Andy Rourke, bassist of the Smiths, has died at the age of 59 after battling pancreatic cancer. The information was revealed by guitarist Johnny Marr, this Friday (5/19).
On Twitter, the musician lamented the tragic news. “Andy will be remembered for his kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him, and as a very talented musician by music fans. We ask for privacy at this sad time,” Marr wrote.
According to The Mirror, Rourke showed a passion for music from an early age and learned to play the guitar at the age of seven. Childhood friends, he met Johnny Marr at age 11, when they played guitars in his school’s music room.
Andy Rourke formed the Smiths after leaving school at the age of 15. Until then, the band from Manchester, England consisted of him, Marr and Morrissey. In 1982, drummer Mike Joyce closed the group.
The Smiths have become a staple of British alternative rock, with hits such as ‘This Charming Man’, ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ and ‘Big Mouth Strikes Again’.
In total, the band released four albums and had three Top 10 hits between 1982 and 1987. Shortly thereafter, the Smiths faced a bitter legal dispute over royalties. Around the same time, Rourke was struggling with heroin addiction and financial hardship.
After the band broke up, Andy Rourke played with Sinead O’Connor, Freebass and the Pretenders.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a long illness with pancreatic cancer.
Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as an extremely gifted musician by music enthusiasts.
We ask for privacy at this sad time pic.twitter.com/KNehQxXoFz
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) May 19, 2023
Source: Terra
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