The Smiths – Live at G-Mex Festival, Manchester – July 19, 1986 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
More sad news, more tributes, more reflections. Seems like every day now. Yesterday it was Andy Rourke, bassist and backbone for The Smiths, who helped propel the band to stratospheric heights of popularity and made them one of the essential bands of the 80s.
Tributes have been pouring in. His death was announced on social media by bandmate Johnny Marr, who was friends with Andy Rourke since they were fifteen: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. “We were best friends, going everywhere together,” Marr continued: “When we were 15 I moved into his house with him and his three brothers and I soon came to realize that my mate was one of those rare people that absolutely no one doesn’t like. Andy and I spent all our time studying music, having fun and working on becoming the best musicians we could possibly be.”We request privacy at this sad time.”
And tribute was also given by Morrissey, who wrote: “He will never die as long as his music is heard. He didn’t ever know his own power, and nothing that he played had been played by someone else. His distinction was so terrific and unconventional and he proved it could be done. He was also very, very funny and very happy, and post-Smiths, he kept a steady identity – never any manufactured moves. I suppose, at the end of it all, we hope to feel that we were valued. Andy need not worry about that.”
As tribute and a reminder of what a gift Andy Rourke was, here is with bandmates, The Smiths, in concert at G-Mex Festival in Manchester on July 19, 1986.
Don’t be afraid to shake the house with this one.
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