Ex-Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention bassist Tom Fowler passed away on July 2 at the age of 73, following medical complications from an aneurysm. Fellow Zappa alum Arthur Barrow shared the news via social media. “So sad to report another big loss in the Zappa community,” wrote Barrow on .
“Tom Fowler left us yesterday, July 2, 2024. He was a hero to me. The first time I heard I almost fell over when he played the big 5/16 lick on the bass! “I had no idea that a clumsy could do such a thing! He was an inspiration for me to buy a bass and start practicing.
I have known him since about 1976. RIP old friend – missing you very much.” Born in Salt Lake City, Fowler started his music journey at an early age, taking up the violin at age six, followed by the upright bass, and finally, the electric bass at 16, after hearing the works of Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa.
In 1971, he joined the psych-rock band It's a Beautiful Day for their third album (1971), and the live album (1972). After departing the band in 1972, he spent a year at the University of Utah, moved to New York to play jazz, and later moved to San Francisco, where he picked up the violin again. It was in San Francisco that Fowler got the opportunity to join Zappa's band.
“[Jack] Bruce called me up and I auditioned for Frank and somehow, I got the gig. I hadn't even been playing bass, but I guess he got sick of looking for a bass player. This was in 1973,” Fowler said in an interview with .
“The audit.
