Mark E Smith of The Fall on BBC Culture Show March 2007

[@jambutty2218]

Good friend of mine, who ended up being the landlord of a Salford pub. Said he would come in late at night occasionally. According to my friend, he was very polite and quiet. He just stayed a typical bloke from north Manchester.

[@Morphstock]

A venue manager I used to know who put them on several times said he could either be very polite and quiet or a nightmare. If her was polite it was usually because his mum had joined them on the tour!

[@SUBWAYSWITCH]

you cannot listen to the Fall without laughing , i love them

[@TheIkaraCult]

"Ive got 4 sisters, you can have one of them, do us a favour" haha, brilliant, funnier than 99% of standup comedians.

[@johndavies8728]

You gotta love Mark e Smith, pure working class genius, f##king brilliant, I was lucky enough to have seen the fall once and I was kinda expected the worst for some reason or thuther but they were outstanding and that's the beauty of them, you don't quite know what's gonna happen

[@davedennison7386]

Saw em in Barrow, not long before mes died...they were really fucking great..I'm not a fan and had never seen em before but fuck me, they were the dogs...also as I left, high on e, Mark, wearing a Christmas style jumper,was outside on his own smoking a ciggie, I had a new phone that took photos and for a split second I thought about asking him for a photo, fuck knows why cos I ain't an autograph type of bloke but I didn't n I fucked off home....

[@scottnapier943]

I saw The Fall at the Limelight in Belfast. It was quite an experience, Mark was in a staring competition with the crowd, what a legend!

[@62calum]

Purchased a pair of flabby wings. I took to doing some hovering. Rip mark. Your writing is amazing

[@eggjoe122]

M E S you are missed.

[@aaronbrown545]

MES responding to the "you changed my life" line was actually fairly tender for him. I'll always feel bad for comments I made to friends at my last Fall show. He was shockingly bad. Didn't know he was sick.

[@62calum]

He was not bad. You never paid with stuffing from your wings or did any hovering. And your friends hated you from that night and still do 👌

[@StephenGTitleytv]

Mark E. Smith changed MY life too, Frank.

[@oakashthorn5714]

In what way?

[@cookingfanman1234]

Most MES interviewers seem like: "I love Mark E. Smith and how he doesn't care about what anyone else thinks, then I interviewed him was upset because he didn't care about what I think!"

[@MatchesMalone1183]

They say never meet your heroes, but if you were expecting Mark E Smith to be nice to you you've kinda missed the point.

[@pov_music]

If anything it would be unsettling if he was friendly lol

[@finnkdy]

@@pov_music he didn't bite my head off, @limelight further backstage & tried to offer me a CD, which offer was knocked on the head by a roadie /minder. give me a bottle too!

[@kfhansen1990]

@seadonkeyridesagain I LOVE the Fall & Mark E Smith. He's one of my all time favourite musicians, but I think people often throw the term 'genius' around too often.

[@borntoloop]

that's what 33 years of caning speed and drinking beer non stop'll do for you. He's the thinking man's Shane MacGowan....

[@redlady935]

Think he has always been like that hasnt he?

[@borntoloop]

@@redlady935 wasn’t he, sweetheart…

[@borntoloop]

Missed the point I think… (like you meant…)

[@ybot1983]

He looks like hurricaine higgins older brother

[@ophiolatreia93]

He looked like Richard madely as a young-un

[@freddiefyffe911]

Stewart Lee holding an orange. Curious.

[@mookie2637]

That orange has let itself go. Etc, etc.

[@Iain_M84]

Kurious Oranj

[@T800System]

"If you saw him on the bus you wouldn't sit next to him"

[@Ramblebar]

Mark E.Smith is a true ICON and GENEUIS,and Brix is still beatiful,Brix I Love You!!!

[@pushthetempo2]

I'm just getting into the Fall. I've heard Frank Skinner discuss Mark e Smith on his radio show a number of times. I'm can't believe so many people I really relate to are big fans. Stewart Lee, Grayson Perry, Frank, Johnny Greenwood. I think I've come to the right place.

[@pushthetempo2]

@Vase of Flowers They have, I've spent much time rockin' the records rock the record rock the records.

[@atarirob]

yeah a lot of tossers tend to enjoy the fall unfortunately ;)

[@62calum]

​​@@atarirobso what would you call someone who watches a video about the fall comments the fans that listen to him are tossers ? I must say I have a few names for the likes of you. A little runt being one shall I go on ? I will anyway or a nasty slimy little swine. The fall have made far better music than your pissy little mind will ever. Ya wanker

[@ListenToBigFace]

My (terrible) old band supported them. Our drummer tried to talk to him after they played and he just blew smoke in his face. He was alright with everybody else though. Drummers are pretty thick and this lad isn’t the most articulate of individuals.. Gawd bless him anyway. RIP.

[@fuckamericanidiot]

😅

[@jonreed5510]

No way! I was there, and never knew it was being filmed.

[@nord1486]

Is he only 50 here? He looks about 70

[@TexanWineAunt]

He looks like he doesn’t have good self care skills or health.

[@Peter_Pepper_Love]

@@TexanWineAunt dedication💞 not medication🍺🚬🥴🍻

[@styxcreek]

In his desert island discs appearance Frank admitted to only getting into the Fall in his mid 40s.

[@mysecretworld6603]

+Nathan Parsons Having said that Frank is 76 on his next birthday

[@neilsun2521]

Nathan Parsons - Really? That's pretty lame. I thought something smelled fishy when he started declaring his love in this vid.

[@chelseapoet3664]

What a pseudo.

[@James-ly3wf]

What a peasant! How dare he take that long to be cool like us , hrummf!

[@minutegongcoughs]

Mark E hasn't got to explain anything. He's not prickly. His legacy is important. There are top drawer songs in there. Living to late. Cut down on the drinking though.

[@mrcat3703]

I am the person at the back of the group walking into the venue at the start,Awesome gig and I met frank skinner at the bar.

[@ophiolatreia93]

Cool. I never got to see them live. Gutted.

[@nigelsarah1]

Cat walks behind the FaLl UnoTiCEd

[@thevelointhevale1132]

"I've got four sisters ... you can av one of them ... do us all a favour ..." .... lol

[@elcamino7846]

A culture show. Hosted by Lauren Laverne. She used to be in a novelty band. That was a good enough CV for the BBC.

[@barryhomeowner1032]

Give her a break mate. What were you doing at 18? What have you done since?

[@oakashthorn5714]

@@barryhomeowner1032 Getting pissed and shagging

[@romeaffair]

Skinner and Smith. Life is good.

[@PaulSmith-pn8hi]

Lol, Smith is f*cking hilarious, what a great guy he was.

[@boosh1988]

For some reason the fact that Grayson Perry, Stewart Lee, and Frank Skinner are Fall fans doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

[@stevenuuu1212]

I love the way Stewart Lee has an orange.

[@daisyyy7041]

a kurious oranj

[@vollsticks]

Thanks for explaining the reference for all The Fall fans here😂😂😂

[@jessie778899]

The Man from DelMonte has let himself go...

[@andrewscobbie3330]

I spent far too long trying to figure out whether he was a chancer or a genius.in the end I decided it didn’t matter and played his music,loud

[@redlady935]

Same here 😂

[@theselector4733]

I'm just wondering how he was able to pay for the 40 - 45 albums he released. It ain't cheap.

[@62calum]

​@@redlady935really?? Who so ? I heard. Purchased a pair of flabby wings!! and knew he was a genius instantly.

[@Biigfish559]

FFS. I thought about going to this gig at the Robin 2 in Bilston NEAR Wolverhampton but didn't and regretted it since.

[@epop13]

couldn't watch the video -- I googled "Mark E Smith of The Fall on BBC Culture Show March 2007" and it turned up on another video site.

[@Azoicum]

right time, wrong place

[@kennethdocherty6942]

Can anyone share a link with the full interview, please? Much obliged to ee.

[@binstig]

her favourite band is sonic youth so i wouldnt be surprised if she has.

[@TheDwarfShortage]

Name of the song playing at 1:31 please?

[@nickryalls3093]

pyscho mafia

[@Tubekeny1]

Everyone tries to 'interview' MES. Don't they get it? He doesn't 'do' interviews. Just enjoy the ride and try to return the wit. He's hilarious. Every time interviewers try to slot in a normal question the interaction drops a few levels. But unfortunately they do insist on trying.

[@NewWaver80014]

Wish I was, Mr. Brent. She was in a great deal of pain and did have to resort to frozen peas on occasion. I work in an environment where repetitive-strain injury is common and I'm just glad I haven't come down with it yet - it doesn't seem like much fun.

[@TheChairsniffer]

Lauren Laverne presenting The Culture Show is like Judith Chalmers presenting Babestation

[@frankboothsedated.7054]

Fucking hilarious. Cheers, Whiffy.

[@unknownpleasures100]

Nope. Pretty much fell in love with her aged something around 18 at the time.

[@vollsticks]

😂😂😂

[@vollsticks]

Who, Judith Chalmers?!

[@ktsnowrider]

@DavySolaris there is undeniable genius in that

[@neilwilson5785]

I got four sisters, you can have one of them

[@leehazlewoodism]

Ultimatekev - you obviously don't know who Lauren Laverne is. John Peel called Kenickie's Come Out 2Nite a Teenage Kicks for the '90s.

[@davidmcquaid2557]

Hard to believe Smith and Skinner are the same age.

[@ghostlightx9005]

Bad call having Frank Skinner interview him. Impossible to tell them apart.

[@hoping22]

That was fairly short...

[@simonsomatic]

works now

[@tonykeggin8906]

Robin 2 Bilston- top venue.

[@tescocadaver]

Me too. Maybe we're living too late.

[@jackhartcup]

@PersonMan92 he asks him "are you not married?" sorry to shatter your illusions

[@CORNABY242]

@DavySolaris are you saying frank skinner is a ponce? :S . Hes one of the most down to earth nicest celebrities around...

[@rp61productions]

I can't believe some of things said here. If you're a fall obsessive you should know all there is to know. Plus i'd have thought it a bit strange if Brix hadn't popped up, she was married to him after all. Also, it was Mark that brought up his sisters not Frank. The comment after this was probably the most honest anyone would have made. Your comment actually makes you sound like some sort of church goer, dull & boring.

[@sambar0986]

Two seconds long: does anyone have any clue as to why?

[@damobrfc1875]

Why does this play in 2 seconds for me?!!

[@kethughes8266]

Never heard a Fall song that wasn't cr*p

[@jamesanderson8377]

Maybe one day someone will give mark a good interview.

[@sonicred007]

He's not the best person to interview in my experience. It's too much on his terms and that's what makes him so fascinating and frustrating

[@jamesanderson8377]

True

[@greenaum]

Interviews are a game, usually a band or whatever wants promotion, so they make the most of their few mintues to push themselves. Or they're young men who have lots of ideas about the world, and want the world to listen. MES has either made his peace, or never gave much of a shite to start with. He's got nothing he wants to say, so the usual interview stuff, where they ask a token question and let the interviewee get on with it, doesn't work. I think what'd be best is to get a couple of drinks down him, though not so many that he becomes a pain, and just chat about life and stuff. Make it a long-form thing, then edit down the highlights. From reading "Renegade", one problem with MES is boredom. He gets bored, and if he's pissed he'll start little fights, verbal or otherwise, just to amuse himself. But the bloke spends half his life in the pub, he must talk to people about something, so get him going like that, and record it. The usual 2-minute thing only works on people who are desperate to be heard. MES has some interesting things to say, but doesn't really care about getting them out to people.

[@stadtrade102]

+greenaum Maybe he will write a book about great british Taxi drivers best horror knocked off videos .

[@michaelstmark]

Aye; but he is definitely appreciated.

[@rebelVHS]

Is there anyone who still hasn't heard 'Cheap Space Chant' ? In KZbin, search for 'Timekode, Mark E Smith' and listen to the strangest and best MES/Fall collaboration of them all...

[@TexanWineAunt]

Mark E. Smith is an idiot savant. He can make any random thought into fabulous verbal rhythms, he has all these bizarre character studies and little catchy stories and jingles. Been a fan since the eighties.

[@sfeewrfsf2578]

You'd want to look up 'idiot savant' before you begin bandying it around. Smith was a clever individual. Great lyricist, interesting fellow.

[@thetempsband]

Discounted tickets for The Fall in the Liverpool 02 Academy 2 on the 19th of May. They're normally £17 but we have them for £10. Send us a message on this if you'd like one!

[@SpotlessLeopard]

thetempsband yeah I'll have one. Can't wait to see Mark nowadays.

[@PersonMan92]

Does he? I have a really hard time understanding his accent.

[@patthewoodboy]

"he thrives on new blood" except his own

[@NewWaver80014]

Not to be funny, but isn't it Millman? Do I get "Extra" credit for remembering that?

[@willscomix]

Lauren Laverne asked if he was going to replace his (then) wife Elena, no wonder it went bad!

[@fuckamericanidiot]

That makes sense now, I've heard that Elena practically saved his life. The 90s was rough for MES.

[@SMThomasson]

@PersonMan92 Doesn't Mark say "Why, aren't you married?" then offers one of his sisters to Frank??

[@NewWaver80014]

Unfortunately, Brix is still plagued by vestiges of the Carpal Tunnel [tendinitis] which incapacitated her in the mid-1990s. At one point the pain was so unbearable that she was reduced to walking around with frozen food strapped to her arm.

[@markxist]

I hate Frank Skinner. Of all the comics/fans to go and interview MES...why not get Stewart Lee? Skinner is a conceited miserly greedy unfuuny comic. He had his day in the 90s, but sadly the beeb-those who kicked him out when he demanded a pay rise-seem keen to bring him back of late. MES just takes the piss. If he doesn't think yuo're worth talking too or taking seriously he will misbehave, and that's what he's doing here. Its like sending a lamb to the slaughter

[@chokinonashes61]

Markxist Agree, Skinner is a major tosser.

[@justmadeit2]

The Falls No Bulbs tribute video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWjYhZ-ao7SkmtE

[@NorthTownPotter]

Skinner is epitome of what Mark despised.

[@keithbentley6081]

Any footage of Skinner needs to be airbrushed out of history,

[@TheDwarfShortage]

how can smith be smoking in a pub if this was filmed in 2007?

[@chescarino]

Bill Sahara because he's mark e smith i think..

[@RichJayL]

Bill Sahara The smoking ban was in effect from July 2007 and this is from March. What a boring comment I have provided on a video about such an exciting topic, hah!

[@ListenToBigFace]

It could have been last week. Lots of people still smoke in pubs. If it’s not open to the public the landlord can do what he wants. Generally it’s called a lock in, but if the BBC turn up you’ll probably shut up for a little bit.

[@MarkSmith-dx3cd]

David. What school. exactly?

[@MarkSmith-dx3cd]

Meh...., 'school' would be somewhat vainglorious then. Thank you!!!

[@alfonsomango_suyu]

cute british blonde presenter, what's her name ?

[@MyRammy1]

Here to the next 50 lol

[@gromitpesley]

why’s stewart lee just holding an orange

[@tenderhooligan7580]

Kurious Oranj

[@jessie778899]

The Man from DelMonte has let himself go

[@joecollins8044]

Right click, then click on pop out

[@spurtfather]

skinners alright eh? bit gushing but he is not talking total shit, which can often be the problem with interviwers. and it's all alot of pish really at the end of the day, isn't it every one. i'm a big fall fan. see ya mate. see ya mate. yeah, see ya mate.

[@jackashworth3956]

50.... jesus

[@InstallaFriend]

repeal the smoking ban tbh

[@nycic]

He looks like Quentin Crisp. Damn brilliant, tho'.

[@monkeymagik619]

He’s a nutcase that operates close to the line, straying across both sides.

[@barrypotter5751]

Who's a nutcase

[@Kagemusha22]

No, I think he's pretty hilarious, just gotta keep a sharp mind.

[@TVsez]

This is what halogens when you get a clueless fan to interview a well informed artist!

[@Jlipnicki]

There is nothing working class about him, he was lower middle and went to decent schools and did O levels. That is all good. The point never made is all the big English bands were upper middle class, in the case of Genesis upper class.

[@permaform]

Extra-odinary to hear the comparison isn't it!

[@gedrooney9305]

The Fall are a wonderful anti depressant

[@journeythruthepast]

Real innovative guy, but man he looks like a creature from Lord of the Rings these days. He looks old even for 50.

[@Long23]

You never see Mark E.Smith & Lester Piggott in the same place...or at least not Spitting Image's Lester Piggott puppet

[@ryko26]

smith looks about 80

[@theoperation3596]

And he made 80 records more than you

[@paddyskate]

The people who are bad at interviewing mark tend to speak to quickly. They can’t handle the gaps in the conversation and talk over. Frank is shite

[@Tenskwatawa4U]

Sound sucks, but I guess turnabout's fair play.

[@MrSExperience]

not a day over 62

[@stoalanmulyyf6856]

Says it all? he can't be explained? it's all jibber jabber ... hoytie toytie jigamaboo

[@MrShempenman]

balls. 9 minutes?

[@LondonDada]

A fawning tribute to an out and out drunk ( these days ). Grayson Perry's 'tribute' takes the talentless biscuit

[@jamescarr4180]

uhiu

[@flyinspirals]

he's brought us more and better music than most out and out drunks these days, so shet yer gob.

[@jackl3586]

royal family.

[@chelseapoet3664]

Embarrassing. Amateurish.

[@gedrooney9305]

Skinner? Agreed.

[@rayolacer]

i like th fall, but i loathe theyr crowds, its like seeing fuckin oasis live or summet

[@dirkdiggler5622]

runs the band like a lower league football ⚽ club ha ha

[@Tombsquad]

Nob meets Nob jokes

[@brhodes0]

i've never been able to truly enjoy The Fall cos the music itself is f**kin' ace but I can't understand what Mark Smith is going on about. Seeing in him interviews he seems sort of infantile and employs the simple distraction techniques of a six year old child. I used to work in North Manchester General A+E and saw him when he came in. He didn't seem hard then I can tell you. In fact he was shaking like a shitting dog and his heart was going like a fucked clock.