Andy Rourke

freakboy1610 · May 2023

The Smiths and Morrissey bass player has died of pancreatic cancer at 59. He was a great player and a nice guy by all accounts. Very sad.

DefaultM · May 2023

Oh no. All I've listened to for the last month is The Smiths and my wife was just saying yesterday morning how good the bass is.

oh_pollo · May 2023

God, that's terrible news. Brilliant player, probably underrated because Johnny Marr's light burned so bright. R.I.P.

thermionic · May 2023

Very sad news. Going to the funeral of my partner’s brother next week, who died of the same thing at the same age as Andy. It’s a particularly ruthless, cruel, and rapid disease.

Going to have to sit down and learn this bassline soon.

https://youtu.be/peh6JCBoznk

Leisceoir · May 2023

Used to often see him at local unsigned band's gigs around Manchester in the 00's. He would chat to anyone who came up to him and he helped a lot of local musicians. Sad to hear he's gone.

richardhomer · May 2023

Very sad news. RIP

bloodandtears · May 2023

sad news indeed.. as a Smith's fan, heaven knows I'm miserable now

lustycourtier · May 2023

He was a lovely man, such sad news.

Deadman · May 2023

Oh man. That’s a massive part of my youth gone. RIP Andy Rourke.

Garold86 · May 2023

He DJ'd a night at our student uni, must be 15 years ago now. Spent about 2 hours with him behind the decks, chewing the fat, talking music and yeah, he was generally just one of the nicest, most humble people I'd ever met. 59 no age whatsoever.

roberty · May 2023

Johnny Marr has written a touching tribute

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Rc6NUzsvh2SNiy5xpcfjCmS19UG9BMemA6vRenZX2pok53uFKiKU79y5jqUxpiKyl&id=100044384081125&sfnsn=scwspwa

Very sad news

darthed1981 · May 2023

Absolutely fantastic bassist with one of the greatest bands of all time in his CV...

No way the Smiths would have been the Smiths without him. He even spruced up some of Moz's better, earlier solo stuff with his playing.

RIP Andy

Hurling_Fruitmig · May 2023

By chance I happened to be watching some Smiths live footage yesterday and marveling at how good his playing was. Sad news indeed.

Boromedic · May 2023

RIP Andy, great player and a big part of one of my fave bands. Sleep well.

Offset · May 2023

Just seen this. Absolutely gutted. The Smiths were one of my favourite bands of the '80s and I was lucky enough to see them at the RAH circa 1985, supported by James. WHAT a gig.

I lost a dear friend to pancreatic cancer several years ago and as other have said, it's a truly awful disease,

A tragic loss at an early age.

Danny1969 · May 2023

Sad news. He was unfairly f#cked by Morrissey and Marr financially, I don't think he ever got what he deserved and he was a huge part of the bands sound.

Kittyfrisk · May 2023

Very sad to hear this news. I still love The Smiths music, despite Morrissey's subsequent stance & antics.
Andy Rourke was a brilliant bass player that along with Mike Joyce got royally screwed over by Morrissey & Marr.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-smiths-breakup-lawsuit-marr-morrissey-rourke/
'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.' RIP

UnclePsychosis · May 2023

I'm a bass player more than a guitarist and Andy is one of my heroes. This one hits hard.

SPECTRUM001 · May 2023

This is very very sad - RIP Andy - way too young.

That twelve months from the release of Hand in Glove remains an amazing time. I saw them in 1983 when I went up to college in Norwich - I remember it vividly (now forty years later) as it was one of the most exciting shows ever, and such an eye opener.

The band were so incredibly energised, and Andy as cool as a cucumber. Felt like it was over as quick as it had begun.

What a shame..

26.2 · May 2023

Very sad and a real shock - a superb melodic bass player and a truly nice bloke. I first saw them at The Lyceum in Aug 83 with Howard Devoto and they were fantastic. Saw them many times after and met the band etc. From 83-87 they were our Beatles - great single after great single, an album a year and a hardworking live band. Andy’s bass was pivotal to the sound - they wouldn’t have been half as good without him. RIP.

RocknRollDave · May 2023

His bass lines were integral to the Smiths’ sound.

Supportact · May 2023

One of my favourite bands, really sorry to hear this. As others have said, a really distinctive and unique player.

swiller · May 2023

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......

RIP. Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Wazmeister · May 2023

A sad day... one of my favourite bands, and I was fortunate to see them live.

Andy was an awesome bass player, and vastly underrated.

Journey well Andy, and thanks for the inspiration.

RocknRollDave · May 2023

swiller said:

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......

RIP. Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Good choices!

Marr has singled out the bassline from The Queen is Dead for special mention, and whilst it wasn’t the one that came to mind for me, he’s absolutely right.

swiller · May 2023

RocknRollDave said:

swiller said:

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......

RIP. Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Good choices!
Marr has singled out the bassline from The Queen is Dead for special mention, and whilst it wasn’t the one that came to mind for me, he’s absolutely right.

Yup spot on and ditto on the not came to mind.

guitartango · May 2023

Just seen the news, fucking hell, life can be cruel! Funny enough I was playing there is a light this morning (Noel Gallagher version).

Shrews · May 2023

I was at college back in 83/84 when they first came on the scene. They were instantly liked by us college kids. They just seemed to fall apart somewhere along the line, which was a shame.

It seems Andy Rourke got shit on when the fall out happened and didn't get the recognition - financial or otherwise - that he deserved. Still, he continued to play on the music scene, was well liked, obviously talented and respected and seemed to enjoy his life as a musician. Good for him. Thanks for the memories and music.

26.2 · May 2023

It’s worth saying that Andy settled out of court and Mike Joyce did win a million in court. They were shat on in the sense that they didn’t know they were hired hands on 10%. Both (especially Andy) excellent musicians but not songwriters, so probably did ok. The deception’s not nice, but there was a lot of naivety around in those days. Rough Trade not entirely blameless here, but remember after Joe Moss finished they never had a proper manager.

thumpingrug · May 2023

Sad News. Andy is only a couple of years older than me. I grew up with the Smiths.
A bass player friend of mine was in band who toured with them in the 80s and always spoke of Andy with affection.

drpbier · May 2023

Cemetry Gates for me. It doesn't work without that bassline

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Andy Rourke

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My head said brake, but my heart cried never.