Saskatoon DJ reacts to David Bowie's death

The music world woke up with one less icon Monday.

David Bowie, 69, died Sunday and according to his official Facebook page, he died peacefully surrounded by family after an 18-month battle with cancer. The loss was felt right here in Saskatoon.

“It was in total shock to hear,” said Shack from Rock 102’s Morning Show. “I came into work and I hadn’t checked my Facebook or Twitter or anything and I opened my email and the first thing I saw was David Bowie, dead at 69, and I said ‘you have to be kidding me, this has to be fake,’”

“I had no idea he had cancer, a lot of his fans didn’t know that either he kept it a complete secret and it’s still hard to sink in to hear David Bowie is no longer with us.”

Having spun David Bowie plenty of times as a DJ, Shack still vividly remembers seeing Bowie in Edmonton 28 years ago during the Glass Spider Tour with supporting bands the Georgia Satellites and Duran Duran.

“(Bowie) is such a showman, you hung on every word he said and another cool thing about that show is that Peter Frampton was his guitar player on that tour so it was an all-around incredible show,” Shack said.

The suddenness of Bowie’s death parallels other recent death in the music industry including Scott Weiland from the Stone Temple Pilots and Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead. But while those two performers lived the rock-star lifestyle, Bowie wasn’t so hardcore into drugs and alcohol as far as Shack knew.

“Sixty-nine isn’t that old, but it almost looks like to me that lifestyle is coming back to haunt them. Bowie on the other hand, other than he smoked, he did what he wanted to do when it came to his career, he was in movies on Broadway and for the most part he lived a clean life and it’s an unfortunate thing that happened to him,” Shack said.  

A lifelong fan of Bowie, Shack said his two favourite songs are Suffragette and Rebel Rebel, songs he played while he was in a band. But the one thing that sticks out is Bowie’s ability to transform himself and his music to match what’s trending in the music industry.

“He crossed every genre possible. He was rock, he was pop-rock, he was almost getting into disco at a time electronic … he reinvented himself for every genre that was hip and cool at that time, he would reinvent his music style to fit, but it was still David Bowie.”

“He’s going to be sadly missed and it’s still hard to have this sink in, it’s a pretty tough thing for the music industry.”

Tributes have poured in for singer David Bowie, who died Sunday aged 69.

Politicians, entertainers, actors and astronauts have expressed their sadness at his death.

Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all. pic.twitter.com/Kh2fq3tf9m

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) January 11, 2016

Saddened to hear David Bowie has lost his battle with cancer – his music was an inspiration to many. @DavidBowieReal

— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) January 11, 2016

Ashes to ashes, dust to stardust. Your brilliance inspired us all. Goodbye Starman. pic.twitter.com/FbcxlAzces

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) January 11, 2016

Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall. https://t.co/soaOUWiyVl #RIPDavidBowie

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) January 11, 2016

David Bowie talks about performing Heroes at the Berlin Wall pic.twitter.com/1JYTKy8tkX

— Elena Cresci (@elenacresci) January 11, 2016

This animation from 2015 by artist Helen Green began being shared.

Happy Birthday David Bowie! @DavidBowieReal http://t.co/QshLkAMfrc pic.twitter.com/L7t18DzRjZ

— Helen Green (@Helengreeen) January 8, 2015

The Rolling Stones are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend David Bowie… 1/2

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) January 11, 2016

As well as being a wonderful and kind man, he was an extraordinary artist, and a true original. 2/2 #DavidBowie

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) January 11, 2016

So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! ❤ #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/INKPRCeofK

— Madonna (@Madonna) January 11, 2016

MESSAGE FROM IGGY: “David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is. – Iggy Pop”

— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) January 11, 2016

I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016

Remembering David Bowie. #RIP https://t.co/U25PrBQOrM pic.twitter.com/siXkTpD1Br

— ReginaPublicLibrary (@OfficialRPL) January 11, 2016

We think that the @Cmdr_Hadfield take on Space Oddity is a fitting tribute to the one and only David Bowie. https://t.co/Sx1p8uksyB

— Sask Science Centre (@SkScienceCentre) January 11, 2016

A great artist, pushing right through to the end. Lazarus, from David Bowie– video https://t.co/YndWC3BD05 #DavidBowie

— FILM U of Regina (@UReginaFilm) January 11, 2016