A HEREFORDSHIRE band remain 'forever grateful' to a music legend who died earlier this week.

David Bowie, died on Sunday aged 69 after battling cancer, and members of rock band Mott the Hoople say they will always remember the help he gave them.

The band had been together three years and built up a big cult following playing gigs throughout the country before considering splitting up in 1972.

However, after hearing the news of a possible break-up, Bowie who was one of their fans pledged to help them offering them one of his songs All the Young Dudes.

"We had a big cult following and David Bowie admired the band and liked our style of music and dress," said founding member and keyboard player Verden Allen.

"Our guitarist Pete Overend Watts heard that David was interested about the band so contacted him and asked if he could help.

"We said to him that if we didn't find a manager we would have to pack up. He had a word with his manager Tony DeFries who came to see us and he said that he would manage us, look after us and get us a record deal.

"Bowie said he had a song he would like us to record which was All the Young Dudes.

"So we all got together in London and he played the song to us on his acoustic guitar. We loved it and went back to the studios with him to record it."

Regarded as one of glam rock anthems All the Young Dudes produced by Bowie reached number three in the UK charts in September 1972.

Their album of the same name was also produced by the legend and was released shortly after reaching number 21 in the charts.

This launched Mott the Hoople to fame while at the same time David Bowie was also propelled into the starlight with his single Starman and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Mr Allen added: "He was very easy to work with, he respected us and we respected him. You could tell he was going to become a big star.

"I think it helped his work as well so Mott the Hoople and David Bowie was a good collaboration and worked well at the time.

"Without that song it might have been the end for Mott the Hoople so I am forever grateful for that. David was at the beginning of his career and the collaboration caused quite a buzz in the music business.

"We did a gig in Philadelphia and he turned up as a guest vocalist but after that his career took off and he was too busy to do any more for us and his manager likewise so we had to look for another manager."

After the success of All the Young Dudes Mr Allen left the band to form the Hereford based Cheeks with James Honeyman-Scott and drummer Martin Chambers, who joined the Pretenders.