Boards
Great MES antics
The immediate future of THE FALL is in doubt after MARK E SMITH sacked his band following a spectacular, drink-fuelled bust-up in Belfast last Saturday evening (November 8). The band's gig at the Empire Music Hall that night was subsequently cancelled mere minutes before stagetime. Uncertainty also surrounds the 15 outstanding dates on the band's current UK tour.
Smith reportedly arrived at Belfast's Empire in poor spirits. The venue's stage manager, Mark Erskine, told NME: "He was giving the band hell. He walked off the tourbus, straight onto the stage and started kicking stuff about and decking mikes. He sacked the band and they went." Smith also upset the staff of the venue by flinging a bottle of ketchup against a backstage door. The manager, Mike Gatt, gave Smith a mop and ordered him to clean it up.
In an attempt to try to calm the singer, staff at the venue rang Terry Hooley, founder of Belfast's Good Vibrations record label. Hooley promoted The Fall's early gigs in the city and has remained in touch with Smith ever since. According to Hooley, Smith had been drinking champagne and was difficult to reason with. At one stage, Hooley grabbed the singer by the neck to restrain him. The singer thought he was about to get punched, and asked if he could remove his false teeth first. Hooley removed his own glass eye instead. "I'm not gonna hit you," Hooley insisted.
Smith then hit upon the idea of going onstage and playing an a cappella set of Beach Boys covers with Hooley and another friend. Smith called the Empire the next day, looking for his passport and a collection of demo tapes. He told the manager that he would try to make amends at a later date. A Fall spokesman told NME: "This has surprised us as much as it probably surprised Mark. This might end up being resolved although I'm sure he did sack them at the time. As long as he regains his passport, the tour will continue in typically maverick Fall fashion, even as a solo acoustic show!"
The Fall were due to play Manchester Sankey's Soap this Thursday (November 13). "There is a very large question mark hanging over that gig," the spokesman added. Contact venues for latest details on other tour dates.