Andy Rourke, bassist for the legendary English rock band The Smiths, died at the age of 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a former bandmate.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer,” guitarist Johnny Marr said on Twitter.
“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him, and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans,” said Marr.
“We request privacy at this sad time,” he added.
Rourke joined The Smiths in 1982 and remained with them until their breakup in 1987, just before the release of their fourth studio album, “Strangeways, Here We Come.”
Throughout his decades-long musical career, he collaborated with The Smiths frontman Morrissey on solo projects after the band disbanded, as well as performing with Sinéad O’Connor, The Pretenders, Badly Drawn Boy, and guitarist Aziz Ibrahim.
Rourke and fellow bassists Peter Hook, formerly of New Order and Joy Division, and Gary “Mani” Mounfield of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream formed the supergroup Freebass in 2005.
Suede bassist Mat Osman paid tribute to Rourke, calling him “a total one-off – a rare bassist whose sound you could immediately recognize.”
“I remember playing that Barbarism breaks over and over again, trying to learn the riff and marveling at this steely funk driving the track along,” he recalled.
“I am so saddened to hear this news!” added The Smiths producer Stephen Street. Andy was a fantastic musician as well as a nice guy.”
