Johnny Marr has paid an emotional tribute to his 'best friend' and The Smiths bandmate who 'reinvented' bass playing, Andy Rourke, who has died aged 59.
Marr announced the news this morning that Rourke had died following a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Announcing the news via Twitter, he said: "Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans."
Tributes have since flooded in for the pioneering The Smiths bass player from across the world of music. Rourke played with The Smiths as they acted as trailblazers for the Manchester indie scene between 1982 to 1987, before playing with frontman Morrissey 's solo work after the group disbanded.
