British rock star David Bowie unveiled his first new single in ten years to coincide with his 66th birthday on Tuesday, and will release a fresh album in March.
The outlandish icon broke his musical silence by posting a video for the single, entitled "Where are We Now?", on his website (www.davidbowie.com), and it will also be available to download on iTunes.
The new album, "The Next Day", will be released on March 11, containing 14 tracks.
Bowie has released no new music since his last album, "Reality", in 2003, and he has not performed live since 2006. He underwent a medical procedure for a blocked artery in 2004.
"January the 8th is of course David Bowie's birthday, a timely moment for such a treasure to appear as if out of nowhere," a statement on his website said.
The video for the single harks back to Bowie's time in Berlin in the 1970s and features his face projected onto the body of a puppet. A woman's face appears on another puppet next to him.
It was directed by his long-term collaborator, artist Tony Oursler.
Bowie's son, the film director Duncan Jones, who was formerly known as Zowie Bowie, said on Twitter: "Would be lovely if all of you could spread the word about da's new album. First in ten years, and its a good 'un!"
Bowie's androgynous style and outrageous costumes, often through his alter egos Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane in the 1970s, shook up the world of rock 'n' roll and catapulted him to worldwide stardom.
He has sold an estimated 140 million albums over a career spanning almost 50 years.
London's Victoria and Albert Museum will celebrate his career with an exhibition that also opens in March, featuring handwritten lyrics, set designs, more than 60 original costumes, photographs and instruments.
AFP, photo by ozzfan1979