The Fall online - latest Fall news

David Luff, r.i.p.

Stefan — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:58:54 GMT

Terrible news. David Luff -- a longtime Fall fan, good friend of Mark's and the Fall Online, and publisher of the two books of Fall lyrics -- has died. He'd been in and out of hospital these past months with a heart condition. Please see this thread on the forum.

My very deepest sympathies to David's friends and family.

If you've ordered a copy of vII directly from David, please be patient. If you haven't ordered a copy, you can do so from Action Records.

UK dates trickling in

Stefan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:18:33 GMT

The Fall are booked at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen on Friday, 10 October and tickets are on sale at the usual outlets. John Cooper Clarke supports at Aberdeen and Edinburgh on Oct. 12.

There are three other dates in the works: The Duchess, York on 27 Nov.; M Club, Crewe on 28 Nov; and the Picturedrome, Holmfirth on 29 Nov.

In other news, Smith's Mojo Maverick award went for £720 and I've added a Von Südenfed-related video on the Fall news.

Smith's Mojo Maverick award on Ebay

Stefan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:28:01 GMT

MES's Mojo Maverick award on ebay. Auction ends 7 August at 14:37:28 BST

A very special & unique auction of a prestigious music award won by the legendary Manchester group 'THE FALL'

Mark E Smith was presented with the MOJO Maverick Award on June 16th 2008 and has generously donated it to VICTIM SUPPORT, CITY OF MANCHESTER to raise funds for victims & witnesses of crime in Manchester.

This is a complete one-off item and would grace the mantlepiece of any music fan, with 100% of the proceeds going to help victims and witnesses of crime.

Current bid is £501. The description says they will ship within the UK only, but that's incorrect. They will ship worldwide. Bid high and bid often.

Queens Hall, Edinburgh - 12 October 2008

Stefan — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:53:51 GMT

Alan Wise has confirmed that the Fall will play Queens Hall in Edinburgh on Sunday, 12 October. There are other dates in the works, including Holmfirth Picture Dome and possibly the Duchess in York.

MES at the Southbank Centre, London, 16 July

Stefan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:48:18 GMT

Mark was "interviewed" by associate editor of Mojo Ian Harrison last night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Ctr last night.

There are reviews on the message board and an excellent piece by Tom on the Fall news.

Dour Festival appearance cancelled

Stefan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:46:16 GMT

The Fall will not be appearing at the Dour Festival in Belgium on 20 July. The Fall are still listed on the Dour site but that's inaccurate.

12 July - The Grill, Letterkenny, Ireland

Stefan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:27:22 GMT

Is This New / Wings / Fall Sound / 50 Year Old Man / I've Been Duped / Wolf Kidult Man / Latch Key Kid / Over! Over! / Pacifying Joint / White Lightning / Blindness / Mr. Pharmacist

No encore. Reviews on the message board.

Blaney/MES LP plus a few new reviews

Stefan — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:30:18 GMT

I've added a scan of a recent Ed Blaney interview from the Salford Advertiser and a couple of late reviews of IWS, from the Wire and Pitchfork. Also Mark Fisher's spot-on (imo, of course) review of Renegade, also from the Wire.

sorry!

Stefan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:20:40 GMT

Apologies for not keeping up with the Fall news feed. Events have conspired against me but I'm back on track now.

There haven't been a great many additions to the Fall news since the last RSS update... setlists from recent gigs with links to reviews on the forum; an announcement and ordering info for the second volume of Fall lyrics from Lough Press, which is a far handsomer if more expensive companion to 1985's Orange Book; some more Renegade reviews (what a disappointment that book turned out to be, although you wouldn't think so from the mostly glowing reviews); a video of MES receiving his Mojo Maverick award; maybe a few other bits.

You can catch up on all the latest on the Fall News.

MES Q&A sessions

Stefan — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:18:59 GMT

Links to a few reviews, photos, and video/audio of the Brighton & Hay festival appearances on 24 & 26 May are on the Fall news.

And I've added a third Q&A added to the upcoming dates: the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London, on 16 July. Tickets going fast.

on/off/on/off/on Maxwell Hall, Salford - OFF AGAIN

Stefan — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:33:39 GMT

Elena / Mark's reply to Alan Wise's latest note regarding the Salford gig:

" 19th MAY 2008

AS FAR AS 'THE FALL' GROUP IS CONCERNED, THERE IS NO SHOW ON 12TH JUNE 2008 IN SALFORD OR MANCHESTER.

THIS IS FINAL. "

on/off/on/off Maxwell Hall, Salford - confirmed for 12 June

Stefan — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:17:20 GMT

A second note from Alan Wise re the Maxwell Hall gig:

"A bit of Asbestos never hurt anyone... Now Maxwell Hall Salford say its all fixed by June 12, and the Fall go to Estonia on 13th. So first they will play the 12th June at home in Salford then go to exotic destination.

Same bill.. Fall / John Cooper Clarke special guest and Bobby Peru who are based by the Maxwell Hall. For alll of us this is a 15 min journey from home and is as close to BASE as it could be... a real hometown gig.

So announce Thursday June 12, approved by Mark..... I had suggested the day later when they are flying to Estonia.? Whats wrong with that ?

Therefore due to senility and dementia I think I have been retired as Impressario?And sadly after 30 years behind the scenes I must take my leave of our beloved leader and pass the baton on to a younger man... my former assistant mr Simon Taylor e mail genesimon@hotmail.com

-I have enjoyed promoting the Fall for 30 years but now its "over the hill to the poorhouse" for me and perhaps old fans who know me will pop in for a cup of tea at Blackley Old Persons Home, just by the Crematorium.. I will be on ward 15 in a shared room.

But "farewell" is on 12 June at Maxwell Hall and for every old buyer, with a previous dated ticket, still valid of course, that have bought 3 or more together, ie on one transaction, I shall give them FREE a fourth to say sorry for the nuisiance... not our fault actually, but the "buck stops here"-

Alan Wise"

ANNUAL BULLETIN FROM THE DESK OF M.E.S. May-14-08

Stefan — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:14:38 GMT

Dearest Friends:

The Real Mark E. Smith here:

1)Your contempt for the squirrel thing.

2)Your support for the tour of "L.P. that wasn't out yet.".

3)Your toleration of ghost-writer Collings absurd chapter titles.

--TO YOU I GIVE MY GREATEST THANKS.

LOVE YOU ALL, MEIN COMRADES, But I cannot embrace you all- because, in the main, I have pulled out the lap-top lead to use as a handy throttling device for mediaists, activists, groupies and Alan Wise(show not on ever).

From all this, dear friend, there are two things.

1) Beware, Big Dave from Duesseldorf is out of hospital and planning a new book- it is good.

2)BUT the main perogative is "The Fall" group and always will be.

Your pal,

Mark E. Smith

May 2008

Bloomberg Space art opening - 29 May

Stefan — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:30:10 GMT

According to Stefan Bruggëmann's site, the Fall will play Blindness at his and Dr. Atl's exhibit opening on 29 May at Bloomberg SPACE, 50 Finsbury Square, London.

The opening is 6:30-8:30 pm with the Fall on at 7:30.

shindig following MES reading on 24 May

Stefan — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:16:03 GMT

A note from Richard aka DJ Wanker about a shindig following the MES reading at the Brighton Festival.

After MES' appearance at Brighton Festival on Saturday May 24th, we are taking over a nearby pub and playing loads of records by The Fall.

The afternoon is called HOT AFTERSHAVE BOP.

The event is free!

The venue is Tom's Bar, 13 Prince Albert Street, BN1 (Five minutes due south of The Old Court House). Map. It's under new ownership*, 100 capacity on two floors with a very nice smoking garden.

The DJs are Jon Sonic Smith & DJ Wanker – two stalwarts of Brighton's alternative club scene. Jim runs Born Bad, DJ Wanker runs Fuck The Pain Away. They'll be playing everything by and nothing but The Fall – happy to take requests.

As it's a free event, feel free to buy a DJ a drink.

Please note this event takes place in the afternoon, not the evening. We'll be starting at 3pm - the same time as the reading, for anyone who wasn't able to get a ticket, but wants to come along.

Finishing around 8pm, maybe later...

* If you google Tom's Bar their website says its an S&M club, it's not anymore though!

Fall News catchup - 11 May

Stefan — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:00:10 GMT

Sorry for the lack of RSS Fallnews lately. Busy busy. Here's a catchup from the last few days.

Several Renegade reviews added on the FN. By the way, the book was #3 on last week's Sunday Times nonfiction hardcover list. They haven't updated their list today. And Imperial Wax Solvent entered the album charts at #35, the first top 40 entry since the Infotainment Scan in 1993.
A bizarre video of Mark interviewed backstage at that Mojo launch party on 30 April.
Mark was on a BBC Radio 4 documentary on John Cooper Clarke -- The Bard of Salford -- last Thursday night. There's a RealMedia clip of it on sendspace, thanks to Craig.
Some fascinating comments on the msg board about the Messing Up the Paintwork conference held in Salford last Friday.
Thursday, 8 May Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast gig:

soundcheck: Senior Twilight Stock Replacer
gig: Is This New / Wings / Wolf Kidult Man / Fall Sound / 50 Year Old Man / I've Been Duped / Mountain Energei / White Lightning / Latch Key Kid / Over! Over! / Mr. Pharmacist / Can Can Summer / Pacifying Joint / Blindness

Photos by Geoff on flickr. Reviews on the message board.
Saturday, 10 May De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex gig:

Is This New / Wings / Wolf Kidult Man / Fall Sound / 50 Year Old Man / I've Been Duped / Mountain Energei / White Lightning / Can Can Summer / Latch Key Kid / Mr. Pharmacist / Tommy Shooter // Pacifying Joint / Blindness // Over! Over!

Reviews on the message board.

30 April - HMV, Oxford Circus, London

Stefan — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:19:59 GMT

Is This New / Wings / Wolf Kidult Man / I've Been Duped / Over! Over! / Latch Key Kid / Tommy Shooter / 50 Year Old Man / Pacifying Joint

Reviews and photos on the message board.

There's an entry by Danny Eccleston about the Mojo awards launch party (MES has won the Mojo Maverick award this year) on the Mojo blog.

Maxwell Hall gig postponed again

Stefan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:08:08 GMT

The Maxwell Hall gig at Salford University has been postponed for a second time, the organizers now citing structural problems with the venue (an asbestos problem, I've heard). Wegottickets says it'll take place later in May. Salford U. circular says June.

MES on BBC Radio 4 Front Row

Stefan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:05:24 GMT

Mark E. Smith was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme last night (28 April). You can listen again on their page or download this handy mp3 from yousendit, with thanks to Ocelot.

Scotland on Sunday interview

Stefan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:02:23 GMT

There's an interview with MES in the 27 April Scotland on Sunday.

2 Fall nights in Cologne - 9 & 10 May

Stefan — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:48:56 GMT

Cologne's #1 Fall fan – Michael Jungbluth – and his pals are running a two-night Fall event at their local pub.

They'll be playing Fall records only on 9 & 10 May at Connection, Marientsraße 5 in Cologne. 10pm - 3am each night.

Michael will post the sets played on the forum.

If you'd like a high-res PDF of the flyer, please email Michael at the address at the bottom (blu4711-shaATyahooDOT.de)