The Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke passes away at 59: His cause of death revealed

These last few months, or years, have been devastating for the music industry. After S Club 7's singer Paul Cattermole's death, and K-Pop star Moonbin's suicide, it is another legendary figure who died. Andy Rourke was The Smiths bass player almost since the band started out in the early 1980s. He died on May 19, 2023, at the age of 59, after fighting pancreatic cancer for several years, as one of his bandmates and good friends announced this morning.

News of the bassist's death was announced this morning by The Smiths' leader Johnny Marr, who posted a heartfelt tribute to his friend since childhood in a Twitter post.

Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.

Andy Rourke was an important figure for The Smiths

Thoughts and prayers have started pouring out since the news of Rourke's death was announced by guitarist Johnny Marr. Andy Rourke played bass on classic records such as This Charming Man or There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, but he had also played solos on his buddy Morrissey's records after the band split up. His impressive career included playing with Sinead O’Connor, the Pretenders, Ian Brown and the group DARK with the Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan, who died in 2018 at the age of 46.

The Smiths' story started in 1982, when the two good friends Johnny Marr and Morrissey decided to start making music together. Two bassists played for the band at first, but they were quickly replaced by Andy Rourke, who had been friends with Johnny Marr since they were 11. They had even tried to start a duo together some years earlier but it was short-lived. The Smiths released four albums which went on to become classics of 80s British indie music: The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead, and Strangeways, Here We Come.

According to the BBC,Marr and Rourke stayed friends all their lives, until Rourke died this morning.

Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player. Watching him play those dazzling basslines was an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold. We maintained our friendship over the years, no matter where we were or what was happening... Well done Andy. We'll miss you brother.

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Andy Rourke was fighting against pancreatic cancer

As The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote on Twitter, Andy Rourke had battled a lengthy pancreatic cancer, which eventually took his life this Friday, May 19, 2023. Andy Rourke struggled with heroin use in the early 1980s and he was arrested for possession in 1986. He was then fired from the band, before eventually coming back two weeks later.

Andy Rourke died just months after he reunited with Johnny Marr on the record 'Strong Forever' which they made with Rourke's new band Blitz Vega.

Read more:S Club 7 has changed their name due to this tragic reason

Sources used:

Guardian: Andy Rourke, bassist for the Smiths, dies aged 59

Far Out: Far Out Meets: The Smiths’ Mike Joyce discusses Morrissey, Marr and modern music

BBC News: Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies aged 59

Evening Standard: The Smiths bass player Andy Rourke dies after battle with pancreatic cancer