The late, great Andy Rourke was a true musical icon, leaving an indelible mark on the industry with his virtuosic bass playing and prolific discography. As the longtime bassist for the legendary British rock band The Smiths, Rourke contributed to some of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums of all time, cementing his status as one of the greatest bassists of his generation.
Rourke was renowned not only for his contributions to the iconic quartet but also for his extensive back catalogue of solo and collaborative projects. His ventures including his collaboration with the supergroup Freebase, showcased his ability to blend modern rock, dub, and Northern soul and push the boundaries of conventional songwriting. Additionally, his partnership with Olé Koretsky and the Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan under the name D.A.R.K. highlighted his versatility, blending elements of post-punk, industrial, and darkwave into a captivating signature sound. In the final years of his life, Rourke collaborated with Kav Sandhu to form the genre-spanning band Blitz Vega. Started in 2016 and officially launched in 2019, the band’s debut album “Northern Gentleman” is set to release on September 27th, slightly over a year after Rourke’s passing.
Shortly before Rourke passed away, Sandhu made a solemn promise to complete the album they had been meticulously crafting over the course of many years. The prospect of returning to the studio without his longtime collaborator was undoubtedly daunting for Kav, but his unwavering dedication and profound passion for his friend and the project they had poured their hearts into carried him through. And the result was a very special record – a poignant farewell, imbued with the bittersweet emotions of loss and mourning. Yet, it also pulsates with a life-affirming energy that celebrates the enduring bond between the two friends and of their shared artistic passion.
“Northern Gentleman” could so easy be an elegy, but as we’ve heard from the singles – ‘Disconnected’, ‘Strong Forever’ (featuring Johnny Marr), ‘Lost Myself’, ‘Lost & Found’, ‘Love City’ and ‘LA Vampire’ – it’s an exuberant, multi-faceted exploration that seamlessly blends diverse influences. Touches of timeless, guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll, and ’70s glam rub shoulders with the infectious, anthemic energy of classic Britpop, while detours into the grittier realms of LA punk and thumping electronica lend an unpredictable edge, proving that Rourke wanted proves that Andy wanted to push boundaries until the very end.
Sandhu also promised Rourke that he would take Blitz Vega on the road. After playing London’s Scala earlier this year and a trio of Edinburgh Fringe shows, the band previewed the album with a homecoming for Sandhu at Leicester’s International last week, with more dates to be announced. The live band is completed by Asa Brown (keyboards / backing vocals), Rex Roulette (guitar), Greg Gent (guitar / backing vocals), Craig Eriksson (drums) and George Yelding (bass).
In celebration of the album’s imminent release, CinemaChords’ Howard Gorman caught up with Sandhu who openly spoke about how excited Rourke and himself were to get this album made, how he went about fulfilling his promises to release the album exactly as intended and why, as Rourke’s posthumous album, ‘Northern Gentleman’ stands as a testament to the power and impact he had and continues to have.
‘Northern Gentleman’ releases on SEPTEMBER 27TH – PRE-SAVE HERE
Follow Blitz Vega online:
Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | Facebook | X
Andy Rourke Instagram | Kav Sandhu Instagram
Featured photograph by Lexi Bonin
