Andy Rourke, the bassist for The Smiths, one of England’s most iconic rock bands, passed away at the age of 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Rourke’s former bandmate, guitarist Johnny Marr, announced his death on Twitter. Marr wrote that Rourke would be remembered as a “kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.”
Rourke joined The Smiths in 1982 and played with them until their split in 1987, a few months ahead of the release of their fourth studio album, “Strangeways, Here We Come.” Rourke went on to work with The Smiths frontman Morrissey on his solo projects and perform with a variety of artists, including Sinead O’Connor, The Pretenders, Badly Drawn Boy, and guitarist Aziz Ibrahim.
In 2005, Rourke formed the supergroup Freebass with Peter Hook, formerly of New Order and Joy Division, and Gary “Mani” Mounfield of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream.
Tributes poured in from the music industry for Rourke, who was regarded as a one-of-a-kind musician. Suede bassist Mat Osman praised Rourke’s distinctive sound. Osman reminisced about learning the Barbarism break and being floored by the “steely funk driving the track along.” Smiths producer Stephen Street added, “Andy was a superb musician and a lovely guy.”
Rourke’s passing is a significant loss for the music industry and his fans. His contributions to The Smiths and his subsequent collaborations have made his music an integral part of the British rock music scene. His legacy will undoubtedly live on through his music and the lives he touched throughout his career.
