David Bowie guitarist Ricky Gardiner dead at 73 as Iggy Pop leads tributes
DAVID Bowie and Iggy Pop guitarist Ricky Gardiner has died aged 73.
The Scottish-born musician had battled Parkinson’s for some years, his daughter Annie revealed in a statement on Instagram.
Describing him as “stoic”, Annie said the condition caused him to “suffer horribly”, robbing him of his mobility and speech and leaving him in need of 24-hour care.
Ricky played on the first half of iconic Bowie album Low and was introduced to Pop through the late musician.
He famously wrote the iconic riff to The Passenger and played on the Lust For Life LP.
Rock legend Iggy paid tribute, calling Ricky “the nicest guy who ever played guitar.”
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He wrote: “Dearest Ricky, lovely, lovely man, shirtless in your coveralls, nicest guy who ever played guitar. Thanks for the memories and the songs, rest eternal in peace.”
Daughter Annie said her father “was the best dad anyone could ask for.”
She continued: “He taught me everything from using power tools, to a recording studio both analog and digital, to changing an air filter on a car engine (though I was awful at that), to playing bass guitar, musical improvisation, songwriting and production methods.
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“He was kind, generous, thoughtful, insightful, patient, enthusiastic, a rebel, did not suffer fools, didn’t give a s – – t what people thought, loved a good chat, and loved his food!”
While son Tom fondly recalled his father’s spirituality and the lengthy conversations they would have about the meaning of life.
Ricky turned his back on life as a rock star after starting a family.
Instead, he hunkered down in South Wales and worked on music in his home studio, putting out his only solo album in 2013.