The Latest Breaking News from Johnny Marr

The Smiths were one of the most distinctive, tempestuous rock bands of the 1980s, and bassist Andy Rourke was an important part of holding it together while he could. In a band with a frontman and guitarist — Morrissey and Johnny Marr — often at each other's throats, Rourke's melodic,…

Answers on a cigarette butt PLUS exam worries AND an iconic musician

Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has led tributes to the man he says “reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player”

Marr said it was an ‘absolute privilege’ to play alongside Rourke.

Andy Rourke’s career extended beyond The Smiths, playing alongside The Pretenders and Sinead O’Connor, as well as with the supergroup Freebass, which included Gary Mounfield from the Stone Roses and Peter Hook from New Order.

Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr announced the news that the band's bassist Andy Rourke had died on his social media

Andy Rourke of The Smiths has died aged 59

His former bandmate Johnny Marr announced the sad news on social media, describing Andy as 'a kind and beautiful soul'

Johnny Marr, the band's guitarist, confirmed Andy Rourke's death, saying he will be remembered "as a kind and beautiful soul".