Wasn't a big fan but hard to deny the guy's talent and originality. He was also well regarded in the industry especially among up and coming bands and apparently did not play the big "I am" unlike some we could mention.
When he sang, Oh you pretty things don't you know your driving your mama and papas insane... I could relate.
Even though you were ugly? Could never work out why, when I was at school, it was all the psychos and hard nuts who liked sexually ambiguous David Bowie. I didn't know about repressed homosexuality back then. Hunky Dory was brilliant though.
For those of you who doubt the great man's genius, watch this video. It is 10 minutes of total gumph. The album was released three days ago. This video has had 11.5 million views on YouTube. If that's not genius then what is.