Andy Rourke, bass guitarist of The Smiths, dies at 59: "We'll miss you brother"

Andy Rourke, bass guitarist of The Smiths, one of the most influential British bands of the 1980s, died Friday after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer, his publicity firm confirmed to CBS News. He was 59.

Rourke died early Friday morning in New York City at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Reybee Inc. said in a statement.

"Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans," the statement said.