Bassist Andy Rourke of the legendary British band The Smiths has passed away. The musician died at the age of 59 “after a long illness from pancreatic cancer”.
His former bandmate Johnny Marr announced this on Friday. “Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by all who knew him, and an immensely gifted musician by music fans.”
Founded in 1982 by Marr and singer Morrissey, The Smiths rose to fame with hits such as “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” and “This Charming Man”. The British music magazine “NME” proclaimed the rock band as one of the most influential artists in history – even before the Beatles. Bands such as Radiohead, Oasis, Blur and Suede have said they were inspired by the Smiths.
Rourke joined the band shortly after its formation, which broke up in 1987. Temporarily, his heroin addiction reached the point where he could no longer perform, but he quickly recovered. Rourke also performed with other musicians, including The Pretenders and Sinead O’Connor.
After The Smiths broke up, Morrissey embarked on a highly successful solo career – much like Johnny Marr. (aeg/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
