Legendary bassist Herbie Flowers, who worked with the likes of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Sir Elton John, and Sir Paul McCartney, has died at the age of 86, his family have announced.
The T. Rex guitarist died on Thursday September 5, according to a close family member.
Kevin J Conklin, husband of Flowers’ niece, Lorraine Bassett, paid tribute to their ‘uncle Herbie’ on Facebook, saying he was ‘blessed’ to have known him.
His career – which spanned 50 years – saw him play the bass guitar as part of bands T.Rex, Rumpelstiltskin and Sky, and he founded Blue Mink in 1969. He also wrote Clive Dunn’s song Grandad.
The announcement read in full: ‘Lorraine’s beloved uncle, Herbie Flowers, passed on yesterday.
‘While we knew and loved him as Uncle Herbie, his musical contributions have likely touched your lives as well. He played bass on many of the songs from the golden age of rock.
‘As a studio musician in London in the 60’s and 70’s he got to know and contribute to the music of Elton John, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Mark Bolin, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, Al Kooper, Melanie and many other popular musicians.
‘He was also a member of T Rex, Blue Mink and Sky. Herbie’s most well known musical contribution was likely the iconic bass line for Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wildside. Not many of us get our own entry in Wikipedia as Herbie did.
‘Herbie’s musical contributions continued as he worked to involve children in music later in life.
‘Herbie played a huge role in Lorraine’s life as a substitute father. Herbie walked her down the aisle at our wedding. She loved him dearly. I was blessed to have known him.
‘We’ll miss you Uncle Herbie! Rock on.’
The Charlatans singer Tim Burgess took to social media to pay Flowers tribute, as he wrote on X: ‘Farewell Herbie Flowers, he made the greats sound greater.’
Bowie’s estate also paid tribute to the star’s former collaborator, saying: ‘We are very sad to learn of the passing of Herbie Flowers in the last couple of days.
‘His work with Bowie and associates over the years is too long to list here.
‘Aside from his incredible musicianship over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. He will be sorely missed.
‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends.’
Suede bass player Mat Osman also joined in with tributes, adding: ‘RIP Herbie Flowers. So many great basslines – imagine having played on Space Oddity, Walk on the Wild Side and Rock On.’
Born on May 19 1938 in Isleworth, Middlesex, Flowers began his music career at the age of 18 when he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force.
Here, he played the tuba as a bandsman before taking up the double bass, and then finding his home in the electric bass.
Speaking to Guitar World last year, Flowers recalled how this time in the RAF with the tuba influenced his playing on David Bowie’s Space Oddity.
‘I was a tuba and double bass player, and I wanted the strings to feel like a double bass,’ he said. ‘But there was no intention to be clever. We really didn’t know what we were doing!’
Following his military stint, Flowers briefly worked as a bandsman on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner, before working as a session musician with producers including Shel Talmy, Mickie Most, Steve Rowland, Richard Perry, Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti.
In 1969 Flowers became the co-founded of Black Mink, whose biggest hit was Melting Pot, which reached number 3 on the UK singles chart as their debut track.
By the end of the 1970s alone it was thought Flowers had played bass on 500 hit recordings.
Lou Reed’s legendary Walk on the Wild Side baseline was the work of Flowers, which is perhaps one of his most famous achievements.
Fans and the music world have taken to social media to pay their tributes, as @NeilDrysdale wrote: ‘You maybe don’t know the name, but Herbie Flowers, who has died at 86, played on many of the greatest pop records ever made. He did the bass line on Lou Reed’s Take a Walk on the Wild Side and worked with Bowie, Bolan, McCartney…the list goes on!’
@SirFestusBurke said: ‘Herbie Flowers played on tons of things that defined pop culture. That’s his bass on Walk On The Wild Side and Rock On and he co-wrote Grandad for Clive Dunn.
‘In the late 70s I loved him in the band Sky. Another giant gone to the great recording studio in the afterlife.’
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