He may have made up for it last week in London, at the Music Week Awards 2014 (an annual event that celebrates the music industry, awarding various concert promoters, venues, radio shows, web services and record labels). Columbia's US Chairman Rob Stringer picked up the prestigious Strat Award (a lifetime achievement award), and Bowie sent a message paying tribute to the his label's head.

He recalled that the first time they met, Stringer was wearing a Daft Punk helmet, and, listing Stringer's artist-friendly achievements, he said, "Rob had not only guested as an executive third Daft Punk member at a lunchtime gig at a club in Manhattan, but had also led a Dylanology symposium at Barneys clothing store, sung falsetto on a new London Grammar track and choreographed a touching interpretive dance number to One Direction's 'They Don't Know About Us' for the cast of 'Glee.'"

He semi-teased a new album, saying, "When he asked me if I minded if he took a few Saturdays off from his duties as percussionist on my new album this year� how could I refuse?"