Trevor Bolder (May 21, 1951) – Birth Anniversary

A commemoration of Trevor Bolder, the talented bassist known for his work with David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars and his long tenure with Uriah Heep.

BORN ON THIS DAY

Date: May 21, 1951

Place: Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

THE STORY

On this day in 1951, Trevor Bolder was born — a musician who would go on to play a key role in two of the most important British rock acts of the 1970s: David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars and Uriah Heep.

FULL BIOGRAPHY Trevor Bolder was born into a musical family in Hull. He started on cornet in the school band before switching to bass guitar in the mid-1960s. He first gained attention with local band The Rats, which also featured guitarist Mick Ronson. In 1971, Bolder replaced Tony Visconti in David Bowie’s backing band, soon to be known as the Spiders from Mars. He played on the classic albums Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973), and Pin Ups (1973). He is name-checked by Bowie in the song “Ziggy Stardust” as “Weird”.

After leaving Bowie, Bolder played on Mick Ronson’s 1974 solo album Slaughter on 10th Avenue. In 1976, he joined Uriah Heep, replacing John Wetton, and remained with the band for most of the rest of his career (with a brief spell in Wishbone Ash in the early 1980s). He contributed to many Heep albums and also produced their 1991 album Different World. In his later years, he worked with Stevie ZeSuicide on several tracks. Trevor Bolder passed away in May 2013 at the age of 62 after battling pancreatic cancer.

KEY FACTS

• Born: May 21, 1951 (Kingston upon Hull, England)

• Genres: Glam Rock, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock

• Notable Works: Ziggy Stardust (with Bowie), Firefly, Innocent Victim (with Uriah Heep)

• Influence: Solid, melodic bass playing that anchored glam and hard rock bands

  
  

LEGACY Trevor Bolder was a quiet but essential figure in British rock. From the glittering heights of Ziggy Stardust to the enduring power of Uriah Heep, his reliable groove and musicality earned him the respect of fans and fellow musicians alike. His contributions continue to resonate whenever “Ziggy Stardust” or classic Uriah Heep tracks are played.

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