English rock band, The Smiths Bassist, Andy Rourke died at age 59 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Bandmate and guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed the tragic news: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer,” he wrote on social media. “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.”
Best known as the bassist of the Smiths. He was known for his melodic approach to bass playing. Rourke performed on all four of the British band’s studio albums, each of their classics: The Smiths (from 1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), after which time the band split.
The Smiths Bassist, Andy Rourke Died at 59
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) May 19, 2023
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
“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,” wrote the Charlatans singer Tim Burgess. “Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him.”
