Where were you when you first heard the Fall?

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And has your life been downhill ever since?

― Sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I was in my apartment in Westwood near UCLA in 1990, having been told many good things about them by my friend Eric J. Lawrence. There was probably smog in the air.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 05:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyone know John Pearson the photographer in Chicago? Thank him for me for the two c90s he brought to Bloomington in 1989.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 05:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It was 1991. I was at home, listening to the Grotesque LP which I'd borrowed from a co-worker on headphones on my parents stereo.

My life has gotten better, I guess.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i propose a limit for 1 thread per week devoted to the fall.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i actually have a really good, completely true story about my first fall experience. it was at a party, thrown by a fellow who i saw, months later, getting in a scuffle involving harmony korine and a pair of crutches--the floor was covered in mattresses, upon which a half-naked fellow was urinating. later, the same boy's sister, of extremely short stature, paraded about naked with a live rat on her head--she would later be seen in a meat bikini. the album which was played, appropriately, was "grotesque".
all of the above is true!

― blind samuel, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

no wonder you're blind

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 06:48 (twenty-two years ago)

there was a great mark s post about this once. my own, boring answer: sitting in my bedroom, album was wonderful & frightening, track was "lay of the land." it took me some time to recover from that one enough to listen to the rest of the album.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 06:53 (twenty-two years ago)

can't believe they played at boogaloo. boogaloo! the tiny, under the nastiest subway, cokiest, most ignorant dancey jawns, insane fucking owner after hours club yz ever did see!

― autovac (autovac), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 07:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I was at their last official original lineup gig at the Forum in Kentish Town, not my thing, but they fucking rocked!

― lukey (Lukey G), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 08:16 (twenty-two years ago)

listened to "Live at the Witch Trials" in the record store I worked at ca. 79-80. I didn't know what to make of it.
saw band play live (w/2 drummers) 1983 in NYC. Can't remember much.

― lovebug starski, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

ooh, I know this one! I was in bed, listening secretly to john peel on my tiny radio through an earpiece probably clogged up with earwax. i like to think things have gone uphill a bit since then.

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"saw band play live (w/2 drummers) 1983 in NYC. Can't remember much"

I think I saw them in Detroit on the same tour. I was supposed to do an interview with them after their set, but the opening band were terrible so my two friends and I left for a bit to drink in the parking lot. The Fall were great, but by interview time, I was mostly shitfaced. So, of course, I start the interview with what might be the worst possible question:

"So, where you guys from, London?"

MES storms out, and the rest just stare a hole through me.

― peepee (peepee), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Heard "Live at the Witch Trials" c. 1979 at the home of my friend Tom, who owned a record store. Also heard "Killing an Arab" for the first time that same day. Didn't latch onto the Fall right away -- it took old Uncle John on shortwave to drive their brilliance home-ah.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 11:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I already revealed this on the other thread but again: NORTH EAST LONDON POLYTECHNIC, BARKING, JUNE 2ND 1977. The Fall were second on the bill to the Buzzcocks at this Rock Against Racism sponsored college gig. I loved it. A lot of people in the audience were confused, I think, because they were punky in a way..but there was something else going on and some people weren't sure if it was cool to like it. I remember 'Repetition' standing out because it was slow and droney, almost unheard of in the Punk scene at that time.

― David (David), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Over there.... no over there...... bit further..... right..... no no back...... now you've gone too far...... yeah, that's it, that's it...... right there

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 11:57 (twenty-two years ago)

My first English lecture, 1997 or so. 20th Century ETC. Played "New Big Prinz" LOUD over the speakers, it was never explained or even mentioned. Fuckin A.

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, to be honest, my brother got "Dragnet" out our local library, that's how I first heard them

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

don't remember hearing them the *first* time (which was probably via peel) but i vividly remember listening to a newly purchased cassette of 'bend sinister' whilst pushing one of those street sweeper things around a grimy warehouse in gloucestershire, part of a two-week summer job between 6th form and university.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

In my bedroom, age 15, listening to WRSU. It was "Psykick Dancehall," I think.

― mike a, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know. In a previous incarnation, I think.

― Collardio Gelatinous (collardio), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Listening to a mixtape someone made for me. One of the songs from This Nation's Saving Grace (but I can't recall which).

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

In the house of a school friend while in the sixth form, I think. He used to send for packs of singles from Rough Trade, and one of them was Bingo Master's Breakout....ah

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

1989, at home listening to John Peel. He played 'In These Times' at the start of the show and introduced it with "And now, Lord and Master of us all..."

I had heard 'Mr. Pharmacist' before this at work on one of my friend Ned's mixtapes but it wasn't until I got into them that I found out who it was.

― rw, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I was on the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

hstencil! I was just going to make a joke like that!

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

certainly it's the most appropriate joke for the Fall!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"So, where you guys from, London?"

MES storms out, and the rest just stare a hole through me.

Pat, that is hilarious...hahaha

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

listening to the john peel show spring 1985, as a 15 year old, in the lounge at home.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I was at my friend James' house around, 1992 or so. We had been getting stoned to Seefeel and then he wanted to play me "Behind The Counter" and "Cruiser's Creek". So he did.

My life has got better, I guess.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't remember my first listen, but I was in math class, must've been my sophomore, maybe junior year of high school, when a friend handed me a cassette dub of "This Nation's Saving Grace." I later picked up a proper copy of the cassette for $3 in a Seattle pawnshop. I didn't know what to make of it at the time, and still don't, but that doesn't bother me... When I heard the opening notes of the album, I don't think I'd ever heard something as dark or ominous in my life.

― philip sherburne (philip sherburne), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

David: "I already revealed this on the other thread but again: NORTH EAST LONDON POLYTECHNIC, BARKING, JUNE 2ND 1977.

The date I have for that on my site is June 25 - are you sure it was June 2? Simon Ford did extensive research on the early days of the Fall for his book; that's where I got the info from.

I first heard the Fall in 1978, on John Peel's show. Didn't pay proper attention until Grotesque came out, but I did see them twice by accident in 1979.

Stefan

― Stefan, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

the video for Victoria on 120 Minutes

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

ditto.

― sexyDancer, Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

David: "I already revealed this on the other thread but again: NORTH EAST LONDON POLYTECHNIC, BARKING, JUNE 2ND 1977.

The date I have for that on my site is June 25 - are you sure it was June 2? Simon Ford did extensive research on the early days of the Fall for his book; that's where I got the info from.

You're almost certainly right. I was reproducing the date from memory and I knew there was a '2' in it (the '5' must have got erased somehow). At the gig they were giving out big RAR posters with the line up and details of the concert and I got one and stuck it up on my wall but it eventually fell to bits.

― David (David), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

ths hospital having a third of my stomach removed, 1990. actually I probably heard them before that but that was the first time I listened to them attentively.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus, this thread is even more interesting than the last Fall thread.

Someone mentioned "Lay Of The Land". I think that was the first song I heard too. Something from "Wonderful & Frightening" anyway. It was on the radio, I was down in the basement, T.V. area of my house. I was 13 or 14. A friend had spent the night at my house, we had sleeping bags, I think. The song was strange, but as I said before I wasn't so sure I liked it at the time.

― Bimble (bimble), Thursday, 27 May 2004 04:38 (twenty-two years ago)

sometime in high school. probably on CBC's Brave New Waves. not immediately life changing, but it eventually got pretty close. actually just got the Real New Fall LP and it's fucking great. 'course i've only listened to the first four songs. but so far... fuck! amazing!

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 27 May 2004 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

About three or four years ago in a music store, listening to one of the shoddily remastered CDs of 'Dragnet', which was also horrendously expensive. I ended up buy 'Hip Priests & Kamerades' and toying with it for a while, then I became obsessed.

My life has since gotten worse, but I don't think it's because of the Fall. Actually, it probably is. Although I have had much more sex since then...

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 27 May 2004 06:23 (twenty-two years ago)

weirdly enough i think it was on one of those "volume" book/cd jammies. "greenland"? i think when i investigated at best buy there was a collection, on castle i believe, got it and "slates" and "leave the capitol" hooked me, and still have me. got most classic LPs (and that particular ten inch, original!) (oh and also 'part of america therein'!) but recent stuff is strangely more appropriate to listen to on CD

― duke volume, Thursday, 27 May 2004 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The video to Victoria on The Chart Show.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Thursday, 27 May 2004 08:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I think there has always been something that has bothered me a little about how Wonderful & Frightening was produced. I realize this doesn't make sense, especially considering Leckie also produced This Nation's Saving Grace and other things. Also contributing to my slight animosity with Wonderful & Frightening: the vinyl copy I had for many years was warped, so one of the really great songs at the beginning of either side skipped. Well, I have it on CD now, of course, but yet there is still something about the production...

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Still, the main thing I wanted to say was I really felt Brix was one hell of a Godsend to The Fall with those R&B riffs. Even while she was a part of the band, I never realized how much she contributed until she left. I bought the album they did when she rejoined the band in the 90's, and it was good, but I can't remember the title, now.

I did buy 2G+2, but didn't like it enough to keep it. Enjoyed seeing them live again, though. (I was present at one of the performances captured on that CD) What a raw punk guitar they had going!

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

No one cares, but I have an autographed copy of the Frenz Experiment and I am happy it is so.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I just might cry, now.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It's "British Grenadiers (Gross Chapel)" from Bend Sinister (or "Domesday Pay-Off Triad" in the U.S. as I recall) that nearly brings me to tears.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Bimble, there were two albums from Brix's second stint, Cerebral Caustic and The Light User Syndrome. They're good. Scanlon's and Hanley's contributions to the band are significant, of course, obv.

― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

And yeah, the sound on Wonderful and Frightening isn't the greatest. I actually like it more than Hex Enduction Hour, though. The sound of that one is perhaps part of the reason why I don't seem to like it as much as others do.

― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 29 May 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Either that or they're just overrating it!

― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 29 May 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Not to discount Hanley, Jesus, who do you think I am?

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I also have a hard time understanding those who are so enamoured with Hex Enduction Hour. It seems very rough, to me. And not in the good "rough" sense of The Fall. It contains some classics, but overall isn't all that consistent, for me.

― Bimble (bimble), Saturday, 29 May 2004 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

"Not to discount Hanley, Jesus, who do you think I am?"

And Craig!

― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 29 May 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Forgive me, almighty Lord.

― Bimble (bimble), Sunday, 30 May 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

In a ditch on hillside,in the rain,I heard "Frightened" wafting through the ether...........mega!

― tony moult, Thursday, 3 June 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

played cruiser's creek or rowche rumble or something on my radio shows at the behest of my bandmates. life is good.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 3 June 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

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