Mark E Smith dead: Former bandmate and wife Brix Smith pays tribute to singer

'A lot of people claimed to have known him, but they didn’t really know him. I f**king knew him'

Numerous stories about The Fall singer Mark E. Smith been published since he passed away earlier this week, perhaps none as touching and insightful as one from former band member and wife Brix Smith Start.

“I feel so honoured to have worked with, and been a partner with, somebody so singularly talented and groundbreaking and free-thinking – off the scale of what people understand free-thinking is,” she told The Guardian.

Start then details how she met Smith after one of The Fall’s early concerts but could barely understand a word due to the singer’s heavy Mancunian accent.

“In a way language wasn’t important because it was the energy between us, the chemistry, that was magical,” she said. Soon enough they were “madly in love” and planning their marriage.

“We got married in the register office and we had a reception at the Eagle and Child pub, which was arranged by his dad. We had sausage rolls, pickled onions, crisps and beer. And then we went back to our flat in Prestwich, and we played music all night with our friends. It was inevitable. It was meant to be.”

As has been well documented, Smith was not the easiest person to work with, causing carnage at shows and firing members for various minute reasons.

“A lot of people claimed to have known him, but they didn’t really know him. I f**king knew him,” she writes. |He was my husband, and deep down he was a door-opening, bag-carrying, sweet gentlemen.” Read the full interview here.

After joining The Fall in 1983, Smith Start recorded the album Perverted by Language with the band and has been generally credited as bringing in a more pop sound. They divorced in 1989.

Smith’s death at the age of 60 was announced by The Fall’s manager Pam Vander. Brix led the tributes, posting online: “Thank you for your lovely messages, they mean a lot. I love you, Brix”.

Born in 1957, Smith formed The Fall with Martin Bramah and Tony Friel aged just 19. The band became a part of the 1970s punk movement and, while it went through several line-up changes, Smith was the founder and constant member of the band. The Fall never quite found commercial success, but helmed a cult fan base care of their 32 studio albums.