(CNN) — Andy Rourke, bassist for legendary English rock band The Smiths, has died at the age of 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his former bandmate announced Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a long illness with pancreatic cancer,” The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote on Twitter.
The Smiths band: from left to right Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, Morrissey and Johnny Marr in March 1987 (Credit: Andre Csillag/Shutterstock)
“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans,” said Marr.
“We ask for privacy at this sad time,” he added.
Rourke joined The Smiths in 1982 and played with the band until their split in 1987 before the release of their fourth studio album, Strangeways, Here We Come.
Over a decades-long musical career, he went on to play with The Smiths frontman Morrissey on his solo projects after the group disbanded, as well as performing with the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, The Pretenders, Badly Drawn Boy and guitarist Aziz Ibrahim.
In 2005, Rourke formed the supergroup Freebass, along with fellow bassists Peter Hook, formerly of New Order and Joy Division, and Gary “Mani” Mounfield of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream.
Rourke played with The Smiths until the group broke up in 1987. (Credit: Pete Cronin/Redferns/Getty Images)
Suede bassist Mat Osman paid tribute to Rourke, calling him “a one-of-a-kind bassist whose sound you could immediately recognize.
“I remember so clearly playing that Barbarism break over and over again, trying to learn the riff and marveling at this steely funk that drove the track,” he recalled.
The Smiths producer Stephen Street added: “I am so saddened to hear this news! Andy was a superb musician and a lovely guy.”
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