Bowie began recording Toy after a positive reaction to a new arrangement of his 1965 single Can’t Help Thinking About Me in 1999.

And when Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott gushed about the song backstage at a show in Dublin that year, Bowie began work on the album.

Writing to fans in June 2000, the Ziggy Stardust legend said: “I hate to waste the energy of a show-honed band so I’ve asked one and all if they would like to make an album immediately when we get back to New York.

“All are in full agreement that they’d like that very much, so I’ve pulled together a selection of songs from a somewhat unusual reservoir and booked time in a studio.”