Andy Rourke, bass guitarist for influential British rock band The Smiths, has died. The band made the announcement on Friday. He was 59.
Guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed “with deep sadness” that Rourke died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
In a statement posted on social media, Marr said: “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,” he added.
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 pic.twitter.com/KNehQxXoFz— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) May 19, 2023
The BBC reports Rourke played on The Smiths’ most famous songs, including This Charming Man and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, as well as featuring on solo singles for singer Morrissey after the group broke up in 1987.
All four of The Smiths’ studio albums were indebted to his skills: 1984’s The Smiths, 1985’s Meat Is Murder, 1986’s The Queen Is Dead and 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come.
Other bands were also to benefit alongside the Manchester outfit, the BBC report outlines.
File/ (L to R) Guitarist Johnny Marr, singer Morrissey, drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke of The Smiths before their first show in Detroit during the Meat Is Murder Tour on June 8, 1985 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan. (Ross Marino/Getty)
Across his decades-long career, Rourke also recorded with the Pretenders, Killing Joke, Sinead O’Connor, Aziz Ibrahim (formerly of the Stone Roses), and former Oasis guitarist Bonehead as Moondog One – a band which also included Mike Joyce and Craig Gannon.
He also played with another Manchester singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, joining his touring band for two years.
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