Andy Rourke English musician Date of Birth: 17.01.1964 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Andy Rourke

Andy Rourke is an English musician who gained worldwide fame as the bassist of the popular rock band 'The Smiths'. He was born on January 17, 1964, in Manchester, England. At the age of 7, Rourke received his first acoustic guitar as a gift from his parents and taught himself how to play.

When he was 11 years old, Rourke befriended John Maher, who later also played in 'The Smiths' under the slightly altered stage name Johnny Marr. As teenagers, John and Andy spent all their free time playing guitars, even during lunch breaks at school.

At the age of 15, Rourke dropped out of school and went on to work various jobs and be a part of numerous musical groups, including the band 'Freak Party', where Johnny Marr played the guitar.

Later on, Rourke, along with Steven Morrissey, formed 'The Smiths' and played with the band until its breakup. However, as recalled by other band members, the relationship between Rourke and Morrissey was always tense. Morrissey even attempted to get rid of Rourke by leaving a note in his hotel room saying, "Andy, you have left the band. Good luck and goodbye. Morrissey." Although the vocalist denied the existence of such a note, he later confirmed that his relationship with Rourke was strained and even hostile. In 1996, Rourke filed a lawsuit against Morrissey, accusing him of disproportionate payment distribution within the band. Morrissey and Marr received 80% of ticket sales and band salaries, while Rourke and Mike Joyce, the second guitarist of 'The Smiths', shared the remaining 20%.

Despite the off-stage relationship dynamics, the band members understood each other perfectly in the studio and during performances. Their collaborative work earned high praise from critics and placed 'The Smiths' among the greatest English bands of all time. Through their records, the musicians revolutionized the world of music and demonstrated that even in the closing era of rock music, a breakthrough like the one achieved by 'The Beatles' was still possible.

After the band's breakup in 1987, the lives of the musicians took different paths. Morrissey continued his career, which many considered to be the logical continuation of 'The Smiths' in a new era. Former band members occasionally assisted him in recordings, but it is unlikely that they extended their collaboration with the former frontman beyond a couple of albums. Rourke also pursued a career as a rock star but did not enjoy significant popularity. He gained media attention in 1996 when he declared bankruptcy and sued Morrissey.

Interestingly, Marr, who maintained a good relationship with Rourke throughout the years, managed to avoid his anger despite receiving a share that was proportionate to what Morrissey received. In recent years, Rourke has become an active participant in the charitable organization 'Manchester v Cancer'. Alongside Johnny Marr, he performed a concert and sang favorite songs from 'The Smiths' repertoire to support the cause.