Pitchfork: David Bowie Undergoes Heart Surgery

David Bowie, recent recipient of Pitchfork's coveted Best Album of the 1970s Award for his 1977 LP Low (the statue's in the mail, mate), has recently undergone heart surgery, according to his official spokesman.

The first sign of trouble came when shoulder pain forced him to shorten a performance in Prague on June 23rd. Bowie resumed the tour in Germany on June 25th, but as pain persisted and intensified, Bowie reluctantly decided to cancel the remainder of the tour. An official notice regarding the cancellations was sent out on June 30th, reading, "Due to the contributing pain and extreme discomfort from a trapped/pinched nerve in his shoulder, and to prevent possible further injury, David Bowie has been advised by his doctors to cancel his [tour]."

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the source of Bowie's discomfort was the result of an "acutely blocked artery," forcing the artist to undergo an emergency angioplasty in Hamburg. He is currently recovering at his home in New York.

In a statement released to the press, Bowie wrote, "I'm so pissed off because the last 10 months of this tour have been so fantastic. Can't wait to be fully recovered and get back to work again. I tell you what, though, I won't be writing a song about one." Hopefully, Bowie's humor indicates a speedy recuperation. Or heavy painkillers.

In related news, Lou Reed's 35-year-old demo for "Satellite of Love", recorded with The Velvet Underground, will be re-released on July 19th as a four-track album. Bowie contributed backup vocals to the track.