Mark E Smith on music, politics and refugees

[@corduroykumquat]

"Why did you want to be in a group?" "I didnt" *picks nose*

[@getheroutofthetruck]

RIP Mark. Never sold out. Stayed true till the end SMILE!

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

yeh but he was an alcoholic who destroyed all of his relationships. Staying true isn't good for everyone around you nor yourself sometimes.

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

Rubbish music, rubbish lyrics. Totally pissed up idiot bloke, not worthy of anyone's attention.

[@AndrewAHayes]

Only because no one was interested in buying it!

[@rogerbennett9641]

Great to listen to an un indoctrinated thinking human, wouldn't agree with him on many things I guess such as socialism being beneficial because its clearly not , but the debate is the way to knowledge and he clearly wouldn't be tolerated by Facebook, X maybe.

[@stephenwalker850]

Doubt it changed his mind every fckn week , how else do you explain being in ah band that went thru upwards of 65 members in ah third of the time the stones had been together

[@styxcreek]

40 years as frontman of the best group ever and he still seems proudest of being a shipping clerk in his youth

[@Faithnomore227]

Yes. Two feet firmly on the ground. I imagine he learnt a lot at that time, and iit served him well for the rest of his days. He knew he wanted more. He got it. He would have gone back to "proper" work, if he'd decided to. He gave no fucks in all the right ways. Still think we'd have clashed. Good job I'm a no talent. Our paths never crossed. Incredible artist. Difficult Sod. x

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

Steady job.

[@nez9751]

That’s why he was one of the greats ❤

[@skollybob]

Best group ever??? He was utterly talentless

[@styxcreek]

@@skollybob stick to Coldplay then

[@tomwilko7841]

Ah, sad to see what decades of drink and drugs and women and rock and roll can do to a once bright and intuitive mind, Krishnan has lost it big time, Mark's still killing it though

[@garyedgar9778]

+Tom Wilko - 10/10 mate :)

[@Musicsification]

+Tom Wilko Beautiful!

[@rexmundi2237]

+Tom Wilko drink, drugs, women and rock'n'roll sad? you must be kidding. Reaching 100 with unfulfilled dreams after a life of complete tedium and mediocrity is SAD. Dying in your twenties is SAD, not surviving decades of excess well into middle-age and beyond.

[@tomwilko7841]

Rex Mundi you're preaching to the converted rex, not sure you fully got my comment. it was a silly joke taking the mick out of the interviewer. I truly believe the 'road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom' always have, one of the reasons i'm interested in Mark E Smith, though not the main reason

[@insideahorse]

+Rex Mundi there's a point been missed dear lad, stop, back up...

[@mralt604]

A far more complex individual than the comments before tend to show. Mark E. Smith was not a nice man, this much is true. However, he was honest - brutally, so. His lyrical content was profound on many, perhaps most, occasions and he was, for better and worse, a true rebel - a true punk. He was a man addled by alcohol and 'demons' yet still managed to spew out more intriguing prose at his worst than most do at their best. You could call the man a national treasure and I'm sure he would agree, through a warped smile and sense of hilarity; subversion and a messy kinship to the past. A man of his time(s) that met his end on his own terms. Take that as you will. Personally, selfishly, I'll take some inspiration.

[@dami5663]

My favourite comment on the whole KZbin

[@kaolanoconnor]

Eloquently put, mate.

[@benben5847]

How was he not a nice man? I often suspect that he is difficult because of the high band member turnover.

[@alt8699]

Thank you, ​@@kaolanoconnor

[@quaid667]

"Nice" celebs seem to all think alike and want us to think just like them.

[@georgistarkov717]

May God bless this man for all eternity.

[@dreamangus1505]

We lost an original and unique talent today - thank you Mark for all the quirky songs

[@dj-um7el]

I've been into The Fall recently and they've been great! Rest in peace genius!

[@Musicsification]

It's amazing how he says "...in my lunchtime-ah" like he's singing it!

[@T800System]

You will never pin down Mark E Smith on his politics. My theory is he just enjoys pissing off anyone with an opinion.

[@stagelarissa]

otherwise i'd just call him an old fart who once sung '' who makes the nazis''' ...

[@slowandcrystal]

He did.. never forget that.

[@daviedovey]

I think he's old fashioned right wing Labour

[@8bitDude0]

Wasn't he in the Socialist Party?

[@jesseemullen]

I try to do the same.

[@guydwelly]

God how we miss him. Such talent for a humble shipping clerk. His music and lyrics will live on forever

[@dermotkelly456]

Farewell Mark E Smith. Thanks for your music 🙏

[@grayso65]

RIP my friend... Music will never be the same.

[@MartsTravel]

He is spot on about refugees, channel 4 are blind to it, one day they will wake up.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

They are basically, behind it.

[@billymcmonagle949]

Loved the man, always did it his way, uncompromising and truthful, a solid citizen of art. should have been a mega star , miss his edge.

[@ThePunter29]

I like the Fall and Mark E Smith but I cannot imagine how in any way possible it that he could be a mega star.

[@highcompressionhead7940]

I bet he didn't expect that honest answer about refugees! Mark E Smith THE greatest musician ever.

[@wcfields547]

Wasn’t an answer though was it professor … it was an opinion.that’s the trouble with right wingers all opinions no answers

[@quaid667]

@@wcfields547 That's the problem with left wingers is the arrogance with their so called answers. Especially if the person in charge is a frustrated artist who apparently knows what's best for all of us.

[@DavidCritchley-i6u]

​@wcfields547 The mid-wit is here everyone

[@brhodes0]

@@wcfields547have a day off ya weapon.

[@wonderful-wafwaf]

​@wcfields547 answers require opinions you tool. Lol at your weak trolling ability

[@kingshearer2]

Contrary to a lot of comments on here I understood everything he said.

[@turloyd]

So did i.....The 10 bottles of Peroni Helped!

[@theaylesburycyclist8756]

Because you're English? By the way it's 'a lot' not 'alot'. You're welcome 😉

[@andreasglaesel3811]

I understood him perfectly, and I am not even an english native speaker. But being a Fall fan for four decades helps, of course...

[@kingshearer2]

@@theaylesburycyclist8756 Yes, my space bar must of been having a bad day, thanks for highlighting this.

[@brianlarkin5246]

Big respect from the Republic of Ireland thank you Mark 🇮🇪

[@johnmorrison2604]

Ireland . ..all 32 county's...🇨🇮4 .celtic gaelic provinces.....☘️ munster leinster ulster connaught and the 7. 2 million on the island ...of Ireland.......love mark

[@johnmorrison2604]

Scotland the only colony that voted to stay one

[@gavintuesday4959]

@@johnmorrison2604real Irish people spell it as CONNACHT , and always have Only the British and the Shoneens spelt it as Connaught . Idiot

[@rainblaze.]

​​@@johnmorrison2604 scotland is a serf nation now, the sacrificed their dignity on the butchers apron ... Fckem

[@beamzappa6266]

"Two Million man can beat any army" Mark E Smith knows the score.

[@StratsRUs]

He'd smell your Nazi-ness from a mile off.

[@gromitpesley]

@@StratsRUs Excuse me ? He just quoted Mark ..

[@sjewitt22]

It was a stupid comment, you need to arm and army etc.

[@raycroal]

he said 2 million fellas could be any effin army,, as in he thinks they could be getting ready to attack

[@revol148]

"There are two sorts of people - those who have met Mark E Smith and those who like Mark E Smith" - Billy Bragg

[@pinkcampion]

+revol148 Billy Bragg is a liberal leftie who only believes in one thing: political correctness (moral cowardice and a tool of neo-fascism). Who wants to listen to Bragg caterwailing the labour party manifesto?

[@strumbolli]

+pinkcampion Eat shite

[@revol148]

+pinkcampion I agree with the first part of your comment although Bragg wrote some great songs in the mid 1980's if that is much of a defence for the fact that for the past 2 decades he's turned into a national treasure / Jeremy Corbyn supporting bore.I like the quote as I reckon it's kind of what I believe Mark E Smith is like in the flesh.

[@cherichub]

+revol148 I am the first type.

[@TheGodParticle]

+Survive the Jive i never got the billy brag quest, he was always singing about northerners having a hard time, and then he got fat, too many Mars bars coated in batter. A Northern delicacy I've heard.

[@jayrox40]

Mark E Smith spot on.

[@gailal]

Nice to see Mark smiling.

[@cherichub]

Genius, I wish we had more artists like him today. It's all the wrong way around.

[@PK-re3lu]

The money men are destroying EVERYTHING.

[@contradictator7482]

There are a lot of artists but without a lable and without social media they'll never reach the masses

[@christianeroubert5454]

le rock et bon, le punk, aussi, le blues, idem, le bissness rock NoN.! 🧐l'argent est bon, l'amour de l'argent,lui ! :pourri tout.

[@therealrodhull1]

I met him in a pub in Devon one afternoon. He was due to play a gig nearby, and he was drinking a pint at the bar - I recognised him, and when I went to the bar to buy a drink, I said hello and I mentioned he was in the fall and playing nearby - but he just grunted something and seemingly didnt want to speak, so I said nothing more and waited in silence for my drink to be served and left the bar to sit down... I then realised all the stories were true of him being a bit grumpy! ;)

[@chelseapoet3664]

So you told Mark E Smith he was in The Fall and expected a positive response. Mmmm hmmnm

[@therealrodhull1]

@@chelseapoet3664 No 😆I asked him if he was going to be playing at a certain nearby venue, given that he was near it having a drink.

[@seldomseenkidjonathandoher7361]

Haha I've heard this is standard

[@paulsimpson8791]

I think he knew which band he was in pal

[@mysecretworld6603]

@@therealrodhull1 i think not buying him a drink before you started to chat was where you lost him, it could have all been so different

[@petre.w.487]

Good to see Mark can still be a contrary git !.....we need more like him !!...

[@IndependentGeorge76]

Stephen Hawking's let himself go...

[@revol148]

+IndependentGeorge76 Uncanny - give it a few more years and he will be a dead ringer for him!

[@robbieh2159]

+james atkinson hawking

[@ClueSign]

+IndependentGeorge76 Brilliant, love it.

[@weavehole]

Damn you for beating me to this joke this way!

[@StopMAGA]

+IndependentGeorge76 That's the first thing I thought, too... an ugly Stephen Hawking!

[@pardeepparkash398]

RIP Mark E Smith , great music great poet ,farewell.....

[@JohnDoe-jn9ze]

I can't understand the concern about if a musician lines up with your worldview, lifestyle or political opinion.... Then again I'm American and we have a major 'news' network and political party 10x more inflammatory than anything said here. This man has been better than Santa Claus at delivering every year for four decades, that's what matters to me.

[@richardmurray2068]

We live in a social media world where people just create echo chambers and never hear anything other than their own narrow perspectives of the world, even sadder when so many of those perspectives are no more than force fed beliefs from the left/right paradigm. If you sit back long enough these people always make hypocrites of themselves somewhere down the line

[@davidrobinson2776]

Talk about thinking outside the box. Mark’s words will ring in our ears as we stand clapping like fools on our doorsteps for people and causes that have been discussed ti abstraction by politicians and Instagram influencers.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

So true.

[@GNeuman]

Never, ever boring. RIP, Mark. ❤

[@morganrieder6281]

He's a brilliant fuck-up, and at the same time a very 'wise old man.' I'll always love him.

[@1jckinnick]

I thought Mark E Smith was supposed to be a difficult and cranky old guy, he seems pretty pleasant.

[@andrewkilbride971]

I'll come back later and watch it again when I've had 10 pints, it'll feel like a more level playing field

[@mylesgeronimo4976]

These guys were amongst the loudest guys i've ever seen. They had two bassists, too, as i recall. Good to see he's still putting it out there.

[@davout71]

Wow I love his answer on the so called refugees. Amazed the media left the comment in.

[@matthieufernandez6871]

This is the most lucid I've ever seen him... and I still can't fucking understand a word he says.

[@meerkattas]

2:48 is so perfect.

[@Spectrescup]

So you've never seen him interviewed in the 20thC?

[@mikeoleary1723]

Watch June 1996 interview. It followed this one.

[@PaulSmith-pn8hi]

Mark E Smith , a total legend.

[@uploaderofmonkeybath.mp4761]

im so glad they did this interview. its so brilliant

[@hairyski]

such an enigmatic legend. He will be missed. RIP

[@wattage2007]

That's some refreshing perspectives from Mr Smith. I wasn't expecting that.

[@davis7099]

Many comments on this thread misunderstand him. He was a miserabalist, anti fashion, anti sheep mentality, working class git always and he always said, whether it pleased left wing cowards or right wing bigots what he thought. There is no left and right in honest social commentary or great art. We are all guilty of inconsistent bollocks. He was brought up working class. Pen and paper. Smith's off kelter remark about refugees was spot on. Feeling uncomfortable? Brilliant.

[@sarahl3721]

It's not like there are two sides in the Syrian war though, is it? You cannot compare that situation to the British army fighting Nazism...can you? Thank god we've never had to rely on Mark E Smith to fight any wars for us if he's going to get all righteous on us. If you're going to make great swooping generalizations about war, maybe he should have fought in Falklands!

[@davis7099]

I really wish I had the faintest idea what you are talking about. Mark E Smith is a kitchen sink school commentator/poet, someone who has sharp insights into the human condition. His comments on politics and society are his alone.Take it or leave it.

[@slimedog]

David B. is spot on about Mark E. Smith- Mark, was obviously a drunk poet, a true artist and maybe not a politically correct fellow- but his art was great, pay attention to that not the man.

[@rickbacklane2982]

His wife/widow is an immigrant!

[@Hallkardia]

Yeah, 'economic migrants', trying to escape from war to get something for their families. Why are there many men? Well, do you know what can happen to a woman on such a dangerous route? I wouldn't send my daughter nor would you.

[@mikeplow1961]

46 seconds before he mentioned working on the docks. Never fails.

[@TrapperMilan]

Hmm, might be due to the fact that journalists ask famous people about their lives, and the docks were part of his life.

[@noeljohnson868]

Yep, gotta get those credentials established, early on in case people think you're just another untouchable caricature media celebrity with your cogent thoughts dulled by years of abuse...

[@DavidKArrrrgh]

Ha ha, perfect. I’ve been watching Mark E clips all day, and yep, every time

[@northernsoul3485]

Mark E Smith, they don’t make em like that any more. Legend.

[@gbh_events]

Mark E Smith didn't care in the slightest what you think. Which is why we love him.

[@laszlozoltan5021]

I'm not entirely sure what he said

[@jon62punk]

+Laszlo Zoltan Something like "shhhhhh errrrrrr mmmddd fuck mmmmmmkk llllllshhhhhhtick "

[@WDH59510]

+Jon Bolton You mean "shhhhhh errrrrrr mmmddd fuck mmmmmmkk llllllshhhhhhtick-ah". :-)

[@laszlozoltan5021]

too bad- anyone got an extra grandma willing to join his band and play the bongos ?

[@zetetick395]

+Laszlo Zoltan I'd dress up *as* my Grandma to have a chance of bein' in The Fall!

[@laszlozoltan5021]

+Zetetik - me too, but I can't play the bongos- maybe a colander, but bongos, sadly, no.

[@gdessario5014]

Heard him and The Fall on university radio here in Windsor, Ontario Canada in the late 80's. Loved it... Glad I found out about them😮

[@mrichards2788]

Mark talks lots of sense. RIP.

[@Neil-dl3ke]

Great interview. One of the best channel 4 have ever done Mark E. Was spot on about immigration. Its not immigration its a cultural invasion

[@laszlozoltan5021]

the more interesting and insidious thing about The Fall, is an idle moment can cause a lyric or refrain to catch on the brain- and will stay for any number of days.

[@theknowerandtheknown]

He's spot on about the refugees

[@kr3w4life45]

No he is not :D

[@Noisehead101]

@@kr3w4life45 he is

[@speedking7224]

Don't meddle in their affairs, they won't come to you

[@lucaseck958]

The fact that u use the term refugee answers the question of why they don’t stay with their families like mark ponders lad

[@David-h4z2s]

He was right about immigration👍 A Great song writer was Mark E Smith RIP🇬🇧✊🥃

[@GuillermoAlonsoSotoGomez]

Tremenda banda. Siempre me ha gustado la singular manera de cantar de Mark, entre elegante y ordinario

[@NigelCharlesworth]

I love the fact that there's more bottles of drink and a whiskey on the table between edits.

[@globalparadise6979]

The futures always uncertain and the end always near...RIP M.E.S

[@mickmouse3513]

A true Brit, RIP Mark E Smith.

[@nicolaskottis5245]

R.I.P. Mark E Smith. Great Musician !

[@Hastur876]

He has a point. 2 million young men from Syria - where's the women and children? Did they leave them there?

[@strifeknot]

He's wrong. Footage of refugee camps shows plenty of women and children suffering alongside the men.

[@strifeknot]

Then you should hide under your bed until it's safe to come out. I'll let you know when all the scary men are gone.

[@neilsun2521]

Most of the migrants are actually being brought over from North Africa and the middle east - only a very small percentage are actually from Syria.

[@blackguardian76th]

Like most old people, he ended up believing what he read in the papers. He was a pretty vacuous guy, I don't think he had a strong belief in anything other than who was buying the next drink as long as it wasn't him.

[@niitsukid]

Definitely

[@sentinela8775]

Part of my adolescence was spent listening to The Fall.

[@Dekompozycja]

Kochałem cię i nie wierzyłem, że odejdziesz tak szybko. Ogromna strata naszego idola. Jedyny nie skurwiony anarchista. Nie skurwimy The Fall!

[@averilleX]

He's right about big numbers of young Syrian men coming here but expecting us to fight their battles back home - Syrian women in camps over there been complaining same here on KZbin for a year or more.

[@sarahl3721]

I'm sure complaining on youtube is of high priority in a refugee camp

[@daviedovey]

yeah, and all that nice old President Assad wants is to gather his strayed lambs to his bosom with loving arms

[@argh2945]

Charles Lee Ray Yep, not our civil war to fight. Those young men fleeing need to go back and fight for the existence and future of their own country.

[@ericjensen9091]

@@argh2945 Israel's got their hands in it, And Britain helped create that monster(Israel).

[@argh2945]

@@ericjensen9091 Britian's relationship to Israel is fairly complicated tbf. Initially the British government was very much against the creation of the state of Israel going as far as to fund the Arabs, but later on they changed tack. In any case those aren't our wars to fight anymore. And by importing millions of people here who have a personal stake in the fight all we've done is imported the conflicts here.

[@Sveinbeard]

Sounds like Mark is doing an impression of Frank Sidebottom

[@nelsonmanson7633]

Mark E Smith, su legado es enorme

[@dj-um7el]

Facts

[@DondeArandas]

RIP MARK!A TRUE ORIGINALWILL BE MISSED

[@nishiochain]

One of the most abrasive, impolite, self-repeating and deliberately antagonistic English public figures of all time being inflicted on Mark E. Smith here in this clip

[@avenidadeloscorrales]

Me interesa este Artista y lo que significa en la cultura Britanica, me encanta la música de The Fall un estilo único y diferente el sonido de Manchester de los 70s 80s , Cantantes posteriores se inspiraron en el estilo de Mark E Smith. , saludos desde Argentina

[@kiwirob67]

A frigging legend.. an artist and national treasure..

[@written12]

Thanks, Reimer Bard. There was no way the word 'Argentina' was going to make it from Mark's mouth to my ear.

[@michael.miller7011]

In loving memory of mark e Smith aged 60 years old the man who said swear words

[@halcyondays1andy]

Big loss. Rest in peace Mark

[@tonitonimartino1118]

I/We love this man !

[@latitudepost]

I can't believe the interviewer did not once ask him about A Brief History Of Time.

[@denisduff4194]

Manchester will always be true it's icons

[@HandleGF]

The Wealdstone Raider's on Channel 4. Where are his glasses?

[@beefheart1410]

R.I.P Mark. E. Smith. The Bingo Master breaks out!

[@fraudulenthippo113]

RIP Marke Smith luv you

[@everlast2658]

NOTHING LIKE TRUTH IN A CLIMATE OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

[@philbutcher6959]

Based Mark E Smith. The only way a remark like that on refugees gets through.

[@mattmacneil3424]

hey he's actually going along with the interview

[@periurban]

A salutary warning for us all.

[@davidstefanovic8610]

I love him

[@markkennedy4936]

He did nice things..very thoughtful things..he did thoughtless things..alchahol is a nice thing and not a nice thing..life is a nice thing and not a nice thing..his wok and his ethic are way more important than nice and not nice..a pleasure to call him my friend..most of the time

[@RTR1879]

Rest in peace, Mark

[@seancrapola]

A lot of people ask that question, Mark. They're just never allowed on TV in Europe or the US.

[@booldawg]

Seems like people can't handle the dichotomy of an indie musician not subscribing to socialist ideology in an attempt to fit in with the scene.

[@daviedovey]

what's a socialist

[@maxehrmann4985]

Well put. Also the disrespect of the older and wiser previous generation.

[@MikeD-bu6hr]

Parklife

[@justmadeit2]

I visited the Mark E Smith mural in Prestwich that has been painted on the side of the chip shop there, i filmed it, if anyone wants to see it then simply just type in the search bar above the following title....Visiting the Mural of Mark E Smith

[@gwasgray9309]

He looks like a paraplegic Steve Buscemi.

[@danielbatten3957]

Gwasgray damn! how harsh was the comment before the edit?

[@daviedovey]

he's more like The Man from Another Place in Twin Peaks kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXWknId8ptt0Zpo

[@gwasgray9309]

Daniel Batten Ha ha, I probably just made a typo!

[@cclewes7373]

He was a national gem

[@suilvenmountain2395]

Hear him about Syrians. A new meaning to 'In vino veritas'

[@neilsun2521]

They're all young men because they're economic migrants, not refugees.

[@daviedovey]

yes, every single one of them without a single exception whether they're from civil war zones or not

[@playlist9980]

@@daviedovey I have to admire how women, children and the elderly are respected in war zones though. Only young men are in danger, apparently.

[@paradigmatican1981]

Rest in peace Mark E.

[@TheOrganist007]

He is unique

[@nuttah21]

haha Mark, Legend. True to himself to the end

[@MoizAudio]

what a remarkable man...RIP

[@cobbyone]

R.I. P. Mark E. Smith

[@marccampbell7814]

Krishnan Guru-Murthy having a pint with Mark E Smith! Never expected that.

[@zigzagwandra]

RIP Wise Ol' Man

[@K._Oss]

Mark was the last of his kind. As an American, you don’t hear anything like The Fall over here. You never once heard anything or read anything like Mark’s lyrics. They made absolutely no fucking sense but made absolutely perfect sense at the same time.

[@shrew972]

R.I.P. dear Mark

[@rangers7259]

The Man is a fucking legend and songwriting genius......

[@carywhitt]

God I love Mark E, God I hate this interviewer.

[@davidg8626]

Imagine him and ozzy having a convo.

[@colinwilkes8957]

Difference is /was mark talked sense and was funny.