Tony Sales

Tony Fox Sales is an American rock musician and composer, best known as the bassist for David Bowie's hard-rock band Tin Machine and for his work on Iggy Pop's landmark 1977 album Lust for Life. Born September 26, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio, Sales has spent over five decades as a sideman and collaborator, often playing alongside his younger brother, drummer Hunt Sales. The pair have been called the most dangerous rhythm section in music, known for a raw, instinctive sound that shaped some of rock's most vital recordings. Sales's career spans work with Todd Rundgren, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and various supergroups, though he has largely avoided the spotlight himself. After a long hiatus from touring, Sales returned to the road in 2023 for a UK tour celebrating the 45th anniversary of Lust for Life, backed by an all-star band that included Blondie drummer Clem Burke. His playing remains a touchstone for fans of 1970s punk and art rock. [edit]

Tony Sales grew up in a show-business household in Detroit, Michigan, after his family moved from Cleveland. His father was Soupy Sales, the famous 1950s and 60s television comedian known for slapstick and pie-throwing. His mother was Barbara Fox. Tony and his brother Hunt were exposed to performance from an early age. Tony began playing music as a child and formed his first band, Tony and The Tigers, with Hunt when Tony was around 12 or 13. The guitarist was Jon Meredith, son of actor Burgess Meredith, whom Tony met at Manny's Music in New York City. The group rehearsed at the Meredith family home near Woodstock and played parties and local gigs. Soupy Sales helped them get an early break by letting them perform at his show at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. In the late 1960s, the Sales brothers began playing with Todd Rundgren, joining his band Runt. That collaboration marked their first significant professional step beyond local performances and established them as a formidable rhythm section. [edit]

Tony Sales's breakthrough came in the mid-1970s when he and Hunt joined Iggy Pop's touring and recording lineup. Sales played bass on Iggy Pop's albums Kill City (recorded 1975, released 1977) and the landmark Lust for Life (1977), produced by and featuring David Bowie. His bass lines on the title track and The Passenger became legendary. In the late 1970s, Sales survived a near-fatal car accident that left him in a coma for months, but he recovered and returned to music. During the 1980s, he worked with various artists and joined the supergroup Chequered Past, which included Blondie drummer Clem Burke, Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, and singer Michael Des Barres. In 1988, David Bowie recruited the Sales brothers for his new band Tin Machine, which also featured guitarist Reeves Gabrels. The band released two studio albums, Tin Machine (1989) and Tin Machine II (1991), and a live album, Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992). They performed on Saturday Night Live in 1991. After Tin Machine dissolved, Sales joined the short-lived all-star band The Cheap Dates with actor Harry Dean Stanton, Jeff Skunk Baxter, and Slim Jim Phantom. He appeared in the films Tapeheads (1988) and Slaves of New York (1989). After decades away from the road, Sales toured the UK in 2023 with an all-star band celebrating 45 years of Lust for Life, and released a video for his song Success featuring Clem Burke. [edit]

Tony Sales is not a mainstream celebrity but is highly respected in rock music circles as a bassist and sideman. His public image is that of a working musicians musician, someone who played on landmark albums with iconic artists while staying out of the spotlight. Media portrayals emphasize his role as part of a legendary rhythm section with his brother Hunt and his contributions to Iggy Pop's Lust for Life and David Bowie's Tin Machine period. He has no official fandom name or dedicated fan culture. [edit]

Tony Sales commands a niche reverence rather than a roaring cult. His audience is defined by a deep appreciation for the rhythm section's raw, instinctive power, viewing him not as a solo star but as the backbone of legendary collaborations with Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Fans trace their devotion to the 'Sales Brothers' dynamic, celebrating the duo's ability to anchor complex rock arrangements with a dangerous, driving energy that few can replicate. This collective identity means his supporters often identify first with Tin Machine or the Lust for Life era before claiming him individually. There are no formal rituals, dedicated fan-funded campaigns, or official nicknames for his followers; the community exists primarily through shared appreciation of his musical legacy rather than organized fandom activities. While he has maintained a low profile for decades, avoiding the spotlight despite his contributions to rock history, recent reflections on rediscovering the road have rekindled interest among long-time listeners. The iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated Tony Sales in August 2026 and determined that he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, meaning he is not ranked within the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list.[edit]

Tony Sales has been a professional musician since age 12. He survived a near-fatal car accident in the late 1970s that left him in a coma for months. His first band, Tony and The Tigers, included Jon Meredith, son of actor Burgess Meredith. Sales and his brother Hunt are often called the most dangerous rhythm section in music. David Bowie specifically sought them out for Tin Machine because of their work on Lust for Life. Sales had not toured since 1991 until his 2023 UK tour. His father, Soupy Sales, was a legendary TV comedian known for pie-throwing. A defining moment in rock lore occurred in Paris during the spring of 1989, when Tony famously declared "Heaven's in here" at a press conference attended by 300 journalists, baffling the media and cementing the band's enigmatic aesthetic. This statement became a central piece of the mythology surrounding the Sales Brothers, who provided a robust rhythm section that anchored Bowie's experimental sound during a period of intense scrutiny.[edit]

Tony Sales is the son of comedian Soupy Sales and Barbara Fox. His younger brother, Hunt Sales, is a renowned drummer, and the two have worked together throughout their careers. Tony Sales has been married twice: first to Anulka Dziubinska, and second to Taryn Power, daughter of actor Tyrone Power. Both marriages ended in divorce. Information about children is not publicly available. [edit]

Tony Sales has collaborated extensively with his brother, drummer Hunt Sales, as well as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren, Clem Burke, Reeves Gabrels, Kevin Armstrong, and James Williamson. [edit]

Tony Sales has been married twice. His first wife was Anulka Dziubinska, though few details about their marriage are public. His second wife was Taryn Power, daughter of actor Tyrone Power, an actress and writer. That marriage also ended in divorce. As of 2026, Sales is reportedly single and keeps his personal life private. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Tony Sales's net worth in 2026 is estimated at $5 Million. His wealth stems from decades of touring and recording as a session and band musician, alongside royalties from landmark albums like Iggy Pop's Lust for Life and Tin Machine's releases. Occasional film appearances have also contributed to his earnings. After a long hiatus from touring, his 2023 UK tour generated renewed interest and revenue. Exact figures are not publicly disclosed.[edit]