages, including Isabel Adomakoh Young, 22, from London.
Clutching flowers and a glittery ‘Starman, RIP’ placard, Isabel said: “He was unmatched and unrivalled. I felt like I had to come. My mum gave me glitter to sprinkle on the tributes too. She said, ‘Here send him off with this…'”
Artist Hayley Huston referred to Bowie as a ‘daily inspiration’. In fact, she had family roots with the late legend.
The 18-year-old from Kent revealed how her nan used to know Bowie’s mother Margaret. “My nan nursed his mum so it goes a bit deeper for my family. I’m devastated, I really am.”
Kevin, from Liverpool, felt compelled to ‘take a look’ at the gathering, saying: “I got into him in the 80s. I only bought a old record of his the other day. He was a unique and creative artist, I can only think of a handful of them.”
And sheltering from the rain away from the crowd was Robert, 64, from south east London.
After chatting for a moment about the singer, he shared: “I didn’t even like his music much, but he defined a time, which I’m old enough to be part of.”
Down the road, the O2 Academy have changed their ‘now showing’ sign to read ‘Forever Our Hero, David Bowie’.
And up the other end of Brixton’s Coldharbour Lane, the Ritzy cinema was buzzing with Bowie fans singing and reminiscing about him.
As I filed copy along with other writers and journalists, a playlist of the Starman’s hits played over. Most people were talking about him, with a group just behind me sharing memories about when they saw him in concert. Lucky devils.
Not long after the news broke of Bowie’s death, local blog Brixton Buzz announced they would be hosting a street party at the Prince Albert pub on Coldharbour Lane.
The blog said: ‘Tonight, we’re going to drink, dance and celebrate Brixton’s finest son with a night of David Bowie music…
‘We’ll be playing his hits, album tracks, obscurities and more – plus some of his musical influences and the artists he inspired – and screening videos and photos of the great man.’
There will be plenty Dancing In The Street tonight as they celebrate the life of a musical genius.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ
