Danny Thompson passed away 💫💫💫

 

Pentangle and John Martyn bassist Danny Thompson has died, aged 86.


Thompson was best-known as a member of folk rock pioneers Pentangle and as bass foil to the late John Martyn, but also worked with Kate Bush, Incredible String Band, David Sylvian, Peter Gabriel, Nick Drake and many more.

In a brief statement, his PR said: “Legendary acoustic bass player Danny Thompson died peacefully yesterday at his home in Rickmansworth, UK.

“A musician who was both beloved and admired by everybody he worked with, his body of work is unparalleled in its quality and also in the incredibly varied number of musicians he worked with.

“Danny was a force of nature. A player who served the song and who enriched the lives of every single person he met. He will be sorely missed.”

Born in Devon, England, on 4th April 1939, Danny built his own bass out of a tea chest when he was just 13, stealing some piano wire to use for strings. 

Aged 15, he got a beautiful 1865 Gand double bass, which he affectionately named “Victoria”. He played it ever since. 

In 1963, he got a job playing electric bass with Roy Orbison on a tour supported by The Beatles, who were just starting out. It was the only time he ever played electric bass.

In 1964, Danny joined Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated replacing a pre-Cream Jack Bruce.

He played in bands with Ginger Baker and John McLaughlin and in 1967 joined forces with musicians John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Terry Cox and Bert Jansch to form Pentangle, one of the first supergroups. In the 70s, he became John Martyn’s sideman.

 

A musician of extraordinary skills with an unbelievable CV, he played with Little Walter, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Rod Stewart, Donovan, Ralph McTell, Sandy Denny, Marc Bolan, John Martyn, Incredible String Band, Billy Bragg, John Williams, Kate Bush, Marianne Faithful, Richard Thompson, Talk Talk, David Sylvian and many more.

Thanks to Pete Sanders for above 🙏💫🙏

RIP to his family and close friends 🌸