Legendary Bassist Herbie Flowers Dies at 86

Herbie Flowers, renowned bass guitarist who collaborated with legends such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Lou Reed, has passed away at the age of 86. His family announced his death on Facebook Saturday. Flowers was instrumental in shaping the UK music scene, contributing notably to Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" with its iconic bassline from the 1972 Transformer album.

As a founding member of the pop group Blue Mink and later joining T Rex, Flowers' influence spanned several bands and genres. He also played on Bowie's "Space Oddity," Bryan Ferry's "The Bride Stripped Bare," and Paul McCartney's "Give My Regards To Broad Street." Describing him, Bowie's estate remarked, "Aside from his incredible musicianship over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. He will be sorely missed."

Tim Burgess, from The Charlatans, praised Flowers on X, stating he "made the greats sound greater." In addition to his numerous collaborations, Flowers also founded the instrumental rock band Sky in the late 1970s, releasing seven albums. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)