Mark E. Smith, vocalist for the British punk band the Fall, has led various

lineups of the group over the course of its long and convoluted career. From its

punk days in 1978 through last year's album, Levitate, the Fall have

provoked, excited and mystified critics and fans with their dark, cynical songs.

Mark Edward Smith was born 42 years ago today in Manchester, England. While

there, he worked on the docks and tried unsuccessfully to join heavy-metal

bands. Instead, Smith formed the Fall in 1977 with fellow fans of the Velvet

Underground: guitarist Martin Bramah, keyboardist Una Baines, drummer Karl

Burns, and bassist Tony Friel. The group took its name from the title of an

Albert Camus novel.

The Fall recorded an EP that went unissued for a year due to record labels' lack

of interest. In 1978, Smith began replacing members. Marc Riley replaced Friel

and Yvonne Pawlett took Baines' slot.

Live at the Witch Trials (1979) was the Fall's first LP. Soon, famous

British DJ John Peel championed the band and gave it extensive exposure on his

radio show.

Craig Scanlon then took over the guitar spot; Steve Hanley became the bassist;

and Mike Leigh was installed as the new drummer. Dragnet was the second

Fall album of 1979. Grotesque (After the Gramme) followed the next year,

as did the singles "Totally Wired" and "How I Wrote Elastic Man."

The Fall issued the Slates EP in 1981. By this time, Smith's

unintelligible, bitter, snarled vocals were

legendary in the indie music world. The critically acclaimed Hex Enduction

Hour and Room to Live were both released in 1982.

In 1983, the course of the Fall changed drastically with the induction of Brix

Smith, Mark's wife, into the group as guitarist. Brix's recorded debut with the

Fall was Perverted by Language (1983). Her presence was heavily felt on

1984's The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall, one of the band's

most pop-oriented efforts.

The Fall became affiliated with ballet choreographer Michael Clark. Mark Smith

and Clark then composed the ballet "I Am Kurious Oranj." The band wrote the

music and the libretto for the ballet, which it performed a few times. More

great reviews for the Fall came for 1985's This Nation's Saving Grace

(including such songs as "Mansion" and "Bombast").

In 1986, the Fall had a U.K. chart hit with a cover of the Other Half's "Mr.

Pharmacist." More minor hits followed, including "Hit the North" and a take on

the Kinks' "Victoria". Near the end of the '80s, Brix divorced Smith and quit

the band. When original guitarist Bramah rejoined, the Fall's music went back to

its original, darker sound. In 1993, the Fall signed with Matador Records, after

being without a U.S. record label for many years. By this time, Smith had again

changed the group's lineup substantially. The Infotainment Scam and

Middle-Class Revolt (1994) flopped commercially in the U.S. and Matador

dropped the Fall. Brix came back to the Fall for 1995's Cerebral Caustic,

but soon left.

Dee Pop, drummer of Bush Tetras, said: "[Smith] and the band are like cats and

dogs. They fight all the time, depending on his mood." Last year, Smith was

charged with domestic assault by his girlfriend, Fall keyboardist Julia Nagle,

after allegedly attacking her at a New York City hotel. Smith was ordered to

undergo treatment for alcohol abuse and to seek anger counseling. The judge also

issued Nagle a limited order of protection from Smith. Last week, the New York

County District Attorney told Smith that charges against him would be dropped if

he stays out of trouble for six months. The case was adjourned until Aug. 21.

A new Fall lineup issued 1998's Levitate on Artful Records and the band

toured the U.S., where Smith led a number of reportedly erratic performances.

Other birthdays: Eddy Grant, 51; Teena Marie, 43; Craig & Charlie Reid

(Proclaimers), 37 ... Andy Gibb, 1958-1988.