The Fall

The Fall, fronted by Mark E. Smith, remains one of the most prolific entities in Post-Punk. Before forming the group in 1977, Smith worked on the Manchester docks and unsuccessfully auditioned for several local heavy metal bands. Named after an Albert Camus novel, the band combined influences from the Velvet Underground and the avant-garde rock of Can. Smith was known for an eccentric leadership style; in 2003, he famously fired bassist Jim Watts by buying drinks for the entire band at a bar except for him. Despite a broken hip in 2004, Smith completed a US tour performing entirely from a chair.