Guitarist who played with Elton John and Paul McCartney dies as tributes pour in
Herbie Flowers has passed away at the age of 86 as tributes pour in for the musician who played alongside huge stars including Elton John and David Bowie
A musician who played with the likes of Sir Elton John, David Bowie and Paul McCartney has died aged 86.
Herbie Flowers' death was confirmed on Facebook by close family members. Tributes from family and friends said Flowers was a "beautiful soul" and his musical contributions had touched many lives.
Flowers played bass in pop group Blue Mink and rock band T. Rex, and is thought to have contributed to more than 500 hit albums by the end of the 1970s. The guitarist was credited with creating the famous bassline in Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side from his 1972 album Transformer.
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After previously playing alongside music legend David Bowie, a gushing tribute from Bowie's estate was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the news of his death broke. Flowers played bass guitar on David Bowie’s self-titled 1969 album and Diamond Dogs in 1974.
"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," the post read.
The Charlatans' singer Tim Burgess led the tributes, saying Flowers "made the greats sound greater". Meanwhile, Suede bass player Mat Osman also joined in with tributes, external, saying: "RIP Herbie Flowers. So many great basslines - imagine having played on Space Oddity, Walk on the Wild Side and Rock On."
Born Brian Keith Flowers, his love for music started in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s, where he served for nine years as a bandsman playing the tuba.
In 1969, Flowers became one of the founding members of the pop group Blue Mink. The band found chart success with their debut single Melting Pot in 1969, and again with The Banner Man in 1971.
It was also in the 1960s that Flowers acquired his reputation as a session bass guitarist, working for record producers such as Shel Talmy, Steve Rowland and Tony Visconti.
In 1977, Flowers became a member of the final line up of T. Rex shortly before Marc Bolan's death, featuring on the band's final album, 1977's Dandy In The Underworld, and Bolan's Marc TV show.
Also in the late 1970s, he founded the instrumental prog rock band, Sky, recording and performing with the band until 1995, releasing seven albums.
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