Danny Thompson, the legendary acoustic bass player and founding member of British folk-rock band Pentangle, died peacefully at his home in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England, on September 23, 2025. He was 86 years old.
Thompson’s management announced his passing in a statement describing him as a musician who was both beloved and admired by everyone he worked with. His body of work was described as unparalleled in its quality and in the incredibly varied number of musicians he collaborated with throughout his career.
Born in Teignmouth, Devon, on April 4, 1939, Thompson never knew his father, a miner who enlisted in the Royal Navy at the start of World War II and was killed in action. After his sister died and his mother moved the family to Battersea, south-west London, Thompson attended Salesian College, where he excelled in boxing and football while learning various instruments before settling on the upright bass.
Thompson built his first bass from a tea chest at age 13, inspired by Lonnie Donegan’s skiffle hits of the mid-1950s. At 15, he left school and home to earn a living playing bass in Soho strip clubs. By 16, he was performing his first professional gigs in Soho clubs and later worked the American airbase circuit.
After being arrested for failing to report for national service at the age of 18, Thompson married his girlfriend, Daphne Davis, three days before being sent to Winchester barracks. He was then posted to Penang, Malaysia, for two years, where he played trombone for the army band and became involved with the local music scene against orders.
Returning to England in 1963, Thompson backed American singer Roy Orbison on a UK tour with The Beatles as the opening act. This marked the only time in his career that he played electric bass, as he preferred his acoustic double bass, named Victoria, which he had purchased for five pounds in 1964 and used throughout his entire career.
In 1964, Thompson joined Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, where he worked alongside future stars including Ginger Baker, Charlie Watts, Eric Clapton, and Brian Jones. This association led to session work with jazz musicians John McLaughlin and Tubby Hayes, as well as folk artists like Davey Graham. He even played on the theme music for the television series Thunderbirds in 1964.
Thompson co-founded Pentangle in 1967 alongside guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, vocalist Jacqui McShee, and drummer Terry Cox. The band’s debut concert at the Royal Festival Hall in 1967 was a huge success, followed by the release of their acclaimed debut album, “The Pentangle,” in 1968. Their 1969 release, “Basket of Light,” reached the top five in the UK album charts and contained the hit single “Light Flight,” which served as the theme for the BBC TV drama “Take Three Girls.”
After Pentangle split in 1972, Thompson focused on session work rather than joining another group. Record producer Joe Boyd paired him with Nick Drake for “Five Leaves Left” in 1969 and with John Martyn for “Solid Air” in 1973. Thompson and Martyn developed a close working relationship and friendship, though both struggled with alcoholism, which affected Thompson’s session work during that period.
Thompson sobered up in the late 1970s, leading to renewed demand for his services. During the 1980s, he collaborated with artists such as David Sylvian, Kate Bush, Talk Talk, The The, Everything But the Girl, and Graham Coxon. He appeared on Bush’s albums “The Dreaming” and “Hounds of Love,” among others.
Bush paid tribute to Thompson, describing him as the sweetest, dearest man and a real character. Bush noted: “A rare and special treasure.”
In 1987, Thompson released his debut solo album, “Whatever,” leading a jazz trio. He released five more solo jazz albums over the following quarter-century while continuing extensive session work. He formed a particularly strong partnership with Richard Thompson, recording 14 albums together over the years. Last year, he performed at Richard Thompson’s 75th birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Thompson underwent major heart surgery in 1998, during which he suffered a stroke. Three months later, he organized an all-star charity concert in Sarajevo and continued performing until ill health forced him to slow down several years ago. He converted to Islam in 1990, taking the Muslim name Hamza, and traveled to Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem as a presenter of the documentary “The Furthest Mosque” in 2000.
Thompson also established Hero Productions to produce TV documentaries. His 1983 wildlife film, “A Passion to Protect,” won a Hugo award at the Chicago Film Festival. He maintained a daily practice routine of one hour throughout his career, believing that music required dedication and constant effort.
Thompson is survived by his wife Sylvia, whom he married in 1990, and his son Danny Jr. His first marriage to Daphne Davis ended in divorce in the late 1970s. Yusuf/Cat Stevens paid tribute on social media, referring to Thompson by his Muslim name Hamza and calling him a beloved friend and brother in faith.
