Steve Hanley (musician)


Stephen Hanley is an Irish-born English musician who grew up in and lives in Manchester. He was the bass guitarist in the Fall from 1979 to 1998, and his distinctive and muscular basslines were a signature part of their sound, often carrying the songs' instrumental melodies. He is currently a member of Brix & the Extricated with guitarist and vocalist Brix Smith Start.
Hanley was a foundational Fall member, second only to Mark E. Smith in longevity in the band. With Peter Hook, Andy Rourke and Gary Mounfield, he is widely considered one of the pre-eminent bassists of his generation. He has always been very private and rarely interviewed; for this reason his 2014 autobiography was highly anticipated, and was met with widespread acclaim for its frank honesty and dry, no nonsense humour.

Career

In 1978 he played in the Sirens alongside Marc Riley and Craig Scanlon. When Riley left to join the Fall, they became Staff 9, but disbanded when Hanley and Scanlon joined the Fall themselves in 1979. During the first half of the 1980s, Hanley's brother Paul was also a member of the Fall, playing drums and keyboards.
In a late 80s interview, Smith said that "the most original aspect of The Fall is Steve...I've never heard a bass player like him. He is The Fall sound." Hanley co-wrote the music for over 100 Fall songs on more than a dozen albums; including the tracks "Rowche Rumble", "Fiery Jack", "Container Drivers", "Lie Dream of a Casino Soul", "Totally Wired", "Winter", "The N.W.R.A.", "To Nkroachment: Yarbles", "I Am Damo Suzuki", "Jerusalem", "Van Plague?", "Yes, O Yes", and "Free Range", through to "Bill is Dead," which is both his and Smith's favourite Fall song. Steve Hanley left the Fall in April 1998 following an onstage altercation in New York, which also resulted in the departures of longtime drummer Karl Burns and guitarist Tommy Crooks. Smith regretted the row and asked Hanley to return, but the bassist declined.
Following his departure from the Fall, he formed Ark with Burns, Crooks and former Creepers bassist Pete Keogh, the band releasing the album Brainsold in 2002, and joined the Lovers in 2001, a group fronted by Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets. Both these bands also featured Paul Hanley. The Lovers released two albums, Abba Are the Enemy, released in 2004, and Highlights which was released in March 2008. The band split amicably in 2012.
He was briefly a member of fellow ex-Fall member Martin Bramah's group Factory Star, as was his brother Paul Hanley. "The Big Midweek" a book chronicling Hanley's time in the Fall, written by him with Olivia Piekarski, released by Route Publishing on 15 September 2014. He is currently a member of Brix & The Extricated alongside brother Paul, Steve Trafford and Jason Brown.
His 2014 autobiography was met with critical acclaim.

Discography

AlbumDate of releaseLabel
Dragnet26 October 1979Step Forward Records
Grotesque 17 November 1980Rough Trade Records
Slates27 April 1981Rough Trade Records
Hex Enduction Hour8 March 1982Kamera Records
Room to Live27 September 1982Kamera Records
Perverted By Language12 December 1983Rough Trade Records
The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall8 October 1984Beggars Banquet Records
This Nation's Saving Grace23 September 1985Beggars Banquet Records
Bend Sinister29 September 1986Beggars Banquet Records
The Frenz Experiment29 February 1988Beggars Banquet Records
I Am Kurious, Oranj31 October 1988Beggars Banquet Records
Extricate19 February 1990Phonogram
Shift-Work22 April 1991Phonogram
23 March 1992Phonogram
The Infotainment Scan26 April 1993Permanent Records
Matador Records
Middle Class Revolt3 May 1994Permanent Records
Cerebral Caustic27 February 1995Permanent Records
The Light User Syndrome10 June 1996Jet Records
Levitate29 September 1997Artful Records