David Bowie Was ‘Planning a Follow-Up to ‘Blackstar’’ Prior to His Death
David Bowie didn't intend for Blackstar to be his final album.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Bowie’s longtime producer Tony Visconti reveals the iconic singer had communicated his plans to record a follow-up to his latest full-length. “At that stage, he was planning the follow-up to Blackstar,” Visconti said. “And I was thrilled, and I thought, and he thought, that he’d have a few months, at least. Obviously, if he’s excited about doing his next album, he must’ve thought he had a few more months.”
“The end must’ve been very rapid,” the producer continued. “I’m not privy to it. I don’t know exactly, but he must’ve taken ill very quickly after that phone call.”
According to Visconti, Bowie had already written and demoed five new songs for the follow-up, however, Bowie passed just two days after Blackstar’s arrival on Jan. 10 following an 18-month battle with cancer.
Visconti learned of Bowie’s illness a year ago, when the singer showed up to the New York City studio where they were recording Blackstar showing signs of chemo treatment with no hair on his head or face. He confronted Bowie about whether or not the new album was meant to be a goodbye.
“‘You canny bastard,’” Visconti recalled telling Bowie at the time. “‘You’re writing a farewell album.’”
Visconti says Bowie laughed at the suggestion. “He was so brave and courageous,” the producer said. “And his energy was still incredible for a man who had cancer. He never showed any fear. He was just all business about making the album.”