Saturday, 21 January 2017 CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH.ALL-dayer, Arts Club, Liverpool
Wolf Kidult Man / Cowboy George / new song / Dedication Not Medication / Fall Sound / new song / new song / First One Today / New Facts Emerge / Fol de Rol // Auto-chip 2014-2016
Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Pete for the flyer and Phil for the setlist.
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Friday, 27 January 2017 Engine Rooms, Southampton
Wolf Kidult Man / Cowboy George / Zaptrack / Dedication Not Medication / First One Today / Second House Now / Brillo Filo / Fall Sound / 9 Out of 10 / New Facts / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Fol de Rol // Mr. Pharmacist / Wise Ol' Man
Many thanks to old friend Ajay for the setlist. Reviews on the forum.
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Saturday, 28 January 2017 CLUB.THE.MAMMOTH.ALL-dayer, Kentish Town Forum, London
Wolf Kidult Man / Cowboy George / Zaptrack / Dedication Not Medication / First One Today / Venice with the Girls / Brillo Filo / Fall Sound / 9 Out of 10 / New Facts / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Fol de Rol // Mr. Pharmacist / Wise Ol' Man
Reviews on the forum and thanks to Mark for the setlist.
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Sunday, 29 January 2017 Concorde 2, Brighton
Mister Rode / Cowboy George / Zaptrack / Wise Ol' Man / Dedication Not Medication / Fol de Rol / Fall Sound / 9 Out of 10 / Quit iPhone / 2nd House Now / Auto Chip 2014-2016 // Mr. Pharmacist
Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Mark for the setlist.
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Wednesday, 1 February 2017 The Assembly, Leamington Spa
Wolf Kidult Man / Cowboy George / Zaptrack / Reece Stick / Dedication Not Medication / Fall Sound / First One Today / 2nd House Now / 9 Out of 10 / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Brillo // Fol de Rol
Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Phil for the setlist.
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Friday, 3 February 2017 Tramshed, Cardiff
Setlist TBD. Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Huw Jones for the setlist.
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Posted on The Official Fall Website on 22nd February:
The Fall regrets to cancel the show in Newcastle on Thursday 23rd February at the Boiler Shop, this is due to lead singer Mark E. Smith contracting a serious case of influenza coupled with a chest infection, of which both are highly contagious. The Fall promise to fulfil this engagement just as soon as Mark E. Smith is well enough to, between 4-5 weeks. The Fall wish to apologise to all our devout Newcastle and Gateshead followers.
The next day:
Unfortunately, due to Mark’s ongoing flu and chest infection, the scheduled concert at Leeds Belgrave Music Hall tomorrow (Friday 24th February) has been postponed. The Fall apologise to fans planning on attending the Newcastle or Leeds gigs. They will be rescheduled as soon as Mark is well enough.
8 March: Dictionary Pudding, who booked the gig at Bristol Fiddler's, posted a statement from The Fall on their Facebook page on 8th March:
The Fall regrets to cancel the show in Bristol on Friday 31st March at Fiddlers, this is due to lead singer Mark E. Smith contracting a serious case of influenza flu coupled with a chest infection of which both are highly contagious. The Fall promise to fulfil this engagement just as soon as Mark E. Smith is well enough too, between 4/5 weeks. The Fall wish to apologise to all our devoted Bristol followers.
Leeds was eventually rescheduled for 23 May; Newcastle for 23 October; Bristol date has not been rescheduled.
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23 May 2017 - 24 January 2018 : lineup # 72 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Pete Greenway (guitar), Dave "The Eagle" Spurr (bass), Keiron Melling (drums), Michael Clapham (keyboards)
Tuesday, 23 May 2017 Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
Wolf Kidult Man / Brillo / Over! Over! / Dedication Not Medication / New Facts / First One Today / Second House Now / Pledge / Fol de Rol / Snazzy / 9 Out of 10 / Autochip 2014-2016 // Fall Sound
Setlist TBD. New keyboard player. Reviews on the forum, and thanks to kiespijn for the setlist.
The new keyboard player appears to be Mike Clapham, a comedy promoter based in Manchester. He's on this Adam Buxton podcast, briefly, at about 4m40s.
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Saturday, 27 May 2017 Bearded Theory Spring Gathering, Catton Park, South Derbyshire
Wolf Kidult Man / Reece Stick / Billo de Facto / Dedication Not Medication / Over! Over! / First One Today / Second House Now / New Facts / Fol de Rol / Autochip 2014-2016 / Snazzy / Pledge
Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Mick Allpress for the setlist.
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Sunday, 28 May 2017 Transformer, Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
Wolf Kidult Man / Reece Stick / Brillo de Facto / Over! Over! / Dedication Not Medication / First One Today / Fol de Rol / Second House Now / New Facts Emerge / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Snazzy / Pledge! // Fall Sound
Reviews on the forum and Louder Than War. Thanks to John Rooney for the setlist and Alexandre Matias for the video.
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Thursday, 27 July 2017 100 Club, London
Wolf Kidult Man / Reece Stick / Brillo De Facto / Over Over / Groundsboy / Dedication Not Medication / First One Today / Fol de Rol / Second House Now / New Facts Emerge / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Snazzy / Blindness (excerpt - with lyrics from Dedication Not Medication) / Fall Sound / Bury // Mr Pharmacist
John Thorpe: "The band were on top form, including when Mark left the stage after 'Fol De Rol' to sing from the dressing room ('Second House Now' onwards). Unfortunately, the new keyboard player was completely drowned out throughout. Being a semi-invited event there were twenty-something Bourgeois Fred Perry trendy types in attendance among the audience seemingly most likely not ardent Fall fans? As the 100 Club is a small venue, members of the audience managed to take turns grabbing hold of the microphone. Mark's girfriend made an appearance before the start of 'Snazzy' and thereafter. This was a wristbanded event. The Fred Perry badge in the photo entitled everyone to one 1 free drink (much appreciated).
"Mark during intro of Dedication Not Medication: "Christmas LP...(unintelligable word). Until we wait for LP to come out, we’ll get you a fucking drink. Its your birthday. Just like last year (?) / This is the last year (?)"."
Reviews on the forum, and thanks to Andy Yates for the setlist.
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Wednesday, 2 August 2017 Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Responding to a Rebel: Mark E. Smith Agent of Chaos
In this exclusive performance, agent of chaos Mark E. Smith will respond to Britain’s original rebel artist Wyndham Lewis. The Fall’s formidable frontman will share his personal response to the work of one of the art world's most controversial figures whose ideas, opinions, and personality enticed and repelled in equal measure.
Set in the dramatic Daniel Libeskind designed Imperial War Museum North, Mark E. Smith will lead a performance of speeches, poems and ramblings driven by roaring live percussion, vintage cassette players and large-scale projections from IWM's archive.
Sadly, the event was cancelled on the day due to Mark's health. Note that the link above is broken and IWM doesn't appear to archive their past exhibitions(?).
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Monday, 11 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Tuesday, 12 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Wednesday, 13 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Thursday, 14 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Friday, 15 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Saturday, 16 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
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Sunday, 17 September 2017 Baby's All Right, Brooklyn, New York
Originally scheduled as a five-night residency, tickets sold out so quickly (Friday & Saturday within 10 minutes!) that two extra dates were added on both ends of the run. However, due to Mark's disintegrating health, Pamela Vander, the group's new manager, announced on 25 August:
It is with great regret to announce that Mark E. Smith & The Fall have had to cancel all upcoming U.S shows in New York (Baby’s All Right) & Louisville (Cropped Out Festival) due mostly to terrible timing, reality and a mix of bizarre and rare (true to form) medical issues that Mark is currently being treated for. Unfortunately it would be a gamble on his health to fly anywhere over the next couple of months. Mark’s current problems are connected to his throat, mouth/dental & respiratory system… so throwing all the meds together and continuing with the travel/shows would certainly harm any progress that we have made over the past few weeks.
We understand that this is a huge deal for both American/worldwide fans of The Fall and The Fall themselves, Mark & the guys have been really excited and everyone is gutted about the outcome. However, it’s high-time Mark put his health first and that’s what we are gonna do.
So here’s the good news… NYC has been rescheduled already and we are gonna arrange another show in Louisville. Both promoters have been incredibly helpful & fantastic in securing The Fall a safe passage to America, and this will still be happening in 2018. Your Lord and Saviour Markus E. Smith wants to let you all know that even though he can’t play live for a short while, the cabin fever is spitting out a new album already and new music is now (as ever) The Fall’s main focus.
The new dates were to be 19-25 February, 2018. On 20th December, Pam announced:
FALL NOTICE: Another unfortunate announcement here but just to get this out ASAP, The Fall five-date residency (rescheduled) at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, New York (February 2018) is now CANCELLED. Mark & the group are gutted but due to a full year of bad health and time flying by us, we wanna announce the news sooner rather than later. Mark is settled and resting up, and we don't wanna screw that up. Sorry to all/fans/friends in NYC and thanks to venue/promoters etc for the opportunity for The Fall to hit NYC again. We will see you there at some point in the future, but for now, more rest & recovery.
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Saturday, 23 September 2017 Cropped Out festival, American Turners Club, Louisville, Kentucky
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Friday, 20 October 2017 Unity Works, Wakefield
Songs played as planned: Wolf Kidult Man / Over! Over! / Fall Sound / Fol de Rol / Blindness / Brillo de Facto / Reese Sticks / First One Today / Dedication Not Medication / Second House Now / New Facts Emerge / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Gibbus Gibson / Bury
MES looked very poorly and sang from a wheelchair for about 40 minutes before being wheeled off stage to continue. He was in good voice. There's been a big reaction online about whether or not he should have done the gig, should he pack it in to take care of his health, etc. I agree with Chris Goodhead's comment on the forum:
It is, of course, normal to react to illness and disability however you react. Whether that's concern, admiration, whatever.
What's not fine — and I know this because I'm a social worker with adults and I listen to people talking about it every working day — is to start treating that person differently and think that you decide for that person what is "dignified" what is the "right" thing to do. And you'll only fully understand and realise this for yourself if it happens to you.
The man is a terrific singer in a terrific band. And you (and I) are fans of his music. Nothing more.
He decides what he wants to do. Not anybody else. Nothing has changed there, really!
There's much discussion about the gig on the forum, here and also here (reviews), and a post by Pamela Vander on Instagram. Thanks to Phil for the setlist.
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Monday, 23 October 2017 Boiler Shop, Newcastle
Wolf Kidult Man / Over! Over! / Fall Sound / Fol de Roll / Blindness / Brillo de Facto / Groundsboy / New Facts Emerge / First One Today / Stout Man / Dedication Not Medication / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Bury // Mr. Pharmacist
All reports say Mark looked much better than in Wakefield, and Pam confirms there's been some improvement in his health. Here are some very good photos of the gig, including support bands Blood Sport and Trudy and the Romance; also Chris Trew's video of Blindness on youtube. Reviews on the forum here and here. Thanks again to Phil for the setlist.
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Saturday, 4 November 2017 Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow
Wolf Kidult Man / Over! Over! / Fall Sound / Blindness / Brillo de Facto / First One Today / Dedication Not Medication / Fol de Rol / Groundsboy / Second House Now / New Facts Emerge / Auto Chip 2014-2016 / Bury // Stout Man
Venue moved from Oran Mor to the larger Queen Margaret Union. Reviews on the forum; thanks to Graeme Walker for the setlist and Phil Lancaster for the photo and extra thanks to Mike Ritchie for videoing some of the gig.
The Grand Entrance by Hairy KiltyMan
Thank you to Angela Herriot for filming Groundsboy
We'll never know the exact number of gigs The Fall played since 1977, but this was the final one. Mark E. Smith died on the morning of Wednesday, 24 January 2018.
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Saturday, 18 November 2017 Hard Club, Porto, Portugal
The gig was cancelled on 17 November due to Mark's health. Photo by Phil Hardy.
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Wednesday, 29 November 2017 Fiddler's, Bristol
The gig was cancelled moments before showtime, when the group read an announcement from the stage. Thank you Ajay for the video.
The next morning Pam posted on Instagram that the gig tonight in London had also been cancelled. Her announcement also included a message from Mark (2nd paragraph):
FALL NOTICE: Good morning. Unfortunately as with The Fall show last night in Bristol (cancelled last minute) I'm sorry to say the same will be happening tonight. The London KoKo Club show is now CANCELLED. Can anyone who knows people going etc help get the word out... I really don't want people travelling for no reason in this bitter cold. I know it's not as last minute as last night, but it's still last minute in my eyes. And I'm really, really sorry. I can't think of much to say today, as all my focus is on Mark. And we are all a bit gutted. It's been a weird year. But the man himself has a message for you all, so I'm gonna post that right here, under this... Best, Pam V, manager. P.S big thanks to the promoter for both shows, Tobi, for being a real stand-up guy.
A Message to All, to All. From Mark E. Smith/The Fall group. As I, like Pr Rupert leave Bristol with my tail between my legs, I wish to give my great apologies to everybody. This idiotic idea to do both shows was purely my idea, against the advice of Pamela and The Fall group, agent & promoter. Hope to replace shows within 4 - 6 weeks. In the interim we have eight new songs ready to go and will try and let you hear a few before Christmas. From head patient to you, the patients. I love you all but cannot embrace you all, Mark E. Smith
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Thursday, 30 November 2017 KOKO, London
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On 20th December, Pam posted on Instagram, cancelling rescheduled Baby's All Right gigs planned for 19-25 February 2018:
FALL NOTICE: Another unfortunate announcement here but just to get this out ASAP, The Fall five-date residency (rescheduled) at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn, New York (February 2018) is now CANCELLED. Mark & the group are gutted but due to a full year of bad health and time flying by us, we wanna announce the news sooner rather than later. Mark is settled and resting up, and we don't wanna screw that up. Sorry to all/fans/friends in NYC and thanks to venue/promoters etc for the opportunity for The Fall to hit NYC again. We will see you there at some point in the future, but for now, more rest & recovery.
A message from Mark: 'BACK SOONER THAN LATER PALS!!! M.E.S. Shock House Now, Woodpecker, Peon Son... titles that await!' Cheers and best wishes for Xmas and beyond, Pam V
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Wednesday, 24 January 2018
In the late afternoon (Prestwich time), someone posted in a Fall Facebook group that Mark E. Smith had died.
I tried to confirm this terrible news. Soon I got an email from one The Fall's agents to call her in London. Of course I knew what that meant. When I told her I'd heard the news already, she was surprised. The group had planned for the Fall News to be part of a coordinated announcement with the media at 9 a.m. Thursday morning to announce Mark's death. But since the news had leaked, clearly that plan had to change.
Soon I received Pam's statement, and tweeted it out on @fallnews straight away.
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E. Smith. He passed this morning at home. A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days. In the meantime, Pam & Mark’s family request privacy at this sad time.
Pam Vander
The Fall - manager
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R.I.P. MARK EDWARD SMITH, 5 March 1957 – 24 January 2018. It's been my great privilege to follow your genius these many years. Thank you for all the words and music.
