Mark E Smith was the distictive and uncompromising frontman of the British post-punk band The Fall. His cranky and complex personality earned him a reputation to be difficult to work with and made him a cult icon in underground music circles. His approach to music was unconventional, as he didn't have a high regard for musicianship, and said that "rock & roll isn’t even music really. It's a mistreating of instruments to get feelings over"
Mark E. Smith was born in Broughton, Lancashire in March 1957. As a teenager, he listened mostly experimental rockers like Captain Beefheart and the Velvet Underground. He formed The Fall after attending a Sex Pistols gig at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in June 1976.
During The Fall's 42-year existence he was the lead vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, and general mastermind of the band and its line-up included some 60 musicians who, with Smith, released 32 studio albums and numerous singles. Although their music was not liked by everyone, with its abrasive style and monotine vocals, it left a huge imprint on '90s indie rock.
He died in January 2018 at the age if 60.
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Our latest exhibition 'The Main Stage' is now on at the Royal Albert Hall. Don't miss our iconic photographs of rock's greatest performers
Welcome to our Folk & Country Print Collection - iconic images of the world's greatest artists from the past 50 years
This new exhibition showcases the candid photos of Jill Furmanovsky taken from behind the scenes at London's legendary Abbey Road Studios
We are delighted to share our brand new collection of Bob Dylan prints by photographer Arthur Rosato taken in 1980 during the 'Gospel Years'
