Mark E. Smith Leader Of The Fall Dies Aged 60

Iconic UK punk legend Mark E. Smith, frontman of The Fall, has been reported dead at age 60 by his band manager Pamela Vander via Twitter this morning. The details of Smith's passing have yet to be shared by his family, he leaves a fantastic legacy of crucial music behind him.

Mark E. Smith formed The Fall in Manchester in 1976, he went on to record over thirty studio albums with the groundbreaking and ever-changing group, once famously declaring "If it's me and yer granny on bongos, it's The Fall." An acclaimed wordsmith with a cantankerous spirit, Smith was also a popular go-to media personality in England. Smith's distinctive and deadpan voice livened up any conversation, he was once even invited to read the football results on live television.

BBC disc jockey John Peel declared The Fall as his favourite group, stating "they are always different; they are always the same." Smith's work has influenced countless artists including Pavement, Sonic Youth, LCD Soundsystem, Happy Mondays and more. Here's a brief selection of favourites from his expansive discography...

Listen to The Fall's 1978 scabrous mission statement of a song 'Repetition'...

'Hip Priest' is arguably one of The Fall's most iconic tracks, from their groundbreaking 1982 record Hex Enduction Hour...

Watch the stylish and surreal clip for their 1985 anthemic single 'Cruiser's Creek'...

Here's their collaborative 1990 single 'Telephone Thing' with UK electronic artists Coldcut...

Listen to The Fall's popular soccer-themed 2003 single 'Theme From Sparta F.C.'...