Andy Rourke (The Smiths)

[RS]

I have "Hatful of Hollows"...whats the best Smiths CD to get next?

 

[Hopper]

I have "Hatful of Hollows"...whats the best Smiths CD to get next?

The Queen is Dead

 

[Brick Top]

I have "Hatful of Hollows"...whats the best Smiths CD to get next?

Meat is Murder

 

[pad-E]

Meat Is Murder fo' sho'

 

[Boone3882]

Any ideas on why Andy played the BB2000 in the studio but played 64 Precision live (wikipedia)? Was it just because the Precision looks more classic and gets more "respect?"

P.S. Even though I see videos where he is playing with his fingers, the wikipedia says he got his sound from playing with picks. Most of his playing does sound like he is using a pick. Any comments on that?

Andy didn't only use the Yamaha BB2000 on all smith tracks. He said his main weapon was his 64' Fender Precision bass. He said when it was time for the funky stuff he pulled out the yamaha. Also, very seldomly did he use finger style, only on a few tracks I believe. His distinctive sound came from the tone knob turned to full and a pick with light gauge strings. His precision is one of his most prized items because its made the year he was born.

 

[mancforever]

ex- Andy Rourke Yamaha BB2000 on Ebay-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3352946350&category=29937

"You are bidding on a Yamaha bb2000 bass guitar owned by Ex-Smith Andy Rourke.It was purchased in 1983 and put straight to work on all The Smiths records there-after.The bass has remained in Mr. Rourke's poccession for twenty years.It's featured in the gatefold cover of "Hatful Of Hollow".Mr. Rourke has also used this bass on all of the records since the demise of The Smiths:-The Pretenders,Sinead O'Conner,Badly Drawn Boy and more. The bass has a few dings which were inflicted by Andy Rourke & Johnny Marr when they figured their new guitars looked a little TOO new!!It's got a thru' neck and plays great.Plugged in, it instantly has that "Barbarism Begins at Home" twang.It comes in it's original case with a letter from Mr. Rourke. This is a rare chance to own a well documented slice of Rock n Roll history.Mr Rourke will be willing to personally autograph the instrument itself should the winner so wish.Feel free to request any j-pegs or ask any questions. Happy Bidding"


hmmm- I thought he recorded all the Smiths stuff with a P bass?

P bass for all live, yam bb was his studio only bass

 

[PaddyMcBass]

Andy is such a great player. He takes the "song within a song" approach to his playing. I have been a fan for many years and I always marvel at how hypnotic and beautiful his lines are. Cheers Andy. Hope to run into you in the east village one day.

 

[neebs]

I hate Andy Rourke.













Na, just playing. He is totally awesome! I wish I was born 15 years earlier... so would have seen them. I'm jealous my parents did.

 

[miles'tone]

I was absolutely devoted to The Smiths as a teenager in the '80s (had the massive quiff and everything) I had tickets to one of their last shows but unfortunately it got cancelled due to Morrissey being hit by a coin thrown by some knob at the gig before.
They split before they could come back
I did however meet Andy Rourke two years later at a Smiths convention at Manchester University. I was only 17 at the time and he was very kind and down to earth which blew me away at the time. He signed a Boy With A Thorn In His Side poster for me too! Cool guy.
It was only later on that I started playing bass and after a few years of playing I went through another Smiths period. WOW!!! On the second time around I couldn't believe my ears! Now my musical ear was tuned in much better to all things bass, I was hearing his lines clear as day which were a bit lost on me when I was a kid.
Now, I've gone full circle again. I've got a P bass and I'm slowly going through The Smiths albums learning Andy's lines. Just amazing! Makes me smile everytime.
I saw Morrissey play on Wednesday actually and he was brilliant too. He's still totally got it lyrically on his latest album, his voice didn't miss a note all night. He played a few Smiths songs too. Very very good, but our man Rourke was conspicuous in his absence.

The Smiths are simply just timeless.
(a bit like this thread )

 

[Muddslide]

I always felt the band were amazing musicians who played tight, super hooky pop that sounded fresh and basically just produced quality music chock full of riffs and unique melodies.

The lyrics were often witty and wistful and clever.

Unfortunately, I could never take much of Morrissey's actual vocals.

 

[Belka]

He's a great bassist. For him, Morrisey, and Johnny Marr to all be born in the same city, at around the same time, and then actually meet up and form a band is really a kind of a perfect storm situation, where although they each have very strong individual voices on their instruments, they also work great together. I'd say the Beatles and Guns 'n' Roses are similar in that respect.

 

[Hannah Hyde]

Here from 2022 geez. Andy Rourke is great no matter the decade

 

[foal30]

Certainly not his toughest line but I do like “The Death of a Disco Dancer”

Which hopefully doesn’t go to show how little I know

 

[DivisionLocal]

Andy is the man. For me, the coolest guy in The Smiths by far. Very down to earth stage presence, and incredible skill. Challenging, yet extremely fun to play bass lines. His sweet personality comes through in them and I really appreciate that.

I just love him. He's great. He definitely deserved better than he got.

 

[Eric Wolfe]

I love Andy Rourke's playing, and always have since I first heard The Smiths as a kid of about 9 years old, when my mum bought me the Hatful of Hollow album, which I then proceeded to play to death! His style is definitely influenced a lot by funk, I can hear a bit of Jamerson in there as well. Andy's style is very melodic, and absolutely geared around meshing the bass and Johnny's guitar parts as one.

Fave basslines have got to be Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, This Charming Man (both versions) Accept Yourself, Frankly Mr Shankly and Barbarism Begins At Home, which was recorded on a bass tuned up a tone.

Johnny Marr once said that Andy was the best musician he'd ever played with, which is quite an accolade coming from such an amazing musician himself.

The Jamerson influence definitely there - verses on Charming Man, pre-chorus on Bigmouth - intrevalllic melodic jumps, and then cool chromaticism...