The Fall star Mark E Smith dies at home aged 60

The Fall’s Mark E Smith has died at the age of 60.

The singer-songwriter, who co-founded the post-punk group at just 19, passed away on Wednesday morning.

Smith’s partner Pam Vander, who is also the band’s manager, said in a statement: “It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E Smith.

“He passed this morning at home.

“A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days.

“In the meantime, Pam & Mark’s family request privacy at this sad time.”

Vander, who previously used the stage name Pam Van Damned, said in a message posted on Twitter that it was “the day I’ve been dreading”.

Further details have not been given but last year the band were forced to cancel a string of shows due to the musician’s ill health.

A message on the band’s website in August cancelling gigs in the US said it was “due mostly to terrible timing, reality and a mix of bizarre and rare (true to form) medical issues that Mark is currently being treated for”.

It continued: “Unfortunately it would be a gamble on his health to fly anywhere over the next couple of months. Mark’s current problems are connected to his throat, mouth/dental & respiratory system… so throwing all the meds together and continuing with the travel/shows would certainly harm any progress that we have made over the past few weeks.”

Simon Wolstencroft, bandmate and drummer with The Fall, told the BBC: “(He was) a very good friend to me. He really looked after me in my 11-year tenure with the band, from (1986) and through (1997).

“Always made me laugh, and what an iconic singer to have worked for. I’m very saddened by the news, although it’s not totally unexpected at this point, because we heard he was very ill.

The musician said of Smith’s impact: “Basically, (Radio 1 DJ John Peel) played the band all the time and I was lucky enough to do a lot of Radio 1 sessions with him. It’s just so sad, really.

“Of course, his influences travel a long, long way to bands like Pulp, and new bands now like Cabbage, and many other bands have been influenced by him. It’s a sad day.”

Asked why the former drummer lasted so long in the band, Wolstencroft said: “(11 years) was a long time but Mark had a mutual respect for myself which is why I lasted so long. And he was a funny guy, very intelligent, and of course, his lyrics superb.

“I think he veered away from the mainstream deliberately all along. When computer technology came out, he didn’t really want to know about that. He just wanted to write down what he’d been thinking about and what he thought about people.

“Just recently, his interviews have been the most entertaining thing about Mark, rather than the actual band. He’s always got a good quote and some of it’s true, some of it not quite so true, but I always enjoyed listening to his interview after I’ve left the band.”

DJ Rob Da Bank was among those to pay tribute to Smith, calling him a “legend”.

He said on Twitter: “Oh no..devastated to hear that Mark E Smith has died… The Fall played at Bestival and Camp Bestival..once after I’d spent an hour in their portakabin persuading a tipsy Mark that going on after the naked @cubanbrothers would make sense..legend! RIP .”

Jeremy Vine tweeted: “Mark E Smith – one of the greatest rock stars ever produced by this country. The last time I saw The Fall, in 2017, he felt unwell on stage and sang all the songs from inside his dressing room.”

Simone Butler of Primal Scream posted a message on Twitter saying: “Thanku for the music.”