When it was London’s turn to host the Olympic events in 2012, Danny Boyle, the famous film and stage director, personally asked Bowie to perform his song “Heroes” during the Opening Commemoration.
Even though it would have been a great honor, Bowie wasn’t keen and turned down the offer.
Knighthood
Back in 2003, Bowie had a chance at knighthood but he said no when the late Queen Elizabeth offered to knight him.
He politely declined, saying, "I would never have any intention of receiving anything like that. I seriously don't know what it's for."
Music Streaming
Before there was even a whisper of online streaming, torrents, or even the infamous Napster, Bowie released his hit single “Telling Lies” exclusively on his website.
This was quite momentous at the time as it meant he was one of the first artists to make their music available for download on the Internet.
The French Title
Bowie may not be a fan of Knighthood and performing at the Olympics games, but he did accept a Commander title from the French government, making him Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1999.
The Order of France was founded in 1957, with the intent to recognize significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the proliferation of these fields.
Bowie's Influence
Many people don't know this, but David Bowie was in 10 bands during his career: The Konrads, The Hooker Brothers, The King Bees, The Manish Boys, The Buzz, The Lower Third, The Riot Squad, The Hype, Tin Machine, and Tao Jones Index.
He also had a considerable influence on generations of musicians. They were seeing someone who was not afraid to be odd, different, and "out there," and paved the way for many others to do the same.