Having gone through over sixty band members, a definitive biography of The Fall would be as ill-conceived as trying to define the band's founder, Mark E. Smith. If you're looking for a paint-by-numbers chronicle of where he drank, or what he said to people, this isn't it. This is a book about the Fall collective – or more precisely, their world.

It's a grade A lesson in how to crank your middle finger up to the world and keep it there for 40-odd years.

Brimming with vibrant Fall artefacts from fans – including notes, stickers, posters, artwork and beer mats – it's a must-have for Mark E. Smith enthusiasts and anyone else who wants to take a peep into the remarkable world of this truly original group.

Bolstered by a diverse cohort of contributors, including architectural historian Elain Harwood, Scottish dancer Michael Clark and Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley, Excavate! really encapsulates what the group represented. It's a post-punk treasure trove.

Published by Faber.