Legendary British bass guitarist Herbie Flowers, who played with some of the world’s greatest music icons including David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, has died aged 86. Heartfelt tributes have been paid to the ‘beautiful soul’.
Flowers was born Brian Keith Flowers, but was known as ‘Herbie’ throughout his career. He grew up in Isleworth, Middlesex before moving to Ditchling, East Sussex and was a member of the bands Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky.
He has also showcased his talents on hundreds of recordings and was also credited with creating the famous bass line in Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side from his 1972 album Transformer, which gave the song its unforgettable twang.
It was Reed’s only song to reach the Top 20 in the US.
The news of Flowers’ death was confirmed by close family members on social media on Thursday.
British bass guitarist-legend Herbie Flowers, who played with some of the world’s greatest music icons including David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Marc Bolan, has died aged 86. Pictured: Flowers in 1976
Flowers appears in the background as he plays alongside legends David Bowie and Marc Bolan
Flowers was musically gifted and had talent for the double bass, as well as the tuba and electric bass. Pictured: Flowers at the Brighton Fringe in 2015
Kevin J Conklin, the husband of Flowers’ cousin, Lorraine Bassett, paid tribute to him, saying he was “blessed” to have known him.
In a Facebook post on Friday, he wrote: ‘Lorraine’s beloved uncle, Herbie Flowers, passed away yesterday.
‘While we knew and loved him as Uncle Herbie, his musical contributions likely touched your lives as well.
‘He played bass guitar on many songs from the golden age of rock.
‘As a studio musician in London in the 1960s and 1970s, he discovered and contributed 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 best-known musical contribution was probably the iconic bass line for Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wildside’.
‘Not many people get their own Wikipedia entry like Herbie.
Herbie continued to make his musical contribution as he sought to involve children in music later in life.
‘Herbie played a huge role in Lorraine’s life as a surrogate father. Herbie walked her down the aisle at our wedding.
‘She loved him dearly. I was blessed to have known him.
“We’re gonna miss you, Uncle Herbie! Rock on.”
Herbie (left) with members of the British pop group Mink in 1973
The news of Flowers’ death at age 86 was confirmed by close family members on social media on Thursday
A Facebook tribute posted on the official David Bowie page on Sunday highlighted Flowers’ “incredible musicianship over many decades” and said he would be “greatly missed.”
In an accompanying black-and-white photo, Flowers laughs in the background as he plays alongside legends Bowie and Marc Bolan.
The statement said: ‘While we have not yet been able to officially confirm it, if the news is true, we are deeply saddened to hear that Herbie Flowers passed away in recent days.
Herbie in the recording studio with singer Scott Walker in the 1960s
‘His collaborations with Bowie and colleagues over the years are too extensive to list here.
“In addition to his incredible musicianship over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. He will be greatly missed.”
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Flowers’ first musical foray came in 1956 at the age of 18, after being drafted into the Royal Air Force, where he played the tuba as a musician for nine years.
Later he started playing the double bass as a second instrument and later he switched to the electric bass.
After completing his military service, he played in a number of Dixieland jazz bands in the early 1960s and worked for a time as a musician on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth.
By the end of the decade, Flowers was working as a session musician for record producers such as Shel Talmy, Mickie Most, Steve Rowland, Richard Perry, Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti.
In 1969, Flowers co-founded the group Blue Mink, appearing on their number three UK chart-topping hit Melting Pot, and with the early heavy rock band Rumplestiltskin.
He was also a member of CCS and T. Rex, together with Dino Dines.
In 1979 he co-founded the band Sky, which had success in the UK and Australia.
Herbie Flowers performs with the late jazz vocalist Tina May in 2015
Flowers also ventured into composing and in 1970 made the surprise hit Grandad for Clive Dunn.
Throughout his career he has played with some of the biggest names and contributed to recordings by Elton John, David Bowie, Lou Reed, David Essex, Bryan Ferry, Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, among others.
He also played bass guitar on Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds.
Towards the end of his life, Flowers enjoyed playing jazz and worked as a bass guitar teacher at Ardingly College in West Sussex.
Flowers also spearheaded a number of local community initiatives, including the establishment of two community choirs: Shoreham Singers-by-Sea and the Ditchling Singers.
