Andy Rourke: 5 Things To Know About The Smiths Bassist Who Died From Cancer At 59

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Image Credit: Damien Maguire/Shutterstock Andy died aft a conflict with pancreatic cancer. Andy’s decease was announced by bandmate Johnny Marr. Andy was the bassist for the Smiths.

Andy Rourke has sadly died astatine the property of 59. The Smiths bassist’s decease was announced connected May 19 by erstwhile bandmate and person Johnny Marr. Johnny penned heartfelt messages astir Andy’s passing.

“Andy volition ever beryllium remembered, arsenic a benignant and beauteous psyche by everyone who knew him, and arsenic a supremely talented instrumentalist by radical who emotion music,” Johnny wrote successful his Instagram tribute to Andy. Learn much astir Andy’s beingness and vocation below.

Andy Rourke with the Smiths. (Andre Csillag/Shutterstock)

Andy died from pancreatic cancer.

Johnny announced successful the aboriginal hours of May 19, 2023, that Andy had died aft a “lengthy unwellness with pancreatic cancer.” Johnny’s full tweet read: “It is with heavy sadness that we denote the passing of Andy Rourke aft a lengthy unwellness with pancreatic cancer. Andy volition beryllium remembered arsenic a benignant and beauteous psyche by those who knew him and arsenic a supremely talented instrumentalist by euphony fans.  We petition privateness astatine this bittersweet time.”

Johnny Marr’s tweet astir Andy’s passing. (Twitter)

Andy was the bassist for the Smiths.

Johnny and Morrissey formed the Smiths successful 1982, and Andy joined soon aft the set was created. Andy was kicked retired of the set concisely aft helium was “busted” for heroin possession, but helium ended up rejoining the set earlier their past American tour, Andy told The Daily Beast successful 2017. The Smiths yet broke up successful 1987.

Andy stayed friends with Johnny Marr aft the set divided up.

Johnny wrote a longer tribute station to Andy connected his Instagram and opened up astir their decades-long relationship aft gathering erstwhile they were boys. Even though the set divided up successful 1987, Johnny and Andy remained close. “We maintained our relationship implicit the years, nary substance wherever we were oregon what was happening and it is simply a substance of idiosyncratic pridefulness arsenic good arsenic sadness that the past clip Andy played connected signifier was with maine and my set astatine Maddison Square Garden successful September 2022. It was a peculiar infinitesimal that we shared with my household and his woman and psyche mate Francesca,” helium wrote.

Andy battled heroin addiction erstwhile helium was younger.

Andy revealed successful his interrogation with The Daily Beast that helium began utilizing heroin erstwhile helium was 16 oregon 17 years old. “I conscionable started dabbling with drugs. You’re a young kid, and past overnight you’re successful a palmy band. You commencement getting a clump of wealth and don’t cognize what to do. You commencement spending it connected drugs,” helium said. He didn’t get cleanable until 20 years later.

Andy Rourke performing. (Damien Maguire/Shutterstock)

Andy created different bands aft the Smiths.

After the Smiths divided up, Andy aboriginal went connected to signifier the set Freebass. He besides created the band D.A.R.K. with The Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan. Throughout his career, helium besides performed with Sinead O’Connor, The Pretenders, and Ian Brown.

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