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.
Mark E. Smith of The Fall pictured on wasteland in the centre of Manchester where now stands the new Co-op building.
Early shot of The Fall at Central Station Car Park, Manchester in the summer of 1978
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