Phil Spalding
Philip Trevor Spalding (19 November 1957 – 5 February 2023) was an English bass player. He was best known as a session musician and player of Fender Precision Bass guitars. He played and appeared with performing artists such as Mike Oldfield, Mick Jagger, Seal, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Elton John, Heaven 17 and Randy Crawford.
Also recorded as Philip Spalding
Phil Spalding
- Name
- Phil Spalding
- Birth Name
- Philip Trevor Spalding
- Born
- 19 November 1957
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Died
- 5 February 2023
- Occupation
- * Musician
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Fields
- music
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Philip Trevor Spalding (19 November 1957 – 5 February 2023) was an English bass player. He was best known as a session musician and player of Fender Precision Bass guitars. He played and appeared with performing artists such as Mike Oldfield, Mick Jagger, Seal, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Elton John, Heaven 17 and Randy Crawford.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Phil Spalding. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q7182431 · wikipedia · Phil Spalding
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Phil Spalding • Birth Name — Philip Trevor Spalding • Born — 19 November 1957 • Birthplace — London, England • Died — 5 February 2023 • Instrument — * Bass • vocals • Genre — * Rock • pop • Occupation — * Musician • songwriter • Years Active — 1976–2023 • Past Member Of — * Toyah • GTR • Original Mirrors
Career
Career
At an early age he was a successful child model and appeared in a television advertisement for Smiths Crisps. Spalding was a computer operator for a high street bank, before joining rock artist Bernie Tormé in 1976. Later he joined Original Mirrors before beginning a collaboration with Toyah in December 1980. Whilst with The Toyah band he recorded and co-wrote songs for studio albums and toured with the band until his departure in 1983. Later he was a member of GTR and Mike Oldfield's band. He later appeared on albums by Michel Polnareff, Suggs, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. Spalding also recorded bass tracks on The Lion King (1994 soundtrack) studio soundtrack album. In February 2012, he joined the Simon Townshend band for the Secret Weapon UK tour in support of the album Looking Out, Looking In. Spalding played bass with The Who for their promotional acoustic concerts at Pryzm in Kingston, London on 12 February 2020.
Illness and awareness campaigns
Illness and awareness campaigns
Affected by hepatitis C he appeared on BBC Oxford on 28 July 2008 to promote a vaccine trial for the disease. Spalding started a patient support group called Hep C Positive in Swindon and worked with the charity Liver4Life to raise awareness of Hepatitis C.
Death
Death
Spalding died on 5 February 2023 at the age of 65.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1957
Phil Spalding born at London.
2023
Phil Spalding died.
Discography
With Max Bacon • The Higher You Climb (Now & Then, 1995) • From the Banks of the River Irwell (Blue Print, 2002) With Melanie C • Reason (Virgin Records, 2003) With Roger Chapman • Hybrid and Lowdown (Polydor, 1990) With Ray Charles • Strong Love Affair (Warner Bros. Records, 1996) With Joe Cocker • Across from Midnight (EMI, 1997) With Randy Crawford • Play Mode (WEA Records, 2000) With Stephen Dale Petit • Guitararama (333, 2008) With Marcella Detroit • Jewel (London, 1994) With Julia Downes • Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Mercury, 1983) With Terence Trent D'Arby • Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia, 1987) With Delta Goodrem • Mistaken Identity (Daylight, 2004) With GTR • GTR (Arista, 1986) With Geri Halliwell • Passion (Virgin Records, 2005) With Mick Jagger • Goddess in the Doorway (Virgin Records, 2001) With Elton John • Duets (Rocket, 1993) With Beverley Knight • Affirmation (Parlophone Records, 2004) With Nick Lachey • SoulO (Universal, 2003) With Kylie Minogue • Light Years (EMI, 2000) With Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark • Universal (Virgin, 1996) With Michel Polnareff • Kāma-Sūtra (Epic Records, 1990) With Seal • Seal (ZTT, 1994) With Skin • Fleshwounds (EMI, 2003) With Freddie Starr • A New Twist (Village Recorders, 1984) With Matthew Sweet • Inside (Columbia, 1986) With Talk Talk • It's My Life (EMI, 1984) With Roger Taylor • Happiness? (Parlophone Records, 1994) With Judie Tzuke • Under the Angels (Big Moon, 1996) With Robbie Williams • Sing When You're Winning (Chrysalis Records, 2000) • Escapology (Chrysalis Records, 2002)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.allmusic.com. Phil Spalding credits.
- 2.Toyah: The Changeling tour programme. 1980.
- 3.allmusic.com. The Lion King original studio sound track credits.
- 4.youtube.com. BBC News. Hepatitis 'C' Vaccine Trials. 28 February 2008.
- 5.On behalf of the SPALDING family It's with great sadness and broken hearts that we must announce the passing of PHIL SPALDING. PhilSpalding.com.
- 6.DMME. Phil Spalding Passed Away. 6 February 2023.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Phil Spalding is recorded as songwriter, guitarist, singer, composer and musician.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
43,311 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Phil RobsonPerson
- Phil SeamenPerson
- Phil SgrossoPerson
- Phil SolomonPerson
- Phil Spector InternationalOrganisation
- Phil ThornalleyPerson
- Phil UpchurchPerson
- Phil UrsoPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Phil Spalding?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.