LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – Herbie Flowers, the famend British bassist who performed with legends like David Bowie, Elton John, T. Rex, and Paul McCartney, handed away Thursday (September 5). His household confirmed his demise by way of a social media submit. The reason for demise was not disclosed. He was 86.
A veteran of greater than 500 hit albums, in line with the BBC – by the late Nineteen Seventies, Flowers had an illustrious profession as a session musician and a band member of teams like T. Rex and Blue Mink. Born Brian Keith Flowers in Isleworth, Middlesex, England, on Could 19, 1938, he started his musical journey within the Royal Air Pressure within the Nineteen Fifties, initially taking part in tuba earlier than taking over the double bass. After his navy service, Flowers shifted to jazz and session work, collaborating with high producers corresponding to Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti. This led him to work on hit tracks like Bowie’s “Area Oddity.”
In 1969, Flowers additionally tasted pop success with Blue Mink’s “Melting Pot,” a track that reached No. 3 within the UK; regardless of this, he remained devoted to session work, contributing to numerous hits through the years. His ingenuity and sensible strategy had been legendary—he usually recounted how the long-lasting “Stroll on the Wild Aspect” (Lou Reed) bassline was doubled as a result of he would obtain additional cost for overdubbing a second bass observe. It was the one Reed track to achieve the High 20 within the US.
Flowers’ artistic abilities prolonged additional, creating the well-known bassline for David Essex’s “Rock On” in 1973. His work with Bowie continued in 1974, together with contributions to *Diamond Canines* and participation within the North American tour. Flowers later reunited with Bowie for Marc Bolan’s final TV look in 1977 on Marc, taking part in alongside each Bolan and Bowie. Flowers’ bass is heard on Bowie’s rendition of “Heroes” from that efficiency.
Within the late Nineteen Seventies, Flowers co-founded the instrumental band Sky and continued to carry out with them till 1995. His session work endured all through his life, contributing to the music of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Nilsson, Bryan Ferry, and Cat Stevens, amongst many others.
Tributes have poured in throughout the business. See some under.
David Essex: “The fantastic Herbie Flowers has handed away. Herbie was an enormous a part of my music; I’m perpetually grateful, expensive Herbie, Rock On x”
David Bowie Property: “We’re very unhappy to study of the passing of Herbie Flowers within the final couple of days. His work with Bowie and associates through the years is simply too lengthy to listing right here. Asdie from his unbelievable musicianship over many many years, he was a good looking soul and a really humorous man. He will likely be sorely missed. Our thought sare along with his household and pals.”
Mat Osman (Suede): “RIP Herbie Flowers. So many nice basslines – think about having performed on Area Oddity, Stroll on the Wild Aspect and Rock On.”
Tim Burgess (The Charlatans): “Farewell Herbie Flowers, he made the greats sound better.”
Tony Visconti: “I used to be unhappy to listen to the information of the passing of the good bass participant Herbie Flowers yesterday. After I arrived in London in April 1967, my boss and mentor Denny Cordell really helpful that I labored with Herbie on my preliminary productions. He was onerous to get as a result of he was a lot in demand, however after I acquired him it was well worth the wait. I can’t bear in mind the identify of the track or the session he performed on, maybe it was for an artist I recorded who grew to become the well-known Indian movie composer, Biddu. Through the years Herbie’s paths and mine usually crossed, as I made my residing primarily as an arranger and conductor. I used to be stunned and pleased to see that Herbie grew to become Marc Bolan’s bass participant on Marc’s TV present, shot in Manchester. Not solely did Herbie play on all of Marc’s music, he was additionally the bass participant on Marc’s final present when David Bowie was the visitor artist and Herbie performed bass on David’s iconic track, Heroes. Herbie Flowers handed at age 86, ‘Good Innings’ as they are saying in Nice Britain.”
RIP.