A definitive insight into the ever-influential world of Mark E. Smith and the Fall, bringing together previously unseen artwork, rare ephemera and handwritten material, alongside essays by a slate of fans.

This is not a book about a rock band. This is not even a book about Mark E Smith. This is a book about The Fall group - or more precisely, their world.

Over a prolific forty-year career, the Fall created a world that was influential, idiosyncratic and fiercely original; it was an education. Who wouldn't want to be armed with a working knowledge of M.R. James, contemporary dance and Manchester City?

Bringing together previously unseen artwork, rare ephemera and handwritten material, alongside essays by a slate of fans, Excavate! is a vivid, definitive record - an illumination of the dark corners of the Fall's wonderful and frightening world.

Details

ISBN13: 9780571396139
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 360
Edition: Main
Publication Date: 09 Sep 2025
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 24.6(H)x18.9(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Bob Stanley is the author of Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop (Faber, 2013), and Too Darn Hot (Faber, forthcoming), and has written for the Guardian, The Times, NME and The Face. He is also a filmmaker, and founding member of the group Saint Etienne. He was Writer in Residence at the British Library in 2017.


Tessa Norton writes regularly about art, books and music for various publications including The Wire, and for exhibitions and events including Liverpool Biennial and The Tetley. She published the artists' book The Fields Here Are Full of Ghosts with Wysing Arts Centre in 2019, and she is a Jerwood Arts Fellow at FACT gallery for 2020-21.

Reviews

"To 50,000 Fall Fans: please buy this inspired & inspiring, profound & provocative, beautiful & bonkers Book of Revelations." - DAVID PEACE
"Mind blowing... brilliant." - TIM BURGESS
"A container sized treasure trove bursting at the hinges with strangeness and wonder ... I strongly advise you to buy it." - MAXINE PEAKE