David Bowie is paying tribute to Trevor Bolder a day after his former bassist succumbed following a lengthy battle with cancer. Bolder was also a member of Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash.

Together with guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick Woodmansey as the Spiders From Mars, Bolder helped Bowie create a series of classic albums beginning in the early '70s that included 'Hunky Dory,' 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars,' 'Aladdin Sane' and 'Pin Ups.' That period featured signature early Bowie tracks like 'Changes," 'Ziggy Stardust,' 'Suffragette City' and 'The Jean Genie.'

"Trevor was a wonderful musician and a major inspiration for whichever band he was working with," Bowie says in an official statement through his web site. "But he was foremostly a tremendous guy, a great man."

Bolder, 62, had been fighting cancer of the pancreas for four years. He underwent surgery earlier this year, and had hoped to join Uriah Heep at their planned appearance at the Download Festival next month. Bolder had been part of Uriah Heep in 1976, after the Spiders From Mars disbanded, and most recently appeared on the group's 2011 album 'Into the Wild."

"Trevor was an all-time great – one of the outstanding musicians of his generation, and one of the finest and most influential bass players Britain ever produced," Uriah Heep said in their own official statement. "His long time membership of Uriah Heep brought the band's music, and Trevor's virtuosity and enthusiasm, to hundreds of thousands of fans across the world."

'Ziggy Stardust' has been named the No. 1 '70s-era David Bowie album cut by Ultimate Classic Rock.

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