David Bowie: 12 things you didn't know about the music legend

David Bowie - whose four-decade career spanned music, theater and fashion and pioneered glam rock - died Sunday, two days after his birthday on which he released his 25th and last studio album, "Blackstar."

Even close friends did not know that Bowie was ill but a statement on social media said he died peacefully next to family "after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer."
Read: David Bowie dies after battle with cancer
Although you've most likely encountered his legend over and over in your own life, here are a few of the still little known moments of the artist's career. 

Bowie refused to drink English tea
A five-year-old Bowie, was taken on a River Thames boat by his parents during which he drank some tea that had been stewing for seven years. It tasted so disgusting, he refused to drink a cup of English tea since although he was partial to Japanese green tea.
The Heteropoda davidbowie spider Image: Northampton Herald & Post
There's a spider named after him
The Heteropoda davidbowie is a bright orange huntsman spider from Malaysia, and was named in honour of the singer.

His eyes are the same colour
Contrary to popular believe, David Bowie's eyes are the exact same shade of blue. They look different due to a permanently dilated pupil, which he acquired during his school days when his friend George Underwood punched him in the eye in a fight over a girl. 

Bowie was afraid of flying
Rocker David Bowie developed his fear of flying after a stormy flight in the early '70s, and since then he's been known to take boats and trains almost everywhere. How has his fear of flying changed his life? "It allows me to just write about space as opposed to going into it," he once said. 

Bowie only had one O-Level
Before GCSE's there were O-Levels, and Bowie achieved just a solitary qualification at Bromley Technical High School in art.  

The moon landing made Bowie famous
Bowie says he was moonwalking years before Michael Jackson wowed the world in 1983's Billie Jean.When Bowie was still starting out and not yet well known the BBC played 'Space Oddity' over its footage of the 1969 moon landing. The song went on to be Bowie's first UK number 1 six years later. 
He rejected a CBE and knighthood
Bowie was offered a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2000, but turned it down, because 'didn't know what it was for'. He was also offered a knighthood in 2003, an honour he also rejected. 
Image courtesy: justwilliam1959.wordpress.com
Bowie shares a birthday with Elvis
Bowie shares his birthday with Elvis Presley, who was exactly 12 years older. In her book, Stardust, Angie Bowie writes David Bowie could do a "devastating" impersonation of Elvis Presley . And Elvis once considered recording a cover version of Bowie's 1976 hit, Golden Years. 
Bowie was stalked by a 5' 3" rabbit
During his North American tour in 2004, David Bowie was followed around by a woman dressed as pink rabbit. 

Watch: David Bowie's top 10 songs that made him a legend
David Bowie set up the his own Internet Service Provider
David Bowie set up his own internet service provider (ISP) called BowieNet in 1998, costing £10 a month, with each user given a free 20MB to make their own homepage. Users were also given loads of bonus Bowie content, such as exclusive web chats and bonus tracks. The service closed in 2012.

Image courtesy: Britsinkenya
David Bowie appeared in over 25 movies during his life
As well as appearing in Spongebob Squarepants, Bowie appeared in over 25 films throughout his life, including The Man Who Fell To Earth as Thomas Jerome Newton, Labyrinth as Jareth the Goblin King, Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence as Major Jack 'Strafer' Celliers, The Last Temptation of Christ as Pontius Pilate, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me as Phillip Jeffries, Basquiat as artist Andy Warhol, and The Prestige as inventor Nikola Tesla.

Image courtesy: Britsinkenya
The pub where Bowie launched his career is now a Zizzi restaurant 
David Bowie launched his career at historical music venue The Three Tuns on High Street in Beckenham is now a branch of Italian restaurant chain Zizzi.