Andy Rourke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Rourke
Rourke in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Andrew Michael Rourke
Born	(1964-01-17)17 January 1964 Manchester, England
Died	19 May 2023(2023-05-19) (aged 59) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock indie pop
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Bass guitar guitar cello
Labels	24 Hour Service Station Rough Trade

Andrew Michael Rourke (born 17 January 1964 – died 19 May 2023) was an English musician. He was best known as the bassist for the famous 1980s indie rock band the Smiths. Many people thought he was one of the best bass players of his time. He was known for his unique and melodic bass playing style, which often had a funk music feel.

Andy Rourke joined The Smiths after their first concert. He had known the band's guitarist, Johnny Marr, since they were in secondary school. Rourke played bass on all of The Smiths' albums. After the band broke up in 1987, he played on some early solo songs for the singer, Morrissey. Andy also recorded music with other artists like Sinéad O'Connor and the Pretenders. He was part of a supergroup called Freebass and a band called D.A.R.K.. Later, he formed the band Blitz Vega with Kav Sandhu. From 2006 to 2009, he helped organize special concerts called Versus Cancer to raise money for cancer research.

Andy Rourke passed away on 19 May 2023, at the age of 59, after battling pancreatic cancer.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Andy Rourke was born in Manchester, England, on 17 January 1964. His father was Irish and his mother was English. Andy was raised by his father in different parts of Manchester.

When he was seven, his parents gave him an acoustic guitar. At age 11, he became good friends with John Maher, who later became famous as Johnny Marr. They both loved music and went to the same school. During lunch breaks, they would often play their guitars together in jam sessions. When Andy and Johnny decided to form a band, Andy switched to playing the bass guitar. He loved it and continued to play bass for the rest of his music career.

Andy left school when he was 15. He worked different jobs while playing guitar and bass in various rock bands. He was also part of a short-lived funk band called Freak Party with Johnny Marr.

Music Career

Playing with The Smiths

Andy Rourke (furthest left) with The Smiths in 1985

Johnny Marr later teamed up with Morrissey to create The Smiths. Andy Rourke joined the band in 1982 after their first show. He stayed with the band for their entire time together.

On The Smiths' second album, Meat Is Murder, there was a song called "Barbarism Begins at Home". This seven-minute song had a strong funk influence. Many music critics believe it was one of Andy Rourke's best performances. He was also praised for his rockabilly-style basslines on songs like "Rusholme Ruffians" and "Nowhere Fast". Other famous songs where Andy's bass playing stood out include "This Charming Man" and "How Soon Is Now?".

Andy briefly left the band in early 1986 but returned just two weeks later. After he came back, The Smiths released their third album, The Queen Is Dead. Johnny Marr said that Andy's playing on that album was "something no other bass player could match." He also thought the heavy bassline on the album's title track, "The Queen Is Dead", was one of the best he had ever heard. Andy also played the cello on some Smiths songs, like "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Rubber Ring". The Smiths released their fourth and final album, Strangeways, Here We Come, in 1987. The band broke up soon after.

Life After The Smiths

Andy Rourke in 1994

Working with Other Artists

Soon after The Smiths broke up, Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce played with Sinéad O'Connor. Andy's bass playing can be heard on her 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. He also played bass on some of Morrissey's solo songs, including "November Spawned a Monster" and "Piccadilly Palare". Andy even wrote the music for some of Morrissey's B-sides, which are extra songs released with singles.

In 1994, he worked as a session bassist for the Pretenders, playing on six songs for their album Last of the Independents. He also worked with other bands and artists like Killing Joke, Badly Drawn Boy, and Ian Brown.

New Bands and Projects

In 2007, Andy Rourke formed a band called Freebass with two other famous bassists: Mani from The Stone Roses and Peter Hook from New Order. This supergroup of bass players was active until 2010.

In 2009, Andy moved to New York City. There, he had his own radio show and worked as a club DJ. This led him to form a new alternative rock band called D.A.R.K. with Olé Koretsky and Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer from the Cranberries. Their first album, Science Agrees, came out in 2016.

After Dolores O'Riordan passed away, Andy formed another band called Blitz Vega with guitarist and singer Kav Sandhu. Their first song, "Hey Christo," was released in 2019. In 2022, Blitz Vega released a song called "Strong Forever" that featured Johnny Marr as a guest guitarist.

Helping Others

Versus Cancer Concerts

Andy Rourke, along with his manager and others, organized a series of concerts to raise money for cancer research. These concerts were first called "Manchester v Cancer" and later simply "Versus Cancer". They started this effort because Andy's manager's father and sister were diagnosed with cancer.

The first "Manchester v Cancer" concert happened in January 2006. It was a special event because Andy Rourke and his former Smiths bandmate, Johnny Marr, played one song together. Andy continued to organize more of these concerts in the following three years, helping to raise important funds for a good cause.

Death and Tributes

Andy Rourke passed away on the morning of 19 May 2023, at the age of 59. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.

All three of his former bandmates from The Smiths shared their sadness and paid tribute to him. Morrissey wrote that Andy "didn’t ever know his own power" and that his playing was "terrific and unconventional." Johnny Marr described Andy as a "beautiful soul" and a "supremely gifted musician." He also remembered their early friendship, saying, "We were best friends, going everywhere together."

Equipment

Throughout his career, Andy Rourke used several different bass guitars. Some of his favorites included the Fender Precision Bass, the Fender Jazz Bass, and a Yamaha BB3000 bass.

Discography

The Smiths

Morrissey

Singles

• "Piccadilly Palare"
• "Interesting ..."
• "November Spawned a Monster"
• "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"

Albums

• Bona Drag (1990)

Freebass

Singles

• "Live Tomorrow You Go Down" – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station

EPs

• Two Worlds Collide – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station
• You Don't Know This About Me (The Arthur Baker Remixes) – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station
• Fritz von Runte vs Freebass Redesign – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station
• Two Worlds Collide (The Instrumental Mixes) – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station

Albums

• It's a Beautiful Life – 2010 – 24 Hour Service Station / Essential

D.A.R.K.

• Science Agrees (2016)

Sinéad O'Connor

Albums

• I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990)

Singles

• "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1990)

The Pretenders

Albums

• Last of the Independents (1994)

Singles

• "I'll Stand by You" (1994)
• "Night in My Veins" (1994)
• "997" (1994)
• "Money Talk" (1994)

Ian Brown

• The World Is Yours (2007)

Blitz Vega

• "Hey Christo" (2019)
• "Lost & Found" (2019)
• "LA Vampire" (2019)
• "Strong Vampire" (2022)