The Smiths' Mike Joyce launches campaign for Andy Rourke mural in Manchester
The crowdfunder will also raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Action
Last updated 16th Sep 2024
The Smiths’ Mike Joyce has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a huge mural honouring his late-great Smiths band mate Andy Rourke.
Bassist Andy Rourke sadly died aged 59 in May 2023 following a lengthy and heroic battle with pancreatic cancer.
16 months on, drummer Mike Joyce has initiated the campaign for a permanent mural of Andy Rourke in The Smiths’ native Manchester, and the crowdfunder will also raise vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer Action.
The mural will be brought to life by world-renowned street artist Akse with a striking image credited to The Smiths’ 1985-1986 UK/USA tour photographer, Nalinee Darmrong, who has kindly given her blessing to the project. The photo was taken at the Caird Hall in Dundee in 1985.
It will be located on the side of the Wheatsheaf Pub on Oak Street in the Northern Quarter of Manchester.
Akse has previously created murals of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, The Prodigy’s Keith Flint, The Buzzcocks’ Pete Shelley, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and The Fall’s Mark E Smith to name but a few.
Mike Joyce, said: “Andy’s passing left us all absolutely devastated and I’ve been wanting to do something to celebrate his life and contribution to music. The idea of a mural in the centre of Manchester feels a fitting place and way for all his many fans to come and pay tribute.
“Securing a suitable site for the mural has been challenging at points as many locations and buildings have restrictions. However, the wonderful couple, Lisa and Robert of the Wheatsheaf pub, which is a big part of the local community in the Northern Quarter and an area where Andy lived for a while, came to the rescue and now, over a year since the plans began, we have secured a wonderful location.
Mike added: “Thanks to this Crowdfunder, fans of Andy and The Smiths can contribute to a permanent memorial, but also increase awareness of this debilitating disease and raise money for the charity, Pancreatic Cancer Action.
“The mural will not only serve as a permanent tribute to Andy's legacy as a brilliant musician but also as a memory of the funniest, sweetest lad I had the pleasure of knowing.”
Joe Kirwin, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering to support this Crowdfunder. We are sure that the interest and support this project will generate will play a part in bringing even more understanding about pancreatic cancer, which presently, is the most deadly of all common cancers."
You can donate to the crowdfunder right here
A limited edition of 100 x A4 prints for fans who pledge £50, and 30 x A3 prints for fans who pledge £100, will be available, each signed by Mike Joyce and artist Akse. Donations include UK and international postage.
The mural will be officially unveiled in November - Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month - at a special celebration with details to be announced in October.
Musicians honoured with murals:
Malcolm Young
Created by anonymous Australian artist Lushsux, this sublime mural of Malcolm Young is located on AC/DC Lane in Melbourne. It was unveiled shortly after the fabled guitarist's death in November 2017.
Malcolm Young
Lushsux's second Malcolm Young mural on AC/DC Lane in Melbourne featuring angel wings and devil horns. The quote reads: "C'mon Saint Peter. How many bloody times are you gonna make me play Hell's Bells before you let me through the gates mate?"
Eddie Van Halen
Created by Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas, the gargantuan Long Live The King mural of Eddie Van Halen measures more than five metres high and 32 metres wide and is located on the outside wall of the world-famous Guitar Centre store in Hollywood, California. It was unveiled on 26th January 2021 to mark what would have been Van Halen's 66th birthday.
Bob Dylan
Created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, this astonishing Bob Dylan mural called The Times They Are A-Changin was unveiled in September 2015. Depicting three photo-realistic images of Bob Dylan from different eras, the mural features kaleidoscopic colours and patterns throughout.
Joey Ramone
Painted by artists Solus and John CRASH Matos, this Joey Ramone mural on Bleecker at the Bowery in New York City was unveiled in September 2015. Featuring Joey Ramone sporting boxing gloves, the mural was created to mark the 40th anniversary of The Ramones' first gig at legendary venue CBGB. The mural was painted over in August 2017.
Debbie Harry and Blondie
In August 2017, the Joey Ramone mural in New York was painted over by esteemed graffiti mastermind Shepard Fairey who created this impressive Debbie Harry and Blondie mural in homage to the legendary now-closed CBGB club.
Black Sabbath
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the heavy metal pioneers, a new Black Sabbath mural was unveiled in Digbeth, Birmingham in September 2019 as part of High Vis Street Culture Festival by artist N4T4.
Lou Reed
This astonishingly life-like mosaic mural of Lou Reed was created by late photorealist artist Chuck Close in 2017. It's located at the Second Avenue Subway in Brooklyn, New York.
Ringo Starr
Painted by Liverpool artist John Culshaw, this spectacular Ringo Starr mural adorns the facade wall of The Empress Pub in Toxteth. Unveiled in March 2022, the mural is located near to Starr's humble childhood home.
David Bowie
Painted by Australian street artist Jimmy Cochra in 2013, the David Bowie 'Aladdin Sane' mural in Brixton became a focal point for mourners upon his death in January 2016.
Joe Strummer
Once located on the corner of Blenheim Crescent and Portobello road in Notting Hill, London, this Joe Strummer mural was unveiled in 2015 but was sadly demolished three years later when the adjacent shop was refurbished.
Prince
Manchester street artist Akse P19 created this Prince mural in the Northern Quarter in 2016 just a few weeks after the music legend's death.
Leonard Cohen
On the 1st anniversary of Leonard Cohen's death in November 2017 a vast 1,000 square metres mural of the singer was unveiled in downtown Montreal. Led by local artist Gene Pendon and internationally renowned American street portrait artist El Mac, Tower of Songs took 2 muralists, 13 assistant artists, 240 cans of paint and thousands of hours of work to replicate a photograph taken by his daughter, Lorca Cohen.
Muddy Waters
Eduardo Kobra's 'Muddy Waters Tribute' mural in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Kobra also created the astonishing Bob Dylan mural called The Times They Are A-Changin.
Keith Flint
Artist Akse P19 created this mural of late Prodigy icon Keith Flint in Hackney, London ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day 2021. The artwork was made to raise awareness of mental health text support service Shout85258
Mick Ronson
Late-great David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson was immortalised as this mural on Greenwich Avenue in his hometown of Hull in 2019. Before fame, Ronson worked as a gardener for Hull City Council.
27 Club mural
Eduardo Kobra's 27 Club mural in New York features five musicians who died aged 27 –Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse.
Jimi Hendrix
Such is his enduring legendary status, there are many Jimi Hendrix murals around the world. However, we particularly like this psychedelic one by German street artist Won ABC that was created in Leicester in May 2022 for the Bring the Paint event.
Lemmy
The Lemmy mural at his favourite drinking haunt, The Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles.
Prince
A small yet brilliant mural of Prince on Graham Road in London in April 2016.
Massive Wagons
A massive Massive Wagons 'Full Nelson' mural was unveiled in their native city of Lancaster in July 2018 to celebrate the release of their new studio album. The three-storey painting of the album cover adorned the side of The Pub in Lancaster where the band played many of their early shows. The band tweeted: 'Humbling beyond belief to have this monster mural of the Full Nelson album cover on the walls of our great city of Lancaster!'
Lemmy
A piece of graffiti in London by artist Paul Don Smith of Motörhead legend Lemmy. It appeared in 2016 a few months after Lemmy's untimely death.
The Rolling Stones
This mural of The Rolling Stones by Subset Dublin appeared above JJ Smyth's pub in Dublin's city centre, just a couple of days before the group's concert at Croke Park in May 2018.
Ian Curtis
Based on a seminal photo of Ian Curtis taken by Philippe Carly, this painting on the side of a central Manchester building was created by world-renowned street artist Akse P19 in October 2020 to mark World Mental Health Day. It was controversially painted over in August 2022 with artwork for the Manchester rapper Aitch.