The Fall lose 3 members

The Unofficial Fall Website is reporting that post-punk act the Fall has seen the departure of Ben Pritchard, Spencer Birtwistle and Steven Trafford. Apparently singer/founder Mark Smith was involved in a scuffle with Justin Williams, singer of opening band the Talk, involving a banana peel being thrown at Smith in the middle of the Fall's set on Sunday May 7th. After this, and technical difficulties with keyboardist Eleni Poulou's equipment, Smith cut the set short and left the stage. Compounded with supposed abuses of the rest of the by Smith, the three members decided it was time to leave the group. According to eyewitnesses, Poulou came back on stage to explain her husband's actions, which a community member fortuitously captured and is available for download. The Talk, who's singer apparently started the fiasco with his banana tossing, has responded to the situation:

...what you don't understand is the band was quitting anyway you're lucky they played as long as they did they played for less than that a few days ago mark is a dick and his band hates him and his wife they flew home tonight without him even knowing he pulled a corkscrew on steven the bass player poured beer and ashed on their tour managers head while he was driving and tonight was his last show as well and they weren't even going to play tonight but we asked them to do it for us so don't be a dick unless you know what's going on thanks....

The three departed members are set to be replaced for the rest of the tour by members of the Cairo Gang. Pitchfork Media also has an eyewitness account posted.