After Andy Rourke died last week at the age of 59, his former Smiths bandmates Johnny Marry and Morrissey paid tribute to the late bassist. Now, the remaining member of the Smiths' classic lineup, drummer Mike Joyce, has also celebrated Rourke.
"I don't think Andy realized just how good a bass player he was," Joyce told BBC Breakfast. "I don't think Andy ever really embraced just how momentous his contribution towards music is. I don't think he ever grasped that, and realized it. He's such a self-effacing character; he never saw himself as a great bass player, because it was so effortless for him, and so easy for him. He just put the bass on and magic would happen."
Joyce last saw Rourke in February, and they reminisced about their time in the Smiths. "I knew Andy had been very ill," Joyce said. "I kind of felt as though we weren't going to be waiting long for that call, and when I did get it, it didn't make it any easier."
As well as bandmates, the pair were close friends. Joyce noted that the two roomed together in the Smiths, spending every day together, and they never argued. Watch the interview below.
"I don't think Andy realized just how good a bass player he was," Joyce told BBC Breakfast. "I don't think Andy ever really embraced just how momentous his contribution towards music is. I don't think he ever grasped that, and realized it. He's such a self-effacing character; he never saw himself as a great bass player, because it was so effortless for him, and so easy for him. He just put the bass on and magic would happen."
Joyce last saw Rourke in February, and they reminisced about their time in the Smiths. "I knew Andy had been very ill," Joyce said. "I kind of felt as though we weren't going to be waiting long for that call, and when I did get it, it didn't make it any easier."
As well as bandmates, the pair were close friends. Joyce noted that the two roomed together in the Smiths, spending every day together, and they never argued. Watch the interview below.
