Andy Rourke, bassist for The Smiths, dies at 59

LONDON (AP) — Andy Rourke, bassist for The Smiths, one of the most influential British bands of the 1980s, has died after a long illness with pancreatic cancer, his former bandmate Johnny Marr said Friday. He was 59 years old.

In a lengthy Instagram post, guitarist and songwriter Marr paid tribute to Rourke, whom he met when they were both kids at school in 1975.

“Throughout our teens we played in various bands around south Manchester before making our name with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bassist,” said Marr.

During their brief time together as a four-piece band, The Smiths deliberately stayed away from the mainstream of popular music, garnering a cult following in the independent music scene.

Although much of the attention focused on the songwriting partnership of Marr and frontman Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as Morrissey, The Smiths’ sound owed much to the bass of Rourke and fellow rhythm section player Drummer Mike Joyce.

As their popularity rose, the band released some of the most enduring British songs of the 1980s, including “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and “Girlfriend In A Coma”.

The Smiths’ songs earned a reputation for being downbeat, but were actually darkly humorous and accompanied by uplifting, soulful guitars.

His albums, including “The Queen is Dead” and “Meat is Murder,” remain a staple for any self-respecting music fan and are at the forefront of the vinyl record renaissance.

“I was there for every one of Andy’s bass takes at every Smiths session,” Marr said. “Sometimes I was there as a producer and sometimes just as his proud partner and cheerleader. Seeing him hit those dazzling baselines was an absolute privilege and truly something to behold.”

Marr said that he and Rourke maintained their friendship in the years after the band’s breakup, recalling that Rourke played in his band at Madison Square Garden in September 2022.

“It was a special moment that we shared with my family and his wife and soul mate Francesca,” said Marr. “Andy will always be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by all who knew him, and as a supremely gifted musician by people who love music. Well done Andy. We will miss you brother.”