Mark E Smith Interview - Soft Focus - Part Two

Mark E. Smith of The Fall is interviewed and questioned on various subjects.

[@1e0s]

He comes across as a genuinely lovely bloke in this & his integrity shines through.

[@ireone4]

"In retrospect even Sonic Youth look good now, that's sayin' a fuckin' lot innit." (MES)

[@DANNYsosick]

I've never heard of this Svenonius guy but thought he was quality. Great interview, thought he got a lot out of Mark. Seems like Mark liked him a little too.

[@zetetick395]

Mark (of all people) also turned me onto *Boards of Canada* (their first album 'Music has the right to children') kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3vNY2eqa9OCpJY And of course, Kool Keith: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i323YWiBjc12etU - He actually listened to all kinds of stuff, on the lowkey, AFAICT.

[@Philliben1991]

Ian Svenonius is great, who else would ask Mark E Smith if "he identifies as a Pisces?" LOL. The fact that he winds up so many people is proof of this greatness. Mark E Smith is a brilliant eccentric and genius despite being, and possibly because, he's near incomprehensible.

[@svenlittlecross]

i also dont get all the hate directed at this guy, i find these interviews really laid back and love it he sort of takes it anywhere... like whit sonic youth, whats you favorite chef, ha... its good humour rather than just licking everyones balls, still very respectful to anyone though

[@mikemcgreevy2105]

MES really opens up. Good interviewer.

[@elwoodblues7157]

They're both pissed :-D This is how you do interviews with MES.

[@pointpoint10]

Ian Svenonius is a dandy poser and not a good interviewer. MES: [angry, dismissive, slurred muttering about the Talking Heads] Ian Svenonius: Do you like the Talking Heads?

[@NOWtheband]

Agreed. :-)

[@hyena131]

He's hammered in almost every interview. One can only imagine how tedious it was to be in his company.

[@zetetick395]

I hung out with Mark 4 or 5 times over the years our paths crossed and we always had a good laugh together, there was never ANY 'rockstar' BS with Mark......He just couldn't stand music journo's and their faddish pretensions (So the interviews are often stilted with a thinly disguised animosity.....Lol)

[@hyena131]

@@zetetick395 Fair enough. But alcoholics/people who are nearly always drunk are a drag.

[@T800System]

"wh.. what I like about american TV is sometimes its fukin' good do you not fink so?" Hahaha! I fucking love this man.

[@wickedweeblewobble]

this is the art of the interview and ian has mastered it wonderfully. look at all the artists he's interviewed: genesis p. orridge (psychic tv), henry rollins (black flag), ian mackaye (minor threat), bobby gillespie (primal scream), kevin shields (my bloody valentine), and graham coxon (blur). these are difficult and often misunderstood artists he interviews. the answers you'd hear are pretty intense. you have guts to interview these strong personalities to get a sincere reaction from them?

[@SMThomasson]

Can't believe how much I love Mark E Smith. He's God. The bit where he's talking about going to see his nieces! ha ha!!

[@Geo-gw7fs]

RIP Mark so funny and always correct.

[@stimso]

Svenonius is so misunderstood. People asking who the fuck he is and then lambasting him for not doing his research. Svenonius is a legend. All his bands are consistently great and he's a terrific writer. Very ironic, thus easily misunderstood. I think he's funny as fuck. He gets a lot of great answers from MES, who despite mocking Ian at times, seems to respect him. They're having a good laugh. Ian has paid his dues and deserves a little better than being dismissed an an "effeminate sycophant". MES, as always, is caustic, wry, funny. A bit slurry, but clever.

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

Agreed! I love all of the soft focus interviews. The Suicide one is my favorite but this is a close second. There is no ass kissing in his interview at all. People are just dumb I guess.

[@vollsticks]

"We were banned from rock festivals for a long time..." "Were you?" "Well, I was..." LMAO This is the best MES interview ever committed to paper, video, tape or any other medium

[@ChrisJohnson-zv4pr]

Uncle mark!!! Brilliant😁

[@TheIkaraCult]

Uncle Marks comin! aaaaaaagh aaaaaaaaaagh!

[@Anonymous-c4p]

Imagine growing up now and realizing what a treasure you once had in yer midst 🤔💞

[@steve-bk1qd]

good interview..lad interviewing did a great job. BTW I love The Fall

[@cazb877]

Mark we feckin love ya! Jack Black is a twat, 😂😂Rest in Peace my Northern friend ❤️

[@booblikon]

4:59 - 8:19 just fuckin' rambling! Put a guitar and drums over it and you'll have a new song. E fucking rules.

[@jiggersotoole7823]

who do you like? The Sweet. brilliant

[@wickedweeblewobble]

i completely agree with you. try interviewing ian svenonius. i believe he is on a completely wicked level of thinking when it comes to rock and roll music history; he is both serious and self-deprecating. yet, some people would get the impression that he could be out of his mind after having observe ian's performances with Nation of Ulysses/ the Make Up. i think of this interview as what two two very radical vocalists would talk casually about, just about any thing random after a venue gig.

[@tomjones5687]

This series was so good, shame Vice got rid of it

[@effceefifty]

"that festival scene..." *scratches fingernails*

[@davidbreen8702]

Great entertainment. Cast to telly....much more interesting than the other garbage on the box.😁

[@oneoftheminnit]

Sniffed himself into oblivion

[@bluestate69]

and where others would poison, they dismember. that's all i have to say about this interview.

[@StratsRUs]

Gene Simmons' Rock School when he gets Tony Iommi in.Hilarious

[@emile235]

yeah sure "poor" Mark prolific legend who has inspired many successful novelists and important bands and who has created one of the most ENDURING legendary cult bands ever

[@embraceallrealms]

Which novelists???

[@zetetick395]

@@embraceallrealms Will Self, for one, has spoken about The Fall.

[@diskochimp]

Best MES i/view I've seen in ages, when he's on good form like this he's much subtler than people think... p.s. Svenonius is a plank.

[@sooperheep]

you are

[@sspbrazil]

I miss Mark. Nobody like him.

[@nocityartsfilm6455]

for those who have trouble understanding Mr. Smith: Do you like the Talking Heads? No they are the enemy, that's how The Fall started. (Always thought they were big geeks too Mark, rock on.)

[@spookybaba]

I thought the interviewer was C Thomas Howell, at first glance. With a wig on!!!

[@zetetick395]

I guess i can see that, although I've no idea how CTH looks nowadays (since the '90s)

[@stephen3511]

Uncle Mark 🤣🤣

[@effceefifty]

its an the fall song i think

[@spurtfather]

mr cigar

[@robertmunro5382]

in retrospect even sonic youth sound good .

[@markpx]

Why do you think MES felt TH and SY were the enemy?

[@markpx]

@VinylViper odd, two great bands that sound nothing like each other

[@galetinm]

They both are a bunch of middle class, suburban nerds compared to The Fall. But I don't think he said that Sonic Youth is the enemy. Only Talking Heads. Mark always had funny opinions about other bands. Some good ones too.

[@michaeloneill8452]

Funny as f...

[@sparksrule]

Maybe so. But surely you must do your homework, if interviewing Mark, beforehand and do not to try and ask for intensity or sincerity!

[@effceefifty]

holy shit turn the english captions on when mark e is talking lmfao

[@ixis99]

Ian Svevonius looks like a cross between Elliot Gould and one of the Gallagher brothers here.What a dweeb he really is.Mark Smith,I enjoy your points of view and you are looking more like a drunken & emaciated Johnny Cash every year.Live on and keep your attitude.Always an original.

[@oneoftheminnit]

Helmet

[@merked1980]

i don't know about the other festivals but i believe The Fall didn't play glastonbury for a number of years because he called the organiser (michael eavis) a c*** for not giving into MES demands of being allowed to play last and moving headliners, James, down the order. Sooo MES and that's why i love him...

[@zetetick395]

Mike Eavis was wonderful, and a legend in his own right. R.I.P. ❤ but I can totally see his 'hippyish vibe' not meshing at all well with Smith's urban, working class punkness.

[@almanacofsleep]

@donniebobb Mark E Smith is running rings around him in this interview. The interviewer makes my skin crawl.

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

The fuck are you talking about? Ian is a hilarious interviewer. This is just two guys having a laugh. Stop sucking MES off like he is some kind of god figure. Fucking lameeeee

[@retinalcircus]

Each to their own but Talking Heads (not "The",) are far more essential than The Fall. That's my opinion. The Fall sounded the same for how many decades! You can trace a line from the early stuff to Mr Pharmacist and beyond. Which is fine. I'm sure he is a fine lyricist but goddamn they are samey. Talking Heads had a clear progression and retained that angular rhythmical edge 🤷🏻‍♂️ I don't get why he'd assume they were ever typical of the mainstream the arrogance is unbelievable here

[@curiositytax9360]

‘Are far more essential’ thanks for the eye roll. He was talking about people like you, which you’d realise if you had any self awareness. Whatever you are, Smith pissed on and the world is a better place for it

[@curiositytax9360]

‘Angular rhythmical edge’ I think I’m going to be sick

[@retinalcircus]

@@curiositytax9360 good ,spew away

[@retinalcircus]

@@curiositytax9360 as if you think that's any more pretentious than Mark E Smith lol at least Talking Heads wrote actual songs

[@curiositytax9360]

@@retinalcircus mark e smith is just mark e smith. Your the one saying things like angular rhythmic whatever the fuck and then calling smith pretentious hahahhaha what a fucking clown you are. Look at you trying to turn it into competition. Stick to the talking heads. Right up your alley. I’ll be having fun and having a laugh and not taking myself seriously, pretending I’m some music critic. Go tell people about how the talking heads wrote their songs, like anyone cares or gives a fuck

[@MrRailwayboy]

moosey 62 - must disagree - marky hasn't washed - up or down. Never thought he could remember or even thought what he liked. What I do like is your pity. Is 62 the year you were born. Mr Smith might be the last great english triumph and poor old mark & moosey who's 50. Albert Camus would be turning in his grave.