Tony Visconti has paid tribute to David Bowie, whose death was announced earlier today.

Writing on his Facebook page, Visconti said:

“He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life – a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry.”

Bowie and Visconti collaborated for many years, working with him intermittently from Bowie’s 1969 album Space Oddity through to the new Blackstar album.

Other tributes have been paid to Bowie by friends and former collaborators.

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

#RIP @DavidBowieReal Your life changed my life. Love forever.https://t.co/yQ3NsCesTH pic.twitter.com/sLH2ZyFSE5

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) January 11, 2016

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis recalled Bowie’s first appearance at the event. “He came in ’71 with lovely, long flowing hair like a hippie, he was fantastically beautiful and nobody knew who he was,” Eavis said. “He played at four in the morning at sunrise, songs that we’d never heard before and it was great fun. He’s one of the three greatest, there is Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and David Bowie. I was only half awake because I’d been up all night.”

The February 2016 issue of Uncut is now on sale in the UK – featuring the 200 Greatest Albums Of All Time, 2016 Preview, New Order, Suede, John Cale, Michael Rother, Sun Ra, Barry Adamson, Savages, Ryley Walker, Tindersticks, Lucinda Williams, Peaches, The Long Ryders, Lera Lynn, Ronnie Lane and more.

Uncut: the spiritual home of great rock music.