Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies elderly 59

Andy Rourke, the bassist for the rock band the Smiths, has died aged fifty-nine, the band has introduced.

Guitarist Johnny Marr showed “with deep unhappiness” that Rourke died after an extended warfare with pancreatic cancer.

In an assertion posted on Twitter, Marr stated: “Andy will be remembered as a kind and delightful soul through folks that knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by way of music enthusiasts.

“We request privacy at this sad time,” he delivered.

Rourke performed the Smiths’ most famous songs together with This fascinating man and there may be a Light That in no way is going Out, in addition to solo singles for singer Morrissey after the institution broke up in 1987.
The bassist finished on all 4 of The Smiths’ studio albums: 1984’s The Smiths, 1985’s Meat Is Murder, 1986’s The Queen Is Lifeless and 1987’s Strangeways, right here We Come.

Suede bassist Mat Osman led the tributes on social media, describing Rourke as “a complete one-off” and “an unprecedented bassist whose sound you may comprehend at once”.

“I consider so truly playing that Barbarism destroys over and over, looking to examine the riff, and marveling at this steely funk driving the song along,” he recalled.

The Smiths producer Stephen Street brought up: “I am so saddened to pay attention to this news. Andy becomes an amazing musician and a lovely man.

“I have never been able to read some other news approximately information but I send my innermost condolences and thoughts to his buddies and own family. RIP.”
Later in his career, Rourke played as part of a supergroup known as Freebass with two other Mancunian bass gamers, Gary “Mani” Mounfield from the Stone Roses and Peter Hook from New Order.

throughout his many years-long profession, Rourke additionally recorded with the Pretenders, Killing Joke, Badly Drawn Boy, Aziz Ibrahim (previously of the Stone Roses), and former Oasis guitarist Bonehead as Moondog One, a band that also protected Mike Joyce and Craig Gannon.
Rourke became born on 17 January 1964 to an English mom and an Irish father. He changed into an interested in song from an early age and commenced learning the guitar aged seven.

He struck up a friendship with Marr aged 11. “We have been nice pals, going anywhere collectively. whilst we had been 15 I moved into his residence with him and his three brothers and I soon got here to realize that my mate became one of those uncommon human beings that nobody would not like,” Marr recalled.

In 1982, while Marr shaped the Smiths with Morrissey and Joyce, the institution first of all trialed other bassists before permanently enlisting Rourke. Marr described playing the bass as Rourke’s “authentic calling”.

The group became the defining Manchester act of the Nineteen Eighties and an icon of British alternative rock, with hits including Heaven knows I am depressing Now and female friend In A Coma.

“Andy reinvented what it’s far to be a bass guitar participant,” Marr stated. “looking him play those magnificent basslines changed into an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold.

“We maintained our friendship over the years, irrespective of where we had been or what was occurring… properly carried out Andy. we will leave out you brother.”