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biography


The Fall originally formed in Manchester, England in late 1976, making its live debut in May 1977. For over 40 years, the group continued with founder and sole constant Mark E Smith at the helm, until his untimely death in January 2018. Around 50 core members have passed through the group's ranks, bolstered on various occasions by additional guests. To 2018, there have been 32 studio albums, more than 50 singles and approaching 100 live albums, compilations and box sets. The group's releases and live performances are documented in this website.

The chart below records the core members and their instruments. Underneath are photos of the group at various times over the years. The second page of the biography contains an alphabetical listing of group members, guest players and singers, producers and related people.


The Fall Lineups chart


The Fall November 2017
The Fall November 2017 The Fall November 2017
Pete Greenway (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Keiron Melling (drums), Dave Spurr (bass), Michael Clapham (keyboards)
Photos by Allan Lewis


The Fall November 2014
The Fall November 2014
Daren Garrett (drums), Pete Greenway (guitar), Keiron Melling (drums), Dave Spurr (bass), Mark E Smith (vocals), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Image capture from Fred Perry video


The Fall May 2010
The Fall May 2010 The Fall May 2010 The Fall May 2010 The Fall May 2010 The Fall May 2010
Pete Greenway (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Keiron Melling (drums), Dave Spurr (bass), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Photos by "Bifferboy" from the forum


The Fall March 2007
The Fall March 2007 The Fall March 2007
Tim Presley (guitar), Rob Barbato (bass), Orpheo McCord (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Dave Spurr (bass), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Photos by Mike Battman


The Fall May 2006
The Fall May 2006 The Fall May 2006 The Fall May 2006 The Fall May 2006 The Fall May 2006
Tim Presley (guitar), Orpheo McCord (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Rob Barbato (bass), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Photos by Brian McCloskey


The Fall October 2004
The Fall October 2004 The Fall October 2004
Ben Pritchard (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Spencer Birtwistle (drums), Steve Trafford (bass), Jim Watts (guitar), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Photos by Joerg Conrad


The Fall July 2003
The Fall July 2003
Mark E Smith (vocals), Simon Archer (bass), Dave Milner (drums), Ben Pritchard (guitar), Elena Poulou (keyboards)
Photo by John Lorio


The Fall November 2001
The Fall November 2001
Ben Pritchard (guitar), special guest: Roy Gittens (washboard), Spencer Birtwistle (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Jim Watts (bass)
Photo by Cole Coonce


The Fall May 1999
The Fall May 1999
Tom Head (drums), Neville Wilding (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Adam Halal (bass) [Julia Nagle (keyboards/guitar) absent]
Photo by Gez Wood


The Fall October 1998
The Fall October 1998 The Fall October 1998
Julia Nagle (keyboards/guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Tom Head (drums), Karen Leatham (bass)
Photos by Gez Wood


The Fall March 1998
The Fall March 1998
Mark E Smith (vocals), Tommy Crooks (guitar), Karl Burns (drums), Steve Hanley (bass), Julia Nagle (keyboards/guitar)
Photo by Stefan Cooke


The Fall 1996
The Fall 1996
Steve Hanley (bass), Julia Nagle (keyboards), Karl Burns (drums), Simon Wolstencroft (drums), Brix Smith (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals)
Photo by Pete Cronin


The Fall July 1994
The Fall July 1994 The Fall July 1994 The Fall July 1994 The Fall July 1994 The Fall July 1994 The Fall July 1994
Dave Bush (keyboards), Craig Scanlon (guitar), Karl Burns (drums), Simon Wolstencroft (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Steve Hanley (bass)
Image captures from Phoenix Festival video


The Fall May 1990
The Fall May 1990
Mark E Smith (vocals), Martin Bramah (guitar), Craig Scanlon (guitar), Simon Wolstencroft (drums), Marcia Schofield (keyboards), Steve Hanley (bass)
Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns


The Fall 1988
The Fall 1988
Steve Hanley (bass), Brix Smith (guitar), Simon Wolstencroft (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Marcia Schofield (keyboards), Craig Scanlon (guitar)


The Fall April 1984
The Fall April 1984 The Fall April 1984 The Fall April 1984
Craig Scanlon (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Karl Burns (drums), Steve Hanley (bass),Paul Hanley (drums), Brix Smith (guitar)
Photo by Gabi Hütköper


The Fall August 1982
The Fall August 1982 The Fall August 1982 The Fall August 1982
Craig Scanlon (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Steve Hanley (bass), Marc Riley (guitar), Karl Burns (drums), Paul Hanley (drums)
Photos by Jonathan Ganley


The Fall March 1979
The Fall March 1979
Martin Bramah (guitar), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Marc Riley (bass), Mike Leigh (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals)
Photo by Paul Slattery


The Fall Late 1978
The Fall Late 1978
Martin Bramah (guitar), Mark E Smith (vocals), Karl Burns (drums), Marc Riley (bass) plus, not in photo, Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards)


The Fall August 1977
The Fall August 1977
Una Baines (keyboards), Martin Bramah (guitar), Karl Burns (drums), Mark E Smith (vocals), Tony Friel (bass)
Photo by Kevin Cummins


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