Bass guitarist Herbie Flowers dies aged 86

Revered bassist Herbie Flowers, known for working with the likes of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Paul McCartney and Elton John, has died aged 86.

The British musician also played in the bands Blue Mink and T. Rex, and is said to have featured on over 500 hit albums by the end of the ‘70s.

Born Brian Keith Flowers, he got his musical start in the ‘50s, playing the tuba as a bandsman in the Royal Air Force. In 1969 he became one of the founding members of the pop group Blue Mink, who found some chart success with the singles 'Melting Pot’ and ‘The Banner Man’.

GOODBYE HERBIE FLOWERS

Though we’ve not managed to have it officially confirmed, if the news is correct, 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… pic.twitter.com/bjeksOQvdS

— David Bowie Official (@DavidBowieReal) September 7, 2024

Flowers built up his reputation as a session bassist throughout the ‘60s, working for producers like Tony Visconti, Steve Rowland and Shel Talmy.

As well as contributing bass on David Bowie’s 1969 self-titled album and 1974’s Diamond Dogs, Flowers is credited with the famous bassline on Lou Reed’s ‘Walk On the Wild Side’ from the hit 1972 album Transformer. He revealed to the BBC in 2005 that he recorded two basses on top of each other to achieve the sound, as so he could be paid double for playing two separate instruments.

In 1977, Flowers joined the final line up of T. Rex before Marc Bolan's death, featuring on the group’s final album, 1977's Dandy In The Underworld.