Tributes flood in for The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke

Andy Rourke, the bassist for iconic band The Smiths, has died aged 59.

Posting to Twitter this morning, his fellow group member Johnny Marr confirmed the news that Rourke had died of pancreatic cancer.

"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."

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

Rourke played bass in The Smiths, the alt/indie band from the 1980s fronted by Morrissey, who had hits such as 'This Charming Man' and 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now'. Following the disbanding of The Smiths, Andy played on solo songs for Morrissey.

Rourke also played with artists such as The Pretenders, Sinead O'Connor and Ian Brown in his lengthy career. Andy was part of the supergroup Freebass with two other celebrated Mancunian bass guitarists, New Order’s Peter Hook and the Stone Roses’ Mani.

In another Irish link, Rourke joined DARK with the Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan a number of years ago. Rourke later played with another celebrated Mancunian musician, Badly Drawn Boy, and joined his touring band.

The Smiths formed around the partnership of Marr and Morrissey in 1982 before bassist Steve Pomfret joined, replaced by Dale Hibbert, who played the Smiths’ first gig but was replaced thereafter by Rourke, a school friend of Marr.

The English band recorded their first demo in their classic lineup later that year, including songs such as 'What Difference Does It Make?'. The sound of Marr, Morrissey, Rourke and Mike Joyce defined British indie music of the 1980s, and it resulted in four classic albums – The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead and Strangeways, Here We Come.

Andy Rourke sadly struggled with a heroin addiction, leading him to be temporarily removed from the band and replaced by Craig Gannon (briefly.) Marr left in 1987, precipitating the band’s split shortly afterwards.

Rourke and Joyce took Morrissey and Marr to court in 1989 after the band broke up, arguing they were owed an equal share of earnings having only earned 10% each of the group’s performance and recording royalties. Rourke quickly settled for a lump sum of £83,000, while Joyce continued with the lawsuit and was awarded around £1m in backdated royalties and 25% thereafter. Rourke later filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

Tributes have been paid online, including by Suede bassist Mat Osman who described Rourke as “a total one-off - a rare bassist whose sound you could recognise straight away”.

The Smiths producer Stephen Street wrote: “I am so saddened to hear this news! Andy was a superb musician and a lovely guy. I haven’t been able to read any other news about details yet but I send my deepest condolences and thoughts to his friends and family. RIP”.

I’ve just read this tweet from @matosman and I am so saddened to hear this news! Andy was a superb musician and a lovely guy. I haven’t been able to read any other news about details yet but I send my deepest condolences and thoughts to his friends and family. RIP #AndyRourke https://t.co/nL8V6dTDlz

— Stephen Street (@StreetStephen) May 19, 2023

Tim Burgess tweeted, "Such sad sad news about Andy Rourke - He was an inspirational musician with a style that made so many of us pick up a bass guitar; and the driving force for Manchester Versus Cancer. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Travel well x"

Such sad sad news about Andy Rourke - He was an inspirational musician with a style that made so many of us pick up a bass guitar; and the driving force for Manchester Versus Cancer. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Travel well x pic.twitter.com/6hrrfl9bhx

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 19, 2023

Terribly sad news about Andy Rourke. Bass with The Smiths. What a talent. As signature to their sound as Morrissey’s voice and Johnny Marr’s guitar. pic.twitter.com/kIsXpAwN2O

— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) May 19, 2023