Tuesday, June 17, 2025

RIP Bob Andrews, 75, Founder of The Rumour, Produced The La’s “There She Goes,” Dozens of New Wave Classics

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Bob Andrews has reportedly died in New Mexico of cancer. He was 75.

Andrews was unsung hero of the New Wave movement of the mid to late 70s. He fronted the band The Rumour, which also played behind Graham Parker.

Prior to The Rumour, Andrews was part of the band called Brinsley Swartz, which also included the titular star and Nick Lowe. They recorded — and Andrews produced — the original version of “What’s So Funny (‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding).”

When Parker rose to prominence in 1979 with his album, “Squeezing Out Sparks,” The Rumour had their own release on Stiff Records with hits “Emotional Traffic” and “Frozen Years.” They were all pop gems.

Andrews produced the debut album by Carlene Carter, then married to Nick Lower. His credits are all over the Stiff catalog. Jona Lewie’s “Stop the Cavalry” was a massive number 1 song, and Lewie’s “You’ll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties” is maybe the cleverest record ever made.

Andrews had his biggest with a late 80s Liverpool group called The La’s. “There She Goes,” is a classic one off hit, instantly memorable, and used now for commercials all the time.

Parker Tweeted this afternoon: “My dear friend Bob Andrews, keyboard player in the Rumour has died. So deeply saddened by this news.”

Not everyone gets Grammys or is in the Rock Hall. More often than, the uncelebrated great musicians get overlooked. RIP Bob Andrews.



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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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