The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr paid a moving tribute to former bandmate Andy Rourke today following his passing at the age of 59.
Ma took to Twitter this morning to say that the bassist had died “after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.”
“Andy will be remembered by those who know him as a kind and beautiful soul, and by music fans as a gifted musician,” he said.
Along with drummer Mike Joyce, Rourke was instrumental in the throbbing, melodic rhythms underlying Marr’s pioneering chords as The Smiths became one of Britain’s most influential bands in the 1980s. provided a section.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Marr said it was an “absolute privilege” to play alongside Rourke. He writes about moving into Roark’s house as a boy and how he was “one of those rare guys who absolutely nobody likes”.
Smiths guitarist Andy Rourke has died at the age of 59, it was announced this morning.
The Smiths outside the Salford Lads Club.Pictured left to right – Marr, Morrissey, Rourke, Joyce
Rourke with his wife Francesca Mol (left) and Martine Rourke (right) at the premiere in New York in October 2022.
He said, “Andy and I met in school in 1975. We were best friends and went everywhere together. When we were 15, I was with him and his three brothers. I moved into his house, and soon realized that my spouse was one of those rare people that nobody absolutely hated.
“Andy and I spent all our time studying music, having fun, and being the best musicians we could be. He found his true calling and his singular talent blossomed.”
Marr continued, “As a teenager, he played in various bands around South Manchester, then established himself with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987. Andy was the first to discover what it meant to be a bass guitarist. It was those Smith records that we reinvented.”
“I was present at every Smith session Andy played bass. Sometimes I was there as a producer, sometimes as his proud companion and cheerleader. It was an absolute privilege to see them perform and it was truly an eye opener.
“But I always remember sitting next to him at the mixing desk and watching him play bass on the song ‘The Queen Is Dead.’ “I will never forget this moment,” I said to myself.
Mahr also recalled the last time the pair played together — last year in New York City.
“No matter where we were or what was going on, we remained friends over the years. The last time Andy played on stage was with me and my band at Madison. ) It is both my personal pride and sadness to have performed at The Square.” The gardens will be completed in September 2022,” he wrote.
“It was a special moment shared with the family and his wife and soulmate Francesca.”
He added, “Well done Andy. I will miss my brother.”
Suede guitarist Matt Osman, younger brother of Pointless host Richard, paid tribute to the “completely one-off” today.
He tweeted: “Oh my god. Rest in peace Andy Rourke. The rare bass player whose sound is immediately recognizable as a complete one-off.
“I distinctly remember playing Barbarism Break over and over, trying to learn the riff, and marveling at this steely funk that ran through the track.”
Music producer Stephen Street, who worked with the band, said he was “very sad” to hear the news.
He wrote: “Andy was a great musician and a lovely person. Can’t read any other news about the details yet, but my heartfelt condolences and thoughts to his friends and family.”
Folk singer Billy Bragg paid tribute to him on Twitter, calling Rourke a “fantastic bassist”.
He tweeted: “So sad to hear that Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has passed away.
“I have great memories of him playing with Johnny Marr and myself on the Red Wedge tour.
“My condolences to his family and friends.”
Meanwhile, Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess praised him as an “inspirational musician”.
“Very sad sad news about Andy Rourke. He was an inspirational musician with a style that made many of us pick up the bass guitar. And the driving force behind Manchester v. Cancer,” he said. tweeted.
“Our thoughts are with all who knew him. Have a nice trip x’
The bassist performing on stage at Hammersmith Palais, West London, 12 March 1984
Former bandmate Johnny Marr took to Twitter to share the tragic news, calling Rourke an ‘extremely talented musician’
Suede guitarist Matt Osman and producer Stephen Street were among those paying tribute today.
Born on 17 January 1964 to an English mother and an Irish father, Rourke showed a passion for music from an early age, learning to play the guitar at the age of seven.
He met Ma when he was 11 and the two bonded and jammed together on guitar in the school music room.
After leaving school at the age of 15, Rourke formed The Smiths in Manchester with Marr. Morrissey and drummer Mike Joyce in 1982.
With hits like This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and Girlfriend In A Coma, the group became a seminal Manchester band of the 1980s and an icon of British alternative rock.
Rourke was briefly dismissed for two weeks in 1986 for heroin addiction, but returned to record the album Queen Is Dead that same year.
The band released four albums between 1982 and 1987 and had three Top 10 hits, but it turned into a bitter legal dispute over royalties from their now cavernous repertoire.
Their demise was one of the most tragic in British music, but Rourke settled out of court, His friendship with Ma survived the incident.
Rourke formed The Smiths in Manchester in 1982 with Marr, Morrissey and drummer Mike Joyce.
Today, Marr wrote a touching post on Instagram recalling how he and Rourke met and the last time they played together.
Morrissey, whose interest in far-right politics has grown in recent years, was stern with his former bandmates before adopting a more conciliatory tone in his book Autobiography.
Rourke later got to play solo singles with Morrissey. He has also played with Sinead O’Connor of the Stone Roses and Ian Brown.
Morrissey reignited the band’s feud last year by publishing an open letter attacking Ma on the Morrissey Central blog.
“This is not ranting or hysterical ranting. This is a polite, dispassionate request. Please don’t mention my name in interviews,” he said.
“Instead, would you mind telling me about your own career, your unstoppable solo career, and your own music?”
“The fact is, you don’t know me. You know nothing about my life, my intentions, my thoughts, my feelings.
“Yet you speak as if you were my personal psychiatrist, giving me consistent and uninterrupted access to my instincts.”
Left to right: Ma, Morrissey, Mike Joyce, and Rourke before their Detroit premiere during the 1985 Meet Is Murder tour.
Marr and Rourke on stage at the “Manchester vs. Cancer” charity concert at the Manchester Evening News Arena
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12101943/The-Smiths-bassist-Andy-Rourke-dies-aged-59.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Andy Rourke dies: Smiths bassist Johnny Marr dies at 59 out of tribute