In reply to robert-hutton:
I felt really affected when I heard the news this morning. The last time I felt that way about the death of a musician was when John Lennon was assassinated.
Why was that? Who can say. I first listened to Bowie over 40 years ago, and ever since he has continued to innovate. I bought his new release last week, little suspecting that its release was timed to coincide with today's dreadful news, and was cheered to hear that he was still pursuing new directions.
I quite often listen to Radio 4's excellent obituary program Last Word, and one thing that struck me forcibly when Luciano Pavarotti died was that those speaking about him were genuinely grief stricken because he would no longer be around to bring them enjoyment. I suspect that we will hear no new music from David Bowie.