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Herbie Flowers, Bassist on Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ and Songs by David Bowie, Elton John and Paul McCartney, Dies at 86


Herbie Flowers — who performed with David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and created the iconic bassline for Lou Reed’s 'Walk on the Wild Side' — has died.

British bassist Herbie Flowers — a veteran musician who performed with David Bowie, Elton John, T. Rex and Paul McCartney, and whose bassline for Lou Reed’s iconic 1973 hit “Walk on the Wild Side” has been sampled countless times — died Saturday, according to a social media post from his family. After completing his military service he began working in jazz bands, performing as a bandsman on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner and later picking up electric bass. Over the course of his career, Flowers also contributed to recordings by three Beatles — Paul McCartney’s “Give My Regards to Broad Street,” Ringo Starr’s “Stop and Smell the Roses” and three George Harrison albums — as well as Nilsson (including “Jump Into the Fire”), Bryan Ferry, Cat Stevens and countless others.

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