Back in 2004, when David Bowie collapsed after coming off stage and then having emergency heart surgery, it seemed that he'd retired, that he was done and dusted with making music, or being a part of 'show-biz'. But, show-biz, it seems, is as addictive as any drug and Bowie has returned, triumphantly. His new single 'Where are we now?' shot to number six in the UK charts after a shock release on Tuesday morning. 

Despite reports of continued ill health, his colleague and friend Tony Visconti has done all the Bowie interviews, with the singer refusing to make public appearances at the moment. This has given fuel to the fire of the rumours stating that Bowie is still suffering ill health.  "He couldn't have done two years of work if he was a sick man. He's very healthy, he's very fit. He had the heart operation and that's it. He's long since recovered from that." Visconti told the Telegraph, ""He is as sharp as a tack. He is sharper than ever. This boy has not lost a single brain cell." 

Some have speculated, however, that 'Where are we now?' in fact points directly towards illness, as it talks of walking with the dead, and Bowie sings with a crackly voice. However, Herbie Flowers, another of Bowie's colleagues said that all this was, in fact, a technique of his. "That's a vulnerable voice he has used time and time again. Fantastic Voyage [on Lodger], for example." He said "It's part of his technique, to sing that way. He put that voice on like he's vulnerable, but he's not frail."