In death, David Bowie's new 'Blackstar' album heads to Number 1 in UK

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Even before David Bowie's death
from cancer was announced, the music legend had secured another
Number 1 chart hit in Britain with his new Blackstar album.
Bowie, who framed hits such as "Ziggy Stardust" with
daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering
costumes, died aged 69 on Sunday.
"As the sad news of David Bowie's death broke this morning,
the iconic singer's new album Blackstar is charging to Number 1
this week," OfficialCharts.com said in a statement.
"The legendary star's 25th studio collection takes an early
lead on today's Official Albums Chart Update with combined sales
so far of 43,000 - 25,000 ahead of his closest competitor."
Sales details since the announcement of his death will not
be reflected in the charts data until at least Tuesday, a
spokeswoman said.
On Amazon's AMZN.O UK website, Blackstar was the Number 1
"best seller" while Apple AAPL.O iTunes said a collection of
Bowie's greatest hits was the fifth-best selling album.
"Blackstar", co-produced by Bowie's long-time collaborator
Tony Visconti, features only seven songs, but critics praised
the latest work, with Britain's Guardian newspaper calling it "a
spellbinding break with (Bowie's) past".
The album is part jazz but full of what NME describes as
"warped showtunes, skronking industrial rock, soulful
balladeering, airy folk-pop, even hip-hop".
In a video accompanying the Blackstar album, which was
released on his 69th birthday last Friday, the singer was shown
in a hospital bed with bandages around his eyes.
"Look up here, I'm in heaven," he sings from a hospital bed
in the video accompanying the album.
"I've got scars that can't be seen. I've got drama, can't be
stolen. Everybody knows me now. Look up here, man, I'm in
danger. I've got nothing left to lose."