Herbie Flowers (Photo Courtesy: Alamy Stock Photo)
LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – Herbie Flowers, the renowned British bassist who played with legends like David Bowie, Elton John, T. Rex, and Paul McCartney, passed away Thursday (September 5). His family confirmed his death via a social media post. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was 86.
A veteran of more than 500 hit albums, according to the BBC – by the late 1970s, Flowers had an illustrious career as a session musician and a band member of groups like T. Rex and Blue Mink. Born Brian Keith Flowers in Isleworth, Middlesex, England, on May 19, 1938, he began his musical journey in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s, initially playing tuba before taking up the double bass. After his military service, Flowers shifted to jazz and session work, collaborating with top producers such as Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti. This led him to work on hit tracks like Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
In 1969, Flowers also tasted pop success with Blue Mink’s “Melting Pot,” a song that reached No. 3 in the UK; despite this, he remained dedicated to session work, contributing to countless hits over the years. His ingenuity and practical approach were legendary—he often recounted how the iconic “Walk on the Wild Side” (Lou Reed) bassline was doubled because he would receive extra payment for overdubbing a second bass track. It was the only Reed song to reach the Top 20 in the US.
Flowers’ creative talents extended further, creating the famous bassline for David Essex’s “Rock On” in 1973. His work with Bowie continued in 1974, including contributions to *Diamond Dogs* and participation in the North American tour. Flowers later reunited with Bowie for Marc Bolan’s last TV appearance in 1977 on Marc, playing alongside both Bolan and Bowie. Flowers’ bass is heard on Bowie’s rendition of “Heroes” from that performance.
In the late 1970s, Flowers co-founded the instrumental band Sky and continued to perform with them until 1995. His session work persisted throughout his life, contributing to the music of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Nilsson, Bryan Ferry, and Cat Stevens, among many others.
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