DAVID BOWIE first new album in a decade is on the way. . . but he doesn't plan on hitting the road to support it.  But regardless of what you may have heard, this is NOT because he's sick, dying or losing his mind. HA

His producer Tony Visconti says, quote, "People thought he was dying.  He's not dying any time soon, let me tell you . . . he couldn't have done two years of work if he was a sick man. He's very healthy, he's very fit.

"He had the heart operation and that's it.  He's long since recovered from that.”

(David had emergency heart surgery in 2004, after collapsing during a show in Germany.  Hejust turned 66 years old last week.)

Apparently, there have been rumors that David has Alzheimer's disease . . . but Visconti denies that, too.  He says, quote, "He's as sharp as a tack.  He's sharper than ever.  This boy has not lost a single brain cell."

So why doesn't he hit the road?  Visconti says, quote, "He doesn't want to tour any more.  He's had enough of it.  But he hasn't ruled out that he might do a show."

David hasn't commented.  He doesn't really give interviews anymore.

His last live performance was just a brief cameo onstage at Madison Square Garden in May of 2007, when he introduced comedian Ricky Gervais by singing "Little Fat Man" . . . a song they wrote together for Ricky's show "Extras".

By the way, Visconti adds that there may even be another album after this one, because they have "at least four finished songs" that didn't make the cut for this one.