The renowned bassist Herbie Flowers has died at the age of 86. The news was confirmed in a , which read, "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 60s and 70s he got to know and contribute to the music of , , , George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Marc Bolin, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, Al Kooper, Melanie and many other popular musicians." A prolific session musician, Flowers was also a member of , Blue Mink, CCS and , but is perhaps best known for his iconic, upright bass slide on ’s for which he received a session fee of just £17 and the wobbling, other-worldly bottom end on David Essex's People have often suggested that I should have got writer’s credits, but I just helped put an arrangement together," . "Lou had the chords written out on a piece of paper and my job was to come up with the bass line.
What the producer wants is for you to come up with something that is a bit catchy and with Lou Reed it was easy to say, ‘Can I get the double bass out of the car?'" Flowers also played bass on Jeff Waynes' multi-million-selling album, composed Clive Dunn's 1970 novelty hit and was responsible for 's stylophone contribution to Bowie's having bet Bowie that he couldn't get the toy instrument onto the track. "Totally gutted to hear of the passing of the great Herbie Flowers," said Wakeman. "At a quick guess I.