Quick Facts
Biography
Steve Hanley (born 29 May 1959) 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 song's instrumental melody. Hanley is second only to founding vocalist Mark E. Smith in longevity in The Fall.
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 wrote the music for over 100 Fall songs on more than a dozen albums; including the notable 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", "U.S. 80's-90's", "Carry Bag Man", "Jerusalem", "Van Plague?", "Yes, O Yes", "Bad News Girl" and "Free Range", through to "Bill is Dead"; which is both his and Smith's favourite Fall song.
With Peter Hook, Andy Rourke and Gary Mounfield, Hanley is 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 "The Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall" was published to widespread acclaim for its frank honesty and dry humour. He is currently a member of the critically and fan acclaimed Brix & The Extricated.
Career
In 1976 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. 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 joined The Lovers in 2001, a group fronted by Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets. Both these bands also featured Paul Hanley, Steve's brother. 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, was published by Route publishers on 15 September 2014He is currently a member of Brix & The Extricated alongside brother Paul, Steve Trafford and Jason Brown.
His 2016 biography "The Big Midweek: Life Inside the Fall" was met with critical acclaim.