Heart surgery sidelines Bowie

David Bowie is recovering from emergency heart surgery performed last month in Germany, his spokesman said.

The 57-year-old British pop star was found to have an acutely blocked artery that required angioplasty, publicist Mitch Schneider said in a statement. A pinched nerve was initially cited as the cause of shoulder pain that forced Bowie to shorten a June 23 performance in Prague and eventually to cancel the remainder of a European tour.

Bowie sought treatment after performing at a festival in the German town of Scheesel on June 25. He finally left the clinic this week and is convalescing with his family, according to the statement.