"Hip Priest: The Story of Mark E Smith and the Fall"

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is a bit poor, isn't it? 300 pages divided by 40 band members = someone gets fired every 7.5 pages. Simon Ford doesn't have much (anything) interesting to say about the records and cuz of the pace doesn't seem to make anything worthwhile of the psychological side or the presumable mindfuck nature of actually being in the band. MES's twattishness seems to be being allowed a bit of a free pass because of his geniusness, which isn't actually explored because he's only a drunk northerner, right?

I'd half-assumed there'd be DOZENS of books on the band: their supporters being both fanatical and often enough disappointed that maybe just listening to the records is a Bangs/Reed experience.

"To date there has been just one other book on the Fall, Brian Edge's 1989 Paintwork: A Portrait Of The Fall. ... Mat Snow said that after reading the book he was nowhere nearer to knowing, 'what makes him tick?'. Perhaps this book might help, but I doubt it. I suspect the answer to this question is beyond anybody, even Smith."

so: is it possible for a book to actually get into "what makes him tick?" in a biography of MES and the Fall? (for any band?) if not why not. if so, why not yet?

― thom west (thom w), Saturday, 20 September 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The story of MArk E. Smith and the Fall:

Mark E. Smith as teenager: miserable git

Mark E. Smith in his early 20's: miserable git

Mark E. Smith in his mid 20's: miserable git

Mark E. Smith in his late 20's: miserable git

Mark E. Smith in his early 30's: miserable git

...and so on

― Dadaismus (Dada), Saturday, 20 September 2003 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Saw it on the shelf, was interested, picked it up and opened to random page, saw a song described as "grabbing hold...and just doesn't let go!", closed book, put back on shelf. It was the 'just' that did it.

― dave q, Saturday, 20 September 2003 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been dying to read a good book about the Fall since high school. This thread is seriously depressing.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 20 September 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"grabbing hold...and just doesn't let go!",

"The Steak Place"?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 20 September 2003 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

There should be one by Mick Middles out soonish.

― Sasha Gabba Hey! (sgh), Sunday, 21 September 2003 05:46 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

So, I was just having a look on the Fall's website, and noticed the announcement of this, and can't really decide what I think about it. On the one hand, it might be great, on the other it might be his infamous Newsnight interview, but in book form (which might also actually be good!) Anyone?

― Neil Stewart (Neil Stewart), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

cool cover!!!!!

― minerva estassi (minerva estassi), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 18:32 (nineteen years ago)

Hell, I'm in.

― A Rush of Cold Blood To The Head (Bimble...), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

how can this not be great

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

Anyone see that new car commercial that uses "Blindness?" I certainly did a double take.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, I think you're probably right and it will be great, or at least unique. I'll be buying it!

― Neil Stewart (Neil Stewart), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 10:17 (nineteen years ago)

I'm waiting for a signing table!

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 10:25 (nineteen years ago)

Did anyone hear his spoken-word album?

― braveclub (braveclub), Thursday, 9 November 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

Anyone see that new car commercial that uses "Blindness?" I certainly did a double take.

Here it is! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_3eBFjCNIo

― Jouster (Jouster), Thursday, 9 November 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

Did anyone hear his spoken-word album?

As opposed to all those albums where he sings?

― Whoof Vague-o-Rama (noodle vague), Thursday, 9 November 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

Haha.

Yeah, I did hear his spoken word album. I listened to it at work actually on headphones, which made it a bit awkward, but I enjoyed it. I always meant to go back to it one day and didn't. Maybe I'll dig it out soon here.

― A Chocolate Ball of Sweet Confectionary Fire (Bimble...), Friday, 10 November 2006 02:32 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway from what I read on Fallnet this is supposed to be an autobiography. Which almost disappoints me because I'm sure he could do an interesting book of stories or poetry.

― A Chocolate Ball of Sweet Confectionary Fire (Bimble...), Friday, 10 November 2006 02:33 (nineteen years ago)

I just remembered, the only thing I've ever read about the Fall (or rather in this case and most cases really) Mark that gave me any insight perspective thing at all (and they're by miles my fav band, I've LOOKED) was a pretty long interview he did w/David Cavanagh (I'm pretty sure) in Q in like '94. Career overview etc, all filtered thru Mark obv, extremely funny, and M was at most lightly drunk. I might have a look for it online. "Can you really imagine the Sun being interested in me? "He Smoked 40 Cigarettes a Day and Shouted at His Band""

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Friday, 10 November 2006 10:28 (nineteen years ago)

That was quick

http://www.visi.com/fall/gigography/94marapr.html

I should prob read a lot more interviews w/him

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Friday, 10 November 2006 10:34 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think it's as good as I remember it being. Damn.

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Friday, 10 November 2006 10:36 (nineteen years ago)

There is another book where he does it in an 'interview' style.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 10 November 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Well this is

"Baker refers to this period later in the NME, claiming to have "invented" The Fall. He receives 10p from Smith in the post."

xpost

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Friday, 10 November 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Then, in 1977, seizing the microphone, Smith issues a first spiky narrative, Bingo Masters Breakout, written on his works typewriter at the docks, and drags the band around the working men's clubs of the North.

The Fall's line-up is a tense collective, frankly low on team-spirit. There is Weather Report fan, a Rush fan, a Television fan, a girl and Smith, whom the others keep trying to remove, sensing lucrative New Wave opportunities without his off-putting Mancunian speak-singing voice, which seems to encourage bottles to be thrown from the audience. Smith invites his dissenters to "walk".

― latebloomer and his 'Cyborg Companion', Hacker (latebloomer), Friday, 10 November 2006 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

just 'a girl'

― latebloomer and his 'Cyborg Companion', Hacker (latebloomer), Friday, 10 November 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

Ah they could have been subtle and said "a Nico fan", coudn't they?

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

From the NME news page..

Mark E Smith will also publish his autobiography 'Renegade: The Gospel According To Mark E Smith' on April 26, while 'Perverted By Language: Fiction Inspired By The Fall', a collection of short stories, follows on June 28.

Ruddy April!!!?????

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 16 November 2006 01:23 (nineteen years ago)

TS - Miles Davis' autobio vs. Mingus' autobio vs. MES' autobio

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Thursday, 16 November 2006 02:32 (nineteen years ago)

Does it actually take that long to issue a book, publishers?

Or are you waiting for Mark E to be less busy?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 16 November 2006 15:04 (nineteen years ago)

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