Tributes paid to Manchester and Salford legend Mark E. Smith of The Fall
| 24th January 2018
The world is paying tribute to The Fall’s legendary frontman Mark E. Smith, who has died at the age of 60.
Born in Salford and having worked on the docks before it was Media City, Mark was the only constant member in The Fall, which went through more than 60 musicians in its 41 years from its formation in Prestwich in 1976. Ex-mmembers included Marc Riley from BBC 6 Music.
Named after the Albert Camus book, The Fall released more 32 studio albums, plus live albums and compilations, as well as Mark’s collaborations with bands such as The Inspiral Carpets, Gorillaz and Elastica.
They may never have been higher than number 30 in the charts with the Motown cover There’s A Ghost in My House in 1987 but their influence was far-reaching and inspired many other bands.
He had a reputation for being grumpy – falling out with members of the band live on stage, singing with his back to the audience with his megaphone and disappearing when I’d arranged interviews for him during my brief stint as his manager (yes he was in the pub, the trick was finding out which one) – but he was also incredibly sharp, sarcastic and funny. He loved winding people up.
A lifelong Manchester City fan, he’s read football results on BBC Sport, released football songs including Sparta F.C. and England’s Heartbeat with Ed Blaney and Jenny Shuttleworth – and produced a ballet project for I Am Kurious Orang with Michael Clark.
Ed, who has been collaborating with Mark since 1999, said: “I’m gutted beyond words, we’ve all lost a national treasure. A great friend to many.
“Mark was a diamond, a man of the people. Things will never be the same. A genius and one of the funniest people in the world.
“My thoughts are with his family and everyone else feeling pain at the moment. I’m going to miss him so much.”
Sam Riley (Ian Curtis in the film Control) played Mark in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People with Steve Coogan. Although the scenes were later cut, Mark did make a cameo appearance as himself.
He also showed he didn’t take himself too seriously when he appeared in the Johnny Vegas comedy Ideal on the BBC – see video below. Viz magazine joked about Mark giving everyone a chance to be in The Fall when they featured him in a cartoon.
It’s worth spending some time checking out his back catalogue – and read his autobiography Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E.Smith. A true punk, a renegade, uncompromising to the end. He will be missed.
But don’t just take my word for it…. check out the Tweets below and The Fall website.
Mark E. Smith of the Fall has died at 60. Listen to 12 of his essential songs. https://t.co/8N1sO0DNHg
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 24, 2018
Like Bowie, Mark E Smith's death is being mourned by all ages. I think of him as the gunpowder of the late 70s. Others claim him in the 80s. Yet more for the 90s and then there's those who caught up with him in this century. That tells you everything.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) January 24, 2018
RIP Mark E. Smith 💛 https://t.co/F9rTxee40O
— Damon Albarn Unofficial (@DamonUnofficial) January 24, 2018
Mark E Smith, rest in peace brother, you changed everything for me. Thank you xxx https://t.co/r5JuyaBkmI
— Clint Boon (@therealboon) January 24, 2018
The death of Mark E Smith is news I'd been dreading. One of my heroes, and a man I was proud to call a friend. I wrote this about him last year, knowing he was ill….https://t.co/RTvvWz7Hed I'll miss you Mark. pic.twitter.com/gm9IlLNlxW
— Dave Haslam (@Mr_Dave_Haslam) January 24, 2018
So so sad to hear that we’ve lost Mark E Smith. A true uncompromising musical maverick. A genius, a curmudgeon and someone whose company it was an honour to share. So long M.E.S x x x pic.twitter.com/aZFGNXZuRW
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 24, 2018
I respectfully propose, once a year, every year, we have National "Talk Like Mark E Smith" Day.
— Ben StayAtHome Goldacre (@bengoldacre) January 24, 2018
R.I.P Mark E Smith, 1957-2018 pic.twitter.com/JB6YjduEBC
— NTS Radio (@NTSlive) January 24, 2018
So very sad. Goodbye Mark. E. Smith. It was good knowing you
— Lisa Stansfield (@lisajstansfield) January 24, 2018
MES RIP: A true one-off has left the building. Farewell Mark E. Smith. https://t.co/UXAqjslglM pic.twitter.com/J4DVR9WecQ
— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/GigerPunk/status/956261393333936128
Oh no no no. Farewell then the raging spirit of #MarkESmith. How will I ever find a way to remember you? #evenMOREvinyl pic.twitter.com/X9oxIboS5X
— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) January 24, 2018
The late Tony Wilson introducing The Fall on TV , when Manchester and Salford belonged us Mancunians and Salfordians – R.I.P #markesmith https://t.co/9hcUKA8OiV
— terry christian (@terrychristian) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/laurenlaverne/status/956252851449356288
Very sad to hear the news about Mark E Smith. Known him a long time and had the usual mixture of madness and monkey business with him. Love The Fall. So many tales. Thoughts are with family, friends, fans, and Fall members past and present. RIP #TheFall #MarkESmith
— Pete Wylie is WAH!🌟 (@petewylie) January 24, 2018
Very sad news indeed. For some of us-the most important British artist of the last 40 years. A peerless, working class intellectual who never lost his edge. #markesmith #RIP pic.twitter.com/cZ3RqnZGkv
— Damnably Records (@damnably) January 24, 2018
Check the record check the record check the guy’s track record. Check the record. Check the guy’s track record. #markesmith pic.twitter.com/qqNqorE5cn
— Jon Kelly (@mrjonkelly) January 24, 2018
First we lost Ursula Le Guin, then Hugh Masekela, now Mark E Smith. Been a tough week for cultural icons.
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) January 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/lukewrightpoet/status/956268258533036033
An hour of John Peel saying The Fall, The Fall, The Mighty Fall…#markesmith RIPhttps://t.co/T2ikSyaBAc
— Tony Walsh (@LongfellaPoet) January 24, 2018
Sad to hear about the death of Mark E. Smith at 60. British music loses one of its most original and prolific talents. pic.twitter.com/ALqXl3zfBg
— THE THE (@thethe) January 24, 2018
Mark E Smith reading the football results, you wouldn’t catch Bono doing that ; ) https://t.co/FW0xvWovCz
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 24, 2018
Mark E Smith 💔 We will never forget you coming to see us play. Especially when you said watching us play was like watching paint dry. 💔 RIP
— Garbage (@garbage) January 24, 2018
Frank Skinner pays tribute to his hero, Mark E. Smith. pic.twitter.com/CBSGBh6u22
— Absolute Radio (@absoluteradio) January 24, 2018
“He was always unpredictable… I would just sit and listen to his stories” – @Tim_Burgess on The Fall singer Mark E Smith who has died aged 60 #newsnight pic.twitter.com/pM9Osyi6XH
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) January 24, 2018
Another career highlight courtesy of Mark E Smith xxx https://t.co/TA505pVxgY #MarkESmith
— Clint Boon (@therealboon) January 24, 2018
‘the Fall’s contract to appear on Later … with Jools Holland included a clause stipulating that under no circumstances was Holland to play “boogie-woogie piano anywhere near the Fall”’ https://t.co/Pmtu3ZzIhQ
— Will Woodward (@whwoodward) January 24, 2018
.@StephenSmithBBC dug out our memorable #newsnight interview with Mark E Smith from 2004 pic.twitter.com/tsJpIsXbA4
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) January 24, 2018
Mark E. Smith once fired his sound engineer for ordering a salad. #thatsrocknroll
— Ian McNabb (@empiresend) January 24, 2018
#MarkESmithRIP My good friend and my hero. You’ll be so terribly missed by me and millions others.
Your words meant more to me than anyone.— Jim Moir (@JamesMoir10) January 24, 2018