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[Mixtape]: Andy Rourke, The Smiths

Five tracks from The Smiths' bass player Andy Rourke, ahead of his set at 390 Panyu Lu on Friday. Here's to lights that never go out...
Last updated: 2015-11-09


Mixtape is asking DJs and producers coming to town, in their opinions, what are the five best songs ever and forever and ever. Or just five songs that are somewhat interesting for some reason. Or six songs. We're easy…

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The mix-maker: Andy Rourke used to roll thunder for legendary New Romantic sad sacks The Smiths back in the early '80s, and is thus the fingers behind some of the most memorable bass lines of the era. Like this one, this one, and this one. Gotta give it up for a guy who was able to make himself heard over Morrissey's hair. Since the demise of The Smiths in 1987, Rourke has been bouncing around in between the odd Smiths royalties dispute, playing with a cavalcade of noise makers in the '90s and beyond -- Killing Joke, The Pretenders, Badly Drawn Boy, Mani (Primal Scream) and Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order), and even back with Moz on some of the solo albums. Lately, Andy Rourke has been based in New York and working in radio DJing on East Village Radio and XFM Manchester. He also DJs out in clubs and puts out remixes, which you can check out here.

This Friday, Rourke is playing tunes at 390 Panyu Lu, hosted in town at the "Metro Tokyo and Friends" event series.

SmartShanghai asked Rourke to send us some tunes he's likes to play (power up your VPN; These are Youtube embeds). You should go out and see him play on Friday. Even if you don't have a stitch to wear...


Joyce, Morrissey, Marr, and Rourke in (comparatively) happier, gray-scaled times

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"Monkey Man" - The Rolling Stones




Andy Rourke says: This is a song that I fell in love with the first time I heard it. I think I was 15 years old! It more than often makes it into my DJ sets -- I just can't resist.

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" - The Smiths




AR: Sometimes, I feel almost obligated to play at least one or two Smiths songs in my set. I like to keep the crowd happy so why not play one of my favorites? It's definitely a dance floor filler!

"Some Velvet Morning" - Primal Scream (Remix versions feat. Kate Moss)




AR: What's not to like about Primal Scream? In it's original form, this was a great song, but Moss adds another dimension and this version is way more catchy.

"Train In Vain" - The Clash




AR: Just because! It's a classic! Enough said.

"Apocalypse Dreams" - Tame Impala




AR: As crazy as the bands name is, this is one of my current favorite records. I was hooked instantly and felt it was my duty to pass it on to people. It has a great and infectious groove to it -- check it out!

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Andy Rourke is at 390 Panyu Lu this Friday. Starts 10pm. 60rmb at the door.

TELL EVERYONE