FrankFest 2012, Jabez Clegg Beer Hall, Manchester, according to the event's Facebook page. Proceeds to go towards a statue for Frank Sidebottom in Timperley. Only 500 tickets and they're selling quickly. Seetickets.
Woog Riots, longtime Fall fans and the people behind the wonderful Perverted by Mark E. compilation, have a new album out called "Post Bomb Chronicles." It includes "My Disco Is a Rebellious Jukebox," which they say is their most Fall related song so far.
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added 11 October; updated 12 October
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 Epic Studios, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
Irish / Strychnine / Chino / Scenario / Cowboy George / I'm Not from Bury / I've Been Duped / Container Drivers / Spider / Psykick Dancehall // Reformation / Theme from Sparta F.C. / Mr. Pharmacist
And the following press release from The Space (unfortunately they weren't allowed to post the full sets; Fall content includes MES talking about John Peel and the three encore songs).
Watch John Peel favourites The Undertones and The Fall perform an exclusive gig to celebrate John Peel Day on The Space
It has been nearly eight years since alternative music lost one of its biggest champions but, John Peel’s legacy looks set to continue with an exclusive performance by two of his favourite bands. From midday this Friday 12th October audiences around the world can log on to digital arts service The Space and watch an exclusive performance by The Undertones and The Fall for free.
Both bands, introduced by Tom Barker, the Director of the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts, will perform at EPIC Studios, Norwich this week with proceeds going towards the renovation of the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Sheila, John’s wife said:
“I’m so pleased that The Fall and The Undertones have agreed to play as everybody knows that they were two bands very close to John’s heart it’ll be a great gig.”
Legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel died in 2004 and had a collection of about 26,000 LPs, 40,000 singles and many thousands of CDs.
Earlier this year The Space began publishing 100 titles a week from the John Peel Record Collection, allowing for the first time fans around the world to explore Peel’s vast and eclectic record collection
This week sees the revealing of 100 titles [actually only 38, the entire X file - pedantic ed.] filed under letter X with XTC as the featured artist.
Visitors to The John Peel Record Collection can also view Peel’s personal notes and never before seen home footage as well as archive performances from some of his favourite bands.
Since its launch in May, The Space has become the online destination for music fans everywhere offering a selection of free and on-demand events, whenever you want it and wherever you happen to be, featuring unmissable live events, rare archive material and interactive collections, with new content added every week.
Current music highlights on The Space include the BT River of Music Festival including a Scissor Sisters concert, and exclusive previously unseen footage of The Beatles shot during their 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour.
In September The Space appointed experimental composer Matthew Herbert Creative Director of the New Radiophonic Workshop. His mission is to lead seven fellow cutting edge collaborators on an exploratory journey to discover new ways of making and presenting sound and music.
On 9 October it was announced that The Space would be extended beyond its 6 month pilot for a further 6 months.
Irish / Nate Will Not Return / Chino / Strychnine / I've Been Duped / Gray / Cowboy George / I'm Not from Bury / Latch Key Kid / Hitman! / Container Drivers / Wolf Kidult Man // White Lightning / Reformation
Reviews on the forum. Thanks to maltbyminer1 for the video and Carl for the setlist.
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added 23 September; updated 26 September
Saturday, 22 September 2012 Lower Kersal Social Club, Salford
Irish / Hot Cake / Strychnine / Wolf Kidult Man / Chino / Hitman! / Cowboy George / I'm Not from Bury / Container Drivers / Cosmos 7 // Theme from Sparta F.C. / Psykick Dancehall // Mr. Pharmacist.
Reviews on the forum. Thanks to StanMission for the video - who's posted the full gig on youtube.
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added 21 September; updated 24 September
Thursday, 20 September 2012 The Lowry, Salford
Defurbish / Strychnine / Chino / What About Us? / Hot Cake / I've Been Duped / Gray / Container Drivers / Cowboy George / I'm Not from Bury / Psykick Dancehall // Nate Will Not Return / White Lightning
Elena back on keyboards after missing the two Scandinavian gigs. Reviews on the forum. Thanks to the Consortium for the set.
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added 18 September
A Fall-A-Thonon Friday, 5 October in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus and Cleveland's stalwart musicians perform songs by postpunk legends The Fall, to raise money and awareness for CRC, a Clintonville Settlement House.
Venue: Ace of Cups, 2619 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43202
Time:
9 p.m.
Dave says: "Most of the bands are forming just for this event, but musicians are some of Columbus & Cleveland's regulars (Bob Petric, Ron House, Adam Elliot, Artie DeLeon, the Nervosas, Jeff Curtis, Tim Anstaett, ...)"
Sunday, 2 September 2012 Strand, Stockholm, Sweden
Defurbish / Strychnine / Nate Will Not Return / Chino / Systematic Abuse / Cowboy George / Bury / Container Drivers / Psykick Dancehall // Hot Cake / Mr. Pharmacist // Wolf Kidult Man / Theme from Sparta F.C.
Keyboard was set up but again no Elena. MES sang the four encore songs from backstage. Reviews on the forum. Thanks to David for the setlist.
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added 2 September
Saturday, 1 September 2012 Blå, Oslo, Norway
Defurbish / Strychnine / Nate Will Not Return / Chino / Systematic Abuse / Cowboy George / Bury / Container Drivers // Hot Cake / Psykick Dancehall // Mr. Pharmacist
Keyboards were not set up and Elena did not appear.. Reviews on the forum.
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added 24 August
Fantastic footage of Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band at the Beat Club in Bremen, April 12, 1972. Many thanks to the uploader.
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added 22 July
Saturday, 21 July 2012 Pavilion Bar, Cork
Defurbish / Taking Off / Strychnine / Psykick Dancehall / Chino / Nate Will Not Return / Systematic Abuse / I've Been Duped / Cowboy George / White Lightning / Hot Cake / Container Drivers // Mr. Pharmacist / Weather Report
Many thanks to Maurice for sending in an interview with MES from today's Night & Day supplement in the Irish Independent. Nothing new, really, though he says Cherry Red pressed the wrong mix for Ersatz G.B.
Saturday, 7 July 2012 Cult Festival, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Strychnine / Is This New / Hot Cake / Container Drivers / Nate Will Not Return / I've Been Duped / Cowboy George / Bury // Damflicters
Reviews and photos on the forum. Thanks to Superjudge for the setlist.
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added 7 July
Out now: The Frenz Equivalent + bonus tracks + Hit the North mega-E.P. Download links and artwork on the forum.
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added 6 July
Tom Hingley and The Lovers (featuring Steve & Paul Hanley) have announced The Beast Inside UK tour. Tickets available from the usual places.
Also, Tom will be launching his book on Friday, 27th July at the John Thaw Studio Theatre, Manchester University.
As well as an interview with Mike Joyce there’s a Q&A session, so go along and ask him about the time he saw The Fall at the Hacienda. “It was Karl Burns and some other bloke on drums” - Tom Hingley, 2001.
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added 24 May
Pascal Le Gras has a new gallery in Paris, with an opening reception on Saturday, 2 June. More info at lebensongallery.com.
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added 21 May
M.E.S. was in the studio yesterday with Ginger from The Wildhearts recording a guest vocal spot for his Mutation album. Ginger's band for this project has members from Napalm Death, Cardiacs, Hawk Eyes, and Sisters of Mercy.
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added 12 May
Friday, 11 May 2012 Coronet, Elephant and Castle, London
Damflicters / Nate Will Not Return / Strychnine / Hot Cake / Chino / Cosmos 7 / I've Been Duped / Psykick Dancehall / Cowboy George / Bury / Cab It Up>Jack the Ripper>Wolf Kidult Man // White Lightning / Reformation / Mr. Pharmacist
Reviews on the forum and Tumblr, and lots of good videos by Andunemir, including Damflicters/Nate below. Thanks to Mark for the setlist.
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added 9 May
Nicholas James:
In order to continue its small but significant organisation for the next generations of artists and audiences, Manchester's Castlefield Gallery will be holding a live fundraising event, featuring work donated by artists to be auctioned on May 30th. You can also bid for the artworks now online. One of the contributions, donated by Ben Cove, is a commemorative plate bearing the legend Hit The North.
Marco has posted some vintage photos (3 November 1979) of the Fall gig at JB's, Dudley.
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added 10 March; updated 22 April
The Fall are releasing another Record Store Day 7": "Night of the Humerons." Two tracks, apparently: Victrola Time and a live version of Taking Off. Limited to 1000 vinyl copies, they say.
UPDATE : a message from MES:
We were approached by Cherry Red to make a one-off vinyl single for Record Store Day 2012.
We believed this event was created to promote vinyl and help record shops survive.
What Cherry Red didn't tell us that they were only going to send one copy to each shop and that meant that some customers were mislead.
I'm just sorry they were inconvenienced.
M.E.S.
Also: "Victrola Time" is the same tune as "Damflicters," in case you were wondering.
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added 13 April
In this week's NME:
Click the image for a scan of the article, with thanks to José Raúl.
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added 1 April
Saturday, 31 March 2012 FrankFest 2012, Jabez Clegg, Manchester
Damflicters / Taking Off / Hot Cake / Cosmos 7 / Strychnine / Psykick Dancehall / I've Been Duped / Nate Will Not Return / Cowboy George / Bury // White Lightning / Reformation
DJ Marcelle van Hoof of the very excellent Another Nice Mess programme is planning a two-hour "Worst of The Fall" special for Dandelion Radio. If you'd like to suggest your least-favorite Fall track, please email her at mar.celle@planet.nl — perhaps saying also why you don't like it.
update 31/3: a message from Marcelle:
Hi, the show goes out all April on Dandelion Radio www.dandelionradio.com. You can check in the schedule when this show is on, i suspect nearly every day at a different time.
'He is not appreciated'. The worst songs of The Fall as voted by Fall fans
Disappointed by their lazy and idealess latest album, the female Dutch DJ and Fall-fan-from-the-start Marcelle decided to ask Fall fans for their own songs they dislike from the band they love. Appeals on her various radio shows and on the Fall website led to quite a lot of suggestions coming in, leading up to this Fall blacklist.
Suggestions came with their reasons – such as ‘Dull and unnecessary’, ‘Lazy and grim’, ’Mark ranting unintelligibly over redundant bullshit beats’, ‘It's just mumbling for five minutes with no music’, ‘A very bad attempt at a conventional pop-song that sounds like lousy karaoke’, ‘It sounds like a Fall self parody’, ‘Far too poppy and the trumpets are too loud’, ‘Ridiculous prole rock’, ’I do not feel it's one of Mark E Smith's better lyrics’, ‘It represents a total lack of imagination from all concerned’, ‘A total album filler of the worst kind’, ‘Refrain from giving airtime to any of this dismal trash’.
You can’t have a better recommendation to listen to a Fall radio show than that, can you? Furthermore, as someone wrote: ‘Their worst song has probably their best title. The utter genius of Mark E. Smith!’
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added 31 March
Pascal Le Gras has another Fall painting for sale. You can get in touch via Facebook or Myspace or email me for Pascal's personal email address.
Middle Class Revolt 2012 mix. 50cm x 50 cm (19.68 inches square) unframed canvas. 800 euros.
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added 25 March
Friday, 24 March 2012 Bourla Theatre, Antwerp, Belgium
Damflicters / Hot Cake / Strychnine / Psykick Dancehall / I've Been Duped / Nate Will Not Return / Cowboy George / Bury /
Greenway // White Lightning
Reviews on the forum. Thanks to Mark for the setlist.
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added 10 March; updated 13 March
Friday, 9 March 2012 All Tomorrow's Parties, Butlins Holiday Camp, Minehead
Damflicters / Taking Off / Wolf Kidult Man / Psykick Dancehall / Nate Will Not Return / Strychnine / I've Been Duped / Cowboy George / Bury / Latch Key Kid / Greenway / Age of Chang / Theme from Sparta F.C.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012 Le Bataclan, Paris, France
Damflicters / Taking Off / Cosmos 7 / Psykick Dancehall / Age of Chang / Strychnine / Wolf Kidult Man / I've Been Duped / Cowboy George / Bury / Greenway / Latch Key Kid / Reformation // Theme from Sparta F.C.
Reviews and photos on the forum. Thanks to Kjelfred and Mark for the setlist and Damflicters:
And to Jerome for Bury; excellent camera work.
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added 9 March
Tuesday 6 March 2012 l'Aéronef, Lille, France
Set (I think): Damflicters / Taking Off / Hot Cake / Wolf Kidult Man / Nate Will Not Return / Strychnine / I've Been Duped / Cowboy George / Bury / Cosmos 7 / Greenway / Psykick Dancehall / Theme from Spara F.C.
Reviews and photos on the forum, and thanks again to Mark for the setlist and the Hanleyvision vid of new opener, Damflicters.
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added 28 February
Pascal Le Gras has two videos in the "RECurrences #2" exhibition at Le Radar in Bayeux from 6-25 March.
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added 12 February
Friday, 10 February 2012 Gagarin 205, Athens, Greece
Damflicters / Cosmos 7 / Psykick Dancehall / Strychnine / I've Been Duped / Bury / Nate Will Not Return / Greenway / Hot Cake / Latch Key Kid / Blindness // Mr. Pharmacist / White Lightning
Reviews, photos, and links to videos on the forum. Thanks to Costas for the setlist.
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added 9 February
Fall News readers with good memories may remember the Sex, Drugs & HIV project that we mentioned in December 2010. Finally the album is available for download: it includes the track "Blow Up Muscles," which features:
Vocals: Mark E. Smith
Bass: Steve Hanley
Guitar: Phil Astronaught (The Astronaughts / RDF / PAIN)
Guitar: Roddy Radiation (The Specials / Skabilly Rebels)
Fuzz guitar: Mike Spencer (The Cannibals / The Count Bishops)
Theremin: John Otway
Drums: Martin Yule (The Toy Dolls)
Interview with M.E.S. on a Greece's lifo.gr site. Here's a translation, thanks to Gaspop's friend.
In the light of Fall’s upcoming concert in Gagarin 205, Nikos Triantafillidis talks exclusively for LifO to Mark E. Smith about the economic crisis, his Greek family, midlife crisis, Manchester’s pub food, and the places he frequents when in Athens.
Hello Mark. How are you?
It’s a bit cold over here, but I’m fine.
I guess you’re used to this.
Oh, yes. I like it when everything is frozen.
You were one of the first artists to raise scepticisms on the whole Euro thing. What are you thoughts on this now?
I’m not an expert, so I don’t know a lot of details. Now, though, the euro is dipped in shit.
How are things in England nowadays?
It’s not that bad—in Manchester at least.
Socially speaking, has Manchester changed at all over the last few years?
This is for laughs. Huge laughs. What can I tell you? A minute ago a guy tried to backstab me. Haha!
Are you still an avid pub goer?
I just got home from the pub. I had to go for a week or so, which, for those who know me, is a long, long time for me.
Can you even stand to stay in the pub without smoking?
Just leave it now, man! These days, pubs are full of dogs. Dogs and children. Fucking children with their stinky diapers! They just sit and change their diapers on the bar. And they have this fucking baby food that just stinks of microwave. It’s just disgusting!
No one drinks or smokes anymore and everyone is desperately trying to healthy and young.
I’m definitely not trying to. Do you?
I don’t think so. I’ve always felt old.
Ha ha ha! Dirty οld man at the age of sixteen.
Exactly!
Man, 16 was an awful year.
Maybe we were just awful.
Maybe. Ha! I’d wish. I’m definitely more aggressive now. And dangerous.
Has age ever been an issue for you?
No, I don’t care, but you know…. sometimes the bow bends. I had some serious issues with my stomach right before Christmas. I went for a good all shit and I was fine right after that. You know, it’s like when your ceiling is leaking. It leaks, you fix it but then something else starts leaking. And here it goes all over again. Just fuck this.
Judging by your last album, you’re in terribly good shape.
Wait till you here some good sound mixing when we’re playing live. ‘cause what you heard is a fucking bad mix. I can’t wait to play live in Greece again.
I was under the impression that you come here often because of Elena (Elena Poulou is Mark E. Smith’s wife and an important member of Fall).
No. On the contrary, I’d say. I’m visiting less often now. I can’t stand too much of this whole family thing! I can’t take all these hugs.
You know, there some urban legends about Mark E. Smith getting pissed with some old men in Peristeri.
Yes and with Mark E. Smith too. At the same time that he’s getting pissed in Boston.
There’s a Mark E. Smith on twitter with your photograph and all…
Is he any good?
Well, he tries. He takes some good quotes from your interviews and he posts them mimicking your style.
You can’t do anything about it. I, for sure, am having fun with this.
….So, it not you.
Of course not. I hate computers and the internet. There’s just fucking machines generating money. Nothing else.
You once said that computers are a very suburban thing.
And it was an understatement! I’ve friends though who tell me what’s going on in there…
Are you still working non-stop, intensively and hard?
Yes. When I’m not sick.
Work is an underrated virtue.
Yes… especially a chemical one!
I think you’re one of the hardest working musicians.
You think so? I harass annoying people all the time, I try to earn money, I kick ass to get my albums out on time… What can I say? It’s a very creative job…
How much has the business changed over the years?
No. Same shit, same shit it is. To get “Ersatz GB” right before Christmas, I had to work my ass off. The fucking executives at my label were screaming “you can’t cut the album in November, you can’t release it in December. Leave us alone.” And I was like, no you are not going to get your way! Just because, they are the “boss” and they say so. Who’s the fucking “boss” of my work to tell me when and how my album will be released? I’m the boss of me!
Nowadays, a simple MP3 file is enough to be famous for three months.
And then you go into recycling.
Don’t you think that this situation is a good thing for the new bands out there?
Nothing has really changed. Fucking Madonna and U2 are still making the big bucks. So, college boys are sharing their music for free. So what? Have you fucking asked us you fucking assholes? It’s all sounds karaoke like. And even if they’re playing live it still sounds like karaoke to me.
Some people would call that a crisis.
Are you in crisis?
Oh, I was in crisis before this new crisis.
And I’ve been fucked and destroyed since 2000. Fuck the crisis. I am the crisis.
And Greece is in crisis.
Yeah, whatever! The Germans and the French are talking down to Greece. What the fuck do you know, assholes? They wanted a black sheep and they drummed up a black sheep. That’s why I really, really want to play now in Greece. I mean it! Do you now who’s opening for us?
Yes. A new garage girl band called the Mongrelettes.
Nice. I like girls who play garage.
And then there’ll be a DJ set by a great guy, called Indiktos, who’s a major fan of yours.
Ok! He’d better kick ass. Personally, I have no problems with our support bands.
It’s funny because I have a different recollection of you.
How many years have we been working together?
That’s the fourth consecutive time in the last decade.
Ha! Talk about endurance! Didn’t you make that documentary about Screamin Jay Hawkins?
Yes.
Is Nick Cave on that one?
No.
Good for you. We’d have to argue over that! Who else is on the movie?
Jim Jarmusch, Eric Burdon, Rudy Protrudy, Diamanda Galàs, Arthur Brown….
Arthur Brown?
Yes.
You must be kidding. “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown”?
Yes.
That’s one of my favourite albums! And artists! Is he still alive?
He’s on the road again. He’s playing in Gagarin 205 a few weeks after you.
That’s fucking awesome! Yeah! I want to see that!
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added 29 December; updated 7 January
They say MES will appear on Stuart Maconie's Freakier Zone at midnight tomorrow, i.e. Saturday, 31 Dec. at 00:00 GMT.
The MES interview on "Ersatz UK" transpired on the Freakier Zone last night. Maconie starts slinging the adjectives at 10min06sec here.
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added 7 January
Reuben Cervera has a custom MES Action Figure from That's My Face.
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added 28 December; updated 31 December
Stewart Lee will be "guest editor" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on New Year's Eve, airing at a sprightly 7 a.m. Guests to include Mark E. Smith. Stewart talks a bit about the show on the Today programme's page.
I am a massive Fall fan who, against my better judgement, has opened a vinyl-only record store in Middlesbrough! Brave or stupid? Bit of both I reckon....
Anyway, I've just had some new shop badges, t-shirts, and tote bags made with a design by my friend Dan Wilson.
Young MES on the t-shirts and recent MES on the tote bags!
Some people might be interested!
I also play in a band called Shrug who supported The Fall in 2005. Lifelong ambition fulfilled! I also do home recordings with guest vocalists which include members of The Ex, Minutemen, Jad Fair, Country Teasers etc etc under the name "Detective Instinct"...told you I was a fan! :-) haha
Anyway, attached is a pretty rubbish picture of the shits and bag....
Shirts are £8 (GREY, MUSTARD AND KHAKI) and bags are £5.
email ackackackrecords@gmail.com to order / say hello / laugh at my stupidity.
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added 28 December
Many thanksto Conway for keeping the Fall news going while I was away. He's also added Ersatz GB and the Laptop Dog single to the discography, while I've finally gotten around to updating the 2011 gigography page.
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added 28 December
Stanley Chow print of Mark E. Smith, limited to 50, reasonably priced + 20% discount.
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added 22 December
One of our lucky readers, Ian Willey, got an extra special birthday cake this year... Happy 40th from us as well.
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added 22 December
Another Pascal Le Gras Fall-related painting for sale, this time the Interim cover, 2011 version. 50cm x 50cm (19.68 inches square), unframed on canvas, 800 euros. Contact Pascal via Facebook or Myspace or email me for Pascal's personal email address.
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added 22 December
Simon Wolstencroft is writing a book which will hopefully be published next year, entitled "You Can Drum, But You Can’t Hide". There's an interview with Simon on the Louder Than War website which focuses on the Stone Roses and Smiths connections, but no doubt the book will also cover Simon's period in The Fall.
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23 Oct 2012
This is the latest news and gossip off the message board, Fallnet, and elsewhere. If you have something to contribute, please email Stefan at fallnews@gmail.com.
22dec11
Ersatz GB + reviews + press + interviews, Laptop Dog 7", summer festivals in Europe and UK, Nov UK tour, Live at the Hac pt. 2; Kill Pretty (Mike Leigh); Perverted by Mark E. promo vid; Brian Blessed Alarm Clock + Skinnybrain (Dave Milner); Uncut w/MES on old Fall lineups; Julia Adamson int.; Steve Trafford album; Pascal's "Blue Christmas" video; Simon Wolstencroft's forthcoming book; Ian Willey's 40th birthday cake.
31aug11
Live at the Hacienda DVD; MES Guardian Q&A; Timekode
& MES video clips; Fall sign to Cherry Red; Marshall
Suite, Wonderful & Frightening World and TNSG
reissues; Before the Fall compilation
28apr11
TNSG Omnibus; Danny Baker; Euro/UK/OZ/NZ/Israel gigs;
Don Van Vliet, Rex Sergeant, Steve Ormod, r.i.p.; Before
The Fall comp; White Lightning promo vid; Pop Fiction;
Marshall Suite 3xCD; FoF's "Hex Enduction Ours";
Bracewell & Wilde "The Art of The Fall" (1992);
Middles' "Story of The Fall" doc; The Fall in Iceland
press; Sex, Drugs & HIV; M.E.S. I.P.A.; MES Quietus
interview; Factory Star's "Enter Castle Perilous"
25oct10
East Village Radio session; Ideal; new Scanlon demos;
UK/Euro festivals; NZ/Aus tour preview; Eat Y'Self
Fitter redux; Susan Vale; Quietus, Vice & Brag ints;
Mike Joyce, Adrian Sherwood ints.
03jun10
YFOC reviews; UK tour + Primavera; Times (London &
New York interviews); "worker bees" interview; Bury,
England's Heartbeat videos; caption comp.; Beleaguered
Fall Fan; Paintwork conference book; Bury/Cowboy Gregori
7"; Mojo, Tim Cumming Q&As.
02apr10
Berlin gig; FIGFALP; Domino YFOC press release; Tate's
"Sound & Vision" series; Gorillaz' Glitter Freeze;
Gavin Friday int.; Beggars archive update; #1 Cult
Figure (Alex Chilton, rip); MES as Narrative Lyric
Writer; Quietus, Independent interviews; couple of
Youtubes.
Fall news on Twitter
A 
Nicholas James: 
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