Sad news out of the music world today, as multiple sources have confirmed that Mark E. Smith, lead singer of the iconic post-punk band The Fall, has passed away at the age of 60.
The news of Smith’s passing was confirmed via a statement issued by his band’s manager.
“It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E. Smith. He passed this morning at home,” the statement reads.
“A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days. In the meantime, Pam & Mark’s family request privacy at this sad time.”
For many music fans, Smith’s death signals the end of an era.
The famously curmudgeonly vocalist and songwriter pushed rock music to its limits in the 1980s, rivaling such luminaries as David Byrne and Patti Smith in terms of innovation.
Smith was something of a transitional figure, helping to bridge the gap between the hedonistic days when classic rock was at its zenith, and the more cerebral years in which the nebulous pseudo-genre of “post punk” struck a chord with discerning music fans.
Smith formed The Fall in 1976 with original members Martin Bramah, Una Baines and Tony Friel.
Notoriously difficult to work with, Smith burned through a whopping 60 bandmates, often firing them on a whim and replacing them with amateur musicians he’d encountered at his local pub.
He’s the only member of the band to have worked on all 30 of The Fall’s albums.
Tales of Smith’s unpredictability and self-destructive behavior rival those of the most notorious punk rockers.
In one incident that led several of Smith’s collaborators to quit on the spot, the singer dumped a beer over the head of a tour bus driver as he was doing 80 MPH on a freeway.
Marc Riley, a former member of The Fall, was being interviewed on a live radio show when news of Smith’s passing broke:
“He taught me a lot about life and he taught me a lot about music,” Riley said of his former mentor.
“Aged 16 he really did teach me so much … The Fall were my favorite band when I joined and they were still my favorite band when I got kicked out.”
Smith’s ex-wife, musician and TV personality Brix Smith Start reacted to the news of his passing on Twitter:
“I’m taking the news in right now. I will put a statement out tomorrow. I hope you will all understand. Thank you for your lovely messages, they mean a lot. I love you, Brix,” she wrote.
Within minutes of when news of Smith’s passing went public, the singer’s name became a worldwide trending topic thanks to tens of thousands of social media tributes from fans, friends, and a legion of adoring fans.