Julie via FB:
So many people to thank. But first a bit of background. When Andy Rourke passed away, like many people I was really very sad, for his poor family, brothers and his wife, but also for those of us who loved him and his remarkable contribution to The Smiths. We had nowhere to share in the grief and pay respects & say thank you. So my plan then became how to make an event all about Andy, for us. I wanted his catalogue of bass work to be represented. For me personally I wanted to do something unique, special and different just for him, so I threw my heart and soul into it. I began by calling on Simon Wolstencroft to connect me to Phil Rourke, Andy’s brother, to ask for his family blessing, which he gave. Had he said no, I would not have done it. I booked the one year anniversary weekend with my much missed pal Andy Martin. With that I assembled a frankly unbelievable band - Andrew Paresi, Ezra Martin, Justin D. Parsons and John Kapp. Over multiple NYC zooms and calls and WhatsApps we put together a dream setlist and they rocketed into learning the songs. My brief remained for it to shine completely on Andy, so we drilled into his bass work together and Ezra (who knew Andy too, as did Justin) pummelled out a delivery that was such if you closed your eyes it could have been Andy moving his fingers. I named the band “Rourke” in Andy’s honor and the project started moving but we didn’t have a singer. I dashed about London going to gigs to see if there were any gals I could poach to join us. I wanted to hand pick a female for the front because I just felt in my bones that it was the right thing. I had the vision, I knew it would work and I could see it clearly. And then I found her - Keeley Moss - and I knew instantly it had to be her. She’s a huge Smiths fan. I heard her work, saw her excellent gig (I love her songs) and charmed her into the project, then she joined. Very close to the warm up gig in January I pulled in Jen Brown O'Drag - she rocked up to do BVs but we all agreed she should have songs on lead, and so Jen took Unloveable, Sinead and Sandie and blew us away. I mean goosebumps. Rourke gig in Jan was great and allowed us to work out kinks, drop and improve. The lads started calling me Julie McLaren or Malcolm McHamill (we all work really well together - it’s a joy) and I pushed everybody to rehearse and learn, maybe too far sometimes, correcting any tiny this n that, in the run up, I think I was probably insufferable (‘Reggie then Ronnie’/‘Two blacks and a strange’/‘That’s too fast/too slow’/‘somebody is out’) but they kindly put up with it (or were too scared to tell me). Justin and John’s guitars never sounded better and they had every song licked into shape, each playing to their own style and flair. I loved to see it. They’re really professional in their work ethic. I am really proud of them. And Ezra is some kind of bass savant. The left hand is genius. I need to just tell you that the Rourke band had just two rehearsals together in London before they played the gig. Two. That’s incredible talent right there folks.
In the background I was assembling more guests. The Smiths Utd came in and agreed to open both nights (which they did brilliantly) and their set was orchestrated so that all the good songs could be shared between the two bands and there would be no repetition. Justin from Smiths Utd was a pleasure to work with. I will def see these guys again. More lovely collaboration all around. Everyone just wanted to do well by Andy. John Robb and I had a couple of phone calls about him ‘punking the F’ out of Panic. Oh man, did he. At the rehearsal I thought ‘he’s going to walk in here, sing one song and steal it.’ John was supposed to do ‘London’ as well, which he would have rocked, but he didn’t have time to learn it. I rushed our Keeley into the side room. We went through the lyrics together and boom, she knew it, delivered it, and it was one of my faves of hers. Keeley also appeared at the front beside me two minutes before she sang Sheila with Smiths Utd. Jacket and handbag still on, she ripped them off, swigged Andrew’s water then threw herself up there and the energy flew up ten notches. Legend.
I asked the established ‘star’ singers to please not try to sing like Moz, to do their own spin, and it was fantastic to hear John Robb rip into it and Keeley Irish it right up. Jen creeped it Siouxsie style
Stephen Holt Samuels came on board weeks beforehand. I’m a great admirer of his and his frontmanship in the Inspiral Carpets. The truth is I really like how he’s so into what he does. He’s a great dancer too, but his command is unique and his there is a light was one of my absolute highlights. Funky Si took to the drums with smiths utd and looked to be in his element. I love watching Si play, the way he locks into a rhythm. We had a wee moment when he looked up from the drums. His Andy stories were beautiful. I love that he spoke. The in-conversations were emotional. Endless phone calls with Mike Joyce and Phil/Chris Rourke really paid off. When it came to it I felt so honoured to talk to the three of them. None of it was lost on me. Having their trust meant the world. Mike Joyce, I mean, come on, he was “in the smiths…”
I simply cannot say enough good things about Andrew Paresi. I massively love his drumming. He is supreme in the fills. I can recognise a Paresi flair in seconds. But aside from that, he’s the funniest person I know. We really click. And he loved Andy. He had great stories too. Andrew is a dream friend that I admire greatly as a human. It was emotional for him to play this event. And me. He belongs behind the drums. So naturally when Keeley’s drummer left, I slotted him right into her band, and history was made as these two plus the bass player made new magic. Thrilling.
Back to Andy. Over one of the zooms with the lads I said ‘who do you really want to play with from the Andy history’ and Ezra said ‘Badly Drawn Boy’. I set about asking Damon in Twitter DMs as we already followed each other and he said yes immediately. Like, wow ok careful what you wish for. Forward to rehearsal and I’m standing in front of his face barking out words and actions for him to learn his two songs. ‘World! Now Queen! Now wait, now lying in bed!’ We had a good laugh. He had a few bits of There is a light to learn, and at the rehearsal there had been one mistake he kept making, it was only tiny but he’s a perfectionist, and again we went over it. There’s a bit in one of these videos of the night when he turns and smiles at me because he gets it right. I loved that. People wanted everything to be right for Andy. Everyone really cared. As it was, Damon’s Andy stories were quite beautiful. His playing was exquisite and his voice was melty. I ran to Danny Marsh to get Damon his fruit juice before he went on. He was ready to go. (If I darted past you I wasn’t being rude I promise!) In between I had to cut Matt doing Devil but Matt was sublime about it. Then I filled while James tour mgr sorted Damon’s guitar pedals. I then introduced Damon and he came up and said ‘I thought you were doing Devil first!’
Saturday (during the day) I nipped on Rose’s bus tour to see Conor McLoughlin who was fantastic. I then nipped back for soundcheck/rehearsal. I also pulled in Steven Staff from Frankly the Smiths last min, who was fabulous.
All these legends came together for Andy, but the biggest legend of all was my sister Louise who put up with me not eating, not sleeping, being a pain… living off adrenaline that almost broke me. Louise is the queen of support, she listens and without her I don’t think I could have done it. I put so much emphasis into getting this one right to do well by Andy and I knew it was my last. I wanted people to walk into the room and feel something. The backdrop and T-shirts and photos were beautiful, thanks Scott Cooper and Jojo Coops.
George Allen is doing a meet next year, with Chris who was fantastic with the raffle in his Louise training
I can’t wait to see what they plan and I promise not to be like Alex Ferguson when David Moyes came in. I will be there in the crowd dancing and laughing with everyone else.
Things people asked me:
- did you ask Johnny Marr?
Yes I did, multiple emails and tweets. He didn’t want to come and that’s okay.
- Did Morrissey know about it?
Yes. Morrissey has known every foot of every decision and booking I’ve made over the years. (He knows, he knows).
I asked Rowetta. She wanted to do it but was going to be away. She was gutted as was I.
Andy Barnett came this year which was really beautiful and special too. The DJs finished the evening with glorious sets. Thanks to Hannah and Loud and Clear.
I’m off now to write another book and get back to my ten jobs. As you can imagine I’ve been a bit distracted. This is without doubt the most beautiful celebration of a life that shaped mine. I will never forget #AllAboutAndy, not ever.
Thanks must go to
Ezra Martin
Andrew Paresi
Justin D. Parsons
John Kapp
Keeley Moss
Jen Brown O'Drag
Damon Gough
Stephen Holt Samuels
Steven Staff
John Robb
Matt Raistrick
Chris Neale
Justin Atkinson
Andy Gibson (he made that drum skin!)
Simon Wolstencroft
George Allen
Chris Forrester
Louise Hamill, my beautiful sister
Stephen Wright (what a prize!)
Mike Joyce
Phil & Chris Rourke
Zak the sound engineer (fantastic)
Danny Marsh - amazing
Gary Lavery
Ian Strawboss
Andy Andy Plc Martin
Marc smith Capella (donated all the Smiths t-shirts)
Hannah Patricia Saunders
Daniel Cooke
Andy Barnett
Jo Cooper
Scott Cooper
Rose Gill xxxx
Shaun O’Donnell
What a team. Watch these videos. Lots of love. Thank you Andy.
Andy is now buried in southern cemetery. A headstone is being made and it will be a public place for people to visit and pay their respects. Mike Joyce is having a mural painted in Manchester. More details soon.
He may have died, but it’s still #AllAboutAndy.
www.wegottickets.com
to put on a pair of HIGH HEELS 
