# The Smiths' bass player andy rourke has died :( **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, music\ **Created:** [May 20, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331 "2023-05-20T16:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/1 "2023-05-20T16:44:37Z")
Aged 59 ☹ Pancreatic cancer. He founded the “Versus Cancer” gigs to raise money & awareness. Bastard cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/2 "2023-05-20T23:53:59Z")
A great talent. He did not always get the credit he deserved ---
**Author:** ![kwintenstraler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kwintenstraler/32/10698_2.png) [@kwintenstraler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwintenstraler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/3 "2023-05-21T17:47:56Z")
Sad news… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/4 "2023-05-21T19:38:15Z")
The Smiths were probably most emblematic of my college years music playlist. This is sad news. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/5 "2023-05-27T20:10:09Z")
Whenever I listen to “This Charming Man,” it’s always the bass that I’m following. It’s light and lively and really keeps things moving. Since I’m not really a hardcore fan of The Smiths, I’m curious to know what other songs of theirs really show him off? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/6 "2023-05-27T20:33:53Z")
Man, cancer fucking sucks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/7 "2023-05-28T01:37:35Z")
One of my favorite bassists. Loved his melodic approach combined with funky, syncopated rhythms. If I ever got to pick an all-star band to write songs and play with, he probably would be my pick for bassist. RIP, Andy ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/8 "2023-05-28T12:20:07Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I’m curious to know what other songs of theirs really show him off? “Barbarism Begins at Home,” especially the last couple of minutes. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/9 "2023-05-28T17:38:19Z")
That’s a good one! One of the few bass jam songs, and one of the few jam songs by the Smiths. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-smiths-bass-player-andy-rourke-has-died/984331/10 "2023-05-28T20:18:48Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I’m curious to know what other songs of theirs really show him off? Some I rate highest: [_Cemetery Gates_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5cZ-oLVJzY) [_There Is A Light That Never Goes Out_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4) [_The Headmaster Ritual_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f37lC0CSXlQ) [_Barbarism Begins At Home_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zNwZomsONA) (and especially the last bit) has already been mentioned, but honourable mention should go, I think, to this one: [_Pretty Girls Make Graves_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGl7g_a5YLA)