Saint posted:I'm amazed he made it to 60
Described as a musical genius in some reports, lol
He wasn't, his 'fame' if you can call it that, came from his behaviour (turbulent and antagonistic, to be kind) and longevity.
Can anyone - other than EC name a hit, a song, an album - hum a melody??
Nope?
He was notorious in musical circles, nothing more
And i'd go so far to say he joins that list of men that can only be seen as 'failures' at life - along with the likes of Kurt Cobain and Alex Higgins.
I would hardly describe him and his band as musical genius', but they did plough a fairly unique furrow, loved by many, many people. Not a band for churning out chart 'pap', but having a sound you could say was 'The Fall'. Not your run of the mill band leader, but then again, Sun Ra was similar in his band leadership.
I could hardly call him a failure, but I do note you seem to have picked three example of people with some form of dependency, I'm surprised you did not lump in George Best. Having an addiction does not make one a failure Saint.
...and finally, on the subject of Mark E Smith being a failure, could you list all of the books you have written, the plays, the film adaptations, the music albums or anything in the creative arts.
Just can't see why you seemed to have taken a massive dislike to Smith especially as you seem to know so little about him and his work except what you have just read today.