The Fallen: Life In and Out of Britain's Most Insane Group Main Edition
Author(s): Dave Simpson (Author)
Publisher: Canongate Books
Publication Date: August 6, 2009
Edition: Main
Language: English
Print length: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1847671446
ISBN-13: 9781847671448
Book Description
Ever been thrown off the bus in the middle of a Swedish forest or asked to play at one of the UK’s biggest music festivals with musicians you’ve just met who are covered in blood? If so you’ve probably been in The Fall. Dave Simpson made it his mission to track down everyone who has ever played in Britain’s most berserk, brilliant group. He uncovers a changing Britain, tales of madness and genius, and wreaks havoc on his own life.
Editorial Reviews
Review
A tremendous read. I warmly recommend it. (Stuart Maconie Radio 2)
Brilliant and bloody awkward. Just like its subjects. (
The Word)
Three decades of personal stories, of social change, shifting cultural landscapes and musical minimum wage slavery, seen through the eyes of a random collection of people whose only constant is that at some point, for some reason, they were members of The Fall. A
Canterbury Tales for the MP3 generation. (Stewart Lee)
Riveting stuff **** (
Q magazine)
A right riveting read. (Simon Reynolds
Blissblog)
Hilarious… horror stories… Dave Simpson’s written the book we’ve been waiting our entire adult life to read. (Peter Wild
Bookmunch)
The best book yet on a band that have evolved into a cross between a large Victorian family and a rehab unit. (
The Times)
A great book – a fucking amazingly great book . . . a simple but excellent concept . . . Absolutely brilliant. It has made me race back to all 554 Fall songs and put them on repeat. (
Everett True)
A British, provincial take on Apocalypse Now! where Kurtz (Smith) is encountered by Capt. Willard (Simpson) before the latter gets on the boat (John Doran
The Quietus)
An amusing study of what is without exaggeration Britain’s most uncompromising band. (
Sunday Herald)
The Fall are my favourite band. I also hate my favourite band. With a passion…I vow never to go to another Fall show and yet somehow always end up at the next one. I am sick. (
Julian Cope)
I hate that f***ing t**t! I just f***ing burned it! (Mark E. Smith)
From the Back Cover
‘The best book yet on a band that have evolved into a cross between a large Victorian family and a rehab unit.’ The Times Music Books of the Year 2008
Ever been thrown off the bus in the middle of a Swedish forest, or asked to play at one of the UK’s biggest music festivals with musicians you’ve just met who are covered in blood? If so, you’ve probably been in The Fall. Dave Simpson made it his mission to track down everyone who has ever played in Britain’s most berserk, brilliant group. He uncovers a changing Britain, tales of madness and genius, and wreaks havoc on his own life.
‘I cannot recall enjoying a book about contemporary music as much for many years.’ Plan B
‘Riveting stuff.’ **** Q magazine
‘An extraordinary book.’ Simon Price, Independent on Sunday
‘A tremendous read. I warmly recommend it.’ Stuart Maconie, Radio 2
‘A right riveting read.’ Simon Reynolds
‘I hate that f***ing twat! I just f***ing burned it!’ Mark E Smith
About the Author
Dave Simpson writes on music and the arts for the Guardian newspaper from an isolated base in the North of England. He has been a fan of the Fall since 1979, and once admitted to hating The Beatles.
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