For many people The Smiths were the 80s. Perhaps the greatest band ever to come out of Manchester (and competition is fierce: Think Joy Division, The Fall, The Stone Roses), the quartet saw all four of their albums climb to number one or two on the UK charts and frontman Morrissey is frequently hailed as one of the greatest singers of all time.
Thirty years on and the members have long since gone their separate ways (after a rather acrimonious split). But Andy Rourke, famed for his cutting-edge bass playing, is finding the grass greener on the other side. “Everything’s going splendid,” he says. “I moved from Manchester to New York a year and a half ago. I was tired of Manchester and wanted to work with different musicians … basically a fresh start. I was uninspired in Manchester and I thought New York would be the perfect place.”
The 46-year-old has certainly not lost his appetite for music, judging by the number of projects he has on the go Stateside. “I have a radio show on eastvillageradio.com called Jetlag which is also the same name for a music project I’m working with Ole Koretsky,” he explains. Together, the duo have recorded their own tracks and remixed works for the likes of DJ Wool, The Bowery Riots and Tokyo Police Club. Rourke also keeps up his indie credentials by occasionally producing for up-coming New York bands. And then there’s his deejaying.
“I continue to DJ all over the world and I am really looking forward to coming to Singapore as I’ve never been there before!” he says. And what can Singapore expect from his up-coming set at Home Club? “I play a very eclectic set: New Order, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Stone Roses, The Kinks, The Clash, The Smiths, New Young Pony Club, Pixies, Breeders, Iggy Pop, David Bowie … all kinds of everything and whatever I am feeling on the night!”
