I said recently that I loved the 5-piece lineup they had with Jim Watts on guitar a while back, and someone told me he'd never rejoin.

If we could assume that personal problems were all patched up, who would you like back in the band? I've allowed 2 choices because there are so many to choose from, though I didn't bother with every name in the catalog.

I'd have Jim back and Karl as a second drummer.

As I'd want nobody of the current lineup to leave, I would add a second guitarist (Craig Scanlon) and a second drummer (Karl Burns). One of the guitarists could also switch to bass occasionally.

I love Bramah's guitar playing on Witch Trials but can't hear any of that on Extricate and so I'm fairly indifferent to him, and to the story that he could have been invited back to join in 1998, when MES was putting the post-Brownies lineup together.

Recently voted for „fine as it is“.

If a comeback, then Jim WATTS on guitar and Karl BURNS as percussionist.

Steve Davis on bongos.

The snooker player?

Craig Scanlon, for reasons that the FHR-detractors have done to death on other threads (does this mean that the passing of time is bringing me round to the viewpoint of the detractors? a little bit, maybe, but still can't see FHR moving too far away from the stereo in the near future). Certainly, though, an oblique foil to Ben's in-yer-faceness would be an interesting addition.

Julia Nagle, because I listened to The Unutterable for the first time in ages the other day, and the two-thirds of it that are not dire filler are absolutley fucking amazing, and this is in no small part due to Mrs Nagle - such a great sense of melody and ear for an arresting sound.

No, the bongos player:

http://www.visi.com/fall/bio/biography.html

It says there that his name is spelt 'Davies', but I'm sure I've read everywhere else that it was spelt 'Davis'... that's what I've always thought anyway... anyone got any ideas? :unsure:

Though having the six times world snooker champion in your band must be a coup by anyone's standards... apparently he's really into music too... jazz and stuff I think. His favourite band are called "Magma" iirc, and he has all their albums and singles in his collection. :applaud:

Where is the "No turning back" option?

I look forward to new band members and fondly back to most of the old members, but leave them be.

Nobody has yet suggested MES circa 1983, and I'm not going to be the first.

I'd like another guitarist. Craig Scanlon seems the obvious choice. Not only did I like Craig doing all of the filling-in guitar with Brix or Marc Riley, but it would give Ben more scope to explore a few more possibilities.

Nev Wilding is clearly underrated.

I'd like to see a great "Night Of 1000 Falls" gala concert at the Albert Hall, employing a revolving stage so that all the past and present members of the badn can be present and ready to start playing. As soon as MES gets tired of the "cabaret band" style quality of one band, he can walk out of them... and straight into a new lineup, possibly even midway in the same song.

Further enhancement would be to give everyone pager-type devices, so MES could order the lineup he wants to get assembled ready for him, and tell that which track they should start playing.

This would cataluyse the audience into wanting to join my other new project: a "Sealed Knot"-style society that do historical re-enactments of great moments in Fall history.

The Fall Disaster Gig Re-enactment Society, now there's a thought. The obvious candidates would be the Worthing '96 and Brownies '98 gigs. Maybe this is an idea for the Forum Convention if it ever happens :)

They'd take a fair bit of rehearsing, mind. ^_^

jim watts and julia negle both super nice people would be both great additions

Only 2? Personally, I'd have the current line - up, but doubled up: Karl on 2nd drums, Scanlon on 2nd guitar, Steve Hanley on 2nd bass, Nagle on 2nd keyboards and Grotesque - era MES on 2nd vocals.

Now THAT would be a line - up.

eric ferret

I thought this thread was about banned forum members!!!
Brixlookalike would have got my vote.

onward and beyond....

the current line-up is great so wouldn't want to change anything about it.
having said that, I voted Scanlon / S. Hanley ( although I also loved the two drummer period ).

Can we convert this poll into a petition and pass it on to the men concerned?

Just remember that Scanlon's last contribution was on CC, not a great swansong.

It's obvious that a lot of people also remember the 16 other albums before that that he played on.

Fair enough, but I think the great man was in decline.

I would like Steve Hanley to rejoin. However that bass player that joined PJ Harvey's band was ace when I saw them live a couple of years ago.

Inside story:

i voted for brix and marsha to add a bit of glamour
and to get mark back into that gold shirt and the big boots
can you imagine
brix marsha and eleni together in one band

what a band that would be :wub:

thats the true fall you know, not all of that dour scanlon hanley burns riley malarkey :lol: :lol: :lol:

Concentration on the great music would be hard at gigs though, it would take ninja training to focus on Mark for more than a minute at a time and you would be in disbelief at your new found interest in watching closely how Fall guitar and keyboard lines are played.

Hey, Don't Over-Look dishy Simon Woolstencroft !

Scanlon, Hanley, Woolstencroft and Brix are still my favourite line up.

But their re-unions on Cerebal Caustic and Light User Syndrome disappointed badly, almost to the point that I almost wish they hadn't bothered. Mark's 'failing health' has been mentioned....... :blink: :whistle:

That said, Mike Bennett has got to be the worst Fall producer at the helm. Fookin' Shite! I blame him. He was also behind all that bad feeling with the Receiver Records rip-off compilation (un-necessary) re-issues.....I'm surprised Mark tolerated him. He even produced the worst album of Toyah's career 'Dreamchild' 'nuff said.

i think dennis deyoung should come back and reunite with styx. oops wrong poll

I'd like a Ding Hanley double bass thingy, please. And that American drummer (on RP TLC) whose name I keep forgetting.

We were treated to Brix, Julia and Lucy on that Youtube clip a while back - looked like the fucking Bangles at one point! :o

Hanley and Scanlon for me and to hell with the "past differences"! :D

Marcia Schofield - why on earth not!?
Julia Nagle - see above.
Lucy Rimmer - see above.
Karl Burns - see above.

Voted for Riley cos I think he's a top fella. Don't really care for Brix.

Any of the yanks would be welcome back as they rocked and looked great, even though the album was mostly one to forget.

Actually, Ben is the one that should come back.

Craig Scanlon.
Julia Nagle.

"Dave" - they should give him a second chance.

I say let the granny have a go, before we reinstate anyone!

Bongos!

Hanley for sure, was a toss up between Brix and Scanlon, went for more of the eye candy and poppish ability of Brix :unsure: ... to be hoest, really anyone on the list it would be good to see back somehow. :mellow:

This is a very interesting question. In a way, although I think all on that list contributed great things, their time has come and gone. It would be weird to me if any of them came back, considering the current lineup and sound.

That being said, I voted for Simon Rogers, 'cos he's so weird, and Bramah, because I think he'd be a good foil for Greenway (precision vs. chaos). B)

Yes, some good points there, if they did come back it shouldn't be for some reunion gigs, sure MES wouldn't go for that, :( wonder what kind of music the ones who've been gone for a while either play or write, probably never find out, :unsure: which is okay, keep moving forward.