Karl Burns

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Karl Burns is a British musician probably best known as drummer for The Fall throughout most incarnations of the band in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

He was sacked and rehired nine times, eventually leaving after an on-stage punch-up in New York in April 1998. Burns was in the earliest incarnations of the band in 1977 and is present on the first studio album Live at the Witch Trials.

He was replaced for the second album, to return for the band's 1981 US tour, recorded for release as A Part of America Therein, 1981.

Burns appeared on several other Fall albums as drummer(some as part of a two-drummer line-up with Paul Hanley) and also played guitar for The Fall live and in the studio.

He played with ex-Fall guitarist Martin Bramah, bassist Mike Rickard and guitarist Carrie ??? in short lived Hulme-based band Thirst who supported John Cale at Brixton Ritzy in the early 80s

Burns also played briefly with John Lydon's Public Image Limited (PIL) in September 1979, but left after being set on fire by bassist Jah Wobble. At present (2006) Burns' whereabouts are unknown.