Tribute to Mark.E.Smith 

My most treasured possession is the bongo my granny played when she was in The Fall.

Someone turned up with the Bingo Masters/Repetition single when we were all sitting around on acid listening to Dark side of t' moon. I've never forgotten that wonderful moment. I met Mark in a pub in Brighton not long after (1980?) and had a couple of pints with him before he said 'right I'm off to do this gig then...are you coming?' I told him it was sold out (The New Regent in West Street) He took me up and got me in. Top man. Original. One off.

A world without MES is a place that is duller and more tedious. His words are forever in my head.

Thanks for the heartfelt, Ed. When Mark passed he took Narnia with him and the wardrobe became just a wardrobe.

I miss Mark E. He would have put out two albums by now. One word: Genius

Let's not forget the great musicians who made up The Fall over 40 odd years

MES was a one off, the story about him arriving at the gig with a tesco bag sums him up. Completely different to the other rock star posers.

I was in the supermarket queue behind Mark one time and the way he purchased his Copella cloudy apple juice and Double Decker chocolate bar that day really epitomizes something for me, somehow...

As an ex British Merchant Sailor i first of the fall around 88,89..one of the sailors were proper mad for the sound...Mark.E.Smith yer mates done you proud on this one.

I avoided The Fall until 1990 when a girl I liked liked The Fall. I fell. God bless you all.

Loved him, Loved The Fall, Miss him so much

No-one dies who is remembered.

Re. Tesco carrier bag. Many bands in the early seventies with loyal following were similar. A band that comes to mind is Stray. The guitarist, Del Bromham would enter gigs through the front dóor like the audience with his guitar case and wave hello and ask how you were going. As for Mark saw him in a pub in Fulham in the late eighties, post Brix. I would love to of said hello to him. I was a self employed independent book seller at the time. He came past the crowd I was with and said excuse me as he was heading for the loo. He smiled at me. We are the same age (1957) A few of us loved The Fall but I use to hang at the Marquee in Wardour Street in the seventies (pinball with Lemmy!!) and after seeing The Fall at The Forum, Kentish Town I knew that Mark would be in music for the long run. What a talent.

Excellent job on this tribute. You can tell it comes from the heart. There are only two types of humans... those who are Fall fans and those who are not. Long live The Fall.

You always got your money's worth when you bought a new Fall LP. A visit to the record shop back then was something important when new Fall product was on the market.

First saw them at a free gig about 1978. This tiny band set up in a corridor and kicked off with 'It's the New Other Thing" and I was a fan before the intro was over

Tony Wilson knew the Manchester music scene like no other. He said forget Morrisey, The Smiths, Joy Division, Mondays, Stone Roses & the fucking Gallagher brothers....Mark E. Smith was the man, the king of cool!

I'm a 38 year old American I played musical instruments all my life I discovered the fall when I was 18 Mark is still my favorite musician ever I think he's the most genius musician the fall is for everyone the fall is for smart marks

Stumbled on to a track one day and thought "what is this?" I became obsessed with the fall and mes. He had that effect.

According to ho his Autobiography (Renegade,great read) his favourite shop was Bargain Booze in Prestwich,I told the guy in there but he didn’t know.Deffo needs a blue plaque...also I was in the Red Lion one night,they had a folk night on in the back room,full of beardy types with acoustics, anyways,the room was that full there was nowhere to sit,but there lay Mark,full length,asleep on the banquet seating...NOT ONE FUCK GIVEN.

You’re very much missed Mr. Smith. The world is much poorer without you. RIP mate.

I worked in richer sounds in Prestwich Manchester in the 90's mark walks in and asks me for the Sony portable DAT player. We had a big thing about customer service and I told him firstly they were mega unreliable and certainly not for commercial use. Mark took umbrige it not commercial use. I'm using at home. Yes Mark and your the most famous person in the town. Turn it in. He still bought it and brought it back 6 weeks later for a refund as it broke. For the record yes he got a refund. Baligerant bugger will be missed

Mark was a kind ol bloke, charming, funny, could share a chippy supper with ye, then excuse himself to up the North to Glastonbury to "do an extra gig" Cracked me up!!

Was tough news last year, lucky enough to have caught the Fall play a Wakefield social club a few years back where Mark exclaimed to the audience 'I love you all', feel blessed to have been there, it wasn't often MES paid the audience compliments like that, if ever. Was the best of all Fall gigs I ever attended, the crowd was fucking great as well, I travelled there solo from Scotland it was more than worth it must have been 2009ish cos I remember pre-ordering the Slippy Floor 7" there anaw , being born in '80 I was a skittery wee shite and non existent back in the days of the early gigs. Thanks for this upload, I loved your comments in the 'It's Not Repetition, It's Discipline' documentary, your honesty and integrity shines through here too as well Mr. Blaney, a fitting tribute you've put together. Mark E. Smith will be sadly missed by so many for a long, long, long fucking time to come. Peace.

There'll never be another like him.

That stage entrance at The Gorillaz show 👌🏻

I took my then 16 year old daughter to see em in Tel Aviv a couple o'year back. When they'd finished we went backstage to thank em. Mark was stood up opening a beer while my daughter sat down with the group. Said thanks, shook his hand, he said thanks pal, gave me a beer and said, " now drink that quick then you can fuck off with yer girlfriend ". 😂 I really miss him.

Luv u forever Mark E,,,your music will live forever and ever, and will remain with me untill the day I die in this world. RIP

I can relate so much to the Bingo Masters story. When i was 11 my dad played Code: Selfish in the car all the time. I was a loner at school walking round the play ground with "this is the summer of malcontent, this is the winter of your mind" going round and round my head... What a back catalogue. I said many times it will take his death for the country to realise this talent. Unfortunately i fear he is still under appreciated but for those who know... Thanks Ed a great tribute

The Fall is a valuable creative cyclone, a mighty example of spirit-lifting audacity. I never experienced what people, loud and enthusiastic, experienced at the concerts of Mark Smith and his companions

saw them at tivolie utrecht 84 fantastic,first number was smile

The guy was a lyrical genius. We're losing the greats of the 20th century now. Rest in peace and thanx 4 the gr8 times MES.

Mark E Smith - Consummate ruffler of feathers and VERY much appreciated. I pity those that don't 'get it'.

Perhaps alcohol's greatest achievement

Bought the 7 inch vinyl Totally Wired single when I was 15 after listening to it on Peel, saw them live a few times and never looked back... 40 years later they are still my favourite band.

Long live the mighty fall

What a track waking up in the city is, incredible lyrics and guitar, he was the working class eccentric who rocked the world in a whole new way, a true pioneer and we'll all miss him but thanks for the music mark and thanks to you for the tribute.

When I first met my wife she had the same hairstyle as brix in the eat yrself fitter video. 10 years later we are still together living our best life in our tiny apartment and we have a framed pic of mark on our living room wall. We absolutely love him. What a great bloke. The hardwork and dedicated artistry put into the fall over the decades I don't think will ever be matched. Very special. Salford's finest 💪🍻

This Tribute is wonderful! I first saw The Fall in 1977 and then a year later had the privilege of sharing the same billing on the stage at Deeply Vale Free Festival in 1978. I was with a local band called, Howard The Duck - The Fall were always brilliant live thanks to Mark's showmanship.

Watching in floods of tears, fitting tribute. What a man, what a life, a true genius. Miss you forever.

He walked the walk and talked the talk. No shite. Just a class bloke. I’m a Geordie and I loved him.

The best I was at his last gig still rocking right to the end R I P Mark E Smith

Have always fucking loved that version of I Wake Up In The City - didn't know the recording history!

Ed Blaney knew MES and that comes across in this short but sharp tribute.

There'll never be another to equal this lad. RIP.

Great tribute to your friend and a master. Cheers and god bless the mighty fall

I was lucky enough to see The Fall a few times in 79 and 80 and the late 80's One time on Long Island we went back stage after show and Mark got quite disturbed that we were drinking all the whisky so I gave him a old 1952 ( I like Ike ) badge and he loved it. Another great show was at Giorgio gomelsky's loft in the NYC it was totally surreal with the Roman greek statues and so were the shrooms. The Fall were always it for me, I felt a real lost when he passed and will always have fond memories of those days on the piss with my mates singing ( The north will rise again, not in 10,000 years. NWRA Thank you for bringing back the memories with this great tribute

10:04 Man I love 'I Wake Up in the City', such a raw record. Now I now why!

THANK YOU! Mark E Smith is/was my HERO! He was true to himself, and his craft. His art was his labor, and he churned music out like a factory. An ARTIST until the end.

Mark E Smith, the Alex Hurricane Higgins of music 👌

Thanks for sharing, an amazing tribute. I bought Live at The Witch Trials here in Halifax NS Canada in 1979 and have been a fan ever since. I did see The Fall in 1983, Perverted by Language Tour in Toronto in 1983. Cheers, he will be missed. All the best Ed!

This is fucking brilliant. “Wake up in the City”, totally awesome. Cheers.

Two musical geniuses on one stage. Hope the audience knew how rare that was

For me....and I have no wish to offend the pricks who’ll read this....the best British rock star...

Sometimes i listen to the Fall for months on end then can,t take the input from Mr Smith, but you just can not escape the Fall.

Nice work Ed. I had the privilege to see the Fall in a tiny venue in New Orleans circa 2k. Mark within arms reach - always a fond memory.

I was at the 2nd last ever fall gig ..I feel very privileged indeed to have been at that show ..but at the same time I'm still saddened even now as I'm typing this ..that the harsh reality is mark e smith is no more ..no more Mark means no more fall ..and there's nothing to fill that void ..bands and artists come and go ..but there was only ever one (MARK E SMITH)

I hollered "HEY MARK " as he was entering a show in Philadelphia ...And HE TURNED and said Hi , Are you coming in ? And me and my girlfriend jumped outta line and followed him and Brix in to the club. I WAS TOO FREAKED OUT to say any more except" WELCOME BACK TO PHILLY" STAR STRUCT My girlfriend knew I love THE FALL , She laughed at how freaked out I was

have been a fan for decades. saw the fall's first ever gig in the states-philadelphia.been a fan since. saw them i think a few days later with the buzzcocks(memory vague on this one,but have been told i went on about how much better the fall was than the buzzcocks) then saw them in the mid 80's @ the 9:30 in Washington DC,infamous and great gig where MES stabbed the PA with the mike stand.saw them once more in the 00's at the ottobar in baltmore MD. awww the fall one of my faves long live MES long live the FALL.

I have loved THE FALL since 1980 ! YOU JUST HAVE TO GET IT , And your mind invites a whole new music in ! MISS YA MARK !

I love The Fall. If you could study mark e smiths lyrics a phd wouldn't even touch it, you'd be there a lifetime. He's really is a genius to remember all the lyrics to his tracks is just mind blowing because none of the lyrics are straight forward. I personally feel like I've suffered a major bereavment.

They don't make em like Mark E Smith any longer. The first time I heard Bingo Masters at 17 ... life would never be the same!! Born in the North. RIP Mark E Smith

No new Fall album. No tour. There is now a gaping hole which cannot be filled.

Lovely tribute. I came to The Fall late but they changed my life and Mark was simply a one-off talent that, for me, can't be topped. Loved seeing this. I saw Ed's band supporting Mark in Newcastle in '16, cheers Ed. Really enjoyed this. RIP Mark x

yes he was something else 1 ov a kind rip mr smith

A part of music died when we lost Mark, thanks for sharing some of those personal stories with us..

As a huge joy division fan I kind of dismissed the fall however at 52 yo I realised what I missed better late than never what a guy

I saw a video recently of them playing a music festival to loads of young uns in the day time and none of them were dancing. I dance like I channel shiva when I hear them but only can dance at night time for some reason and I'd never encourage young uns to act like me due to mark's respectfull advice on being a looney. Every time I saw the Fall live at night time though I'd find myself dancing like mad with all the 50 year old men and old grey lasses like myself. What a hip priest!

He was appreciated

A fantastic tribute mate. Saw them many times over the years. Love him to bits. Always made me laugh my head off. A genius. Will miss him dearly.

Thoroughly enjoyed this tribute. From ages 15 to 50, the Fall have been a constant audio delight.

Back in 80s the Fall was one of my favorite bands. Thank you from Portugal

The lad was one in a kind. Thanks Ed!

Very passionate tribute. Long live MES! Long live the fall! And long live you!

He always put a good word in for the band I was in. Mainly because we were always gigging. That was the job as far as Mark was concerned. He was right. Always let on to you and it was always brill when he did.

Loved the bit with the Gorillaz. "If it's me and yer granny on the bongos, it's The Fall." And they were for a bit. Great stuff.

Thank you Ed - a privilege to have this glimpse into your friendship with MES

Lovely, fitting tribute to the great man. As a Yank in the suburbs, Fall records were not a common sight. When I did finally hear them, it was a cutout cassette of Wonderful and Frightening World of...in the late 80s. Totally took my head off, it did. And i was, and have remained, a lifelong fan ever since. Thanks Ed!

Really enjoyed this little tribute from people who genuinely knew Mark. A life lived on his own terms and a legacy of groundbreaking music left for us all to enjoy, can’t say fairer than that can you!

Respect Ed lad from the M9 kid, I will never forget the Midd civic gig I attended with Woll N/S Drummer and Jacko M9 on the guest list Mark was and always will be treasured by a North Manc few ;)

That footage with Gorillaz is golden... thanks for sharing this and your memories :)

Had to come back to this again! Great stories and a side to him I never knew, thanks for making this, great job! R. Mark E. Smith.

Our psychic leader

What a lovely tribute from some good friends of Mark E. Smith. You are very lucky to have known him on such a personal basis. Ive been a massive fan of The Fall for years because of their unique sound that is way ahead of its time. And also because of Marks down to earth aura and how he is not afraid to speak his mind. A great man. A flower of Manchester!

The Fall are still way ahead of their time . Peace .

One of my mates went to him in Sheffield and said "What's Middlemass about?" Mark just said "People like you" Heh.

Never got enough recognition in my opinion. Stand alone, one of the most creative and pioneering music greats.

Great tribute for him.. long live the hip priest!

Thank you for making and posting this tribute. MES a true original voice.

Magic wee documentary. Thanks so much x

Thank you so much for this incredible tribute video; Mark E. Smith may be gone, but the contributions he made to music will echo infinitely

Thanks for doing that ED....A great tribute to a great man....MES...RIP...XXX

This has set me up for work today. Was quite tired but a dose of M.E.S's wisdom, music and words will see me through my shift. Cheers Ed

really enjoyed that ed, good way to see in the new year. all the best!!

Proper heartfelt personal tribute to a great man. Thanks Ed, I really loved that.

Thanks, this was great to watch.

just so naturally and brilliant,- even left a cough in - he never changed. As Vic and Bob said, 'what's in your bag Stavros?' Normal bloke to the end - but couldn't help being a reluctant genius.

A great tribute. Some great images and some unseen pics of the real mark e Smith only the privileged and trusted knew. Thank you Ed for this montage and tribute to a legend .. Keep it alive, the torch is now with you. Your a genuine salt of the earth top man God bless......

Great tribute, thanks for sharing. He was a true one off, the best ever!

Good friends are priceless. We're all flawed somehow Putting the effort in seeing past these is how we find the treasure inside of each other