RIP Mark E. Smith

;_;

Aw man.

I can't believe he played those last shows

yeah it really is a testament to his force of will

very touching, thanks for posting that

One of the things I think that gets overlooked when people talk about the Fall and all the records/songs and all the touring and continuing despite turnovers and illness & etc. is that I don't think you can look at them like a "band" exactly. You need to think about them as a small business, like a plumbing service (MES's dad was a plumber). MES never seemed to wait for creative inspiration or the mood to strike to write songs, they were constantly writing because that's what bands do, they write songs and put out records. That's how you make money.

People quit or get fired you don't close up shop, you find replacements. You might be sick but you press on cuz that's just what you do.

In Hanley's book he points that right from the start (or least from when Bramah & Friel exit) the group was organized from the top down, MES & management in charge and controlling the purse strings and everyone else was essentially an employee, drawing a wage, going to the boss when gear needed to be replaced etc.

And like a small business owner MES sort of equally loves & hates "the lads" and berates them when they fuck up but when Hanley's son is born premature they basically give him six months paid leave (though I suspect that was more Brix then MES)

I just finally watched the videos of that final Glasgow show yesterday

Fuckin hell.

There is a 'tribute' column in Private Eye this week, a sort-of message from the afterlife. It's touching that they did it, it's not something they've done often if at all before. Obviously it's terrible, but hey.

"Re-Mit", which I probably haven't listened to since it was released really sounding good this AM.

This person’s posthumous top 20 is really well chosen and really really well written.

http://hippriestess.tumblr.com

La Lechera if u want another fall playlist...

As a mark of respect for the great Mark E Smith we’ve displayed Grayson Perry’s ‘My Heroes’ with MES’s portrait to the fore. In Studio Ceramics, Room 142, The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Gallery, V&A. #markesmith #markesmithrip #TheFall #GraysonPerry #ceramics @V_and_A @Alan_Measles pic.twitter.com/jhRNuxhfZc

— Alun Graves (@alun_graves) February 14, 2018

Barry Sheen is on the other side iirc. (April Ashley and Aubrey Beardsley also, according to Wikipedia)

There's one of Johnny Vegas' teapots in the same room.

it actually looks a bit more like Mick than Mark IMO

Indeed. Lips too sumptuous

listing Grotesque on Ebay...

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/32089895_10156857634282137_5340684110501249024_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=05d24c05f3899b8cdff18f56635f8a49&oe=5B89CB0E

nice

ha ha yes

golden

p sure The Real New Fall LP covers the rest

Expanded and slightly rejiggered version of "50,000 Fall Fans Can't be Wrong":

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-fall-58-golden-greats-58-original-tracks-including-all-the-hits-3cd-boxset/

Huh, track list drops "Green Eyed Loco-Man" - which seems like a real loss!