David Bowie died peacefully on January 10, 2016, at his home in New York City after an 18-month battle with liver cancer. He kept his illness private, and his death came as a surprise to many friends and fans. Bowie passed away just two days after releasing his final studio album, Blackstar , which coincided with his 69th birthday. His death was surrounded by family, and he was cremated in New Jersey, with his ashes scattered in Bali according to Buddhist rituals

. Despite his diagnosis, Bowie continued working and creating music until the end, including the album Blackstar and the music video for "Lazarus," which many interpret as his artistic farewell. His producer Tony Visconti revealed that Bowie was still hopeful and looking forward to becoming a grandfather shortly before his death