Mark E. Smith

Article summary

Mark Edward Smith (5 March 1957 – 24 January 2018) was an English singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist, lyricist and only constant member of the post-punk group the Fall. Smith formed the band after attending the Sex Pistols' 20 July 1976 gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, and was its leader until his death. During their 42-year existence, the Fall's line-up included some sixty musicians, with whom Smith released 31 studio albums and numerous singles and EPs. Smith had a difficult and complex personality and was a long-term alcoholic. He was known for his biting and targeted wit, evident in interviews, for which he was much in demand by music journalists throughout his career. He was suspicious of the trappings of fame and largely avoided socialising with people associated with the music scene, including other Fall members. The dark and sardonic aspect of his personality often appears in his lyrics; he particularly derided music industry people. Smith's approach to music was unconventional, and he did not have high regard for musicianship, stating that "rock & roll isn't even music really. It's a mistreating of instruments to get feelings over." The Fall are regarded as one of the most important and influential post-punk bands of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.…

Key claims

1. date of death: 1989 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of death: 2004 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of death: 2018-01-24 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of formation: 1976-07-20 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. release date: 1998 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. release date: 2007 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. release date: 1983 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
8. release date: 2000 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
9. release date: 1990 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of death is "1989". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of death is "2004". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of death is "2018-01-24". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of formation is "1976-07-20". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the release date is "1998". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the release date is "2007". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the release date is "1983". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the release date is "2000". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. The record states that the release date is "1990". What evidence would count against this claim?
11. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
12. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1376149216