Morrissey pays tribute to The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke after his death at age 59

Smiths frontman Morrissey today paid tribute to “amazing and unconventional” bassist Andy Rourke after the musician died aged 59 after a “long” battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a moving statement, the singer said of Rourke, “His award was so amazing and unconventional and he proved it could be done. He was also very, very funny and very happy… At the end of it all, we hope to feel appreciated. Andy doesn’t have to worry about that.’

Rourke’s former bandmate Johnny Marr announced the tragic news on Twitter this morning, describing Rourke as an “extremely gifted musician.”

He continued, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a long illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as an exceptionally gifted musician by music fans. We ask for privacy at this sad time.”

Along with drummer Mike Joyce, Rourke provided a pounding and melodic rhythm section that underpinned Marr’s pioneering chords as the Smiths became one of Britain’s most influential bands in the 1980s.

Suede guitarist Mat Osman, brother of Pointless presenter Richard, today paid tribute to a ‘total one off’.

He tweeted, “Aw man. RIP Andy Rourke. A total uniqueness – a rare bass player whose sound you could immediately recognize.

“I remember so clearly playing that Barbarism break over and over, trying to learn the riff and marveling at this steely funk that propelled the song.”

Music producer Stephen Street, who worked with the band, said he was “so sad” to hear the news.

He wrote, “Andy was a great musician and a nice guy. I haven’t been able to read any other news of details yet, but I extend my deepest condolences and thoughts to his friends and family.”

Born on January 17, 1964, to an English mother and an Irish father, Rourke showed a passion for music from an early age, learning to play the guitar at the age of seven.

He met Marr at age 11, and the pair bonded and jammed together on their guitars in the music room at their school.

After leaving school at the age of 15, Rourke formed The Smiths in Manchester with Marr, Morrissey and drummer Mike Joyce in 1982.

The group became the pioneering Manchester act of the 1980s and an icon of British alternative rock, with hits such as This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and Girlfriend In A Coma.

Rourke was briefly fired for two weeks in 1986 for heroin addiction, but returned the same year to record The Queen Is Dead album.

The band went on to release four albums and earn three top 10 hits between 1982-1987 before a dispute over royalties from their now cavernous repertoire led to a bitter legal dispute.

Their demise was one of the most spectacular in British music, though Rourke and his settled out of court friendship with Marr survived the case.

Today, Marr penned a touching post on Instagram recalling how he and Rourke met and the last time they played together.

He said, “Andy and I met as schoolboys in 1975. We were best friends and went everywhere together.

“When we were 15, I moved into his house with him and his three brothers, and I quickly realized that my partner was one of those rare people that absolutely no one dislikes.

“Andy and I spent all our time studying music, having fun, and working to become the best musicians we could possibly be.

Andy was a guitarist then and a good one, but it wasn’t until he picked up the bass that he would find his true calling and his unique talent would blossom.

‘During our teenage years we played in several bands in South Manchester before establishing our reputation with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitarist.’

Marr said he attended “every Andy bass at every Smiths session.”

He continued: ‘Sometimes I was there as a producer and sometimes just as his proud buddy and cheerleader. Watching him play those dazzling baselines was an absolute privilege and truly something to behold.

“But one time that always comes to mind was when I sat next to him at the mixing desk watching him play his bass on the song The Queen Is Dead. It was so impressive that I said to myself: ‘I will never forget this moment’.

“We have maintained our friendship over the years no matter where we were or what happened and it is a matter of personal pride and sadness that Andy last played on stage with me and my band at Maddison Square Garden in September. 2022. It was a special moment we shared with my family and his wife and soulmate Francesca.

Andy will always be remembered, as a kind and beautiful soul by all who knew him, and as an exceptionally gifted musician by those who love music.

Well done Andy. We will miss you brother. Johnny x’.

Morrissey, who has increasingly flirted with far-right politics in recent years, was fierce about his former bandmates before taking a more conciliatory tone in his book “Autobiography.”

Rourke later went on to play solo singles with Morrisey. He also played with Sinead O’Connor and Ian Brown of The Stone Roses, among others.

Morrisey reunited the band’s feud last year with an open letter attacking Marr on his Morrissey Central blog.

“This is not a diatribe or hysterical bombast. It’s a polite and calmly measured request: would you please stop using my name in your interviews?’ he said.

“Instead, would you please discuss your own career, your own unstoppable solo performance, and your own music?” If you can, will you please leave me out of it?

Fact is, you don’t know me. You know nothing about my life, my intentions, my thoughts, my feelings.

“Yet you talk as if you were my personal psychiatrist with consistent and uninterrupted access to my instincts.”