Haha- Mark is so funny asking her if she’s done any interviews before, and calling her questions lazy journalism, but he’s quite right. She hadn’t done her homework and asked predictable, generic questions.
Gotta say its nice to hear him give Pete Shelley some props. But it IS my favorite thing in the world to watch him diss other musicians. Even ones I like. it makes me giggle!
Smith smirks mischievously, after claiming his stripes as a communist. He was a wylie fucker. Relisten to The Classical. He's an anarchist if anything. MTV. Remember that?
Been a Fall fan for 35 years. Ever since I read Steve Hanley's biog, The Big Midweek, I have not been a fan of this man. It's Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome. Everybody just ducks their eyes and refuses to acknowledge just what a bully Mark E Smith actually was. You can hear the timidity in this interviewer's voice, FFS. Look. Manchester is just a strange city. The people there are just all like the mutants in some HP Lovecraft story, and ME, with his weird facial structure, is a prime example of this inbred sub-genetic mutation of the human species. But he was proud of his roots. Bless him.
Been deep in a Fall listen the last few days and watching this some 6+ years on from Mark's passing... there's this huge whole in music... the reality of no new Fall albums/recordings.... they were such a constant for 40 years... I own more Fall albums than any other artist.... their body of work ... my God...
Tim, sincere thanks for sharing this. This stuff is important. I can't stand the thought of an interview with mark (or any great artist) not being available. Just rotting away in some archive somewhere, destined for a skip.
Seen The Fall sept.1982 in a small basement dive with about 300 other kids. I was at the side of the stage 5 feet from Mark. One of the Best shows I ever saw. Amazing.
We are Blackburn, we are a small town, But we have a world beating football club, and you may never be able to say likewise, RIP Uncle Jack.Oh, and by the way, watch your back ! We are coming for you.
Very few journalists have ever been able to connect with Mark E Smith, yet he is like your uncle from a council estate that just so happens to be in one if the most original and unique bands in the world, ever. Uninterested by fame and populist guff, somewhat interested in history and politics (of the working struggle) and values ideas and originality over mimicry and duplication, or "scenes". To be honest I used to just think he was violent and belligerent man, but I have now come to realize much of this is in response to people not understanding him and generally turning into wet blankets (or showing no spine) in his presence, and what he clearly does not respect.
He was honest and sincere. Qualities almost entirely absent these days. Funnily enough, the one man who still displays these virtues today is a man who Smith was always a little bit bitchy about, Morrissey. I think Smith would have thought that was pretty funny.
