British singer Cliff Richard pursues legal action over raid

British singer Cliff Richard is pursuing legal action against the BBC and the police after the broadcaster televised a raid on his house, saying his reputation had been "unnecessarily damaged". One of Britain's best known entertainers, Richard, 75, was investigated over allegations of sexual offences between 1958 and 1983, but the Crown Prosecution Service said last month it would not charge him, due to lack of evidence. Having been cleared of charges, Richard, who maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, has started legal action over the BBC's reporting of the case. The broadcaster televised a police raid on his house in August 2014. Richard said it had been wrong to make his name public before any charges had been brought. "I confirm that I have instructed my lawyers to make formal legal complaints to South Yorkshire Police and the BBC so that in the absence of satisfactory answers a court will determine whether or not their behaviour was justified and proportionate," Richard said in a statement on his website. "It is important not only for me personally but much more widely. My life was effectively turned upside down and my reputation, worldwide, was unnecessarily damaged." The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Richard was seeking more than 1 million pounds ($1.30 million) in damages, adding that he believed the police and the BBC "unlawfully colluded" to invade his privacy. The BBC declined comment but referred Reuters to a statement last month in which the broadcaster said it was very sorry that Richard had suffered distress, but stood by its decision to report on the police investigation and the search of his house. A review by lawmakers on the Home Affairs Select Committee in October 2014 criticised what it called the police's "inept handling" of the situation, but said there had been nothing wrong in the BBC's decision to run the story. South Yorkshire police declined comment. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry collapsed on stage while performing in New York on Sunday and was hospitalised, according to reports. Perry, 65, was playing in Coney Island in Brooklyn with his band the Hollywood Vampires, along with rocker Alice Cooper, when he staggered off-stage and collapsed, media reports said. Cooper said on Twitter hours later that Perry "is stable right now, with family & is under the best care". A Facebook account quoted Cooper as saying from stage "If you notice one of our brothers is not onstage with us, he was very sick before the show," Billboard magazine reported. Perry himself posted on Twitter just hours before being taken ill: "Warming up with Tommy. #HollywoodVampires @ Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk," along with a link to photo of the pair playing.David Bowie, the musical icon known for his soaring songs and daring artistry, died on Sunday. He was 69.

The legendary British singer-songwriter’s official Facebook page confirmed the news late Sunday night.

“David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief,” read the post.

Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones also confirmed his father’s death, tweeting, “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all,” along with a childhood photo of them both.

Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all. pic.twitter.com/Kh2fq3tf9m

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) January 11, 2016

News of Bowie’s death quickly spread to the Golden Globes after parties, which were taking place in Beverly Hills.

The DJ at Fox’s official party made a tribute over the mic by playing “Fame,” while Globes winners Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio and “The Revenant” director Alejandro González Iñárritu were in attendance.

Globes host and fellow Englishman Ricky Gervais tweeted his remorse just hours after the show.

“I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie,” he wrote.

I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 11, 2016

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Bowie continued to be professionally active right up until his death, with his latest album “Blackstar” released Friday, January 8 — on his 69th birthday. It is set to be honored at a concert at Carnegie Hall on March 31 featuring the Roots, Cyndi Lauper and the Mountain Goats.

The multi-talented artist also has a stage musical, “Lazarus,” running Off Broadway, which features his musical catalogue and stars “Dexter” actor Michael C. Hall. The show, which made many critics’ top 10 lists, runs through Jan. 20 and is based on the book that inspired his 1976 movie “The Man Who Fell to Earth.”

Bowie’s last live performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006, according to Reuters

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Born David Robert Jones in London, England, Bowie (pictured above in 2004) had dominated the world music scene for over four decades. He first found success with “Space Oddity” in July 1969 and went on to become one of the biggest stars of the glam rock era partially thanks to his flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

Bowie continued to achieve massive success throughout the ’70s with “Starman,” “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,” “Fame” and “Young Americans.”

In the 1980s, he crossed over to electronic pop, collaborating with Queen for “Under Pressure” and then achieving a new commercial peak with “Let’s Dance” in 1983.

Other notable hits include “China Girl,” “Modern Love,” “Rebel, Rebel,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Panic in Detroit,” “Fashion,” “Life on Mars” “Suffragette City” “Ashes to Ashes” and “Thursday’s Child.

Bowie proved to be as equally as talented onscreen as he was in the recording studio. He starred in multiple films including “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” “Labyrinth,” “Absolute Beginners,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Basquiat” (as Andy Warhol) and “Zoolander,” in a cameo as himself for which he won an MTV Movie Award.

Bowie is survived by his two children, director Duncan Jones and Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jones, and wife, model Iman, whom he married in 1992.