From the 1970s to the 2000s, the music chameleon took fans on an incredible journey and Ken and his friends were happy to be part of it.

"Bowie was amazing," Mr Smith said.

"He was an extraordinary and influential artist who played a strong part in musical history.

"I was gutted when I heard of his death. I was sitting at home on my computer when the official announcement popped up on my newsfeed.

"I went to the David Bowie Facebook page, Twitter account and website and just stared at the computer screen. I wanted it to be a hoax but it was so clear that it was all too real."

Mr Smith first saw Bowie in concert at the Sydney Showground during the late 1970s.

A friend had a ticket and asked if he wanted to go.

"I was only young and had to get permission from my parents," Mr Smith recalled.

"The Angels opened the show and Bowie was brilliant. It was a sensational night.

"He did a couple of encores and walked to the front of the stage to talk to the audience. He said how much he loved Australia and our beer before starting to sing the jingle from the Toohey's advertising campaign. The crowd went absolutely wild."

Mr Smith went to The Glass Spider concert at the Sydney Entertainment Centre two nights in a row.

"Back then there was no internet," he said.

"Information was obtained from music press and radio stations were king. A picture was painted about this magnificent choreographed rock production and you just had to go.

"Bowie brought Peter Frampton with him as his second guitarist. It was just amazing.

"Bowie's last tour in Australia was around 2004. It was much more stripped back and more of a greatest hits show. From the opening notes you instantly recognised each song."

Mr Smith said Bowie was a great innovator who always worked with the best musicians and producers.

"I have always liked to listen to Bowie's albums with headphones to ensure that I caught every little nuance in the music.

"You just didn't hear all the special touches when his early vinyl and cassette releases were played in mono on radio.

"The music felt so different with the advent of FM radio in the 1980s. There was so much more going on when you were able to listen in stereo.

"The change in sound was particularly evident when you were listening in the car - it was travelling in a concert hall.

"It was a similar experience when television moved from black and white to colour. Bowie was part of the landscape of change. He was pivotal to music, fashion, culture and dance."

Mr Smith said he was "heavily into music" from an early age and part of a generation "fortunate enough to see all the bands that are now legendary when they were in their prime".

"I've seen a lot of concerts over the years and Bowie is definitely one of the absolute greats," he said.

Mr Smith purchased Bowie's new album when it was released just days before he died.

"I haven't listened to it yet because it is not the right time," he said.

"I'll wait for a while and then plug in the headphones."