The bassist Herbie Flowers, who has died aged 86, was one of the vital prolific session musicians of the Seventies. He performed on an estimated 500 hit songs over the course of his profession, laying down the foundations to tunes by three former Beatles (John Lennon was the exception), plus David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Lou Reed, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, Cat Stevens and scores extra.
His most recognisable bassline was the two-note motif he offered on Reed’s Stroll on the Wild Aspect (1972). He achieved its sinuous impact by recording first on a double bass, then overdubbing the half 10 notes greater with an electrical Fender Jazz bass. Flowers identified that the association meant he might double his common session price. Usually, Reed was ambivalent in regards to the success the document introduced, telling Flowers that he took 20 years to “shake it out of his thoughts” as a result of it had altered the character of his viewers.
The psychedelic bass half on Bowie’s Area Oddity (1969) was additionally offered by Flowers. His relationship with the singer was longstanding however not at all times clean. Throughout the Diamond Canines tour of the US in 1974, the bass participant noticed that tools had been set as much as document the dates. He challenged Bowie on this, declaring that if a reside album was deliberate, the band could be due a recording in addition to a efficiency price. Bowie’s administration weren’t finest happy to listen to this, however Flowers obtained his means and the musicians obtained the cash they have been owed. David Reside obtained combined opinions on launch and Bowie regarded it because the demise throes of his Ziggy Stardust persona.
Flowers once more used his double-track bass concept to realize an uncanny impact on Rock On, successful for David Essex in 1973. The producer Jeff Wayne later stated that Flowers instinctively understood how the stripped-back association might work, placing down an preliminary riff and overdubbing the half an octave greater. The delay impact added to the polyrhythms that gave the tune its distinctive ambiance. He labored with Wayne and Essex once more in 1978 on the musical model of The Conflict of the Worlds with Richard Burton, Justin Hayward and Phil Lynott among the many forged.
However there was extra to Flowers than the position of sideman to superstars. In 1969 he was a founding member of Blue Mink, garnering hits with Melting Pot and The Banner Man. A two-note riff offered Flowers with successful novelty tune, Grandad, in 1970, recorded by Clive Dunn. Flowers claimed that inspiration for the infuriatingly catchy refrain got here when his songwriting associate Ken Pickett rang his doorbell.
In 1978, Flowers shaped a prog-rock outfit, Sky, with the classical guitarist John Williams, electrical guitarist Kevin Peek, drummer Tristan Fry and keyboard participant Francis Monkman. Flowers was a everlasting member of the band, which went by means of various personnel adjustments and recorded seven albums earlier than lastly disbanding in 1995.
A musical partnership with the drummer Peter Boita created the album Poetry in Movement (1990), that includes the work of John Betjeman. It was produced by George Martin and included a lineup comprising Essex, Hayward, Steve Harley, Donovan, Alvin Stardust and Captain Smart. In 1992 Boita and Flowers carried out the album reside for a charity present at Richmond theatre. A second album, that includes Betjeman and the disc jockey Mike Learn, was launched in 1998.
Born Brian Flowers in Isleworth, Middlesex, to Elsie (nee Clarke) and John Flowers, he was evacuated through the second world conflict to Halesowen, within the West Midlands, for 2 years. After Tiffin grammar college, aged 18, he was conscripted into the Royal Air Power, the place he gained the nickname Herbie (quick for “Herbaceous Borders”, a play on his surname). He served as a bandsman enjoying the tuba within the RAF Central Band, taking over the double bass as his second instrument to earn his corporal stripes.
Within the early 60s, after his nationwide service, he did numerous stints in Dixieland jazz bands, earlier than taking over a reserving enjoying on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner. Throughout a stopover in New York, he purchased his first electrical guitar, a blue Fender Jazz bass for $79 – the identical instrument he performed on Stroll on the Wild Aspect. It turned his mainstay for the remainder of his profession. Jazz was his first musical love and it by no means left him. Later in life, settled in Ditchling, East Sussex, he would play jazz breakfast occasions on the Brighton fringe pageant, with the drummer Malcolm Mortimore.
From the 90s he started giving “rock store” tutorials at schools throughout the nation, and did freelance instructing at Ardingly faculty in West Sussex. He additionally gave common workshops to aspiring musicians from his dwelling, based a neighborhood choir, Shoreham Singers-by-Sea, in 2009, and the Ditchling Singers the next 12 months. He participated in gigs organized by folks in restoration from habit, together with the Brighton-based Cascade Artistic Restoration Choir and New Observe Strummers.
Flowers married Ann Sanderson in 1959 and so they had two kids. The wedding led to divorce in 1992. Ann died final 12 months, and in July Herbie married Claire Lacey, a cellist with the Finnish Chamber Orchestra.
She survives him, as do his son, Nick, his daughter, Jan, and his granddaughter, Lily.
