A local, acclaimed artist has said he feels he has done Salford music legend, Mark E Smith, proud with his latest artwork mural honouring of his legacy.
The family, friends and fans of a Salfordian punk music legend came together today to honour Mark E Smith during the unveil of a new public artwork on the side of a building in Broughton.
Mark E Smith, who was from Broughton was the founder and frontman of influential post-punk band, The Fall.
He was known by many for his distinctive voice, uncompromising creativity and unique perspective. Mark went on to become one of the most influential figures in British Alternative music.
Before he sadly passed away in January 2018, he released more than 30 albums and inspired generations of artists and musicians around the world.
The large-scale ceramic and glass mural to honour him was created by Mark Kennedy, a talented artist who was once a friend of Mark.
The artwork took around 18 months for Kennedy to piece together and he says ‘it’s the best feeling’ now it’s finished and he feels he has ‘done him proud.’
Mark has many memorable memories of Mark and their friendship and says the tribute has been an ‘honour’.
He said: “My favourite memory of Mark was Christmas Eve, I was waiting for, I was watching the TV and he had a big gate in front of the house and it had a big fence and a gate in the corner.
“It was about six foot and I just saw a hand come over it looking for the bolt and I left it for about 15 minutes of him at just his hand looking for the bolt and when he found it, he came in and he had a big carrier bag of beer and we sat down and drank it and then as he was leaving he just put his hand in his pocket and gave me an envelope full of money and said thanks for the artwork.”
Mark Kennedy studied Visual Arts and Culture at the University of Salford. He’s well known for creating mosaic art and has other projects across Greater Manchester.
This particular artwork in Lower Broughton is based on a photograph taken by Kennedy on a walk through Heaton Park with Mark E Smith following a meeting about artwork for The Fall’s Your Future Our Clutter album.
Mark holds a buttercup beneath his chin in the photo, a reference to the traditional childhood game asking whether someone likes butter.
The mural beautifully celebrates a true Salford original and will continue to remind the community of the emerging talent the city has to offer.
The unveil of the mural saw a crowd full of fans, friends and family reminiscing over the musician.
Mark’s sister, Caroline attended the event to see the artwork reveal dedicated to her beloved brother.
As she stood, kissing her hand and touching the mural she repeated to the crowd: “I miss him so much.”
Mark remains to still have a strong fan base of The Fall, after all these years. One fan, Steve Titley, honoured the musician today, all the way from China.
Steve was sad to miss out on the event, due to being in China for a wedding.
He says it reminded him of a time many years ago when Mark was playing a gig in Greater Manchester but he missed out due to a romantic getaway in Paris.
Today he found himself wishing to be there, like many moons ago.
Steve wishes he found Mark’s music earlier on in his life, so he got to enjoy it for a longer time.
He now works for Salford City Council as well as running a show called Church Of the Fall which he was inspired to create after regretting not finding out about him sooner.
Steve said: “He was very, very funny.
“You never knew what he was going to do, it was never predicable. He knew he was putting on a show, it was great.
“He was born in Salford, so he’s very important to the people here. I think Salford gets overlooked a bit and people confuse him with his own identity.
“He was always very keen to point out that he was from Salford.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett shared a few words about the importance of reminding the Salford community of Mark E Smith with the mural.
He said: Mark E Smith is a fantastic artist, writer, poet that has contributed so much to life in our city and it’s right and proper I think that as a city council and as a city mayor in our 100 years that we pay homage to the people that have contributed to so much to the life of the city.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants, people who’ve given so much and for me to try and immortalise them in this way through artwork and working with local artists today is really so important.
If you want to go and see the artwork it is located on the side of a building at the junction of Lower Broughton Road and Great Clowes Street.
