- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd (18 Sep 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1847670490
- ISBN-13: 978-1847670496
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 366,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Fallen: Life In and Out of Britain's Most Insane Group
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Product Description
Review
"* 'If it's me and yer Granny on bongos, it's The Fall.' - Mark E. Smith * 'They are always different; they are always the same.' - John Peel * 'The Fall are my favourite band. I also hate my favourite band. With a passion...I vow never to go to another Fall show and yet somehow always end up at the next one. I am sick.' - Julian Cope * 'I've loved The Fall since I was 12 or 13 and I can't imagine life without them.' - Stewart Lee"
Review
'An essential counterpoint to Smith's own memoir published earlier this year.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mark E Smith has been fairly derogatory about this book - his boast of having burnt it appears proudly on the front cover of the paperback edition. And yet it's an intriguing idea: With the largely unmusical Smith consistently producing authentically Fall-sounding albums regardless of line-up (he famously said "if it's me and your granny on bongos, it's still The Fall") what exactly does he do to his musicians to help them hit what many regard as their creative peaks and what insights can they offer into the fascinating mind of this bizarre and somewhat other-worldly character?
Simpson tries to combine this worthy musical odyssey with that most recent phenomenon, the jaunty but pointless quest. It's not quite Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, but his structuring of the book as a journey towards a largely unlegendary drummer is rather contrived. The text is further 'enhanced' by an unwelcome commentary on the disintegration of his love life. These laboured narrative devices are there to serve a purpose, which is to distract the reader from the pond-skimming depth and repetition of each interview. Simpson seems so overwhelmed at having tracked down somebody who played the kazoo for one night in 1983 that he has forgotten to prepare any questions and by comparison, he makes Jools Holland look like Jeremy Paxman.
All this is a great shame, because his research is excellent and his dedication unswerving. He formulates some interesting theories along the way as to what drives Mark E Smith, but whilst many of his interviewees are legendary to Fall fans, we quickly realise that talking to the monkeys rather than the organ grinder can only yield so much. Sad to say, but if it's funny, legend enhancing MES anecdotes you're after, I'd check out Stuart Maconie's Cider with Roadies instead.
Simpson tries to combine this worthy musical odyssey with that most recent phenomenon, the jaunty but pointless quest. It's not quite Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, but his structuring of the book as a journey towards a largely unlegendary drummer is rather contrived. The text is further 'enhanced' by an unwelcome commentary on the disintegration of his love life. These laboured narrative devices are there to serve a purpose, which is to distract the reader from the pond-skimming depth and repetition of each interview. Simpson seems so overwhelmed at having tracked down somebody who played the kazoo for one night in 1983 that he has forgotten to prepare any questions and by comparison, he makes Jools Holland look like Jeremy Paxman.
All this is a great shame, because his research is excellent and his dedication unswerving. He formulates some interesting theories along the way as to what drives Mark E Smith, but whilst many of his interviewees are legendary to Fall fans, we quickly realise that talking to the monkeys rather than the organ grinder can only yield so much. Sad to say, but if it's funny, legend enhancing MES anecdotes you're after, I'd check out Stuart Maconie's Cider with Roadies instead.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For a Fall fan, there's enough here to keep you happy. Brilliant encounters with Craig Scanlon, Kay Carroll, Una Baines and Martin Bramah which give a voice to the previously unspoken and underappreciated members of The Fall. Some seriously funny anecdotes, perhaps the best of all being the story, true or not it doesn't matter, of The Fall's first ever drummer being sacked for writing an anthem called "Landslide Victory", in anticipation of his heroine Margaret Thatcher's election triumph. And all of it gives you a much better insight into the way that some of the greatest Fall albums shambolically came into existence. For that it's worth the read.
But I have to admit to skimming over large tracts of rather contrived autobiographical back story which seems like unnecessary padding. For example, a rather indulgent bit of prolonged musing involves wondering what the two serious girlfriends in his life have in common and how this tenuously links back to some Fall song title. There's also far too much cliched background setting. I can't recall the number of times he'll introduce another member of The Fallen (the collective name of those who were summarily dismissed by MES) and their appearance on a particular album by saying: It was the time when Alvin stardust was number one and the 3 day week was in full swing. It makes me wince to be honest. I see that sort of stuff in badly ghost written footballers' biographies entitled "My Story".
to sum up, it's not a very well written book by some distance, but that shouldn't detract from the brilliance of the subject.
But I have to admit to skimming over large tracts of rather contrived autobiographical back story which seems like unnecessary padding. For example, a rather indulgent bit of prolonged musing involves wondering what the two serious girlfriends in his life have in common and how this tenuously links back to some Fall song title. There's also far too much cliched background setting. I can't recall the number of times he'll introduce another member of The Fallen (the collective name of those who were summarily dismissed by MES) and their appearance on a particular album by saying: It was the time when Alvin stardust was number one and the 3 day week was in full swing. It makes me wince to be honest. I see that sort of stuff in badly ghost written footballers' biographies entitled "My Story".
to sum up, it's not a very well written book by some distance, but that shouldn't detract from the brilliance of the subject.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reasonably entertaining, but the reader should have at least some passing interest in The Fall. Most successful parts are when the book sticks to what it suggests it would do ie find ex-members of The Fall and provide some pen-portraits of what they did pre-hiring and post-sacking.
Unfortunately, the author fills the text with his belief that Fall fans are somehow a breed apart, with a special insight into things ("once you hear The Fall you're not like anyone else...life is something not to be celebrated but suffered, on the way to some higher glory that can only be provided by the knowledge passed by The Fall" and so on). I'm sorry but when I read stuff like that (and it's not the only time it crops up in the book), I literally cringed. I'm a Fall fan. Some of my friends are Fall fans. But we are nothing like this. Nor do we think Mark E Smith is psychic on the basis of a few lyrics (please, please tell me the author was writing tongue in cheek).
Other moans? - The "where is Karl Burns?" thing is increasingly tedious and if the author really believes that Alan Minter "destroyed" Marvin Hagler he'd best get someone else to do his research.
Unfortunately, the author fills the text with his belief that Fall fans are somehow a breed apart, with a special insight into things ("once you hear The Fall you're not like anyone else...life is something not to be celebrated but suffered, on the way to some higher glory that can only be provided by the knowledge passed by The Fall" and so on). I'm sorry but when I read stuff like that (and it's not the only time it crops up in the book), I literally cringed. I'm a Fall fan. Some of my friends are Fall fans. But we are nothing like this. Nor do we think Mark E Smith is psychic on the basis of a few lyrics (please, please tell me the author was writing tongue in cheek).
Other moans? - The "where is Karl Burns?" thing is increasingly tedious and if the author really believes that Alan Minter "destroyed" Marvin Hagler he'd best get someone else to do his research.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting read
Essential reading for any Fall fan. Dave Simpson writes in an informal style as he goes about the not inconsiderable task of tracking down 'The Fallen' ex members. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Amazonian
These are the three Rs - repetition, repetition, repetition
The previous 3-star review has it about right. This is a cracking idea for a newspaper article, bloated into book form. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Uncle Arthur
The Best Book I've Ever Read!
This is certainly the best book ever written about The Fall and, coincidentally, the best book I've ever read (and I've read a few hundred thousand). Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by A Music Lover
life before Gok
This is definitely not just a book for Fall obsessives- although it could be the start of a perilous journey in that direction... Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by millyrose
Powder Keg
Mark E Smith has been fairly derogatory about this book - his boast of having burnt it appears proudly on the front cover. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2009 by Supertzar
Does anyone have the movie rights?
I enjoyed this book - who could play Mark E Smith in the film version?
As a moderate (rather than obsessive, as the author enthusiastically is) fan of The Fall, I've... Read more
As a moderate (rather than obsessive, as the author enthusiastically is) fan of The Fall, I've... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2009 by B. Taylor
A Guide for modern living
whenever Mrs Divvey is giving me a hard time, i just make sure she sees me reading this book.
Mr Smith approaches managing a pop group the way Robert Mugabe manages his chunk... Read more
Mr Smith approaches managing a pop group the way Robert Mugabe manages his chunk... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2009 by Divvey Fallfan esq.
Excellent- buy it!
A great account of the ups and downs of one of the UK's most important bands. The writer (an obsessive Fall fan) really involves the reader with his search whilst displaying great... Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2008 by J. Miller
Good interviews but a lot of waffling.
Tracking down the 40-odd musicians who have been members of The Fall is a solid idea for a book, and the anecdotes about Mark E. Smith and his band make the book worth buying. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2008 by A. Miles
A good read which should have wide appeal
I've just finished reading (and enjoying) this book. As a moderate (rather than obsessive, as the author enthusiastically is) fan of The Fall, I've been inspired to re-visit some... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2008 by B. Taylor
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