A musical Space Odyssey for David Bowie music fan who plays with Herbie Flowers

A music student from Hurst College who chose to create a cover version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity was amazed to find himself laying down the rhythm track with Bowie’s bassist.
Herbie Flowers and Alex HillHerbie Flowers and Alex Hill
Herbie Flowers and Alex Hill

Alex Hill said it was an amazing experience meeting Herbie Flowers, who lives in Mid-Sussex, and played on Bowie’s original studio production in 1969 which won an Ivor Novello Special Award for Originality and was a UK no. 1 upon its 1975 re-release.

A long-standing friend of veteran musician Derek Austin, who founded The Music Tech Course at Hurst, Herbie generously agreed to bring his 1959 Fender Jazz Bass guitar to the College studio to work on Alex’s project.

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He made it very clear however that he was responding to Alex’s specific concept of an orchestral style of play, rather than advising Alex what to do!

“Meeting Herbie Flowers was a real inspiration, not only to me but to Hurst’s Music Tech Department,” said Alex.

The student, who was privileged to hear Herbie’s memories of working on the original Space Odyssey, added: “He showed himself to be truly altruistic musician with the time and guidance he gave me.”

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