The Fall’s Brooklyn residency canceled as Mark E. Smith needs ‘more rest and recovery’

The Fall’s planned seven-night residency in Brooklyn next year — which were to be the band’s first U.S. dates in more than a decade — has been canceled, as Mark E. Smith continues to recuperate from the health problems that already had forced the rescheduling of those shows.

As Brooklyn Vegan notes, band manager Pam Vander announced the cancellation of the Feb. 19-25 run at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn via Instagram, writing, “Mark is settled and resting up, and we don’t wanna screw that up. Sorry to all/fans/friends in NYC and thanks to venue/promoters etc for the opportunity for The Fall to hit NYC again. We will see you there at some point in the future, but for now, more rest & recovery.”

She also provided a somewhat cryptic statement from Smith himself:  “BACK SOONER THAN LATER PALS!!! M.E.S. Shock House Now, Woodpecker, Peon Son… titles that await!”

Smith’s ill health initially forced the postponement of the Brooklyn shows, which had been planned for September, as well as a headlining slot at the the Cropped Out Festival in Louisville, Ky. Then, in October, Smith returned to the stage in the U.K., strapped into a wheelchair, but still delivering his trademark vocals.

By November, though, the 60-year-old Smith’s health was again an issue following a reported major surgery, and The Fall canceled several planned dates in the U.K. and Portugal.

FALL NOTICE: Another unfortunate announcement here but just to get this out ASAP, The Fall five-date residency (rescheduled) at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, New York (February 2018) is now CANCELLED. Mark & the group are gutted but due to a full year of bad health and time flying by us, we wanna announce the news sooner rather than later. Mark is settled and resting up, and we don’t wanna screw that up. Sorry to all/fans/friends in NYC and thanks to venue/promoters etc for the opportunity for The Fall to hit NYC again. We will see you there at some point in the future, but for now, more rest & recovery. A message from Mark: ‘BACK SOONER THAN LATER PALS!!! M.E.S. Shock House Now, Woodpecker, Peon Son… titles that await!’ Cheers and best wishes for Xmas and beyond, Pam V

A post shared by Pamela Vander (@pamela_vander) on Dec 20, 2017 at 10:34am PST

The Fall tour dates:

Nov. 18: Hard Club, Porto, Portugal
Nov. 29: Fiddler’s Club, Bristol, UK
Nov. 30: Koko, London, UK
Feb. 19: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 20: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 21: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 22: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 23: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 24: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Feb. 25: Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn, NY, USA

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• The Fall’s 7-disc ‘The Singles 1978-2016’ box set to collect 117 A-sides and B-sides
• The Fall postpones rare U.S. concerts to 2018 due to concerns about Mark E. Smith’s health
• A week of The Fall: Mark E. Smith and Co. extend Brooklyn residency to 7 nights
• The Fall returns to America for 5-night Brooklyn residency, Kentucky festival
• The Fall to release ‘New Facts Emerge’ — band’s 32nd studio album — in July