The Fall Interview on The Tube (C4) 1985

[@Sacha1967]

“Hit The North” got me into The Fall. I still play it loudly today

[@Mikeystar1969]

One of Mark’s best interviews and with decent questions for once.

[@saturnsabyss]

Brix was a great addition to the band. Her fashion sense and sanguine temperament are completely unexpected but welcome.

[@buenisimoingles4866]

It was after she'd fellated 3 of his bandmates in the same night that Mark finally saw sense.

[@Tracy-h9z]

​@@buenisimoingles4866 is that true?? Blimey!!

[@lolah3838]

@@Tracy-h9z No

[@Tracy-h9z]

I thought it seemed unlikely. I thought they broke up because he was sleeping with someone else.

[@superhetoric]

​@@buenisimoingles4866blatant lie

[@deanstanley5799]

Brix was a stunner

[@candymoan]

"It'd be a sad day when The Fall packed up." yes, it is mate. yes it is.

[@pudboy123456]

sorry candymoan mate - just said what you said. guess its an easy comment to make though.

[@jimmygray4072]

over 60 albums to have your pick and remember them by mate

[@phillmaf7319]

They are far from dead ,nearly every multi layer d lyric and riff are laind ten times thicker than Campbell s condensed soup. The bougasi are only learning to decipher this ancient gutteral form ,like archeologists deciphering heiroglythics from Fredrick road to Telow lane and the spent roaches in the lanes of Simister.

[@slyasleep]

@@phillmaf7319 You have learnéd well.

[@Harpdashian]

I only discovered The Fall a week before MES died (I have a weird habbit of finding new people then them dying) but this band has had such a massive effect on me. Pure Genius.

[@markferguson3745]

So, - it was your fault?

[@papermallard]

you should find out about Paul Mccartney trhen

[@Nosferatu88]

I knew them from before but they seemed disturbing to me. Over time I realized that it was a matter of maturation. The best things in life are never easy to digest, otherwise we should be suspicious

[@Harpdashian]

@@Nosferatu88 I agree 100%. I was 15 at the time and am happy that they clicked instantly with me and I have listened to them pretty much every day since

[@eugenemclemmont4045]

@@papermallard have you heard Phil Collins, you beat me to it. oh yes and Cliff Richard although he doesn`t pester us so much nowadays.

[@sydbarrett5]

My Grandma used to play bongos in that band.

[@indigo93til]

One of their best eras

[@anthonymitchell8893]

how could it be big dog my sister was the sole bingo player for them 1978/1994 she still has not been payed her f-------g royalties stop telling big ones please

[@King-Kazma]

All our grandmothers played bongos in The Fall, my friend.

[@jamiecloughgaming25387]

Oh yes so did both of mine!

[@eclectica1]

I once played the triangle on an obscure B-side.

[@MrMHughes68]

I was at the Hammersmith gig that Brix mentions. They were phenomenal.

[@Deedee-ee1sg]

Good to know that as a Fall fan I'm the salt of the earth! Great, unique and original band. R.I.P MARK E SMITH.

[@theshamanarchist5441]

A salt with a deadly weapon.

[@dougie1968]

Brix Smith was clearly captivated by The Fall and made it her raison d'etre to be a part of it. And she's right. The Fall are a one off because they were the most unique band in the world. Mark was a very lucky man.

[@Talentedtadpole]

Brix was part of one of their best eras. Love what she brought to the music.

[@db0800]

Lucky to pull her she's stunning.

[@p.a.lionski4407]

The first song I heard from "The Fall" was 1987 with "new big prince" They played great songs! Today (03.02.2023)I found out that you left too soon Mark E .Smith (05.03.57- 24.01.18) my condolences ... r.i.p. 🙏 😢

[@bryanjames5175]

R.I.P. Mark E Smith A maverick who was cooler then penguins piss

[@jamesfinucane3348]

Lol

[@theshamanarchist5441]

He was a sad trampy alchie guy in a flashers mac pal. And his biggest fan, John Peel was a proper nonce.

[@slyasleep]

„accessibility was something to be spat on“ The Fall were often very catchy for all that.

[@Sameoldfitup]

Life is all memory

[@lumpyfishgravy]

The Tube came towards the end of my teenage years, when life was getting too busy for TV. Still bloody good.

[@ajs41]

All the episodes are now on KZbin. I've set up a playlist of them on my channel if you're interested.

[@marguskiis7711]

The days when Mark was able to talk normally

[@patriced3364]

Brix is right... The Fall is really totally different !

[@DungeonStudio]

Mark never wanted The Fall to have a 'hit song', they were all hits way ahead of their time. And now Mark has Hit The North for good now. :(

[@thewholecity]

Fucking hell. The only man who could stun Glastonbury in piss soaked flannels and still rock the shit out of it. What a total legend.

[@chriswareham1547]

It was actually a spilt drink from an incident back stage - but the fact he couldn't be arsed to change his kecks before a concert in front of what was probably his biggest audience ever is pure quality!

[@TheVideoLounge]

I always thought The Fall were curators of punk - _always different, always the same_

[@robhavock9434]

I remember listening to the John Peel broadcast in the late 80,s on a small radio, I would walk down to the Barbican Plymouth in the evening in summer time and look at Robert Lenkiwicz paintings, I only recently looked into the Fall , I wonder if the John Peel recordings still exists, they were mind blowing.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

if course they f--------g do bobby boy go listen

[@POET444]

MES & William S. Burroughs had a great deal in common...... both were not bothered by adulation & just got on with what they did despite being both hounded and ridiculed because of their persistence & singular vision ..... as it was with Blake ....hindsight is a wonderful thing

[@GiffysChannel]

Fair well on your next journey Mark. Thanks for being and thanks for dying, I would have never found your music if it wasn't for that combo.

[@TheMLMGold]

MES remained true to his word, they were never really apart but more in touch musically which is why their music hasn't aged and still sounds as powerful and relevant today.

[@jimmygray4072]

mark ended up marrying his fan club manager, seen the fall half a dozen times from 1979 to 1985 always supporting Stiff Little Fingers

[@eamonwright7488]

Two bands that were miles apart from their "competition" imo

[@ciatangallaghe2485]

Whenever I listen to mes talk, I feel like making music again

[@ARTCHANIFY]

played video games in the theatre bar with Brix on this tour and I didn't know who she was until she went off with the band later

[@davidellis5141]

Surprised Mark could deal with that accent of Brix.This was them at their peak 1985.Genius. RIP Mark.

[@drunkenmo]

🙄

[@finosuilleabhain7781]

Do you have him down as narrow-minded?

[@colinbellew3020]

Cockwomblery.

[@PS987654321PS]

What's wrong with the accent? Ya bigoted wanker.

[@peterjonas4971]

Yep, but she finally couldn't deal with him.

[@nickburlton5821]

Forgot how articulate he could be!

[@RJMc819]

So did I. I'm reading a book about 'em atm, and he just seems to say "cock" a lot :D

[@RJMc819]

But yeah, he's excellent in this interview. Really makes his point.

[@hyena131]

Nick Burlton And sadly he became a blabbering pisshead.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

It's a fair point. In his latter days he sounded like Joe Biden.

[@maryryan9464]

@@hyena131 I don't believe you b much different 60 albums in either

[@TheOneManArmyyyyy2322]

Ah,the Mighty Fall.Memories.

[@StarvedForTime]

"how long can it go on?" quite a while, Muriel. Quite a while.

[@divinenation22]

Fall at their best were brilliant. Msrk was a unique and great artist.

[@jfochoaster]

Brix is too beatiful

[@greenaum]

She's literally painted her face on like a canvas. She could look like someone completely different for all you'd know.

[@beekneed]

Nah, she’s beautiful regardless. You can just tell. If you can’t, too bad for you. Besides, her beauty is her business, not yours.

[@paddycampbell576]

Brix and Muriel looked like they liked each other 😱

[@slyasleep]

I wish I felt as indifferent to other people‘s affection as Mark E Smith

[@simonhawkins7786]

I forgot he was so handsome. Just yer granny on bongo's now. RIP The Fall.

[@TheVideoLounge]

From the (literal) ashes of The Fall should come the band 'Your Granny on Bongos' , maybe Brix could carry it off

[@wendyhill3856]

Brilliant attitude,actually respect their fans,sadly not the case with the so called hip musicians today.

[@tostare]

MES at his most attractive, at this point, I think.

[@Hwral]

His haircut never got better than this, I’ll give you that.

[@johnperiard9594]

Buyin what Brix is sellin. One of the most beautiful women in rock.

[@Philliben1991]

Brix is so sweet. Opposites attract and all that!

[@greva2904]

The Fred Dibnah of rock n roll!

[@holgerzimmer6884]

salt of the earth. RIP MES

[@finnkdy]

To quite a few twas Honey. Moi aussi.

[@billytoffingham9608]

How can this man be dust ?

[@zeddeka]

Because he took lots and lots of drugs. That'll do it for you.

[@TheVideoLounge]

And drank copious amounts, as well as chain smoking. Works a treat.

[@johnbarry1965]

Glad i saw them before MES died!!!

[@d_walsh]

RIP. m.E.s.

[@frankjamesbonarrigo7162]

God she was stunning

[@troygaspard6732]

What a condescending question. My favorite bands in the 80's were never on the radio.

[@abigailweir7287]

Brix is beautiful and Mark is handsome.

[@iandeeightiesman]

Brix 🔥 💣 🎯 🚀

[@GriefTourist]

LA to Prestwich

[@deemdoubleu]

I used to work with a guy who was in the Fall (really it's true) but apparently so have 100,000,000 other people

[@eugenemclemmont4045]

Eye there`s a few, sounds like vic 20 crap, over .

[@michaelonell4248]

Saturday night in Lancaster !!!!!

[@chancesareshewears]

Brix channeling Michael from Gene Loves Jezebel..even the mole...

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

It’s strange to me that of the few people in his lifetime that he could stand, let alone really like, was a valley girl “Brix”. Odd couple indeed

[@terrypussypower]

Nah, they weren't odd at all. Mark saw in Brix a creative energy that could take The Fall into a more accessible vein, and he was right! The Brix years were the most commercially successful era for The Fall.

[@Rfk1966]

@@terrypussypower She deserves a lot of credit for bring some melodies to the songs and not trying to affect a British accent like Madonna

[@halloweenjack8683]

One day there will be a film made about you Mark- hope they can find a suitable actor 💙💙💙

[@jonathanwilkinson1461]

A young Simon Rouse would have been grand..

[@mikeoleary1723]

David Thewlis.

[@gary1961]

The bloke who played Dave in The Royal Family would be a good shout.

[@buenisimoingles4866]

Alas Muriel you are not the bingo master

[@gusto731]

Mark E is so respectful, seriously answering the interviewer's idiotic questions.

[@victoroladuja2416]

Brix was super cute.

[@phillmaf7319]

Original best of the rest,never sold ,eternal red brick performance art. Before the days of the net the Fall were already talking about masonry,jimmy saville etc..( big new prince? Check the record)..Mes es appearance in 24 hour party people was the peak of his acting career. Even he knew Tony Wilson was a bunt so ,as always ,despite the Manchester Music hype n shite he stood aloof. The hall are the epitome of not selling your creative ass,look how rich they all got! These days Salford University would give em all honorary doctorates to bleed off the integrity, like they did to Site Dr. John Cooper Clark e. In their earlier times they would be arrested by security if they ever set their working class feet on the premises.

[@tcm8119]

Oh but I did have a wee crush on Brix in 1985 ...

[@darylcumming7119]

A time capsule?

[@joannedw1]

Who did the bloody subtitles!!! Get them right for god sake.

[@terrypussypower]

They're automatically generated.

[@angelocatapang6054]

mr and mrs smith.indeed.

[@bluestate69]

Coolest couple ever. And Brix was looking smoking hot here. Damn.

[@Peter_Pepper_Love]

@@bluestate69 she still looks pretty good working with Gok Kwan now 🤔💞

[@bluestate69]

@@Peter_Pepper_Love she's kind of taken the torch since Mark E Smith's death. She's a talented lady.

[@Peter_Pepper_Love]

@@bluestate69 yes totally agree👍 She was understandably insecure in Marks company...I think I would have been too🤔💞

[@bluestate69]

@@Peter_Pepper_Love wait, i thought Gok was some musician i didn't know about! i didn't know she was doing fashion! actually, i think its always been an interest of hers? but i was also speaking of "Brix and the Extricated", where she has reunited old Fall members. i just love her story though. an American who was blown away by English punk bands, so much that she moved to England and ended up JOINING one of the best punk/post punk bands of all time. AND she wrote songs!

[@discoverydavid]

I can't remember the interviewers name, Gloria Huniford or something, I think she fancied herself as a serious NME/Melody Maker muzo journalist but always ended up sounding like your Mum readng your end of term school report card.

[@soundhead6971]

I think her name is Muriel gray ? A kind of bargain basement Paula Yates!

[@alanmessenger9397]

You could not be more wrong. She's been a board member or judge with Glasgow School of Art, the British Museum, BBC, RIBA, the Orange Prize for Fiction, and a university rector. She was slumming it at this stage, dialing down her IQ to deal with Smith's inarticulate mumbling. He was more poet than musician, and appropriately ended up looking like WH Auden (look him up).

[@user-oo8xp2rf1k]

Point one YES Point two YES Point three YES Point four YES!

[@jamesjameson4566]

I'll have what shes having

[@aak8251]

YES, O YES..

[@simonmaskell365]

Paula Yates was away cos she had a Baby. Murial Gray was OK.

[@cquilty1]

muriel gray was a mirror shattering shitt stain foisted upon us as someone somewhere thought it had some kind of 'youth' appeal. paula yates not a whole lot better.

[@nottavictim5]

They do owe a debt of gratitude to Cap’n Beefheart tho

[@pudboy123456]

despite all the pretentious meaningless bollocks - he was right. it is a sad day the fall broke up. RIP Mark. only just found your music and its shite I will never see one of the lineups live :-(

[@terrypussypower]

Don't worry mate, you didn't miss much. , They were crap live. Only kidding!! They were AMAZING live! Especially back in the two drummers plus Steve Hanley, Marc Riley and Craig Scanlon era!! I was lucky enough to see them many times from '79 onwards, and that "Slates/Hex Enduction Hour" line up were killer live. You should do yourself a favour and get bass player Steve Hanley's book "The Big Weekend: Life Inside The Fall" where he goes into the history of the band from when he joined in 1979 to when he left in '96.

[@bezenby9804]

@@terrypussypower "The Big Midweek" it's called, but you're right - it's a great book.

[@tonyoutdoors9369]

mark wasnt punk mark was mark and he didnt follow or belong to nothing the fall followers will get this

[@tenparkdrive]

Brix was fit

[@Vince-l4k]

Shurken head ghost

[@anthonymcneil1542]

Like a cross between Noel Gallagher and Jarvis Cocker

[@DutchVanHelsing]

She fixed her teeth here ??

[@terrypussypower]

@Jeff Baker Har har har!

[@paddyskate]

Lots of face touching and neck scratching going on here

[@jamesjameson4566]

So

[@malcolmmitchell6529]

Mccringe

[@metatron-007]

Underground

[@southerner4566]

"I always throw all my fan mail away and don't even read it", That just about sums up Mark E Smith - TWAT !

[@gdzb]

Ahh, did he not reply to you?

[@paularrowsmith9376]

It was his to do as he liked, good on him ,you obviously loved swap shop

[@stevepearn930]

signing to Beggars Banquet ruined The Fall - turned them into your average rock band

[@Strimbles]

I do NOT like this interviewer lady!

[@dickhead5964]

One of these guests was interesting and intruiging, The other had absolutely fuck all to say about anything, an empty can. You do the math.

[@zeddeka]

MathS

[@anthonymitchell8893]

@@zeddeka mathematics loves asthmatics and plasmatics Wendy o Williams was a lean queen what ? do you want some gritty northern knuckle ?? cause if you do I will oblige anytime any f-------g where bigdog

[@hyena131]

He's so damn boring and says nothing of substance. Tedious little control freak.

[@neilwilson5785]

Aren't we all, mr Hyena, lol.

[@Peter_Pepper_Love]

...even a genius can seem crazy to a fool 🤔

[@hyena131]

@@neilwilson5785 No, not really.

[@hyena131]

@anal emo Can't wait for your copy and paste September calendar quote. Hopefully it'll be 2022.

[@terrypussypower]

He was certainly a control freak, but "tedious"?? I don't think so!! "Tedious" was the very LAST thing Mark Smith was!! Tedious people don't create bands like The Fall....One of the greatest groups that ever existed.

[@malcolmscrawdyke1868]

Bad band. Quite boring.

[@yknat216]

Go on give us a laugh, what's a good one?

[@malcolmscrawdyke1868]

@@yknat216 U2

[@yknat216]

@@malcolmscrawdyke1868 did you ever hear/see Virgin Prunes, used to knock about with Bono's crew in their youth, they played M/C once with The Fall, far cry from U2 though

[@malcolmscrawdyke1868]

@@yknat216 Even though Im not a Fall head I have been reading The Big Midweek Life Inside The Fall by Steve Hanley (I like music books, don't care who the band is). About half way now. He mentions meeting the Virgin Prunes and they tease them about the success of their old mates U2 (who Im not really a fan of). Funny.

[@yknat216]

@@malcolmscrawdyke1868 he he, yeah good read the Steve Hanley book, as is the Brix one, halfway through the Mark Smith one at the moment.

[@paulbradley705]

I love artificial,lovely ,funny Brix and sharing adul t net.