In among all the post-match analysis of MES’s genius way with words and his theatrical gift for apparently effortless vocal dramatics, amid all these sociological meditations upon what the Fall told us about the world, let it not be forgotten what fun it was to be a Fall fan! Our great big brilliant secret. And my phone is filled with shared condolences, many from friends I made because of the Fall.
The places Mark would make us go in his pursuit of minimal venue overheads – vast forgotten Irish clubs in Cricklewood, derelict discotheques in Croydon, five-night runs in rooms above pubs, packed beyond capacity. And the nerveracking thrill of not knowing which side of the thin line between transcendental and terrible tonight’s show might fall. Two nights in a row, in the same room, with the same set list, utterly unrecognisable from one another. And who was still going to be in the band? And what hilarious half-heard fragment would you snatch from the muffled lyrical mix tonight? My favourite from the last album? “All salute at the altar of filo pastry.”
Tributes to artists often end up being more about the person writing them, but MES provided me with an alternative education, looping me into Camus, and Arthur Machen, and William Blake, and Can, and dub and old garage punk and rock’n’roll. I saw the Fall 52 times and without MES my life would have been utterly different and nowhere near as much fun. What on earth are we all going to do with ourselves now?
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Borathigh5, Youtube
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube