List of The Fall members
One of the most notable aspects of the career of The Fall has been the number of musicians to have passed through the group since their formation in 1976. The group has just one constant, vocalist Mark E. Smith. Aside from him, there have been about 66 members (with about a third lasting for less than a year) over the band's 35 year existence. This article lists all formal members of the group, starting with the current line-up before looking at previous members in chronological order of their first appearance with the band. A number of guests and people with brief stays in the group are listed afterwards.
Current group
Mark E. Smith - vocals, occasional keyboards and other instruments
Elena Poulou - keyboards, vocals (2002 -)
Dave Spurr - bass (2006 -)
- Initially brought in during 2006 to cover for Rob Barbato when the latter was fulfilling commitments to Darker My Love, he later played alongside him in a twin-bass line-up both at the group’s gigs and on the Reformation Post TLC album before becoming sole bassist in 2007.
Pete Greenway - guitar (2006 -)
- Initially appeared as stand-in for Tim Presley when Presley was unavailable although he also appeared alongside him. Guests on Reformation Post TLC and became sole guitarist during 2007. The song "Greenway" on Ersatz G.B. shares its name with the guitarist. According to Pete Greenway, Mark E. Smith's lyrics deal with Smith's "character of what Greenway should be", a mean "gangster type", rather than with the real Greenway.[1] According to Smith, the song "Cowboy George" on Your Future Our Clutter is also about Pete Greenway.[2] As of November 2011, Greenway is on paternity leave from the group, and Tim Presley is currently The Fall's live guitarist.
Keiron Melling - drums (2007 -)
- Originally stood in for Orpheo McCord (although the group did play one show with both) before becoming sole drummer for a series of UK shows in 2007. His first recording with the group was Imperial Wax Solvent.
Previous members
Founding Line-Up
Martin Bramah - guitar (1976–1979, 1989–1990)
Tony Friel - bass (1976–1977)
Una Baines - keyboards (1976–1978)
Steve Ormrod - drums (1977)
- Performed with the group for their first gig and was dismissed shortly afterwards. For several years, his exact name was unknown and he was usually referred to as "Dave" or "Steve" but with no surname. However, research by biographer Dave Simpson eventually led to his identity being resolved in 2010 following a correspondence with a former associate of Ormrod. [1]. It was reported that he had died following a battle with mental illness and it has now been confirmed that Ormrod died in 1994. When interviewed for Simon Ford's biography, Hip Priest, Bramah recalled that the drummer offered the group a song - "Landslide Victory" was a pro-Conservative composition somewhat at odds with the group's left-wing political stance and was never performed.
Following Members
Karl Burns - drums, bass, guitar (1977–1979, 1981–1985 and intermittently between 1993 and 1998)
Marc Riley - bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals (1978–1983)
Yvonne Pawlett - keyboards (1978–1979)
- Replaced Baines, can be heard on Live At The Witch Trials and the "It's The New Thing" and "Rowche Rumble" singles. Ford reports that she now works in horticultural and environmental studies.
Kay Carroll - additional vocals, percussion (1979–1983)
- The group’s manager from late 1977, she contributed musically to all albums released from Dragnet to Room to Live inclusive, co-producing the latter. She was Smith’s partner and left the group when they split as a couple during a US tour in early 1983. Carroll opted to stay in the US where she settled. She now works with people suffering short-term memory problems and learning difficulties.
Mike Leigh - drums (1979–1980)
- Replaced Karl Burns, can be heard on "Rowche Rumble" and "Fiery Jack" singles; plus Dragnet, Early Years 77-79 and Totale's Turns (It's Now or Never). Returned to the cabaret circuit then into insurance (as reported by Ford) in 1982. Recorded a single with Scottish band Twisted Hand and stayed as a part-time musician until the early 1990s. Became a sales trainer and manager for Prudential Assurance and gained an MBA in 1997, whilst working full time in construction sales. Now employed as regional sales manager for a leading roofing systems manufacturer and also teaches English as a foreign language and scuba diving in his spare time. Leigh returned to music in late 2009 as drummer for the Salford based band Pearl Divers. He left the band in September 2010 and joined Stockport band The Blimp of which Spencer Birtwistle was the previous drummer.
Steve Hanley - bass (1979–1998)
Craig Scanlon - guitar (1979–1995)
Paul Hanley - drums, keyboards, guitar (1980–1984, early 1986)
Brix Smith - guitar, vocals (1983–1989, 1994–1996)
Simon Rogers - bass, keyboards, guitar (1985–1987), production (1987–88, 1993)
Simon Wolstencroft - drums, keyboards, programming (1986–1997)
Marcia Schofield - keyboards (1987–1990)
- Originally played alongside Rogers before the latter ceased performing with the group in 1987 (this 7 piece line-up was pictured in the gatefold sleeve of the "Hit The North" single). Can be heard on The Frenz Experiment, I Am Kurious Oranj, Seminal Live and Extricate as well as one song on Shift-Work. Resigned during the Australian leg of the Extricate tour, at the same time as Martin Bramah. Now a palliative care doctor.[2]
Dave Bush - programming, keyboards (1991–1995)
Julia Nagle - keyboards, guitar, programming (1995–2001)
Lucy Rimmer - vocals, keyboards (1995–1996)
- Can be heard on The Light User Syndrome but is not pictured as a group member on the sleeve. Smith’s partner at the time, she also ran the group’s fan club.
Tommy Crooks - guitar (1997–1998)
- Can be heard on Levitate as well as providing the artwork for that album and the single "Masquerade". Left, alongside Burns and Steve Hanley, after the onstage bust up in New York in April 1998.
Karen Leatham - bass (1998)
- Brought in by Nagle who knew her from Manchester band Wonky Alice. Left to participate in their reunion but can be heard on The Marshall Suite.
Tom Head a/k/a Tom Murphy - drums (1998–2000)
Neville Wilding - guitar (1998–2001)
- Can be heard on The Marshall Suite and The Unutterable, taking lead vocals on “Hands Up Billy” on the latter. Left following a legal dispute with the group's record company.
Adam Helal - bass (1998–2001)
Ed Blaney - guitar, vocals (2000–2001, 2003–2004)
- Previously a member of Trigger Happy (alongside Jim Watts and Dave Milner), he was initially the group’s tour manager, later becoming their overall manager and assuming a musical role - he co-wrote several songs and contributed guitar and vocals to Are You Are Missing Winner and other releases from this period before resigning. Returned to a managerial role in 2003 (with the title “broker”) and contributed guitar to the group’s final Peel Session in 2004 before leaving again. In early 2008 it was announced that he had recorded new material with Mark E. Smith for a project outside of The Fall and the Voiceprint label has now released 2 albums by the duo; Smith And Blaney and The Train Part 3. He is currently managing The Fall again.
Spencer Birtwistle - drums (2000–2001, 2004–2006)
- Previously a member of Laugh, The Bodines, and Intastella. Replaced Head on drums for Are You Are Missing Winner but was sacked before the end of the year. Collaborated with MES on “(Birtwistle’s) Girl In Shop” on the group’s (We Wish You A) Protein Christmas EP in 2003 before returning in 2004 to perform on the group's final Peel Session and the Fall Heads Roll album. Left during the group’s US tour of 2006 following an altercation with MES. After the Fall Birtwistle joined Stockport based band "The Blimp" which he subsequently left in 2009. His current band is Spencer Cloud and the Range Brothers.
Ben Pritchard - guitar (2001–2006)
Dave Milner - drums, keyboards (2001–2004)
- Replaced Birtwistle for The Real New Fall LP but left before the follow-up could be recorded. Was replaced by the returning Birtwistle.
Jim Watts - bass, guitar, keyboards (2001–2003, 2004)
- Replaced Helal on bass, performing on Are You Are Missing Winner and The Real New Fall LP. Was sacked after a bust up in 2003. Rejoined the following year on his preferred instrument - guitar - contributing to the group’s final Peel Session but argued with Smith and left before the end of the year.
Simon Archer - bass, banjo, production, engineering (intermittent, 2003 - present)
- Usually known as either "Ding" or "Dingo". Replaced Jim Watts on bass in 2003 but left around a year later to join P J Harvey’s touring band - he can be seen throughout her Please Leave Quietly DVD and is heard on a handful of Fall tracks from this period including the "Theme From Sparta FC #2" single. Returned to co-produce and appear on some tracks on Fall Heads Roll as well as briefly being the group’s soundman. Later toured as bassist for Frank Black. He engineered some tracks on Imperial Wax Solvent and his (now disbanded) group, Bobbie Peru, supported The Fall on their March 2008 tour. He also performed with The Fall for around half their set at most shows. Although he has not performed with the group since, he produced the group's 2009 single "Slippy Floor", some other tracks on Your Future Our Clutter and co-produced Ersatz G.B. with Mark E. Smith.
Steve Trafford - bass, guitar (2004–2006)
- Replaced Archer, can be heard on Fall Heads Roll. Left at the same time as Birtwistle and Pritchard for the same reasons. Has more recently worked with Paul Heaton.
Tim Presley - guitar (2006-2007, 2011), Robert Barbato - bass (2006-2007)
- Both members of Darker My Love, they initially joined the group to complete The Fall’s 2006 US tour - DML were out of action due to their drummer having a broken wrist. They balanced membership of The Fall with their commitments to DML for around a year and can be heard on the Reformation Post TLC album. Continue to record and perform with Darker My Love [5]. Presley also records and performs as White Fence, and Barbato plays with Cass McCombs among others. Presley returned to the group in 2011 to stand in for Pete Greenway on a UK tour while the latter was on paternity leave.
Orpheo McCord - drums
- Also brought in for the group’s 2006 US Tour, McCord was and remains a member of experimental duo The Hill. He can be heard on Reformation Post TLC. Is now playing with Cass McCombs.
Additional Members
This section lists people who only worked with group for a short time or who were only brought in on a temporary basis.
Chris Horrie - guitar (c. 1977)
- See Chris Horrie - claims that he played guitar in an early incarnation of the group, having met The Fall co-founder Una Baines while they were working at the same hospital. He states that he performed once with the group but that he "didn't fit in", because he "was much too normal".[3] Horrie is now a journalist.
Johnnie Brown - bass (1978)
- Replaced Tony Friel and lasted around 6–8 weeks - this was long enough to design the sleeve for the “Bingo Master’s Breakout” single but he does not appear on any recordings.
Rick Goldstraw a/k/a Eric McGann a/k/a Eric the Ferret - bass (1978)
- Replaced Brown and was equally short-lived. Filmed the group's first television appearance (for Granada) and co-wrote the song “Mess Of My” before joining John Cooper Clarke's band.
Steve Davies - percussion, drums (1978, 1980)
- Can be heard on the group’s first Peel Session playing congas; Simon Ford reports that Goldstraw quit because he took exception to Davies playing on the session. Later stood in on drums for a Dutch tour when Paul Hanley was unable to travel with the group.
Dave Tucker - clarinet, keyboards (1980 - 1981)
- Can be heard on Slates and played live with the group during this era - he can be seen on the DVD Perverted by Language Bis / Live at Leeds.
Richard Mazda - saxophone (1981-2)
Arthur Kadmon - guitar (1982)
- Played on one song on Room to Live (possibly "Hard Life in Country"). Is credited as "Arthur Cadman".
Adrian Niman - saxophone (1982)
Gavin Friday - vocals (1984)
Craig Leon - keyboards, vocals, production (1989–1992)
- Renowned US producer, first contributed when Smith used a track from his Nommos LP as a backing track ("Mollusc In Tyrol" on Seminal Live). Went on to produce tracks on Extricate, Shift-work and Code: Selfish, providing additional vocals and instrumentation on each album.
Cassell Webb - vocals, keyboards (1990–1992)
- Long-time associate of Craig Leon with a lengthy recording career in her own right. Contributed to the same records as Leon with the exception of Seminal Live.
Mike Edwards - guitar (1990)
- Played on the single "Popcorn Double Feature" from the Extricate before returning to his own group Jesus Jones.
Charlotte Bill - flute (1990)
- Can be heard on Extricate and toured with the group in the UK.
Kenny Brady - violin, keyboards (1990–1991)
John Peel - voice (1994)
Mike Bennett - vocals (1994–1996)
Adrian Flanagan - guitar (1996–1997)
- Played a handful of gigs but did not record with the group. Later recorded solo as Kings Have Long Arms.
Keir Stewart - keyboards, Spencer Smith - guitar (1997)
- Formed production duo D.O.S.E. together. Released a single called "Plug Myself In" featuring MES and can be heard on Levitate. Both played live with the group in 1997, although never together. Argued with MES and the album was finished without them. Spencer Smith died in 2003 after falling ill at the Glastonbury Festival.
Andy Hackett - guitar (1997)
- Can be heard on the Levitate album but did not gig with the group. Longtime guitarist for Edwyn Collins and former member of UK country group The Rockingbirds, he runs a guitar store in London.
Damon Gough - guitar (1997)
- Better known as Badly Drawn Boy, he co-wrote and played on one song, "Calendar" which was released as a b-side to the "Masquerade" single. Met when Smith mistook Gough's car for a taxi (a story later recounted in the song "Susan vs. Youthclub".)
Kate Themen - drums (1998)
- Replaced Burns for three live commitments following events in New York.
Elspeth Hughes - sound effects (1998–99)
- Sound engineer who contributed additional sounds and effects to the group's 1998 Peel Session and to The Marshall Suite. Credited as "Speth".
Steve Evets - bass, vocals (occasional 2000 - 2002)
- See Steve Evets. A friend of MES who occasionally performed backing vocals with the group but also stood in on bass after Jim Watts was sacked in 2003, he appears on the A Touch Sensitive DVD. Evets is a professional actor, best known for his leading role in Looking for Eric.
Brian Fanning - guitar (2001)
- Originally the group's guitar technician, Fanning played second guitar for a handful of dates in late 2001 and co-wrote "The Acute" on Are You Are Missing Winner.
Ruth Daniel - keyboards (2002)
- Played just one show with the group which was released as the A Touch Sensitive DVD. Alternated with Elena Poulou who joined the group full-time shortly afterwards.
Dougie James - vocals (2004–2006)
- Manchester soul singer and friend of MES who joined the group onstage to perform "Boxoctosis" on several occasions.
Safy a/k/a SNIPER- visuals (2006-present)
- Although included in the group photograph on the front of the US edition of Reformation Post TLC, he is not considered a member of the group but has been their regular support act with his 20-30 minute shows of video/audio, scratch/cutup performance (star search & destroy). Was also been seen filming many of the group's recent performances.
References
All information in this article is taken from one of the following sources, unless otherwise indicated.
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