Smiths' Andy Rourke Gets A&R Gig

Former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has been named A&R director of the New York City and Toronto-based music marketing firm, The MuseBox.

Rourke will use his almost 30 years of experience in songwriting, performing and production to help identify and work with developing artists. He'll try and build their careers with the aid of The MuseBox's press and online services, synchronization licensing, and lifestyle, tour and music industry marketing.

"The Smiths are a major influence on much of today's music scene, and Andy Rourke was a key player in their sound and success," says The MuseBox founder and CEO Nadine Gelineau. "We are thrilled to be taking our lifeline of support for today's bands to another level of expertise and experience by welcoming an imminent Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer into our family."

"The MuseBox is an amazingly focused, driven and effective marketing firm," says Rourke, who turns 45 on Saturday. "They are in this business purely for the love of music, and that alone makes this a great fit for me.

"I look forward to working with the team in finding and nurturing some talented newbies, taking them up level by level and helping them achieve their full potential as artists and professionals."

Rourke worked with Morrissey, Sinead O'Connor, The Pretenders, Killing Joke and Badly Drawn Boy after The Smiths broke up. He's currently a member of Freebass with fellow bassists Mani (The Stone Roses) and Peter Hook (New Order) and vocalist Gary Briggs. He's also a club DJ.

We're not sure if Rourke is taking this A&R gig because he's looking for a challenge or he's looking for cash. He filed for bankruptcy in 1999.