The Fall: Wall of Pain - Updated Edition

by Mick Middles, Mark E. Smith

The first ever 'authorised' biography of this most inscrutable of bands - now updated.
Together music writer Mick Middles and Fall leader Mark E. Smith have written an exhausting biography of the Fall. Spanning their years on the fringe of the Manchester punk scene, three dozen albums, numerous tours, two successfully stage plays and numerous 'spoken word' events, this book is as strangely compelling as the band itself.
Laced with Smith's distinctive brand of working class intellectualism and trenchant broadsides, this is a meticulously researched story to thrill the famously disparate fans of the Fall who revel in the notion that The Fall are "The only band in the world."
Mark E. Smith remains famously true to his roots. Uncomfortable in art circles in London or, say, New York, he continues to live a full life in his native Salford, perfectly at home amongst the artisans in the string of local pubs - just one more reason why Mark E. Smith is a truly unique phenomenon with assured longevity. Author Mick Middles has been a close friend of Smith for over 25 years, and the book, written with Smith's complete approval and assistance, delves deep into the heart of that enigma.
This new edition incorporates a new epilogue in which Mick Middles considers recent upheavals in the Fall camp, the Heads Roll album, Mark E. Smith's appearance at its launch, and his ongoing tirades at anything and everything.

Genres: Music, Biography

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Lee Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is totally peripatetic-uh, interview-heavy, awesome intermittent reading-uh (of a spectacularly joyous sort-uh), that is-uh, if you're currently totally obsessed-uh by The Fall-uh, otherwise I wouldn't bother-uh, or better yet-uh, I'd listen me to some Mark E. Smith & Friends-uh then read this sucker on the loo-uh etc.

[Mike]

terrible book that I bought by accident (I wanted the recently published mark e smith memoirs and wa in a rush).

this middles character uses a fall bio as an excuse to pour his considerable bitterness into print. I learned more about middles than I did about smith or the fall. and this is not good as middles comes across as a complete bore with numerous blunt axes to grind; from various bands, cities and musical movements, and even rival (ie. successful) journalists.

and mick, for the record, prestwich is not in salford, no matter how many times you write that it is. most people in salford would find this assertion quite amusing; my aunt, who moved to prestwich from salford, would be hugely insulted. in fact, i would say that to most salfordians, especially those such as myself from higher broughton, would consider prestwich the cheshire of salford, which is especially ironic given the nasty jibe you have at morrissey's mother, of all things, for moving to chesire. only the middle class, such as middles, can be this condescending about class.

all in, an awful read. do not buy

[Chadwick · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, Mick Middles has access to MES's life in a way that few journalists have had. Unfortunately, Middles is a drooling sycophant, and brings no real insight into the man or his music.

[Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The least of the Mark E. Smith memoirs...

[Darrenjs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mick Middles seems to only have one way of writing, all his books bang on as the subject as the plucky underdog(s) who didn’t give a shit about being accepted by the ‘musical mainstream’. He recycles this narrative no matter who he is writing about. Words and phrases are also re-churned out. Considering his subjects are mostly indie bands this attitude is probably a given and not something to be highlighted at every turn. It may be down to his lack of impartiality as he’s obviously a fan of who he writes about and that is the primary quality he looks for in his heroes. I dare say it would possible to mix pages of his books up and not realise they were from different works while you were reading them. One of his books in isolation is a good read but the sense of deja-vu if another is tackled is infuriating.

[Mr. Classical · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical music biog which mark states in the beginning of this book. Himself and the co writer set out to make more of a document of their conversations with some stories about the fall from different eras jumbled all over the place. It makes for something different in true mark e fashion. A feast for fans of the fall. You won't be disappointed.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mick Middles is a pretty decent (and self-deprecating) writer, but you can tell he was bossed around by Mark E. Smith throughout this flawed but very entertaining work. The best part is the extensive interview with MES's mother (he has a mother!) toward the beginning. Also the quote where John Lydon pretty much admits he nicked PiL's schtick from the Fall from the beginning. Lots of inspired passages and memories here and there, and I do love the non-chronological randomness.

The worst parts are the pointless lyrics interludes (obviously copied and pasted from the online Fall Lyrics Parade) and some very sad absences and censored voices. Especially Craig Scanlon: he barely appears at all.

If only we could get David Bret to do a tell-all gossipy version! "Mark E. Smith: Scandal and Passion!"

[Knut Sigurd]

Under Middles er eg redd. Artig, men ein kan fort bli lei av ein forteljar som refererer så grundig frå eigen navle og er såpass tett på objektet sitt. Speleliste med nesten alle songane som er nemnt i boka: https://open.spotify.com/user/knewten...

[Ejl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably only compelling to fans of The Fall's music, but it works well as a non-traditional biography/autobiography. I read this on the eve on interviewing Mark E. Smith myself, and I suspect it helped me not make a complete ass of myself.