The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has died at age 59. His death from pancreatic cancer was confirmed by statements made on Rourke’s official social media accounts.
The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was among those to react to Rourke’s death. Marr shared an elegy for Rourke, writing:
“Andy Rourke RIP.
“Andy and I met as schoolboys in 1975. We were best friends, going everywhere together. When we were 15 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 Madison 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
Andy Rourke was born in Manchester on January 17, 1964. He picked jp the bass at age 11 and joined the funk band Freak Party with his classmate, John Maher who would become known as Johnny Marr.
In 1982, Rourke joined The Smiths after their first concert, replacing bassist Dale Hibbert and solidifying the lineup alongside Marr, vocalist Morrissey and drummer Mike Joyce. The Smiths recorded four albums between 1982 and 1987, disbanding before the release of 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come.
Rourke went on to work with Sinead O’Connor, The Pretenders, Badly Drawn Boy, Aziz Ibrahim, Morrissey and others. Rourke co-founded Moondog One with former Oasis guitarist Bonehead and formed the bass supergroup Freebass with New Order’s Peter Hook and The Stone Roses/Primal Scream’s Gary “Mani” Mounfield.
Rourke also co-founded D.A.R.K. with Olé Koretsky and the late Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. Recent work included Rourke contributing to various television programs and feature films.
Morrissey also shared a statement regarding Rourke’s death which read in part, “He will never die as long as his music is heard.” The full statement follows:
“Sometimes one of the most radical things you can do is to speak clearly. When someone dies, out come the usual blandishments … as if their death is there to be used. I’m not prepared to do this with Andy. I just hope … wherever Andy has gone … that he’s OK. He will never die as long as his music is heard.
He didn’t ever know his own power, and nothing that he played had been played by someone else. His distinction was so terrific and unconventional and he proved it could be done. He was also very, very funny and very happy, and post-Smiths, he kept a steady identity – never any manufactured moves. I suppose, at the end of it all, we hope to feel that we were valued. Andy need not worry about that.”
