Smiths bassist Andy Rourke dies at 59 from cancer


It was the former guitarist of the British group, Johnny Marr, who announced the death of his former colleague, suffering from pancreatic cancer.





By IM with AFP

Andy Rourke, bassist of English band The Smiths, has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 59.
 © MAXPPP

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” VS’It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a long illness, pancreatic cancer,” former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote on his Twitter account Friday, May 19. The bassist of this flagship English indie rock band of the 1980s died at the age of 59. “Those who knew him will remember Andy as a kind and beautiful soul, fans as an extremely gifted musician,” his former colleague added on Instagram.

Originally from Manchester, in the north of England, the group was formed in 1982 and notably distinguished itself with its album The Queen is Deadreleased in 1986.

Addiction and litigation

Plagued by heroin addiction and financial difficulties, Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce had sued Johnny Marr and singer and lyricist Morrissey in a dispute over the distribution of their copyrights after the group broke up in 1987. An agreement had finally been reached and the friendship between the bassist and the guitarist had survived.

Morrissey has meanwhile adopted an increasingly reactionary discourse – he notably performed in 2019 on an American show with a badge from a British far-right party. He was virulent towards his former comrades, before adopting a more conciliatory tone in his autobiography published in 2013.


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