Mark E. Smith

"Rock & roll isn’t even music really. It's a mistreating of instruments to get feelings over"

- Mark Smith

Mark Edward Smith (March 5, 1957 - January 24th, 2018) was the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk group The Fall.

Role in Gorillaz
Smith provides vocals on the track Glitter Freeze from the third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach, and for it's alternative version. He joined Gorillaz on the Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour in 2010.

Career
During the 42-year existence of Smith's band The Fall, the line-up included over 60 musicians with whom Smith released 31 studio albums and numerous singles and EPs. The dark and sardonic aspect of his personality often appears in his lyrics; he especially derided music industry people. Smith's approach to music was unconventional and he did not have a high regard for musicianship.

The Fall is regarded as one of the most important and influential post-punk bands of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Although Smith was difficult to work with, he was revered by fans and critics, and on his death was described as a "strange kind of antimatter national treasure".

Throught the years Smith collaborated as a guest vocalist for Edwyn Collins, Elastica, Gorillaz, Long Fin Killie, Mouse on Mars, Coldcut and Ghostigital.

Trivia

 * Mark E. Smith was the sixth collaborator of the Gorillaz to pass way.