Andy Rourke

Supportact

One of my favourite bands, really sorry to hear this. As others have said, a really distinctive and unique player. 

swiller

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......


RIP.  Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Wazmeister

A sad day... one of my favourite bands, and I was fortunate to see them live.

Andy was an awesome bass player, and vastly underrated. 

Journey well Andy, and thanks for the inspiration.

RocknRollDave

swiller said:

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......


RIP.  Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Good choices! 

Marr has singled out the bassline from The Queen is Dead for special mention, and whilst it wasn’t the one that came to mind for me, he’s absolutely right.

swiller

RocknRollDave said:

swiller said:

Under rated musician. Almost gave the smiths their disco meets ballroom sound and filled up the songs with intertwining wavy genius that complimented the rest of the band. Loved the sound of his bass. Is there a better champion of the precision bass in history? not sure.

As well as the classic barbarism... well the list is endless of pure musical genius.
Rusholme ruffians.
This charming man.
Heaven knows im miserable now.
Headmaster ritual.
There is a light......


RIP.  Sad day. Deffo one of those who may get the credit they deserve post passing away.

Good choices! 

Marr has singled out the bassline from The Queen is Dead for special mention, and whilst it wasn’t the one that came to mind for me, he’s absolutely right.

Yup spot on and ditto on the not came to mind.

guitartango

Just seen the news, fucking hell, life can be cruel! Funny enough I was playing there is a light this morning (Noel Gallagher version).

Shrews

I was at college back in 83/84 when they first came on the scene. They were instantly liked by us college kids. They just seemed to fall apart somewhere along the line, which was a shame.

It seems Andy Rourke got shit on when the fall out happened and didn't get the recognition - financial or otherwise - that he deserved. Still, he continued to play on the music scene, was well liked, obviously talented and respected and seemed to enjoy his life as a musician. Good for him. Thanks for the memories and music.

26.2

It’s worth saying that Andy settled out of court and Mike Joyce did win a million in court. They were shat on in the sense that they didn’t know they were hired hands on 10%. Both (especially Andy) excellent musicians but not songwriters, so probably did ok. The deception’s not nice, but there was a lot of naivety around in those days. Rough Trade not entirely blameless here, but remember after Joe Moss finished they never had a proper manager. 

thumpingrug

Sad News.  Andy is only a couple of years older than me.  I grew up with the Smiths.
A bass player friend of mine was in band who toured with them in the 80s and always spoke of Andy with affection.

drpbier

Cemetry Gates for me. It doesn't work without that bassline 

earwighoney

drpbier said:

Cemetry Gates for me. It doesn't work without that bassline 

My one is Rusholme Ruffians.  The fairly percussive strummed rhythm guitar, and the melodic bass over it sits beautifully and just gives it something I find hard to describe. Every millionth time I revisit it seems as magical as the first time I heard the song.

RIP Andy

InactiveX

I feel so sad that Andy has died. The Smiths are my absolute favourite band of them all, I love the music, they gave the young and desperate teenage version of myself something to cling to.

As someone in their late-40s who has started to really feel his age of late, this somehow seems strangely timely to me. Andy is the first of the gang to die.

thermionic

I read just now that at the Manchester City game they played Barbarism Begins At Home at half time.

Andy was always my Smiths style icon in the late 80s. I couldn’t pull off a Morrissey quiff or Marr’s camp style, but Andy’s blonde spiky hair and charity shop suede jackets was what I aspired to.

DaveJames

My favourite bass intro on " heaven knows I'm  miserable now".