To introduce a brand new collection we hear from Archivist, Ian Johnston. Ian was instrumental in ensuring these unique papers are preserved here at Bury. Also, we welcome former Archivist, Helen Lindsay, for her thoughts on The Fall, Mark E Smith and their roots in Prestwich.
Soon after starting my role as the Borough Archivist for Bury Archives, I learned via social media that a treasure trove of items which had belonged to Mark E Smith, the lead singer and lyricist of local music band The Fall, were shortly coming up for sale at auction: Auction Search (omegaauctions.co.uk). The Fall are widely regarded as one of the most important and influential post-punk bands, and Smith spent much of his life in Prestwich: We are The Fall – a tour of The Fall’s Prestwich in the footsteps of Mark E Smith (railholidaymaker.com).
I believe it’s vital that archive services try to acquire records of such cultural significance, although, in general, I don’t think they should pay for them – especially since auction prices can often be unrealistically inflated. I spoke to a friend about this dilemma, and as a consequence he took it upon himself to set up a crowdfunding page to raise money to bid for items at the auction – anything which he won, he would then donate to Bury Archives: Crowdfunding to Keep Mark E Smith’s archive in Bury on JustGiving.
I was amazed that, in the space of a few short weeks, well over £1,000 was raised and delighted that a number of lots – including a hand-written setlist for The Fall’s concert at Prestwich Hospital in November 1978 – were acquired. Furthermore, as a direct consequence of this crowdfunding campaign, we subsequently received a donation of two fantastic The Fall posters!
Notebooks Out, Archivists!
by Helen Lindsay
As a fan of The Fall since my schooldays, I was thrilled to hear that Bury Archives had acquired original material from the papers of front man and Prestwich resident, Mark E Smith, who died in January 2018.
MES, as I will call him (and as he often referred to himself in song), left behind a huge body of work spanning five decades and a significant void in our cultural and musical landscape.
In my youth, being a local resident I hoped to spot him around town but sadly this was not to be. I was delighted to identify local landmarks on video and record covers, such as Prestwich pub The Red Lion (Wings), Heaton Park boating lake (Cruiser’s Creek) and the picturesque approach to Victoria Station captured on the sleeve of This Nation’s Saving Grace. I feel a heritage tour coming on…
Having access to original MES papers in our very own Archive here in Bury provides a valuable local connection to this remarkable musical legacy and, having pondered and attempted to analyse them on many a record cover, I thoroughly enjoyed reading MES’s notes written in his own unique hand.
Catalogue Listings:
- The Fall/Mark E Smith typed 1970s set lists – four pages, each bearing a set list, date and notes on support, as typed by Mark E Smith following the concerts. Concerts include Vortex Club, London. Rock against Racism, Rafters, The Squat.
- The Fall, a handwritten 1978 set list. Likely by a band member, possibly not by MES. For The Fall’s concert at Prestwich Hospital, November 1978. Also with notes on the tracklist for the Peel Session.
- The Fall, an annotated tour dates sheet by Mark E Smith, 1987 for The Fall’s April/May tour. With handwritten annotations by MES.
- The Fall, a tour itinerary with Mark E Smith handwritten set list. A ring-bound tour itinerary for The Fall’s 1990 EU tour.
Bury Archives & Local History 