Bassist Andy Rourke, 59, had been suffering from pancreatic cancer for a long time.
Andy Rourke, bassist of the British rock band The Smiths, has passed away at the age of 59 from pancreatic cancer, The Guardian reports. The sad news was told by the band’s guitarist Johnny Marr.
Andy Rourke has passed away after a long illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul to those who knew him and a very talented musician to music lovers. We ask for privacy in these sad moments, Marr writes on Twitter.
Rourke joined the Smiths in its early days, and was with it almost until its dissolution. He played on Smith’s classic hits such as This Charming Man and There’s a Light That Never Goes Out.
The Smiths consisted of Andy Rourke (left), Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Mike Joyce. Photo: Handout
Rourke also played in the supergroup Freebass with two other well-known bass guitarists, Peter Hook and Gary “Mani” Mounfield.
