Mark Edward Smith

I spent a very enjoyable four hours last night in a Hotel bar in the City centre in the company of Mark E Smith, lead singer and living legend of the Manchester band 'The Fall'. Many tales and stories were shared over a few pints.

It wasn't exactly a random thing as it was through a friend of mine who was interviewing him, so alas I cannot share any of the stories, you will have to wait for Q magazine. (I think the July issue).

Anyway it was a tremendous thing, I have been listening to this man for 28 years I think it was Peel who first brought him to my ears in 1979. It wasn't untill Liverpool in 1982 that I was to finally see the band play, I went with my friend at the time also called Mark Smith without the E, I had never been to many gigs at that point...in fact Darts were the only thing I'd seen! I had missed seeing the Dead Kennedys ( a error I corrected in 2004) by one day, which had resolved me to never miss anyone ever again, and pretty much over the past 30 years I have held true to this seeing hundreds of bands along the way. The Fall remain the band I have seen most probably around a dozen times seeing many different lineups.

Fall website-http://www.thefall.info/fallsite/index.php

They are a fantastic band live and I am looking forward to seeing them perform this summer at the Ritz Ballroom, suspended dancefloor and all! Thats on July 1st and is part of the Manchester Festival.

One thing I will tell you about last night is that we had a good chat about football as I was wearing my Cheadle Town badge; this led us on to disscussing Mark's team Man City. I mentioned the sacking of Mr Pearce, as he hadn't heard this news I now have my claim to fame "I told Mark E Smith that Psycho lost his job!"

Thinking of gigs, around the time I first saw Mark E Smith live I also saw a guy called Kevin Coyne, again I was with Mark Smith but this time we were in fact the only people there at all! He had a drink with us before his set and was a little fed up but said he'd perform a couple fo songs as we had turned up! As he started to sing one other person arrived an old guy with his dog, a little bit worse for drink he proceeded to heckle Kevin Cyone with various outbursts of hilarity, one I recall was " get your knickers off!" Check out Kevin here playing to a slightly larger crowd!

Cheers to Mark E Smith a living legend!