NEW YORK — Fred Armisen made a brief appearance on this week’s “Saturday Night Live” to pay tribute to David Bowie, who died last Sunday, Jan. 9, after a long, but previously undisclosed, battle with cancer.

“When I was in high school and living in Long Island I stayed up to see David Bowie play on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ” Armisen reminisced about watching the music legend’s visionary performances on the show.

“Watching him was for me a life changing experience,” Armisen, an “SNL” cast member from 2002-2013, said.

“David Bowie transformed whatever space he was in, whatever medium he was using and, that night for me, he transformed live television.”

Armisen then introduced a clip of the music icon’s first “SNL” performance on Dec. 15, 1979, shown above.

Source: NBC News