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Mark E. Smith: What's Your Problem? Hippies

Lisa Verrico, Vox, March 1994

Inspired by the title of an Albert Camus novel, Mark E Smith formed The Fall in Manchester in 1977. Smith's snarling vocal style and sharply observed commentary on modern life have made The Fall one of Britain's most enduring and controversial bands. In 1989, they wrote the musical I Am Kurious Oranj with the Michael Clark Ballet Company and in 1991 the seminal Fall track 'Hip Priest' appeared on the soundtrack of Silence Of The Lambs. Currently completing the band's 18th studio album, 34-year-old taskmaster Smith is still spitting bile — this time over wigged-out, flipped-out hippies.

Total word count of piece: 950

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