2016: The beginning of the end of a rock era

Year marks symbolic turning point as generation of legends starts to exit the stage

The year began with David Bowie releasing one of the most acclaimed albums of his vast career, a sign of new creative energy from the rock legend. Two days later, he was dead after a battle with cancer.

Three months after that, another pop icon, Prince - who had covered Bowie's classic Heroes at one of his final concerts - also died, succumbing to an accidental overdose of painkillers despite his outward signs of vigor.