The Smiths Bassist Andy Rourke To Be Celebrated With Manchester Mural
The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke will be be celebrated with a new mural in the band’s home town, Manchester.
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Rourke died from pancreatic cancer in 2023 at the age of 59. A crowdfunder for a mural, which will depict Rourke performing on tour, has raised more than its initial £20,000 target – any surplus funds will be going to the charity Pancreatic Cancer Action.
The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce, who helped launch the crowdfunder, told BBC Radio Manchester: “He was such a brilliant musician and such a great bloke that I thought a permanent memorial would be apt for the man.”
He said Rourke was “funny, interesting, clever, smart, talented – what more could you ask for in a bloke?”.
The artwork will be revealed in November, which is pancreatic cancer awareness month. Joyce said he hoped it would raise awareness of “getting an early diagnosis”.
The mural will be created by renowned street artist Akse, who has previously depicted David Bowie on the side of a pub in Oak Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The Smiths have been in the news recently after guitarist Johnny Marr publicly disputed claims from singer Morrissey, who said that Marr declined a reunion tour offer, blocked a greatest hits album and reissue of the band’s debut album, and acquired the trademark rights to The Smiths without informing him.
“Here are the facts,” Marr’s statement reads. In 2018, following an attempt by a third party to use The Smiths’ name – and upon discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band – Marr reached out to Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.
“A failure to respond led Marr to register the trademark himself.
“It was subsequently agreed with Morrissey’s lawyers that this trademark was held for the mutual benefit of Morrissey & Marr.
“As a gesture of goodwill, in January 2024, Marr signed an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey. Execution of this document still requires Morrissey to sign.
“In the interests of accuracy and clarity regarding the trademark, and to answer recent reports that Marr ignored a promoter’s offer to tour as The Smiths, Marr says:
“‘To prevent third parties from profiting from the band’s name, it was left to me to protect the legacy. This I have done on behalf of both myself and my former bandmates.’
‘As for the offer to tour, I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.’
“Additionally, speculation about Johnny Marr touring with a different singer as The Smiths is not true. There are no such plans.
“Johnny Marr also confirms that he declined a suggestion for another greatest hits compilation from Warner Music Group given the number already in existence.”