'Well done Andy. We’ll miss you brother': Johnny Marr posts heartbreaking tribute to The Smiths bandmate Andy Rourke

Johnny Marr has paid an emotional tribute to his 'best friend' and The Smiths bandmate who 'reinvented' bass playing, Andy Rourke, who has died aged 59.

Marr announced the news this morning that Rourke had died following a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Announcing the news via Twitter, he said: "Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans."

Tributes have since flooded in for the pioneering The Smiths bass player from across the world of music. Rourke played with The Smiths as they acted as trailblazers for the Manchester indie scene between 1982 to 1987, before playing with frontman Morrissey 's solo work after the group disbanded.

READ MORE: The Smiths star dies aged 59 as tributes pour in

Marr has since shared a heartbreaking tribute on his Instagram page to his 'best friend', along with pictures of the pair from their south Manchester high school days to recent meetings of the iconic musicians. Marr described it as a 'matter of personal pride' but also of 'sadness' that Rourke's last time on the stage performing was with Marr's band in New York last year.

Marr said: "Andy and I met as schoolboys in 1975. We were best friends, going everywhere together. When we were fifteen I moved into his house with him and his three brothers and I soon came to realise that my mate was one of those rare people that absolutely no one doesn’t like.

"Andy and I spent all our time studying music, having fun, and working on becoming the best musicians we could possibly be. Back then Andy was a guitar player and a good one at that, but it was when he picked up the bass that he would find his true calling and his singular talent would flourish.

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