Herbie Flowers, Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ Bassist, Dead at 86

Herby flowers The iconic bass guitarist who played on songs like Lou Reed's “Walk on the Wild Side” and David Bowie's “Space Oddity” has died at the age of 86.

Flowers' death was confirmed on September 5 on social media by the guitarist's family members (via GuardianA cause of death was not given. Flowers' niece's husband wrote: “Although we knew and loved him as Uncle Herbie, his musical contributions likely touched your lives as well. He played guitar on many songs from the golden age of rock music.”

In addition to his stints in the rock bands T. Rex and Blue Mink, Flowers was a long-time professional musician, playing on hundreds of albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Flowers' bass can be heard on songs by three solo Beatles (George Harrison's band). somewhere in englandpaul mccartney Send my regards to Broad Streetand Ringo Starr Stop and smell the roses.), Elton John Crazy across the waterHarry Nelson Nelson Schmelson (including providing the epic bass line for “Jump Into the Fire”), albums by Bryan Ferry, Melanie, Cat Stevens, and dozens more.

However, Flowers is best known for his work on two hit singles: David Bowie's “Space Oddity” and Lou Reed's “Walk on the Wild Side”, the latter of which features Flowers' flowing, much-sampled bass line that later provided the basis for songs by Tribe Called Quest (“Can I Kick It?”), Haim (“Summer Girl”), and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

Flowers also played guitar on Bowie's album. Diamond dogs“His work with Bowie and his partners over the years is too long to list here,” Bowie’s official social media accounts wrote on Saturday. “Aside from his incredible musical talent over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. He will be sorely missed.”