Andy Rourke, best known as the bassist for The Smiths, died today at the age of 59 from pancreatic cancer.
His death announcement came from former bandmate and childhood friend of Johnny Marr via Twitter:
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time.
On Instagram, Marr posted a long text about her friendship with Rourke:
Andy Rourke RIP.
Andy and I met as schoolboys in 1975. We were best friends, going everywhere together. When we were fifteen I moved into his house with him and his three brothers and I soon came to realise that my mate was one of those rare people that absolutely no one doesn’t like.
Andy and I spent all our time studying music, having fun, and working on becoming the best musicians we could possibly be. Back then Andy was a guitar player and a good one at that, but it was when he picked up the bass that he would find his true calling and his singular talent would flourish.
Throughout our teens we played in various bands around South Manchester before making our reputations with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player.
I was present at every one of Andy’s bass takes on every Smiths session. Sometimes I was there as the producer and sometimes just as his proud mate and cheerleader. Watching him play those dazzling baselines was an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold. But one time which always comes to mind was when I sat next to him at the mixing desk watching him play his bass on the song The Queen Is Dead. It was so impressive that I said to myself ‘I’ll never forget this moment.’
We maintained our friendship over the years, no matter where we were or what was happening and it is a matter of personal pride as well as sadness that the last time Andy played on stage was with me and my band at Maddison Square Garden in September 2022.
It was a special moment that we shared with my family and his wife and soul mate Francesca.Andy will always be remembered, as a kind and beautiful soul by everyone who knew him, and as a supremely gifted musician by people who love music.
Well done Andy. We’ll miss you brother.
Johnny x
Andrew Michael Rourke was born on January 17, 1964. In 1982 he joined The Smiths after the band's first show. After the group broke up in 1987, he collaborated on vocalist Morrissey's first solo albums.
Rourke played bass on the tracks "The Emperor's New Clothes", "Jump in the River" and "You Cause As Much Sorrow" from I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990), the classic album by Sinéad O'Connor .
The musician was also part of the supergroup Freebass, which also featured bassists Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order) and Gary "Mani" Mounfield (The Stone Roses / Primal Scream) and vocalist Gary Briggs. Freebass released a single album, It's a Beautiful Life (2010).
In 2009, Rourke moved to New York City, where he worked as a DJ and formed the band D.A.R.K. with DJ/producer Olé Koretsky and the late Irish vocalist Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries).
