David Bowie's body was secretly cremated in New York without any of his friends or family present, according to reports.

 

The singer – who died this week at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer – is said to have requested that he be cremated soon after his passing and that no funeral service be held.

 

The Daily Mirror reports a source as saying: “There is no public or private service or a public memorial. There is nothing.”

 

Fans have laid tributes in Brixton, where Bowie was born, and outside his New York home and at at his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame – but, as per his wishes, there will be no official permanent public memorial.

 

However, next month's Brit Awards ceremony will include a tribute to Bowie's work and a memorial concert will be held at New York’s Carnegie Hall on March 31. The New York show will feature performances from Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Cyndi Lauper and Jakob Dylan, among others, all performing Bowie songs.