Sad to report that drummer/percussionist Tony Thompson, has lost his fight against renal cancer in Los Angeles three days short of his 49th birthday. Thompson, who died yesterday, was probably best known to Bowie fans for his work on 1983’s Let’s Dance album and the subsequent Serious Moonlight World Tour.
Having begun his career playing with Patti LaBelle‘s band, he met Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, with whom he formed Chic in 1976, the band which became synonymous with disco. His session work meant that he also played for Madonna, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Debbie Harry, and he also enjoyed a stint with the Power Station, a spin-off from Duran Duran that included Robert Palmer.
Thompson is survived by his wife, the actress Patrice Jennings, and two step-children.