David Bowie’s final album Blackstar has reached number one on the US Billboard charts, making it the first time he has ever made it to the top spot in the US. The album was released on his 69th birthday, just days before his tragic passing.
The album sold an equivalent to 181,000 units (that is, a combination of digital, physical, album and single sales and streams), with 174,000 entirely comprised of album sales. Bowie has previously earned the top spot on the Billboard singles charts twice – once with his 1975 hit single Fame, and again with Let’s Dance in 1983.
His highest charting albums to date had been The Next Day, which reached no. 2 in 2013, 1974’s Diamond Dogs (no. 5), 1976’s Station To Station (no. 3) and 1983’s Let’s Dance (no. 4).
The album has been breaking record after record. Also sitting at the no. 1 spot on the UK charts, Blackstar is one of more than 20 of Bowie’s albums, currently charting on USA, UK, Australian and other Billboard and iTunes carts. This is the most amount of albums by any one artist in the charts, ever. The UK record had previously been held by Michael Jackson, who had 14 albums in the charts following his death in 2009.
Throughout the past week we’ve seen tributes from, well, everyone, both in and outside of the music industry, including Brian Eno, astronaut Tim Peake, Ricky Gervais and more. Many artists have released covers of their favourite Bowie tracks, including Gangs of Youth, Lido, Sarah Blasko and Bruce Springsteen. Arcade Fire held a parade in his honour, which shut down New Orleans. His family expressed their gratitude for the support and lay him to rest by cremating him privately.
Watch the video for Lazarus below.