The original target on fundraising platform Crowdfunder of £15,500 to commission street artist Akse to paint the image of Rourke was hit quickly and a stretch target of £25,000 has been implemented with extra proceeds going to Pancreatic Cancer Action charity.
At the time of writing, donations had reached £22,319.
Rourke, who played on The Smiths hits including This Charming Man, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out and Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on 19 May 2023.
To celebrate his life, Mike Joyce – drummer with The Smiths – decided to launch the project with the intention of also raising awareness of the Pancreatic Cancer Action charity by creating a permanent mural to Rourke on the side of the Wheatsheaf pub on Oak Street in the Northern Quarter of Manchester.
Joyce has also planned an event in November to raise further funds.
Permanent memorial
Joyce said: “Thanks to this Crowdfunder, fans of Andy and The Smiths can contribute to a permanent memorial in his and the band’s hometown of Manchester, 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.”
Lisa Booth, licensee at The Wheatsheaf, said: “It’s an absolute honour the Wheatsheaf has been chosen as the location for this fabulous mural of music legend, Andy Rourke. Both Rob and I are huge fans of The Smiths so it’s incredible to be able to play a part in keeping his legacy alive while supporting such a worthy cause. We cannot wait to see the final result and show it off to customers and visitors for years to come.”
Admiral Taverns business development manager Jodie Leigh added: “I’m absolutely delighted the Wheatsheaf has been chosen as the home for, what will be, a wonderful mural in memory of an iconic artist that was instrumental in changing the face of the music industry.
Passion and dedication
“His death was tragic but it’s incredible to see so many people coming together to raise money for such an important cause in his name.
“On behalf of myself and the whole team at Admiral Taverns, I’d like to extend my thanks to the fantastic licensees, Lisa and Rob, who have brought so much passion and dedication to the pub and the community and I think this stands testament to that.”
The mural, in partnership with the charity, Pancreatic Cancer Action, 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 given her blessing to the project. The photo was taken at the Caird Hall in Dundee in 1985.
The mural will be officially unveiled in November, which is pancreatic cancer awareness month.
