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Andy Rourke, Bassist for The Smiths, Dies at 59

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Andy Rourke, best known as the bassist of The Smiths, has died. He was 59.

Rourke’s death was confirmed by former Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr in a statement via social media.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.
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

— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) May 19, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. 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.”

Rourke played 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.

Following the break up of The Smiths in 1987, Rourke worked with Sinead O’Connor and The Pretenders. He notably played on O’Connor’s 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got and The Pretenders’ Last of the Independents. Additionally, he played bass on a number of solo songs by former Smiths frontman Morrissey.

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Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter
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