Herbie Flowers

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Herbie Flowers, 2013

Brian Keith "Herbie" Flowers (born May 19, 1938 in Isleworth , Middlesex ) is a British rock musician . His instruments are the electric bass , the double bass and the tuba . He became known as a member of the pop and rock groups Blue Mink , T. Rex and Sky and as a session musician. So he developed the bass riff that characterizes the song in Lou Reed's " Walk on the Wild Side ".

biography

Herbie Flowers began his musical career with the Royal Air Force , where he played tuba in a military band. In the early 1960s he played in Dixieland bands before turning to modern jazz and switching to the double bass. In 1965 he played on the Queen Elizabeth , with which he came to New York . Here he saw an electric bass for the first time and bought a 1959 Fender Jazz Bass .

Flowers developed into a sought-after session bassist, but also played in a number of well-known bands. In 1969 he was a founding member of Blue Mink , which had their biggest hit with Melting Pot . In the 1970s he played with Alexis Korners Collective Consciousness Society , accompanied David Bowie on his "Diamond Dogs" tour and was at times a member of T. Rex . In 1978 Flowers co-founded the jazz rock group Sky , which was active until the mid-1990s.

The musicians whose recordings Flowers played bass include Elton John (" Tumbleweed Connection "), David Bowie (" Space Oddity "), David Essex , Allan Clarke , Al Kooper , Harry Nilsson ("Jump into the Fire") ), Cat Stevens , Serge Gainsbourg , George Harrison and many more. In Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", he doubled the bass line of the double bass with an electric bass. In Reed's “Goodnight Ladies” he is responsible for the vaudeville mood that he achieved through the use of a Dixieland band.

Herbie Flowers was also active as a soloist (see discography). His best-known song as a songwriter is "Grandad", in early 1971 a number 1 for Clive Dunn . Flowers most recently worked as a music teacher and choir director.

Solo discography

Albums

  • 1971: Bass Guitar and Percussion (KPM; with Barry Morgan)
  • 1975: Plant Life (Philips)
  • 1980: A Little Potty (EMI)
  • 1984: Herbie's Stuff (KPM)

Singles

  • 1970: Lincoln County (Polydor)
  • 1973: Tramp / Flanker (Polydor)
  • 1975: Mouth / Hi! It's Herbie Flowers (Philips)
  • 1975: Dancing at Danny's / Mathematics (Philips)
  • 1977: Jubilee / News (EMI)
  • 1978: Don't Take My Bass Away / I Want to Be with You (EMI)
  • 1979: Mr. Moonlight / I Want to Be with You (EMI)
  • 1980: The Whale / Just for You (EMI)
  • 1980: Burlington Bertie (Tramp) / Big George (EMI)
  • 1981: Tuba Smarties / The Bathroom Song (Ariola)
  • 1983: I Love 'er / Meet Me on The Corner (Magic)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Allmusic, see web links
  2. ↑ Howard Sounes Seventies: the Sights, Sounds and Ideas of a Brilliant Decade New York 2006, p 152

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Flowers, Herbie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Flowers, Brian Keith
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British rock musician
DATE OF BIRTH May 19, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Isleworth , Middlesex