David Bowie releases new single after decade of silence
Rock legend David Bowie today broke a decade of musical silence to release a single – and quash rumours that he was battling ill health.
The 66-year-old will follow up the release of the single Where Are We Now? with an album called The Next Day to be released in March.
Bowie, thought to be worth around £100 million, has not performed live since 2006 and turned down a personal plea from director Danny Boyle to star at last year's Olympics opening ceremony.
His absence from the music industry sparked speculation that Bowie was in poor health.
But his spokesman denied the claims and said the star – whose album sales exceed 130 million – was releasing the new single to coincide with his 66th birthday.
A spokesman said: "Throwing shadows and avoiding the industry treadmill is very David Bowie despite his extraordinary track record, not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary. It goes without saying that he has sold out stadiums and broken ticket records throughout the world during this most influential of careers."
Produced by long term collaborator Tony Visconti, Where Are We Now? was written by Bowie, and was recorded in New York, where he was last reported to be living with his wife and daughter.
The single is accompanied by a video which harks back to Bowie's time in Berlin, with his face projected on to the body of a puppet.
