He may not be a household name, but Ricky Gardiner played many well known riffs, especially with Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
The guitarist has died aged 73, following a struggle with Parkinson's Disease (something close to home for me).
Born in Edinburgh in 1948, Gardiner went on to play on Iggy Pop's Lust for Life album and Low by David Bowie. The news was released by producer Tony Visconti, who called Gardiner a "guitar genius."
His first group was a prog-rock outfit called Beggars Opera, formed in 1969. He went on to make six albums with them, growing a fan base around Europe and particularly Germany.
He was asked to play on Visconti's album, Inventory, and that is how he found himself, in 1977, in a Paris chateau, playing on Bowie's Low, including the lead parts on Sound and Vision.
From Bowie, it was an obvious jump to Iggy Pop - and Gardiner joined the tour for The Idiot (the one where Bowie played keyboards). He would go on to play on the Lust for Life album later in 1977, meaning that he came up with one of the iconic 70s riffs - those three chords that make up The Passenger. But there was no drug fuelled inspiration for that - "The apple trees were in bloom and I was doodling on the guitar as I gazed up at the trees.... I was in a light dream enjoying the glorious spring morning. At a certain point my ear caught the chord sequence."
But Gardiner put the touring life behind him, instead becoming a father and opening up a studio, occasionally releasing his own work. He even went back to Beggars Opera and made seven more albums.
There was a simple note on his website, from wife Virginia Scott:
"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ricky Gardiner Guitarist Songwriter/ Composer. Ricky passed away in his sleep early in the morning of Friday the 13th of May. He had been suffering from Parkinson PSP for the last 12 years of his life."
Iggy Pop paid tribute: “Dearest Ricky, lovely, lovely man, shirtless in your coveralls, nicest guy who ever played guitar.”
(From: The Guardian, 17 May 2022; www.RickyGardiner.com )
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