ROCK legend David Bowie's latest and last album Blackstar sold out in Bradford within hours of the city waking to news of the superstar's death.

It was only released on Friday, the same day as Bowie's 69th birthday, but by mid-morning today it had disappeared from record stores' shelves.

John Chapple, manager of Bradford Broadway's HMV store said: "I can't divulge how many copies we had in but they've all gone now.

"Every time I sold one I've been in tears, I'm a life-long Bowie fan. He is the most culturally significant icon of the 20th century."

And Keith Wildman, of the Record Cafe in North Parade, who is waiting for a new delivery of the seven-track album to plug demand, said: "It's so odd that just three days ago I was chalking it up on the board as our record of the week saying it was brilliant and now he's gone.

"You don't have to be a Bowie fanatic to feel the loss because he always had some kind of presence from the '60s until now.

"He was always relevant. He's not like some artists who die but might not have done anything for the last ten years, he was just always there.

"That's why it's such a big deal."

Bowie performed at St George's Hall three times, twice with his Ziggy Stardust tour in 1972 and 1973 and then in 1989.

Adam Renton, Bradford Theatres' general manager said: "I am saddened to hear of the death of David Bowie, a true innovator and creative who has influenced music immeasurably over the last six decades.

"I grew up listening to his music and I am immensely proud that our very own St Georges Hall has played host to the legend on three occasions.”

Tributes also came from Joolz Denby, who managed Bradford-band New Model Army, she tweeted: "RIP Bowie, soundtrack to my youth. New Model Army supported him in Germany years ago - he took time to come and wish them luck. A gentleman."

Ralph Berry, Bradford Council's executive member for health and social care, ?tweeted: "I will be playing Heroes my favourite ever single..loud. Farewell to the thin white duke."

Tickets for Bowie's gig at St George's in July 1989 sold out in minutes of going on sale.

Some fans had camped out overnight, others had brought flasks, deckchairs and were wearing party hats, according to a Telegraph & Argus report of the excitable queue which would its way round the St George's block before the Box Office opened the month before.

There was some disappointment for hundreds of fans who were turned away empty-handed when all 2,000 of the tickets at £8 each were snapped up within 90 minutes of the Box Office doors opening.

Those lucky enough to get tickets, shook the floor of St George's with their screams when the night of the gig eventually arrived and the megastar finally strolled on to the stage with his new band Tin Machine, a white acoustic guitar slung across his shoulders and a lit cigarette in his hand.

There was no special lighting effects, just sparse white, red and blue backlights and four overhead lamps with a plain white canvas backdrop. The concert was one of only four scheduled to take place in Britain that summer and the only one in the North of England.

Four hours before the show started, about 100 fans had crowded round the stage door to watch the arrival of the rock legend but anyone who dared to blink would have missed it as his tour bus pulled up and he hopped off quickly in sunglasses and dressed in a baggy cricket sweater, smiling briefly before disappearing into the hall.

In a bid to beat the touts, news spread there were 50 extra tickets at the Box Office and queues quickly built up but the spares went quickly and by 7.30pm that night a pair of tickets with a face value of £16 were going for £100.

Halfway through the gig, the blond-quiffed star gave an unexpected anti-drugs message, waving his arms and telling his followers not to "screw round" with drugs.

The anti-drugs message came just before he started to sing the hit, Sacrifice Yourself.

"This is called Sacrifice Yourself - but don't sacrifice yourself to drugs," he told the audience.