Andrew Michael "Andy" Rourke (born on 17 January 1964) is an English musician, best known as the bassist for the Smiths, an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce.
Career
Rourke received an acoustic guitar from his parents when he was seven years old. At age 11 he befriended a young John Maher (the future Johnny Marr) with whom he shared an interest in music. The pair spent lunch breaks in school jamming and playing on their guitars. When Marr and Rourke formed a band, he invited Rourke (still then a guitarist) to try on bass, which he fell in love with and he stuck with ever since.
At age 15 Rourke abandoned school. He passed through a series of menialjobs and played guitar and bass in various rock bands, as well as in the short lived funk band Freak Party, with his school friend Johnny Marr.
Marr later teamed up with Morrissey to form the Smiths. Rourke joined the band after its first gig, and remained through most of its existence. Rourke was briefly sacked from the band, allegedly receiving the news in a note left under the windscreen wiper of his car: "Andy, you have left the Smiths. Good luck and goodbye, Morrissey". Morrissey has denied this. In May 1986, Rourke rejoined the Smiths, just before they recorded The Queen Is Dead. Marr described Rourke's contribution to that album as "something no other bass player could match". The Smiths released Strangeways, Here We Come in 1987 to critical acclaim, but split soon after.
You can say what you want Say what you want But it won't change a thing Won't change a thing You can say what you want Say what you want But it won't change a thing Won't change a thing Cause I saw you with another guy I saw you with another guy Yeah, I saw you with another guy Holding hands, kissing eye to eye You can cry all your like Cry all you like But it don't change a thing Don't change a thing You can cry all your like Cry all you like But it don't change a thing Don't change a thing Cause I saw you with another guy I saw you with another guy Holding hands, kissing eye to eye Yeah, I saw you with another guy Cause I saw you with another guy I saw you with another guy Yeah, I saw you with another guy Holding hands, kissing eye to eye You can say what you want Say what you want But it won't change a thing Won't change a thing You can say what you want Say what you want
Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke seamlessly entwine with Marr here – their playing expressive but empathetic – as, in his own peculiar way, does Morrissey.
Sixth-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke, playing his first season at Indiana after transferring from Ohio, has turned into a legitimate Heisman candidate ... But Rourke won’t be available against Washington ... AndyYamashita’s prediction.
BlitzVega‘s Kav Sandu has told NME about their new album made with the late The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, and how he made an emotional promise to continue the band after his friend’s death from cancer ... Andy Rourke, 1964 – 2023.
Andy Rourke, bassist for The Smiths, died yesterday at the age of 59 ... decades-long feud with Johnny Marr, as well as the recent reunion row and plans for a mural in memory of late bassist Andy Rourke.
The Smiths‘ drummer Mike Joyce has spoken to NME about ending his decades-long feud with Johnny Marr, as well as the recent reunion row and plans for a mural in memory of late bassist Andy Rourke.
The group’s former bass player Andy Rourke died last year ... Rourke was a musician, and musicians want their work to be heard. Would Rourke be happy with the final iteration of this committed blend of ...
BlitzVega, the band helmed by The Smiths’ bassist Andy Rourke and Kav Sandhu of Happy Mondays, formed in 2016 and ended when Rourke died from pancreatic cancer in 2023 ... In a press release for the album, Sandhu remembers Rourke fondly.
The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce has confirmed a permanent mural dedicated to late bassist Andy Rourke will go ahead ... Andy Rourke, 1964 – 2023 ... Morrissey, Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths in 1985.
Made up of lead singer Morrissey, guitarist Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, The Smiths rocketed to stratospheric fame over just four albums, as their 1984 self-titled debut record reached number two in the UK album chart... He said.
