Stars have described the shock news about David Bowie's death, calling it a "black day".

Bowie's son Duncan Jones confirmed his father's death on Twitter and wrote: "Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all".

The artist, known for hits such as Starman and Ashes to Ashes, died on Sunday in New York after an 18-month battle with cancer.

His wife, model Iman, tweeted on Saturday: "sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory".

Iggy Pop described Bowie as "the light of my life". He wrote: "I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is".

Singer Marc Almond tweeted: "It's not often I truly cry at the loss of an artist but I'm devastated. He meant so much. Goodbye David Bowie and our youth. We loved you. X"
Minutes later he added: "There will never be another that comes close. It's too much. Just can't take it in. Black day!".

Rock pioneers Pixies tweeted an undated picture featuring the late musician sitting around a sofa joined by the likes of Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and The Cure's Robert Smith.

The caption read: "A true Inspiration".

The German government on Monday credited Bowie with "helping to bring down" the Berlin Wall.

A message on its foreign office Twitter account read: "Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall".

Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall. https://t.co/soaOUWiyVl #RIPDavidBowie

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) January 11, 2016

Space Oddity and Blackstar producer, Tony Visconti, said in a statement on Facebook: "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".

Gene Simmons, from rock band Kiss, was one of many musicians to cite Bowie's influence on their careers.

He tweeted: "David Bowie, you will be sorely missed. Bowie's 'Changes' and the Ziggy story songs were a major influence for me".

Pop singer Madonna said she was "devastated" by Bowie's death. She wrote on Twitter: "Im devastated" This great Artist changed my life! First concert i ever saw in Detroit! R.IP. #rebelheart"

Im Devastated! This great Artist changed my life! First concert i ever saw in Detroit! R.IP. ?? #rebelheart pic.twitter.com/hGfxI967Bw

— Madonna (@Madonna) January 11, 2016

"Talented . Unique. Genius. Game Changer. The Man who Fell to Earth. Your Spirit Lives on Forever! #rebelheart".

Posting a picture of the pair together, she added: "So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! #rebelheart".

Bowie not only influenced the careers of some artists, but their style too.

Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier said: "David Bowie was an absolute Rock Star. He transcended the eras, influencing them and sometimes even creating them musically, intellectually and as a humanly".

"Personally he inspired me by his creativity, his extravagance, his sense of fashion(s) that he was constantly reinventing, by his allure, his elegance and his play on gender".

Glastonbury Festival's Facebook page carried images of the icon - who performed there in 1971 and 2000 - with the message: "Thank you David Bowie for all the magic and memories".

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he "grew up listening to and watching the pop genius".

I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) January 11, 2016

While former British prime minister Tony Blair, who described himself as huge Bowie fan and saw his Ziggy Stardust concert as a student, said in a statement it was "a great privilege when I got to meet him later in life".

Bowie biographer Mary Finnigan, who the singer lived with as a lodger between April and September 1969, described him as a "kind and thoughtful person", who was very dedicated to his career.

She said: "While he lived with me, he composed a lot of music. Me and my children were witnesses to an extraordinary process, it was one song written after another which appeared after his second album".

Director Guillermo del Toro tweeted: "Bowie existed so all of us misfits learned that an oddity was a precious thing. he changed the world forever".

Actor Russell Crowe, referencing one of Bowie's better known singles which featured on covers album Pin Ups 1973, wrote: "RIP David. I loved your music. I loved you. One of the greatest performance artists to have ever lived. #sorrow".

Golden Globes host, comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, who convinced his long-time idol Bowie to star as himself - and ridicule Gervais - in an episode of 2006 sitcom Extras, wrote that he had "just lost a hero".

I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016

Fellow comedian Eddie Izzard said the 69-year-old artist would "live forever through his music".

Izzard urged every radio station around the globe to just play Bowie's music today. "I think the world owes him that," he tweeted.

Comedian Jack Dee tweeted: "So sad to hear the news about Bowie. A genius".

Singer Alison Moyet hailed Bowie as "our greatest, gone and here forever". "A world's heart breaks," she added.

Rock guitarist Joel Madden, quoting Changes, simply wrote: "Turn and face the strange".

Singer Kanye West tweeted: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime".

David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) January 11, 2016

Fellow artist Pharrell Williams described Bowie as a "true innovator" and a "true creative".

Comedian and novelist David Baddiel wrote on Twitter: "Not just upset by Bowie's death but disorientated: like I've woken up and the world is out of joint. I think I assumed he was immortal".

Actor Mark Ruffalo wrote: "Rip Father of all us freaks. Sad sad day. Love always Legendary singer David Bowie dies at 69".

RIP David Bowie. A music Legend !

— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) January 11, 2016

Rest in Peace David Bowie. pic.twitter.com/Ep7QmXPa2D

— James Corden (@JKCorden) January 11, 2016

The singer has taken over Twitter, with a peak of 20,000 tweets per minute.