2023-05-19 09:25:25
Bassist Andy Rourke, member of British rock band The Smiths, has died aged 59, it has been announced the band’s guitarist, Johnny MarrFriday, May 19. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke from pancreatic cancer”wrote the co-creator of the rock group on Twitter. “People who knew him will remember Andy as a kind person with a beautiful soul, and fans as an extremely gifted musician. »
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.… https://t.co/5KhmsUnZPV
Andy Rourke had joined The Smiths shortly after the band was formed by vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982, and has been with them for most of its existence. The bassist has played on the band’s greatest classics, including This Charming Man et There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.
He also contributed to Morrissey’s solo hits after the band broke up. The sounds of The Smiths still define 1980s British indie rock today, across four albums – The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead et Strangeways, Here We Come.
Plagued by heroin addiction
“He was my best friend, we went everywhere together”said Mr. Marr again, in a tribute text posted on Instagram. “When we were 15, I moved into his house with him and his three brothers, and I quickly realized that my friend was one of those rare people that absolutely no one could hate. » On his side, Mike Joycedrummer of the band, hailed “not only the most talented bassist I’ve had the privilege of playing with, but also the sweetest and funniest guy I’ve ever met”.
Other tributes have already poured in. The group’s producer, Stephen Street, expressed his sadness, hailing a “lovely guy and an amazing bass player”. The bass player of the group SuedeMat Osman, meanwhile, paid tribute to a “rare bass player”dont “we immediately recognized the sound”.
His addiction to heroin led to his departure from the group in 1986, which he rejoined two weeks later. “You start earning a lot of money and you don’t know what to do with it. [Alors] you start spending it on drugs”explained Mike Joyce, shortly after.
Both had sued Johnny Marr and Morrissey over the distribution of royalties after the band broke up in 1987. An agreement was eventually reached and the friendship between bassist and guitarist survived this litigation. Morrissey adopted an increasingly reactionary speech and was virulent towards his former comrades, before adopting a more conciliatory tone in his autobiography published in 2013.
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