Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has died. He was 59 and passed away due to pancreatic cancer. He died in New York City cancer treatment facility Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed the news on social media, tweeting, "Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans."
UPDATE (5/19 1:10 p.m. ET): Morrissey has also shared a eulogy for his former bandmate, saying Rourke "will never die as long as his music is heard."
Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed the news on social media, tweeting, "Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans."
UPDATE (5/19 1:10 p.m. ET): Morrissey has also shared a eulogy for his former bandmate, saying Rourke "will never die as long as his music is heard."
Rourke joined the Smiths shortly after their formation and, despite leaving the group briefly due to drugs, played on all of their albums. After the band broke up, he went on to play as the bassist for Morrissey's solo work. He also appeared on albums by Sinéad O'Connor, the Pretenders and Ian Brown. He was part of the supergroup Freebass (with Peter Hook and Mani) and the band D.A.R.K.
Marr posted a longer tribute on Instagram, detailing how he and Rourke met as children in 1975 and were best friends. He called Rourke "one of those rare people that absolutely no one doesn't like."
Marr continued, "It was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player. I was present at every one of Andy's bass takes on every Smiths session. Sometimes I was there as the producer and sometimes just as his proud mate and cheerleader. Watching him play those dazzling basslines was an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold." The two remained friends, and Rourke played with Marr's band as recently as September 2022.
Marr noted that Rourke is survived by his wife Francesca.