No Andy? No Smiths'

Band's former drummer says there can never be reunion of ground-breaking 80s group

- ADAM MAIDMENT

FORMER Smiths drummer Mike Joyce has said the band can never get back together again following the death of bassist Andy Rourke.

Mike was speaking last week at the unveiling of a new mural of Andy on the side of the Wheatsheaf pub in the Northern Quarter.

Created by street artist Akse P19, it came about after a fundraising campaign led by Mike and the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity.

"Every time I met up with him, he was just so entertaining," Mike, now 61, recalls of Andy, who died last year. "He absolutely nailed every department in terms of personality, he was just that kind of person.

"He was just so funny, so entertaining and he couldn't stop himself.

Even in quite solemn moments, he'd often be quite inappropriate and try to make people laugh.

"He was just a great person to be with. He was the perfect mate, really, and that was even before he put on the bass. I was lucky to be able to know him as a friend, rather than just as a musician.