Andy Rourke's Relationship With Morrissey And Johnny Marr Explained

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Looking at the Smiths' enduring popularity and influence, especially on '90s Britpop, it's hard to remember that the band only existed for five years and put out a mere handful of albums. The Smiths' brief fire flagged in light of creative ennui and the aforementioned conflicts over royalties, and the group never fully recovered after bassist Andy Rourke got arrested on heroin possession charges in 1986. 

A big part of the Smiths' success came from the contributions of each of its members. Yes, vocalist Morrissey was a weird, mysterious, attention-grabbing stage presence, but each member was integral. Rourke wasn't one of those bassists who fades into the background while playing an obligatory accompaniment. His lines were critical to the arrangement of the Smiths' songs, which were often sparse enough — shimmering guitars, snappy drums, speckled vocals — to allow Rourke's work to come to the forefront. He was groovy, adept, knew his instrument, and was the perfect fit for the Manchester quartet. 

This is why it's so odd that Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce got such a disproportionate cut of the Smiths' money. Far Out Magazine explains that Rourke reached a settlement with his former bandmates to the tune of £83,000 and 10% of subsequent royalties. Drummer Mike Joyce, however, pressed the issue and continued the suit. He wound up getting £1 million and 25% of subsequent royalties. And yet, Rourke held no ill will toward any other of his former bandmates.

[Featured image by Sire Records via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0]

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