Dennis Davis: Longtime drummer for David Bowie dies three months after singer

'He was a disciplined jazz drummer who tore into rock with a jazz sensibility'

(Chie Davis Facebook)

David Bowie’s drummer Dennis Davis has died from lung cancer three months after the pioneering singer passed away.

Davis, a percussionist, lived in Manhattan, New York and began working with Bowie in 1974. He appeared on a number of albums and played with him on seven tours, including his A Reality Tour in 2003.

Davis also worked with Stevie Wonder, Iggy Pop and other musicians throughout his career.

The news was confirmed by producer and Bowie’s collaborator Tony Visconti on Facebook, who paid tribute to Davis as a truly creative drummer and “magical man”.

“He came into David Bowie's life when we recorded some extra tracks for Young Americans and stayed with us through Scary Monsters and beyond," he wrote.

“He was a disciplined jazz drummer who tore into rock with a jazz sensibility. Listen to the drum breaks on “Black Out” from the Heroes album. He had a conga drum as part of his set up and he made it sound like two musicians were playing drums and congas. By Scary Monsters he was playing parts that were unthinkable but they fit in so perfectly.

“His sense of humour was wonderful. As an ex-member of the US Air Force he told us stories of seeing a crashed UFO first hand by accidentally walking through an unauthorised hanger. There will never be another drummer, human being and friend like Dennis.”