A DRUMMER who once toured alongside David Bowie said it felt like a “John Lennon moment” when he heard the news of his death.

Steve Broughton, who now runs the Mirrormad and Slim’s Records shop in St Albans Road, High Barnet, paid tribute to the “humble” music legend who died from cancer yesterday, aged 69.

He explained how he used to play in a psychedelic group called the Edgar Broughton band in the 1960s – who were once supported by none other than Bowie on a five-date tour throughout the UK.

Mr Broughton, of Crescent Road, East Barnet, said the tour took place just as Space Oddity became a hit in 1969.

But despite this, Bowie refused to take the headline slot, and carried on opening for the band with his acoustic guitar.

Mr Broughton said: “Brighton Dome was the gig where it was announced he was in the charts. Everyone said you should go on last, but he said, ‘so what? I am booked to go on first’.

“He was so humble. He was a lovely man, and very private. He got on very well with my brother Edgar. Nobody knew him at first, but by the time those gigs came along, he went down incredibly well.”

The 65-year-old, who has run the mirror shop with his wife for the past 20 years, said Life on Mars is his favourite Bowie song.

He added: “It feels like a John Lennon moment. Writing a record when he was dying is typical of what he was like. Everyone thought he was part alien, and would live forever. He just touched everybody, one way or another.

“It is remarkable, all these people are fans. What is so special about this guy is he touched everybody. I think everybody likes some Bowie.

“He changed culture, as well as music. He was part of the whole sexual revolution. Suddenly, it was okay to be different. Even though he did all these outrageous things, he was still this normal guy.”

Ken Rowland, who runs Slim’s Records from the same shop as Mirrormad, said he was “numb” when he heard the news.

The 57-year-old said: “He was a total one-off, just different DNA to everybody else. He was the one person who guided me through my teenage years. You were given permission to change, and be different. I was absolutely numb when I heard.

“People can reinvent themselves, and I learned from him you can do that, and you can be different. He is one of those artists that does not make every single album the same. He just reflected what was going on.”

Mr Rowland, of Salisbury Road, Barnet, said his favourite record was Space Oddity.

He said: “It was just, who thought about going into space? It was fitting the astronaut Tim Peakes paid tribute to him.”

Tributes were also paid to Bowie at East Finchley Tube station today, with a Bowie quote written on a board in the ticket hall.

Passengers, including James Corden, took to social media to share photos of the board, which read: “I don’t know where I am going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring. David Bowie R.I.P 1947-2016.”