Musician. Best remembered as the bassist for the influential rock band, The Smiths. Born Andrew Michael Rourke in Manchester, England, he received an acoustic guitar when he was seven, beginning his interest in music. He befriended Johnny Marr at age 11 and the duo would spend lunchtime jamming on their guitars. They formed a band and Marr convinced him to take up the bass, which became his primary instrument in his music career. He left school at the age of 15, took up various jobs and played the guitar and bass in numerous local bands, including the funk band, "Freak Party" with Johnny Marr. In 1982, he joined The Smiths on bass for their second gig, cementing the classic lineup of frontman Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke, The Smiths would achieve critical acclaim during the decade with their jangly guitars, melancholy lyrics and hook-based melodies. The band primarily focused on a guitar, bass and drum sound, rejecting the synthpop-new wave that was prominent during the decade. Signing with indie label Rough Trade Records with U.S. distribution from Seymour Stein's Sire Records label, they released their first two singles in 1983, "Hand in Glove" and "This Charming Man" to critical acclaim. Albums include: "The Smiths" (1984), "Meat Is Murder" (1985), "The Queen Is Dead" (1986) and "Strangeways, Here We Come" (1987). The Smiths is regarded as one of the most influential bands of their era, with artists such as: The Stone Roses, Oasis, AFI, The Decemberists and The National citing them as an influence and a devoted cult fan following along with their first 3 albums being ranked on numerous critics' lists as the Greatest Albums of All-Time (most notably on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list). The band disbanded in 1987 and Rourke would move into work as a session musician accompanied by side projects. During the early 1990s, he recorded with artists like: The Pretenders & Sinead O'Connor and would play bass on several of Morrissey's solo albums. Rourke and Joyce pursued a royalties lawsuit against Morrissey and Marr in the mid-1990s. Joyce was awarded a substantial amount in court. In 2005, he became a member of the supergroup, Freebass, which recorded and toured until 2010. In 2009, he would form another supergroup, D.A.R.K. with Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries), releasing their only album, "Science Agrees" in 2016. He died at a New York City hospital from pancreatic cancer. He was 59.

Musician. Best remembered as the bassist for the influential rock band, The Smiths. Born Andrew Michael Rourke in Manchester, England, he received an acoustic guitar when he was seven, beginning his interest in music. He befriended Johnny Marr at age 11 and the duo would spend lunchtime jamming on their guitars. They formed a band and Marr convinced him to take up the bass, which became his primary instrument in his music career. He left school at the age of 15, took up various jobs and played the guitar and bass in numerous local bands, including the funk band, "Freak Party" with Johnny Marr. In 1982, he joined The Smiths on bass for their second gig, cementing the classic lineup of frontman Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke, The Smiths would achieve critical acclaim during the decade with their jangly guitars, melancholy lyrics and hook-based melodies. The band primarily focused on a guitar, bass and drum sound, rejecting the synthpop-new wave that was prominent during the decade. Signing with indie label Rough Trade Records with U.S. distribution from Seymour Stein's Sire Records label, they released their first two singles in 1983, "Hand in Glove" and "This Charming Man" to critical acclaim. Albums include: "The Smiths" (1984), "Meat Is Murder" (1985), "The Queen Is Dead" (1986) and "Strangeways, Here We Come" (1987). The Smiths is regarded as one of the most influential bands of their era, with artists such as: The Stone Roses, Oasis, AFI, The Decemberists and The National citing them as an influence and a devoted cult fan following along with their first 3 albums being ranked on numerous critics' lists as the Greatest Albums of All-Time (most notably on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list). The band disbanded in 1987 and Rourke would move into work as a session musician accompanied by side projects. During the early 1990s, he recorded with artists like: The Pretenders & Sinead O'Connor and would play bass on several of Morrissey's solo albums. Rourke and Joyce pursued a royalties lawsuit against Morrissey and Marr in the mid-1990s. Joyce was awarded a substantial amount in court. In 2005, he became a member of the supergroup, Freebass, which recorded and toured until 2010. In 2009, he would form another supergroup, D.A.R.K. with Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries), releasing their only album, "Science Agrees" in 2016. He died at a New York City hospital from pancreatic cancer. He was 59.

Bio by: J. Wilson