gigography 1978 updated 28 November 2007

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January - spring, 1978 : lineups # 3 - 5 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Martin Bramah (guitar), Jonnie Brown (last documented involvement 13 February but may have played the March gigs as well?) > Eric McGann (aka Rick Goldstraw, Eric Ferret) (bass), Una Baines > Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Karl Burns (drums).

I don't know exactly when Yvonne replaced Una on keyboards, nor when Eric replaced Jonnie on bass. Can anyone help?

Friday, 13 January 1978 Huddersfield Polytechnic

Psycho Mafia / Hey Fascist / Stepping Out / Repetition / Dresden Dolls / Bingo Master's Breakout / Frightened / Industrial Estate / Futures and Pasts / You Don't Turn Me On

Apart from the Live 1977 gig on Voiceprint, this is the earliest gig in circulation, and unfortunately one of the worst-sounding tapes to boot (sorry); perhaps the worst. Only a few seconds of You Don't Turn Me On survived (someone please correct me if I'm wrong...) Also on the bill: The Doll, The Prefects, Sham 69. Here's Danny Baker's review from Zig Zag.

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Monday, 13 February 1978 "So It Goes" Granada TV programme (recording date)

Psycho Mafio / Industrial Estate / Dresden Dolls

Excerpts of these songs broadcast on Tony Wilson's show sometime in May 1978.

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March 1978 : John the Postman's debut LP - "John the Postman's Puerile" - released, featuring the first appearance of Mark E. Smith on vinyl (he's on "Louie Louie")

Friday, 3 March 1978 Rafter's, Manchester

With Wayne County and the Electric Chairs and Levi and the Rockats. No tape exists?

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Friday, 7 April 1978 Eric's, Liverpool

No tape exists?

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Sunday, 30 April 1978 Band on the Wall, Manchester

With the Mechanics and the Elite. No tape exists?

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Sunday, 7 May 1978 Foxes at the Greyhound, Park Lane, Croydon

Psycho Mafia / Mother-Sister / Like to Blow / Music Scene / Crap Rap > Industrial Estate / Bingo Master's Breakout / Repetition / Rebellious Jukebox / Hey Fascist / Stepping Out // Repetition (again)

Supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees. On the recommendation of Danny Baker, John Walters went along and afterwards decided to book the Fall for a Peel session.

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Saturday, 13 May 1978 (afternoon) Challenge Festival, London

Possibly organized by a communist group. Entrance fee of £1. No tape exists?

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Saturday, 13 May 1978 (evening) Goldsmith's College Student Union, Lewisham Way, London

With Tony Friel's new band the Passage, also John Cooper Clarke and Patrik Fitzgerald. No tape exists?

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Friday, 26 May 1978 The Squat, Manchester (Rock Against Racism benefit)

Supported by Nives and Mekon. The set included ‘Mess of My’, ‘Rebellious Jukebox’, ‘Psycho Mafia’, ‘Frightened’ and ‘Hey Fascist.’ No tape exists?

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Tuesday, 30 May 1978 John Peel Session #1 (broadcast Thursday, 15 June)

Rebellious Jukebox / Mother-Sister / Industrial Estate / Futures and Pasts

lineup # 7 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Martin Bramah (guitar, bass, backing vocals), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Karl Burns (drums), Steve Davis (congas, on Rebellious Jukebox only). Produced by Tony Wilson, engineered by Mike Robinson, recorded in Maida Vale 4.

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June 1978 - February 1979 : lineup # 8 : Mark E. Smith (vocals), Martin Bramah (guitar), Marc Riley (bass), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), Karl Burns (drums).

Sunday, 11 June 1978 Band on the Wall, Manchester

With F.C. Demestos and Mekon. Marc Riley's first gig, according to Yvonne Pawlett. No tape exists?

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Friday, 16 June 1978 Concorde Suite, Droylsden (near Manchester)

Supported by the Distractions, John the Postman, and Puerile. No tape exists?

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Tuesday, 20 June 1978 Leeds Polytechnic

No tape exists?

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Sunday, 25 June 1978 Band on the Wall, Manchester

Spherical Objects supporting. No tape exists?

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Friday, 14 July 1978 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), Manchester

Supporting the Rich Kids. The set included ‘Psycho Mafia’, ‘Stepping Out’, ‘Frightened’, ‘It’s the New Thing’ and ‘Music Scene’. No tape exists?

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Saturday, 22 July 1978 Deeply Vale People's Free Festival

Repetition / Psycho Mafia / Rebellious Jukebox / Frightened / Steppin' Out / Like to Blow / Mess of My / Mother-Sister / Industrial Estate / It's the New Thing / Futures and Pasts / Music Scene (set also included Bingo Master's Break-Out and Brand New Cadillac; see note below)

It was later estimated that 18,000 people attended the festival. The Fall played on the festival's Saturday "New Wave Afternoon." Many thanks to Mark for the festival running order.

Dave: "You say about 18,000 people attended Deeply Vale July 78. I was there - no more than 3000 at most I would say. Anyway, I seem to remember seeing the Fall there - memory a little hazy so I may be completely wrong - they played in the pouring rain. About 30 people in front of the stage (me included) everyone else huddling in tents and under bin bags. Just me and my brother and a few strangers shuffling about in front of the high stage. Most animated punter was .... you guessed it - Jon The Postman - oblivious to the elements. Can anyone else corroborate my story?"

later Dave added: "There were 20,000 people there!!! The Fall did play in the afternoon and the afternoon was compered by Tony Wilson. Been thinking about the 78 festival - it wasn't entirely a pleasant experience - Hell's Angels drove through the middle of the site on motorbikes and generally behaved aggressively. Looking into people's tents looking for Punks to beat up. Police turned up on site. Things got a bit threatening so I left late one night and went home!

A fair to middling audience recording of the set was released by Ozit in June 2005. A few months later Ozit announced that they had held back two tracks from their Fall CD -- Bingo Master's Break-Out and Brand New Cadillac -- which they plan to release on a Deeply Vale box set in 2006. One of the more deplorable marketing ploys Fall fans have endured over the years.

- "We're going to knock you down, we're going to come inside your head. Thank you and good afternoon...right, Psycho Mafia take one."
- "We like to be in tune, this being our first experience of open air festivals." (before Rebellious Jukebox)
- "Right, all you skinheads...like to blow...you're on the slack(?)..." (before Like To Blow)
- "This one's about radios, videos, on a (?)...a note of your own choice, boys and girls..." (before Mess Of My)
- "I dream about taking some terrorists out for a quiet drink and getting them to stick a bomb up the architect's arse, the tv popman's (?) arse, you know, dreams, you know, when the only solution is retribution." (extra lyrics in Mess Of My)
- Right, the new one" (before It's The new Thing)
- "Another slow one for you - a song of contrasts, for my mother and my sister." (in fake American accent)
- "Martin, reach out and tell one of Industrial Estate. I can't see one that makes a change. Get up for Industrial Estate-ah."
- "Do Futures and Pasts, Martin, yeah? We're a democratic band, y'know. We're just going for a conference to talk about our futures and our pasts." (last bit in American accent).
- "Last number now, right, come on Martin, sing a song, you can do it." (before Music Scene)

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Friday, 28 July 1978 Eric's, Liverpool

With John Cooper Clarke. No tape exists?

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August 1978 : "Bingo Master's Break-Out / Psycho Mafia / Repetition" single released

August 1978 Band on the Wall, Manchester

Rebellious Jukebox / Psycho Mafia / Mother-Sister / Like to Blow / Repetition / Industrial Estate / Mess of My / Stepping Out / Brand New Cadillac / Frightened // Futures and Pasts

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Saturday, 19 August 1978 Apollo, Manchester

Many thanks to Warren for the poster. Set included: ‘Psycho-Mafia’, ‘Steppin’ Out’, ‘Two Steps Back’, ‘It’s The New Thing’ and ‘Music Scene’. No tape exists?

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Sunday, 20 August 1978 Lyceum, The Strand, London

Rebellious Jukebox / Like to Blow / Frightened / Stepping Out / Mess of My / It's the New Thing / Various Times / Bingo Master's Breakout / Industrial Estate / Music Scene

With Penetration (headlining), Ed Banger, the Group Therapy, and Punishment of Luxury. Tickets £2 in advance, £2.25 on door. A couple of photos from this gig from Paintwork:

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Monday, 21 August 1978 Tower Club, Oldham

Repetition / Like to Blow / Frightened / Stepping Out / Mess of My / It's the New Thing / Various Times / Futures and Pasts / Bingo Master's Breakout / Industrial Estate // Psycho Mafia / Mother-Sister / Music Scene

Supporting Here and Now on their 2nd 1978 free tour. Wilful Damage (and Alternative TV?) also on the bill. Some tapes are missing Various Times and Mess of My.

- "When I was at the Witch Trials in August it was You're Rurrrr ruurrr, rrrrururrr right NOISE! (before Repetition)
- "We'd like to slow things down now so we'll just calm down" (before Frightened)...
- "This next one is a sequel to the last one" (before Stepping Out)...
- "This is the history lesson in our set. We're bringing you a bit of culture." (before Various Times):
- "Nice relaxed atmosphere down here in Oldham. The next one is just for you. Er...it's about videos. Which you don't get a lot of in Oldham. A note of your own choice, boys and girls. (before Mess of My)
- "Thank you. Another one from the vaults." (before Futures and Pasts)
- "This one's for John." (before Industrial Estate)
- (Martin Bramah) "Is it all right if we do another ? (calls to off-stage) Mark...? This is our party piece... Mark's just putting his make up on, it splits in the heat, you know..."
- "Thank you Martin, man of the people...Er, the next one is Music Scene, you asked for this. Ten minutes of it at least."

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Tuesday, 22 August 1978 Mr. Pickwick's, Liverpool

Like to Blow / Stepping Out / Two Steps Back / Mess of My / It's the New Thing / Various Times / Bingo Master's Breakout / Frightened / Industrial Estate / Psycho Mafia / Music Scene / Mother-Sister

Supporting Here and Now. Released on Cog Sinister / Voiceprint in June 2001, supposedly mastered from a cassette bought at a market stall.

There must be a few dates missing here from the Here and Now free tour.

- "You've got a novelty here, you've got a bass player with three strings. It's the avant garde part of the set." [Bramah(?), not missing a beat]: "Avant garde a third string." (before Music Scene)

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Friday, 8 September 1978 Marquee, London

Supported by the Bristol group, Gardez Darkx. Admission 75p. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 21 September 1978 Harp Lounge, Belfast

Supported by Protex. A Good Vibes / Alternative Ulster Co-Production. No tape exists?

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Friday, 22 September 1978 Harp Lounge, Belfast

Rebellious Jukebox / Like To Blow / Futures and Pasts / Various Times / It's The New Thing / No Xmas For John Quays/ Stepping Out / Frightened / Psycho Mafia / Mother- Sister / Last Orders / Repetition // Industrial Estate / Bingo Masters Breakout

Supported by Protex.

- "Good evening, we had a few, er, equipment problems, but ah we're all sorted out now. For all the tourists in tonight ... it's worse than last night, because we've only got two amps."
- "Thank you. This next one is our new single, and should be out about 1995, [with a bit of luck?]" (into It's The New Thing)
- "Right, we'll have a bit of a rest now ( ... ) Sorry about that last one, we really got into it [Bramah: yeeah] we really got into ourselves on that one. So now we're gonna make up for it! Stepping Out, Stepping Out!"
- "This song is about nothing. The words just fit the music. So anything I say, take no notice of it, but it sounds good, know what I mean? Mother Sister."
- [MES]: "I never liked him, I never liked that Smith. So I'm gonna take his place, Ok?, haha. Industrial Estate, c'mon, before Smith comes back!"

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Monday, 25 September 1978 Music Machine, Camden High Street, opposite Mornington Crescent tube stop, London

Futures and Pasts / Like To Blow / Two Steps Back / Rebellious Jukebox / It's the New Thing / Various Times / Stepping Out / No Xmas For John Quays / Frightened

With fellow Step Forward artistes Chelsea and the Snivelling Shits (fronted by music journalist Giovanni Dadamo); the latter had a single released ‘Terminal Stupid’ on Ghetto Records around this time. Admission £1.

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Friday, 29 September 1978 The Factory, Manchester

Supporting Chelsea(?); Emergency also on the bill. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 5 October 1978 Kelly's, Manchester

With the Distractions and Militant Frank. First night in a series of Rock Against Racism gigs. No tape exists?

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Saturday, 21 October 1978 Manchester Polytechnic

A ‘Leveller’ benefit. Also appearing: The Passage, The Distractions, Crass, and Agony Column. No tape exists?

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Friday, 27 October 1978 Leeds Polytechnic

No tape exists?

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Monday, 30 October 1978 Band on the Wall, Manchester

With Rodent Enterprises. No tape exists?

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November 1978 : "It's the New Thing / Various Times" single released

Friday, 3 November 1978 Eric's, Liverpool

With The Prefects. Members £1, guests £1.25. 8.30 pm - 2 am. No tape exists?

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Monday, 13 November 1978 Warrington

No tape exists?

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Tuesday, 21 November 1978 Apollo, Manchester

With A Certain Ratio and Grow Up. No tape exists? Yvonne Pawlett says they played the Band on the Wall this night - did they do both shows on the same day?

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Saturday, 25 November 1978 Prestwich Hospital Social Club

Stepping Out / Bingo Master's Breakout / Rebellious Jukebox / Two Steps Back / No Xmas for John Quays / Put Away / Mother-Sister / Like to Blow / Mess of My / Underground Medicin / It's the New Thing / Repetition / My Condition / Industrial Estate // Futures and Pasts / Frightened

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Monday, 27 November 1978 John Peel Session #2 (broadcast Tuesday, 12 December)

Put Away / Mess of My / No Xmas for John Quays / Like to Blow

Mark E Smith - vocals; Martin Bramah - guitar, bass, backing vocals; Yvonne Pawlett - keyboards; Marc Riley - bass; Karl Burns - drums. Produced by Bob Sargeant, engineered by Dave Dade & Brian Tuck, recorded in Maida Vale 4.

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Saturday, 2 December 1978 The Factory, Manchester

No tape exists?

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Monday, 4 December 1978 Bolton Institute of Technology

Supporting Here and Now. Also appearing were Danny and the Dressmakers and Wilful Damage. No tape exists?

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Thursday, 7 December 1978 Strathclyde University, Glasgow

With Here and Now and Patrik Fitgerald. No tape exists?

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Friday, 8 December 1978 Teasers, Dundee

Frightened (soundcheck)

Stepping Out / Like To Blow / Underground Medecin / Two Steps Back / It's the New Thing / Mother-Sister / Industrial Estate / Frightened / No Xmas for John Quays / Rebellious Jukebox / Put Away / Repetition

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Saturday, 9 December 1978 Stirling University

With Here and Now.

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Friday, 15 December 1978 Camden Sound Suite, London

Tracks for Live at the Witch Trials were recorded on the 15th and mixed the following day. The studio had been booked for five days but they missed the first three due to Mark's "psychosomatic voice", according to Martin Bramah.

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Sunday, 17 December 1978 Marquee, London

Jumper Clown > It's the New Thing / Rebellious Jukebox / improv / Two Steps Back / Put Away / Like to Blow / Frightened / Underground Medicin / Industrial Estate / My Condition / Mess of My / No Xmas for John Quays / Psycho Mafia / Various Times / Futures and Pasts / Stepping Out / Music Scene

£1. With fellow Manchester band, Manicured Noise. Tape also circulates as "Marquee December 1979" so watch out.

- "First time we played here we had a lot of hassle with chains and pins, and things have changed around here..."
- "This next one is about what people from Cleveland would call, 'Neat, really neat'." (before Industrial Estate)

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Thursday, 28 December 1978 Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, London