Bowie thought he had more time: Rock legend wanted to make ANOTHER album after going into remission but died suddenly when his cancer returned with a vengeance just months later, close friend reveals 

  • Bowie's producer Tony Visconti spoke with him a week before his death 
  • Visconti says Bowie told him he wanted to make a follow-up to Blackstar 
  • He wrote five new songs he was itching to record, Visconti revealed
  • The singer knew his cancer was terminal, but believed he had a few more months, according to Visconti 
  • See more news on David Bowie's death at www.dailymail.co.uk/davidbowie

By Khaleda Rahman For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:48 EST, 13 January 2016 | Updated: 08:30 EST, 14 January 2016

David Bowie thought he had more time and was planning to make another album after Blackstar, his producer has revealed.

Tony Visconti says his final conversation with his close friend, over FaceTime, was just a week before his sudden death – and suggested the rock legend had no idea how little time he had left.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Visconti said Bowie had known since November last year that his cancer was terminal – but was anxious to make one more album.

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Tony Visconti says his final conversation with his close friend, via FaceTime, was just a week before his sudden death
David Bowie (pictured, in his last public appearance) thought he had more time and was planning to make another album after Blackstar

David Bowie (pictured right, in his last public appearance) thought he had more time and was planning to make another album after Blackstar, his producer Tony Visconti (left) has revealed

David Bowie and his longtime friend and producer Tony Visconti, pictured performing in London in 1970

David Bowie and his longtime friend and producer Tony Visconti, pictured performing in London in 1970

And in the final weeks of his life, the singer had written five new songs that he was itching to record.

‘At that late stage, he was planning the follow-up to Blackstar and I was thrilled and I thought, and he thought, that he’d have a few months at least,' Visconti told the magazine.

Visconti produced Bowie’s final album Blackstar, which was released on January 8 – the singer’s 69th birthday.

Just two days later, he died after spending 18 months battling the disease in secret.

Visconti admitted he was ‘knocked sideways’ when he learnt of Bowie’s death - but does not know the details of what happened in his final days.

‘Monday was the worst day of my life,’ he said.

Tony Visconti produced Bowie’s final album Blackstar, which was released on January 8 – the singer’s 69th birthday

Visconti (right) says his final conversation with his close friend was just a week before his sudden death

Bowie and Tony Visconti perform live onstage at the Tibetan Freedom concert in New York in 2001

Bowie and Tony Visconti perform live onstage at the Tibetan Freedom concert in New York in 2001

Visconti said he first learned the singer had cancer after he arrived at a Blackstar recording session in New York last year with no eyebrows.

The pair had been working intermittently together since Space Oddity in 1969 and Visconti has produced Bowie albums including The Man Who Sold The World and The Next Day.

He said the singer told him of his illness in private but added that in mid-2015, it seemed Bowie was improving.

He went into remission and was ‘optimistic’ - but the cancer came back suddenly in November.

But Visconti added: ‘I don’t know exactly, but he must’ve taken ill very quickly after that phone call.’

On Wednesday, reports said the singer was secretly cremated in the United States without any friends or family present after telling his loved ones that he didn’t want a funeral.

According to the Daily Mirror, the singer told friends that he only wanted to be remembered for the good times and his music.

He explained his wishes to his family and wife Iman, 60, about what should happen after his death. 

Bowie released this image along with his Blackstar album, which was released days before his death

Bowie released this image along with his Blackstar album, which was released days before his death

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