<story><title>Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies aged 59</title><url>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65644596</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>minimal-o</author><text>I&amp;#x27;m old enough to remember when &amp;quot;The Smiths&amp;quot; album was released and hit the underground club scene in the city where I grew up.&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;How Soon Is Now&amp;quot; was a smash hit with the ecstacy crowd and was the track that compelled me to go right out and buy the record. I can&amp;#x27;t count how many times I listened to that album for the lyrics, but moreso for the music.
To that point, Andy Rourke&amp;#x27;s bass lines were prominent in the mix of every song, and a core component to The Smith&amp;#x27;s &amp;quot;sound&amp;quot;. As much as Johnny Marr&amp;#x27;s rhythm and lead guitar in my opinion.&lt;p&gt;And as important as Peter Hook&amp;#x27;s bass playing or Ian Curtis&amp;#x27; off key vocals were to Joy Division&amp;#x27;s sound.&lt;p&gt;RIP young brother</text></comment>
<story><title>Andy Rourke: The Smiths bassist dies aged 59</title><url>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65644596</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>arathis</author><text>I spent an evening with Andy Rourke a few years ago. He was DJing a small bar and I was looking after him.&lt;p&gt;Man, he really didn’t think much of Morrissey!&lt;p&gt;He was a lovely man.</text></comment>