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?
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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John Robins, Comedian
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read