Few artists have influenced music and pop culture as much as David Bowie. Tragically, this innovator and cultural icon passed away on Jan. 10 at age 69 after a long battle with cancer.

Bowie has long been the poster child for outcasts and people who never quite fit in. Through alter egos like Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke, Bowie was a fluid performer. His experimental and strange personas made it cool to be different and flamboyant.

Senior Graham Lutes said, “One thing he definitely brought out was the weirdness of art. One could argue that it was too much, but I’d say it was just enough.”

In addition to style, Bowie influenced the public’s perception of sexuality in the 1970s. His open bisexuality and androgyny influenced not only his fellow artists at the time, but artists today.

Musician Adam Lambert wrote in Out, “It was about the androgyny of mixing it up, and that was what was so incredible about his concepts—he was one of the first rock stars to really push the idea that sexuality was not black and white but an exploration.”

Some of the most influential music of the 20th century was written by Bowie. His glam rock style created wildly unique songs like “Space Oddity”,“Life on Mars”, “Fame”, and “Heroes”. Nearly all of his music has been covered by fellow musicians.

Chemistry teacher Mr. Michael Geyer said, “[Bowie’s death is] a big loss to the music world. He was a pop musician but he went beyond and made things that no one else ever could.”

The lasting impression Bowie left on the world made it a better and weirder place to be yourself. He will be greatly missed.

Bowie declared in one of his final songs called “Lazarus”, “Oh I’ll be free/ Just like that bluebird/ Oh I’ll be free. Ain’t that just like me.”