The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke dies aged 59

Musician Andy Rourke, best known as bassist for The Smiths, has died at the age of 59.

Johnny Marr, the band's guitarist, announced Mr Rourke's death on Friday, describing him as a "kind and beautiful soul" and "supremely gifted".

The pair became best friends after meeting as schoolboys in 1975 and played in various bands around southern Manchester before they became fixtures with The Smiths

Mr Marr tweeted: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer.

"Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time."

Musicians including The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess and folk singer Billy Bragg joined Mr Marr and others in remembering Rourke.

Mr Bragg tweeted: "I have great memories of him playing with Johnny Marr and myself on the Red Wedge tour. He was a lovely guy and an amazing bass player."

While Mr Burgess hailed Mr Rourke as an "inspirational musician", tweeting: "Such sad sad news about Andy Rourke - He was an inspirational musician with a style that made so many of us pick up a bass guitar; and the driving force for Manchester Versus Cancer.

"Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Travel well x".

Final gig with schoolfriend

On his Instagram page, Mr Marr said the friends remained close in later life and said it was with "personal pride" that Mr Rourke's last performance on stage was alongside him and The Killers at Madison Square Garden in September last year.

Mr Rourke joined The Smiths in 1982 after replacing the Manchester band's original bassist Dave Hibbert. He went on to feature on the group's most famous songs including This Charming Man and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.

He also collaborated on solo singles for lead singer Morrissey after the band broke up.

The demise of the Manchester four-piece was one of the most spectacular in the UK music world, the fallout of which saw drummer Mike Joyce and Mr Rourke take singer Morrissey and Mr Marr to court over royalties in 1989.

The band split in 1987, having released albums including The Smiths and Meat is Murder and earning three top 10 hits.

In 2005, Mr Rourke formed Freebass, a rock supergroup consisting fellow bassists Peter Hook, of Joy Division and New Order, and Gary 'Mani' Mountfield, of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, as well as singer Gary Briggs.

Supposedly, the idea for a band centred around three bassists was floated by Peter Hook during a drunken night out. Mr Rourke eventually left the group in 2010, by which time he was living in the US.

In 2006, Mr Rourke helped organise Manchester v Cancer, a benefit concert at Manchester's MEN Arena in aid of cancer research.

The gig saw Mr Rourke play alongside Johnny Marr for the first time since the break up of The Smiths, when the bassist joined Mr Marr's band The Healers for a rendition of the Smiths track How Soon Is Now?

Move to New York

In 2009, Mr Rourke relocated to New York after he grew "bored and frustrated" with life in Manchester. Setting up home in Manhattan, he hosted a two-hour music show on East Village Radio.

While living in the East Village, Mr Rourke said he was inspired by New Yorkers. "People seem a lot more driven, and that kind of rubs off on me," he told New York website DNA Info.

While working as a club DJ with Soviet-born musician Olé Koretsky, the pair formed the band Jetlag.

In 2014, the band began recording new music with Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan and the group subsequently became known as D.A.R.K.

In 2018, a planned reunion involving former Smiths members in a series of classical concerts was cancelled after Mr Rourke claimed he had not given his permission and would not be taking part.

His representative told Rolling Stone: "In no point in time did Andy Rourke agree to participate or otherwise license or authorise the use of his name, likeness or any personal quotes in any manner in connection with this Classically Smiths project."

Mr Rourke is survived by his wife Francesca.