Andy Rourke, 1984

Andy Rourke (born Andrew Michael Rourke, 17 January 1964, in Manchester, England) is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.

Career

Before joining The Smiths, Andy Rourke had played guitar and bass in various rock bands, as well as in the short lived funk band Freak Party, often with his school friend John Maher (the future Johnny Marr).

When Marr and Morrissey formed the Smiths, Rourke joined the band after their second gig, and remained with the band almost throughout its existence. Marr claims that Rourke's contribution to The Queen Is Dead LP was "something no other bass player could match". Rourke was briefly sacked from the Smiths over drugs abuse, resulting in a weekend prison sentence, which was posted on TV news. The brief dismissal of Rourke came in the form of a note left by Morrissey under the windscreen wiper of his car; "Andy, you have left The Smiths. Good luck and goodbye, Morrissey".

However, in May 1986 Rourke rejoined the Smiths, just before the release of The Queen Is Dead album. Immediately after the break-up of the band, Rourke and Smiths drummer Mike Joyce played with Sinéad O'Connor - Rourke (but not Joyce) appears on the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. The duo also provided the rhythm section for two singles by former Smiths singer Morrissey, and Rourke composed the music for Morrissey's songs "Yes, I Am Blind," "Girl Least Likely To," and "Get Off the Stage."

Rourke has also played and recorded with The Pretenders (appearing on some of the tracks on 1994's Last of the Independents); Killing Joke, Badly Drawn Boy, Aziz Ibrahim (formerly of the Stone Roses), and ex-Oasis guitarist Bonehead (as "Moondog One").

Rourke was originally involved, with Mike Joyce, in legal action against Morrissey and Marr in a dispute over royalties (see The Smiths for details). However, while Joyce continued with the action, Rourke opted to settle out of court and was subsequently declared bankrupt. [1]

Rourke and his Production Company with long time Manager Nova Rehman, Great Northern Productions, organised Manchester Vs. Cancer, an anti-cancer concert in Manchester in January 2006. The concert was a response to learning that Nova's father Sheik Abdur, and sister Nina had been diagnosed with cancer. He unveiled Johnny Marr (his old bandmate in The Smiths) as one of the performers taking part.

Rourke is a DJ on Xfm Manchester, broadcasting new and classic indie anthems on Saturday nights. He is currently in a band called Freebass with bass players Mani (ex-The Stone Roses) and Peter Hook (New Order). He is also working on MvC 07 which it is rumoured may well be extended to include foreign events, most notably American shows.

Rourke's bass sound

Rourke's bass has a very twangy sound. Listening to various Smiths albums, it is noted how melodically constructed the basslines are around Johnny Marr's guitar playing, Morrissey's singing, and Joyce's drumming.

His sound is the result of two different basses:

• 64 Fender Precision Bass during live performances, and
• Yamaha BB2000 in the studio

Rourke was known to play with the tone dial turned to its fullest and with a plectrum.

External links

• http://www.manchestervcancer.co.uk
• http://foreverill.com/bass.htm
• http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=21&storycode=13168