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Andy Rourke, the bassist for rock band the Smiths, has died aged 59, the band has announced.
Guitarist Johnny Marr confirmed “with deep sadness” that Rourke died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Marr said: “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,” he added.
Rourke played on the Smiths’ most famous songs including This Charming Man and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, as well as solo singles for singer Morrissey after the group broke up in 1987.
The bassist performed on all four of The Smiths’ studio albums: 1984’s The Smiths, 1985’s Meat Is Murder, 1986’s The Queen Is Dead and 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come.
Suede bassist Mat Osman led the tributes on social media, describing Rourke as “a total one-off” and “a rare bassist whose sound you could recognise straight away”.
“I remember so clearly playing that Barbarism break over and over, trying to learn the riff, and marvelling at this steely funk driving the track along,” he recalled.
The Charlatans singer Tim Burgess added: “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 [benefit concert] Manchester Versus Cancer. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Travel well x.”
The Smiths producer Stephen Street added: “I am so saddened to hear this news. Andy was a superb musician and a lovely guy.
“I haven’t been able to read any other news about details yet but I send my deepest condolences and thoughts to his friends and family. RIP.” BBC
