Friday, May 19, 2023

R.I.P. Andy Rourke


Gutting news - legendary bassist Andy Rourke has died.

The heart-wrenching news was delivered via social media today. According to the official statement, Rourke died from pancreatic cancer. He was 59 years old.

Tributes are pouring out from his former bandmates, friends, and fans including Morrissey, who called Rourke's bass-playing "terrific" and "unconventional" and described him as also being "very, very funny and very happy, and post-Smiths he kept a steady identity, never any manufactured moves." Read Morrissey's tribute here.

View other tributes from Johnny Marr and Mike Joyce below.

Aside from his incredible work with the Smiths, Rourke played on albums from Morrissey, Ian Brown, Sinead O'Connor, and The Pretenders. He also was a member of FreeBass with Peter Hook and Mani.

R.I.P. to a tremendous player and legend.