gigography 1979

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Thanks to Omega Auctions for the lyrics.

NME want ad, 13 January 1979, thanks to Dannyno.

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February - April 1979 : lineup # 9: Mark E. Smith (vocals), Martin Bramah (guitar), Marc Riley (bass), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Mike Leigh (drums).

Wednesday, 14 February 1979 Bowdon Social Club, Altrincham

Under 18s (6:35 p.m.):
Jumper Clown > Printhead / Mess of My / Psycho Mafia / A Figure Walks / Underground Medicine / It's the New Thing / Various Times / Rebellious Jukebox / Stepping Out / Let's (aka Pop Stickers) / Put Away / No Xmas for John Quays // Psycho Mafia (again)

Over 18s (9:55 p.m.):
Jumper Clown> It's the New Thing / Put Away / A Figure Walks / Printhead / Mess of My / Various Times / No Xmas for John Quays / Rebellious Jukebox / 2 Steps Back / Let's (aka Pop Stickers) / Music Scene / Psycho Mafia // Stepping Out

50p each show. Many thanks to David Johnston for lending me his master tapes!

- "Good evening, we are The Fall playing in front of a town without pity, about a city with no pity..."
- "We don't do Industrial Estate anymore. You'll get what you're given and be happy with it."
- "We have to calm down for the next one. The last time we played this number we had to evacuate the stage so I don't want that to happen again, all right? It's one we wrote in 1976 when me and the lads got together, ha ha. Psycho Psycho!"
- " This next one is about a visit to the doctors which you definitely do not need and it's called Underground Medicin...and it starts off with acapella with me and Martin...(unclear...some problems with Bramah's guiar?)...we'll carry on, Martin." (before Underground Medicin)
-"It's another old song from the days they were made out to be great they were not that good so you you didn't miss anything." (before Stepping Out)
-"This is a new one...it's so bloody new we don't even know it. It's very good though, couldn't have missed it out, not for you kids." (before Let's)
- "The alternative hit for you shits." (It's the New Thing)
- "And it's Psycho again for the second time, very sorry...Martin's very sorry as well because he's very slow."

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Saturday, 17 February 1979 Manchester Polytechnic

Jumper Clown > Printhead / Various Times / Mess of My / Underground Medecin / It's the New Thing / Two Steps Back / No Xmas for John Quays / Psycho Mafia / Let's / Music Scene // Stepping Out

Many thanks to Dannyno for the listing (should be The Freshies, not The Freshers) and review (There Go Those Martian Martians #4).

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Sunday, 25 February 1979 Lyceum, London

The night was promoted by Straight Music and the headlining act was Generation X. UK Subs replaced Mekons and their fans did the pelting. Thanks to John Walker for the advert.

- "This is the last one 'cos we've had enough even if you haven't" (The Fall had spent the entire set being pelted by cans and plastic glasses.)

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Monday, 26 February 1979 Carlton Club, Warrington

Jumper Clown > It’s The New Thing / Printhead / A Figure Walks / Mess of My / Rebellious Jukebox / Various Times /
No Xmas for John Quays / Stepping Out / Psycho Mafia / Pop Stickers / Music Scene / Underground Medicine / Bingo Master's Breakout

- “Right, this is about things that open your eyes…and it goes like this (said in the style of a TV presenter!)” before A Figure Walks.
- “Look, when you do the same song every night for 18 months you get fuckin’ sick of it, bury it and never do it again” in response to inaudible audience request before Mess of My. (Then a change of heart, as they “dig up” Stepping Out, Bingo Master and Psycho Mafia later in the evening. Mark seemed in good humour and they went down very well with the audience)
- “We’ll do it here, sorry, we usually do all the hits in a line. “ Then screams “PSYCHO” at least 5 times! Before Psycho Mafia.
- “This is objective, not as it appears” before Pop Stickers.
- “This is all about medical problems “ before Underground Medicine.
- “This is Bingo Master’s Breakout. This is a new experience for us, we have not played this for about three months.“

Shaun: "The Carlton held under 200 people and was owned by Derek, a chap I have known for years, who managed 'Smokie' throughout the 70‘s. It was closed down in 1998, thanks to a scandalous council decision, on the grounds that it no longer served hot food, a condition of its license from the 1960’s. Everyone played there over 30 years, from Deep Purple to the Bay City Rollers from David Bowie to the Three Degrees!! It is above Woolworths on Sankey Street and has been unused in any way, shape or form for 10 years. The closure lost Warrington its only small music venue."

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Thursday, 1 March 1979 The Nashville Room, North End Road, London (adj. W. Kensington Tube)

Jumper Clown > It's the New Thing / Printhead / A Figure Walks / Bingo Master's Breakout / Mess of My / Rebellious Jukebox / Various Times / No Xmas for John Quays / Let's (aka Pop Stickers) / Underground Medicin / Music Scene // Stepping Out / Two Steps Back / Psycho Mafia

Admission 75p. Supporting was Staff 9 with Craig Scanlon, Steve Hanley, Bernie on drums, and Graham on guitar/vocals.

Here's a photo of Staff 9 at the Bowdon Vale Youth Club, Altrincham, taken in March 1979. They were supporting Joy Division, and the gig was attended by "unpaid roadies" Marc Riley and Paul Hanley, who wrote about it for Louder Than War. Thanks to Colin Walker for the setlist, SoundsClips for the Sounds clippig, and Shane Quentin for the review from Suspect Device no. 3

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Friday, 2 March 1979 Lafayette, Wolverhampton

No tape exists? Thanks to Derek Wharton for the setlist.

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March? April? 1979 Cardiff University

supported by the Skeleteens

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16 March 1979 : "Live at the Witch Trials" LP released

witch

witch review

UK : ca. 17 March - 18 April (tour aborted when Martin Bramah quits)

I think some of these dates were shifted around, and then a few cancelled when Martin Bramah left during the middle of the tour.

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Saturday, 17 March 1979 The Plough Hotel, Cheltenham

No tape exists? Thanks to Paul Hopkins for the ticket. Poster consigned to Omega Auctions by Mark's family in August 2022.

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Sunday, 18 March 1979 Royal Standard, Bradford

No tape exists?

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Wednesday, 21 March 1979 Pop Club, York

No tape exists?

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Friday, 23 March 1979 King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester

In "All Fall Down" NME interview, Smith says gig attended by 4000 people. No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the review (Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser, 29 March 1979).

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Sunday, 25 March 1979 Lyceum, London

A Figure Walks / Before the Moon Falls / Underground Medicin / Music Scene

£2.50 advance. The infamous "Gig Of The Century" with Stiff Little Fingers, Gang of Four, Human League, Mekons, and the Good Missionaries (featuring Mark Perry). My first Fall gig, although I was there to see the Gang of Four and SLF. Mark was attacked by a stage invader during the first song but carried on regardless. (John Walker, who sent in the advert above, says: " I’m not sure if it’s been documented but the guy who twatted Mark got his fair share when he jumped back in.")

Here's an excellent review of the night by Charles Sharr Murray. The one above is from Suspect Device fanzine, with many thanks to Shane Quentin.

- "This one's a slow one, dedicated to H.P. Lovecraft. The psychologist said that he thought the shadow was his father. The shad was his dad." (before "A Figure Walks")
- someone: "(...) these dicks at the front?" (after "A Figure Walks")
- "The next one's going to be cool, too, for my mother. It's Mother's Day: is that why you're all so uptight." (Underground Medicin)

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Wednesday, 28 March 1979 Hazel Grove Youth Club, Hazel Grove, Stockport

No tape exists? Mark Wilson writes: "I just checked out my diary of that day and it says that they played amongst others: No Xmas For JK, Psycho Mafia, Bingo MB, It's the New Thing and Stepping Out as the last song. Support was from a band called Illustration [with Julia Nagle, I believe - ed]. Thanks to the Manchester District Music Archive for the poster.

"MES introduced the set with: 'We are The Fall. Rule One: no-one gets on stage. Rule Two: no spitting. Rule Three: no requests' something that is somehow imprinted in my head after nearly a quarter of a century - and still makes me laugh. However, despite being really grumpy throughout the set, he must have relented on Rule Three as we all kept shouting for Last Orders and Stepping Out. If my memory serves me right, he said 'Go on then.... I used to believe everything I read, but now I'm stepping out' and the band kicked in. We jumped / pogoed like mad."

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Friday, 30 March 1979 Eric's, Liverpool

With Staff 9 supporting. No tape exists?

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Tuesday, 3 April 1979 Barbarella's, Birmingham

With Lew Lewis's Reformer supporting. No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the Daily Mirror listing!

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Wednesday, 4 April 1979 Stowaway Club, Newport

No tape exists? Helen Saxby says:

I was at the Newport Stowaway gig on April 4th 1979, the set list was:

Crap Rap 2 / Like to Blow / Various Times / Bingo-Master's Break Out / No Xmas for John Quays / Two Steps Back / Psycho Mafia / Music Scene // Repetition

They didn't do Rebellious Jukebox because the stand-in keyboard player didn't know it ( this was Una Baines, Yvonne Pawlett was ill)

Took some photos (attached Mark E Smith and Martin Bramah)

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Thursday, 5 April 1979 Knights Grange Barn, Winsford

No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the listing and John Tugby and Duncan Round for the ticket.

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Saturday, 14 April 1979 Sandpiper Club, Nottingham

No tape exists? With the Shapes supporting. Stephen: "Can't remember too much of what they played, intro was Printhead, including the "3 rules of audience". No Xmas for John Quays was in there as well. Encore was Bingo Masters, which only happened after Kay Carroll harangued the audience."

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Tuesday, 17 April 1979 Tops Club, Plymouth

No tape exists?

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Wednesday, 18 April 1979 Grand Hotel, Dawlish

No tape exists?

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Martin Bramah leaves the band and the press report that the following gigs are cancelled: Porterhouse Club, Retford; The Limit, Sheffield (scheduled for 26 April); "Ajanta Cinema, Derby"; Newport Village; the Factory, Manchester; Dudley JB’s; and Norwich Boogie House.

~~Despite the press report, the Derby gig at least went ahead (see below).~~

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~~Thursday, 26 April 1979 Ajanta Cinema, Derby~~

Gig didn't happen due to Bramah's leaving.

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Thursday, 3 May 1979 The Boogie House, Norwich

No tape exists?

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UK : ca. 9 - 18 May (some dates supporting Penetration)

May - 28 July 1979 : lineup # 10: Mark E. Smith (vocals), Craig Scanlon (guitar), Marc Riley (guitar), Steve Hanley (bass), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Mike Leigh (drums). Craig and Steve had been in Staff 9 and, prior to that, in the Sirens with Marc Riley.

Wednesday, 9 May 1979 Music Hall, Aberdeen

No tape exists? First gig with Craig and Steve. Previewed by Brian Aitken and Kevin Knight in Aberdeen's Evening Express - "The Fall: Lacking in humour, but undoubtedly punk."

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Thursday, 10 May 1979 Astoria, Edinburgh

No tape exists?

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Friday, 11 May 1979 Wigton Market Hall, near Carlisle

No tape exists?

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Saturday, 12 May 1979 Bolton Institute of Technology (not Bolton Polytechnic)

No tape exists?

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Tuesday, 15 May 1979 Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham

With the Prefects. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 17 May 1979 Tiffany's, Coventry

No tape exists?

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~~Friday, 18 May 1979 Apollo, Manchester~~

Thanks to Dannynoi for the cancellation notice.

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Saturday, 26 May 1979 Corn Exchange, Cambridge

My second Fall gig, this time to see schoolmates from Parkside Community College in the Transmitters and The Sinix. Dolly Mixture and The Users were also on the bill. Sad to say that in 1979 I had little interest in The Fall (nor did I until hearing "New Face in Hell" on a Peel session over a year later), so now I'm kicking myself for not paying more attention at this gig. Here's a review from the Ipswich zine Harsh Reality.

No tape exists? The following quote was from Mike, who has a far better memory than me.

- "This song's about what makes Alf Roberts really happy" (Intro to Rowche Rumble)

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~~Sunday, 27 May 1979 Lyceum, London~~

Jumper Clown > Printhead / Mess of My / Various Times / No Xmas for John Quays / It's the New Thing / 2 Steps Back / Let's (aka Pop Stickers) / Psycho Mafia

Date according to Shaun, who also thinks the set continued with A Figure Walks / Before the Moon Falls / Underground Medicine / Music Scene.

But the lineup at the Lyceum on this date didn't include The Fall, so Shaun's setlist must belong elsewhere. Note also that the extra four songs he mentioned comprise the short set played at the Lyceum on 25 March 1979.

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Thursday, 14 June 1979 Ajanta Cinema, Derby

No tape exists? About 14 in the audience, according to "All Fall Down" NME interview. Thanks to Dannyno for the listing, to Johnny Vincent for the poster (Anti-Pasti did not play despite poster), and issue 5 of the Xpert 1 fanzine for the review.

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Saturday, 16 June 1979 New Planet City, Lancaster

Benefit gig for New Planet City's Youth Centre. In conjunction with Lancaster Multi Cultural Festival.

Many thanks to Steve Crow for the programme and autographs and Alyn/punkrockposters.net for the poster. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 28 June 1979 Wellington Club, Hull

No tape exists? Thanks to Kevin McMahon for the flyer, Tony Menzies for the contrac, and Adam Marhall for the photos.

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Sunday, 29 June 1979 Marquee, London

Before the Moon Falls / Stepping Out / Printhead / A Figure Walks / Psycho Mafia / In My Area / Rowche Rumble / Rebellious Jukebox / No Xmas for John Quays / Choc-Stock / Your Heart Out / ? / Mess of My / Various Times / Put Away

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July 1979 : "Rowche Rumble / In My Area" single released

Thanks to Dave Carlisle for the press release.

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Friday, 6 July 1979 Eric's, Liverpool

No tape exists?

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Saturday, 7 July 1979 Rochdale Technical College

No tape exists? Reviewed in the July 28, 1979 Sounds by Mick Middles.

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Friday, 20 July 1979 The Factory, Manchester

No tape exists? Thanks to Kevin McMahon for the schedule and Dannyno for the Manchester Evening News advert. According to the John Peel wikia, this was his first Fall gig.

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Saturday, 28 July 1979 Mayflower Club, Gorton, Manchester

Many thanks to Jon of the Hamsters for the flyer and Phil Worrall for the ticket scan. This was Yvonne Pawlett's last Fall gig.

The bill in order of appearance according to Dave McCullough: The Hamsters, Frantic Elevators, Joy Division, Ludus, Liggers, The Fall, Distractions, John the Postman [‘Stuff the Superstars Special, Manchester’, Sounds, 4 August 1979, p. 45.]

The bill in order of appearance according to Dave Tickle: Elti Fits, The Hamsters, Armed Force, Foreign Press (no listed on flyer but did play), Frantic Elevators, Joy Division, Ludus, The Liggers, The Fall, The Distractions. (he left before John the Postman).

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29 July 1979 - March 1980: lineup # 11: Mark E. Smith (vocals), Craig Scanlon (guitar), Marc Riley (guitar, keyboards), Steve Hanley (bass), Mike Leigh (drums).

Friday, 29 July 1979 Marquee, London

Before the Moon Falls / Stepping Out / Printhead / In My Area / Rowche Rumble / Psycho Mafia / A Figure Walks / Rebellious Jukebox / Muzorewi's Daughter / Your Heart Out / Dice Man / Various Times / Choc-Stock / No Xmas for John Quays // Psykick Dancehall // Put Away

Last time they played here it was 75p. This gig was £1.50. Yvonne failed to turn up for the gig.

There are some "Spectre Vs Rector" lyrics during "Rebellious Jukebox".

- "Good evening, all the groups imitate us but they always underate us. We are The Fall, hello, hello, a scratchy wall of sound. White crap talks back. Witch Trials, brandy, Dragnet, Dragnet..."...
- "We lost our keyboard player this morning, so this is for her. It's one of our... it was number one in New Zealand for me and the lads (...). It's called 'Jukebox Pissers' " (before "Rebellious Jukebox")
- "Right, this new song is about time, which [...] very into round here. Even our record company has changed its name to Step Backwards." (before "Various Times")
- "We've played one of those before (...). This next one is about, uh, the sort of people [that] don't need records. (...)" (before "Psykick Dancehall")
- "Come on Riley!" (in introduction to Put Away)
- audience member: "F@&* you, you c&@#!" (before "Put Away")

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2 - 4 August 1979 Cargo Studios, Rochdale

Tracks for Dragnet recorded.

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Monday, 6 August 1979 People's Free Festival, Deeply Vale

No tape exists? Photos courtesy http://www.deeplyvale.com - there's a good one of Grant Showbiz as well. Thanks to Spencer for the poster.

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Saturday, 11 August 1979 Milton Keynes College

No tape exists? Date according to these two mentions in #7 issue of Suspect Device fanzine; thanks to Dannyno for sending them in.

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Friday, 24 August 1979 Funhouse Mayflower, Manchester

No tape exists? Thanks to Omega Auctions for the flyer and Manchester District Music Archive for the press release.

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~~Saturday, 1 September 1979 JB's, Dudley~~

The Fall played JB's in Dudley on 3 November 1979 — not 1 September, when The Invaders played there.

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Sunday, 9 September 1979 Futurama, Queen's Hall, Leeds

The first Futurama festival. I remember my friend Peter calling me from a payphone during Joy Division's set so I could listen to a bit of it. Thanks to the Manchester District Music Archive for the poster.

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Saturday, 15 September 1979 Prince of Wales Conference Centre, below the YMCA Building, Gt. Russell Street, London

Psykick Dancehall / Rebellious Jukebox / A Figure Walks / Choc Stock / Rowche Rumble / Fiery Jack / Muzoweri's Daughter / No Xmas for John Quays / In My Area / Before the Moon Falls / Dice Man / Spectre vs. Rector / Printhead / Psycho Mafia

This tape also circulates with Session Musician at the end, which didn't exist until 1981, and a poorer quality version circulates with the date 17 July 1979. Attendee Tim Wilcox: "Supporting were Methodisch Tune (writer Ian Penman's band - that's not a typo!), Scritti Politti (in the days when they were experimental and before Green decided to become a pop star). In the audience were Peter Purvis from 'Blue Peter' and Mike Robinson from 'Fingerbobs'." Admission £2. Thanks to Steven Rascoe for the poster and to Dannyno for the review from Jamming #9.

- "We get paid by the hour mate. Drag it on, man. Rowche!"
- "We get a lot of letters asking who Frankie Lymon is."
- "I'll tell you a secret. We are private detectives coming back from a musical pilgrimage. Who would suspect this? It is too obvious. We work under the name of The Fall, our office is secluded. We are six white guys (...). Up here in the north there is no wage packet jobs for us, thank Christ. As young married couples discuss the polities of their self-filled traps. The junior clergy (...), though. We spit in their plates and wait for the ice to melt." (intro to Before the Moon Falls)
- "I met some people who weren't in a group the other day."

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UK : ca. 23 October - 22 November

Tuesday, 23 October 1979 Brunel Rooms, Swindon

No tape exists?

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Wednesday, 24 October 1979 Penthouse Club, Sheffield

No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

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Thursday, 25 October 1979 Fan Club, Leeds

Tthanks to Kevin McMahon and Dannyno for the flyers; the second has the correct support groups. No tape exists?

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26 October 1979 : "Dragnet" LP released

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Friday, 26 October 1979 Penthouse, Scarborough

No tape exists? Unique advert from (Scarborough) Evening News, thanks to Dannyno.

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Saturday, 27 October 1979 Bircoats Leisure Centre, Doncaster

I think tracks 1 through 6 of Totale's Turns (intro / Fiery Jack / Rowche Rumble / Muzorewi's Daughter / In My Area / Choc-Stock) are from this gig. Supported by the Kickstarts. No complete tape exists?

- "Good evening, we are The Fall. The difference between you and us is that we have brains."
- "Will you fucking get it together instead of showing off?" (during No Xmas For John Quays)

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Thursday, 1 November 1979 Palm Cove, Bradford

No tape exists? Spectre on Totales from this gig, says Tim. Thanks to Dannyno for the short review in #1 of Wool City Rocker fanzine (their archive is here).

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Friday, 2 November 1979 The Village, Newport

No tape exists?

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Saturday, 3 November 1979 JB's, Dudley

Before the Moon Falls / Rowche Rumble / Flat of Angles / Rebellious Jukebox / 2nd Dark Age / Stepping Out / Muzorewi's Daughter / Fiery Jack / No Xmas for John Quays / In My Area / A Figure Walks

- "Good evening, we are The Fall. NWC that talks back. You can get wise at half the price. We were stepping, we were spitting. Cop out, cop out!" (introduction to "Before The Moon Falls")
- "We are The Fall, futuristic aides on long legs... as in from Heaven" (during "Before The Moon Falls")
- "We usually use this next song to insult the audience about the state of the pubs round in the area but, er, as we're an enlightened turn... the pubs around here are all right. Well... Jukebox Pissers!" (before "Rebellious Jukebox")
- "This makes The Pop Group look like simpletons, this next one... right, we don't need to prove it!" (before "Muzorewi's Daughter")
- "I sat and and drank / For 30 years / I'm 45 / Like the U.K. Subs lead singer" (during "Fiery Jack")
- "(...) <laughs>... don't make a career out of it!" (before "No Xmas For John Quays")

I also had a listing for JB's on 1 September 1979, but evidence suggests that didn't happen. Great photos on This Is Then, thanks to Mark

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Sunday, 4 November 1979 Rock Garden, Middlesborough

Crap Rap > Printhead / Rowche Rumble / A Figure Walks / Rebellious Jukebox / 2nd Dark Age / Various Times / Psykick Dancehall / No Xmas for John Quays / Muzorewi's Daughter / In My Area / Choc-Stock / Fiery Jack / Psycho Mafia / That Man

There may be two versions of this gig in circulation - the one I have is missing Various Times and Psycho Mafia. Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

- "One, one... aaaaaaah! Futuristic aides on long legs... good evening, we are The Fall. Northern white crap but we talk back... we were spitting, we were stepping. Cop out, cop out! As if from Heaven. You can get wise at half the price... get wise at half the price. We are The Fall... as if from Heaven." ("Crap Rap")
- "Guitars through monitors A BIT" to soundman (that's a long "a")
- "You picked all the wrong ones tonight, I'm afraid. This one was a hit for me and the lads in Tibet, it's about drinking. Jukebox!"
- "This next one is epic. Okey dokey!" (Muzorewi's Daughter)
- "I know it's been hard going so far, but you've got to face up to it one day. You are stock you are pop you are pop stock."
- "There's no requests tonight, sorry."
- "We'd like to finish off with a religious song, seeing as it's Sunday." (That Man)

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Wednesday, 7 November 1979 London School of Economics

Photos by Christian Cavallin from this gig in Paintwork. No tape exists? Thanks to John Walker for the ticket.

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Thursday, 8 November 1979 Eric's, Liverpool

Kiley, Penny. ‘The Fall, Eric’s, Liverpool’, Melody Maker, 17 November 1979, p. 37:

"It’s been tempting in the past to write off the Fall. After all, they’ve changed line-up more than Jimmy Pursey’s retired ... The most disturbing part is the voice - the arrogance of that nagging monotone lightened only by the occasional scream. ... Mark Smith is the Fall, the focal point of the group. Hunched, awkward, he typifies the poet as misfit ... Some people even try to dance. ‘Choc Stock’ is almost jolly, yet the idea of dancers seems unreal, as that sarcastic voice issues from the anti-hero, with his back to the audience. ... Are The Fall the thinking man’s Public Image?"

No tape exists? Note that the gigography used to have The Fall also playing Eric's on 8 October 1979, which didn't happen.

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Friday, 9 November 1979 Stockport Technical College

No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the review (Out of Tow,n Jan/Feb 1980).

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Saturday, 10 November 1979 Norbreck Castle, Blackpool

No tape exists? There were two shows on this day according to the above tour schedule in the NME of 27 October (thanks to Matthew Worley).

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Monday, 12 November 1979 Preston Polytechnic Students Union

Fiery Jack / Choc-Stock / Rowche Rumble / Cary Grant's Wedding / Stepping Out / 2nd Dark Age / Muzorewi's Daughter

Incomplete? Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

- "Blackpool's near here, isn't it? BLACKPOOL'S NEAR HERE, ISN'T IT?" crowd chants: "We hate Blackpool and we hate Blackpool."
- "Can we have more drums on stage, please? Very weedy, indeed."

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Tuesday, 13 November 1979 Cromwell's, Norwich

With D.A.F. No tape exists? Thanks to Andy Cunny for the poster.

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Wednesday, 14 November 1979 Cascade, Shrewsbury

No tape exists?

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Thursday, 15 November 1979 Dacorum College, Hemel Hempstead

This and a few other November 79 dates from this advert in the NME (thanks to John Roberts for scanning it in). No tape exists?

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Friday, 16 November 1979 Porterhouse Club, Retford

Psykick Dancehall / Rowche Rumble / Flat of Angles / 2nd Dark Age / Rebellious Jukebox / Muzorewi's Daughter / In My Area / Choc-Stock / Printhead / A Figure Walks / Fiery Jack / No Xmas for John Quays / Psycho Mafia

Thanks to Steve Chivers for the NME review and Dannyno for the advert.

"Spectre Vs Rector" lyrics in "Psycho Mafia"
- "Good evening, we are The Fall. Interesting (..) on long legs. We are The Fall. (...) white crap talks back. Up here in the North, there is no wage package jobs for us, thank Christ. As the junior clergy demand more cash and (...) couples discuss their trap. We spit in their plate. We are The Fall, as in from heaven." (during the introduction to "Psykick Dancehall")
- "This is about a feller who's hiding in a flat and, er... so he changes the window sill so you can see into it... maybe." (before "Flat Of Angles")
- "This is coming." (before "Second Dark Age")
- "Right, we're gonna go throw... we're gonna go throw... we're gonna go throw a beer glass darkly. This was a hit for us in Eskimo land and we're very pleased to be the turn here tonight." (before "Rebellious Jukebox")
- "This is tribal." (before "Muzorewi's Daughter")
- "Do 'Printhead'." (before "Printhead")
- "(...) on the estate. I do not believe that." (after "Printhead")
- "Thank you." [Sings] "Well, woke up this morning, boys, now (...)." (before "No Xmas For John Quays")

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Saturday, 17 November 1979 Brighton Polytechnic

Held in the art school building on Grand Parade. No tape exists?

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Sunday, 18 November 1979 Marquee, London

Psykick Dancehall / Rowche Rumble / Cary Grant's Wedding / 2nd Dark Age / Rebellious Jukebox / Printhead / Muzorewi's Daughter / Choc-Stock / No Xmas for John Quays / Your Heart Out / Spectre Vs. Rector / Dice Man / Various Times / Stepping Out

Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

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Thursday, 22 November 1979 The Warehouse, Preston

Thanks to Dannyno for the listing. No tape exists?

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USA : 28 November - mid December

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Wednesday, 28 November 1979 Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

John Kempski thought the supporting band may have been Oingo Boingo, and remembers that "MES had his back to the audience the entire show."

Then Michael wrote in:

"I was at the Emerald City show. Buzzcocks headlined (w/ a bearded, possibly tripping Pete Shelley); no Oingo Boingo in sight. The Fall were amazing, easily bettering the headliners- very powerful. Afterwards, I met MES backstage. Extremely friendly guy. I gave him a brief history of the venue (the former Latin Casino- home to middle-ranking crooners of the Engelbert/ Tom Jones variety, and scene of Jackie Wilson's (eventually fatal) stroke- transformed into an only-in-America Wizard of Oz-themed disco.) He seemed to enjoy the suitably bizarre setting very much, but I assured him that not all of the US looked this way. We discussed the differences between Philadelphia and Manchester (not many at the time). He handed me a beer and a copy of Dragnet- still have it, and it's still my favorite Fall record."

Thanks to Dannyno for the review. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 29 November 1979 Hot Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No tape exists?

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Saturday, 1 December 1979 Palladium Theater, New York

Fiery Jack / Muzorewi's Daughter / Rowche Rumble / Various Times / Psykick Dancehall / Flat of Angles / Choc-Stock

Supporting Buzzcocks. Complete set, Doug thinks.

Guy Ewald in the February 1980 New York Rocker: "The second-billed Fall saved the show for me. What an attitude on these guys -- they acted like the audience wasn't even there. Lead singer Mark E. Smith casually paced the stage, one hand in his pocket, as he sang, screamed, screeched and preached over the band's pumping, menacing drone. Without traditional R&R dynamics, the Fall constructed an impressive wall of sound; the set ended with the guitarists crouched over their small amplifiers, wrestling the last sounds from their instruments. A few heads bobbed, a few mouths booed, but as Smith would later tell the NYR, the Fall are "not about rock 'n' roll," but ideas. An intriguing and highly original band."

"Good evening, we are The Fall. That's 'F A double L' - as if from heaven. A voice for cults. This is flak(?) and the number is Fiery Jack."
- "This song is about psychics so you've got to exercise the ectoplasm and become part of the quest, part of the quest!"

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Sunday, 2 December 1979 CBGB, New York

Psykick Dancehall / Rowche Rumble / Cary Grant's Wedding / Choc-Stock / No Xmas for John Quays / Your Heart Out / Psycho Mafia ("with lyrics to Spectre vs. Rector, or maybe it was the other way round")

The Fall supported the UK Subs and played two sets ("joint-headlined" says Steve Hanley). Doug Clubok made a note of the early show's set and thinks the above is correct. David Godlis (http://www.godlis.com/) took these great photos (thanks to Tobias Deppner for sending in the larger one).

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Monday, 3 December 1979 The Club, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Psykick Dancehall / Rebellious Jukebox / Various Times / Rowche Rumble / Your Heart Out / Muzorewi's Daughter / Choc-Stock / Fiery Jack / Rebellious Jukebox [again] / No Xmas For John Quays / A Figure Walks / 2nd Dark Age / Rowche Rumble [again] / Repetition

some Before the Moon Falls lyrics in Fiery Jack; C'nC lyrics in Various Times; In the Park lyrics in No Xmas for John Quays

Tobin: "Just a word about this show; Mission of Burma opened. A veritable infant I was and it still remains the most potent rock show I've ever seen. My memory tells me that Mark E. Smith ate an entire large pizza while performing. Thus, much of his singing was unintelligible and during Fiery Jack pizza shot out of his mouth with furious velocity. I was in awe."

- "Turn everything up, Grant, please (...) transistor radio" (during "Psykick Dancehall")
- "This is about a disease that is rife in England. It was not the Black Death... the Black Death was nothing compared to this. It was the mass use of Roche A.G. tranquillisers, and it goes like..." (before "Rowche Rumble")
- "It's that lot back again... back! We are The Fall... this is flack... this is 'Fiery Jack'... not before his amp's warmed up. Very nice... no, wrong song. Shhhhh!" (before "Fiery Jack")
- "OK, we're pretty fed up anyway, so this is one from the vaults. We don't really know it but why offer excuses? Flack all the time... you've got to make it on your own 'cos you know that's cool." (before "Repetition")
- "Virgin Records is the home of the Antichrist."

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Wednesday, 5 December 1979 Catamaran Hotel, San Diego, California

No tape exists?

Bill: "I have been a Fall fan fan for over 25 years and have found no reference to the first gig I saw of them. It was in San Diego, CA, around '78-'79 at a Polynesian style restaurant/nightclub called The Catamaran. They opened for Iggy Pop and had Berlin(!) open for them. They were received poorly as the jock type crowd was apparently there for Iggy. They sang a long version of Rowche Rumble, I never saw or heard of them before this and all I could think of was who the hell are these fuckers singing about "Valium, unh-unh" and the crowd was throwing drinks and Mark E. only got angrier and more insulting as the reception got worse, which turned me around and I began to respect their guts for continuing at all with such a hateful crowd. I later heard "Totally Wired" at a friends house and began buying their records, no easy feat in a cultural backwater like S.D."

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Thursday, 6 December 1979 Madame Wong's West, Santa Monica, California

Mike recalls: "The "Opening Band" was the Nu Kats - not oingo boingo (by comparison oingo boingo would've been a godsend), a god-awful local new wave band with "Bobbie Zio" on sax and vocals (ask Mark about these clowns one day why dontcha: we -him and me- were laughing our asses off at them). They kinda however were the headliner (regardless of what anybody wants to twist history into). They had a big local draw. There was a band before them and then the Fall came on after them, but back then Madame Wong's would always have the headliners in the middle of the bill. The Fall fans loathed the nukats and the nukats fans loathed the fall. Once they started leaving during the fall's set (man did that place clear out quick ! just as well....the stench of spandex was getting kinda unbearable) there were maybe 25 - 30 of the original 125-150 people that were in the place at the end of the nukats set. The bill made NO sense at all (but then alot of bills in LA in those days made no sense).

"The Fall were really good at Wong's West (so I thought driving home), but........... .........the Anticlub show (Dec. 14) WAS awesome. EASILY one of the best 5 -10 shows (out of about 500+) I have ever seen by anyone ever. In comparison to the anticlub show the wong's show was totally half-assed."

TJ: "The Nu Kats -- a horrid skinny-tie/spiky-hairdo "new wave" band -- was fronted by Freddie Moore, who was the husband at that time of one Demi Moore (who has retained his surname to this day). They had a huge following for a brief moment and then disappeared shortly thereafter, mercifully never to be heard from again."

Greg from Artifix Records: "Hello. I recently spoke to Rick, bass player for CATHOLIC DISCIPLINE, and he also recalls playing with the FALL. He remembers that it was the same night as their Dec. 6th, 1979 show at Madame Wong's West in L.A. Rick remembers that they played at Madame Wong's then ran over to play at the Anti-Club with CATHOLIC DISCIPLINE. Rick remembers that this show was only the two bands playing together and that everyone was drinking heavily. Small crowd, but great time."

"Can you supply any evidence for this date at the Anti-Club? Rick says he remembers that it was this date as he ripped a flyer off of the Madame Wong's wall before going over to the Anti-Club for the late set. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks, Greg -Artifix Records"

Unfortunately I can't supply any evidence for this gig at the Anti-Club, but it seems quite possible. Can anyone help?

Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

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Friday, 7 December 1979 Mubahay Gardens, San Francisco, California

No tape exists? Thanks to Dannyno for the listing.

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Thursday, 13 December 1979 Al's Bar, Los Angeles, California

Skip King says this gig didn't happen, otherwise he would've gone. Nevertheless, here's a flyer.

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Friday, 14 December 1979 Hope Street Hall, Los Angeles, California

Opening for X and the Germs before heading over to the Anticlub. Many thanks to Skip King for scanning Mark's handmade flyer announcing both gigs. No tape exists?

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Friday, 14 December 1979 Anticlub, Los Angeles, California

Psykick Dancehall / Rowche Rumble / Flat of Angles / Rebellious Jukebox / Various Times / Stepping Out / Your Heart Out / Dice Man / Spectre vs. Rector // Choc-Stock / Muzorewi's Daughter

Marc Riley once said this was his favorite Fall gig.

- "Your decadent sins will reap discipline. We are the new puritans. We are The Fall, as if from heaven, as if from heaven. Ch-ch-ch-chew-ah! Ch-ch-ch-chew-ah! There are no wage packet jobs for us as married couples discuss the polities of their self-filled traps. And your country demands more cash. Is there anybody there?"
- "Do you want this up, Grant, or what. Turn yourself up a bit. Right, we did all the hits, we played some fucking hangar [Hope Street Hall] before we came here. So we're going to mutilate this one." (before "Rowche Rumble")
- "Treat your liver in. Treat your liver in. Treat it like a bin. What is it there for? The full use of your body is OK. But not... it's just a Swiss-nosed dealing of potions. This is the Gary Glitter part of the act. Do you like it? How many bucks will you pay next time?" (during "Rowche Rumble")
- "This is Budweiser water you're selling here. [In posh accent] Okay, wot? Okay, right. This was a number one for me and the lads in Eskimo land. Hasn't been released yet." (during "Rebellious Jukebox") (after Rebellious Jukebox: "That's a hit, murdered."
- "This is one of those funny ones again. Right, we're gonna go back in time. We can go back in time to those vulgar years. We've just come from a place where they were really into it. You know: spiky hair and the old armband shit. They threw cans but they can't even get a drink! Hahahahahaha! I'll tell you what it is the same as... in Germany, right, jobs short." (during the introduction to "Various Times")
- "A present... this is a present from me to you. In America all the groups there, especially from the U.K., but whether they're from the U.S. it's no different, right? They all act like they're on television. But their rota is mediocre. Their rota is mediocre. The (...) the brains and British are here for the money. It works both ways." (amended lyrics to "Various Times")
- "(...) fiction (...). I know you're going to (...) this number. Very intellectual. I tell you, the person that wrote this (...) bastard. He was a left-wing jerk (...). All the left-wingers in England walk and drive around in false cars. I bet you didn't know that." (during the introduction "Stepping Out")
- "(...) That's an improvement. The slickness is the business. (...) discipline. The keyboards. The fucking keyboards need some discipline. This next one is more trash." (before "Your Heart Out")
- "Pure pop for now people" (could be Riley?) (after Your Heart Out)
- "You need summat a bit more instant. (...) get to the story. You all want summat quick and short... do it quick and short. This is (...)" (before "Dice Man")
- "This is one we haven't done for a bit." (before "Spectre Vs. Rector")
- "Hang on a minute. After 'unclean', (...). Go back and start it again. Unclean!" (during "Spectre Vs. Rector")
- "Right, that was the loosest thing we've ever done. Thank you. Thank you for what it's worth. It's just like being at home in the front room. But you are pop, you are stock, you are still buying the same old shit. Okey dokey!" (before "Choc-Stock")
- "Now come on, people. Why don't you get your shit together? I don't know how you put up with this no drinks scene. And this concrete shit. And this long-haired shit. It's all the same; it's all avenues. Like the (Star Ward) is like where Styx play except there's less people there. Why don't you get your shit together? Watch my eyebrows, then you can learn it from the record." (during "Choc-Stock")
- "We'll do 'Muzorewi'. No 'Christmas'. What? (...) Hahahahaha. I reckon we should do 'Muzorewi'. Shhhhhh! I don't know what this song is... this song that (...). " (before "Muzorewi's Daughter")
- "Sorry we have to be so miserable. This is tribal. This looks like a political club, huh? This is where all the intellectuals go, isn't it?" (during Muzorewi's Daughter intro)
- "You get no news over here. You get no news over here at all. All (...) concerns the papers. They want news round the corner and inflation. But if you listen, some say South Africa and Rhodesia records." (during "Muzorewi's Daughter")

Many thanks to Philip Johnson for scanning one version of the flyer:

and to Skip King for these versions: