Grotesque (After the Gramme) is the third studio album by English band the Fall. Released on 17 November 1980, it was the band's first studio album release on the record label Rough Trade. It topped the UK Independent Chart, spending 29 weeks on the chart in total.
This was the first album for drummer Paul Hanley (Steve Hanley's younger brother), who joined the Fall earlier in the year aged 15. Kay Carroll, singer Mark E. Smith's then-girlfriend and the band's manager, played kazoo on "New Face in Hell" and added backing vocals.[2] Grotesque was recorded at Cargo Studios in Rochdale and Street Level in London, with production by the band and Grant Showbiz, Geoff Travis and Mayo Thompson.[3]
The album was preceded by two acclaimed singles, "How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'" and "Totally Wired", which were subsequently included on CD reissues of the album. The colour sleeve (the group's first) was drawn by Smith's sister, Suzanne.[4]
According to the Slates & Dates press release, this album was, at one point, to be titled After the Gramme – The Grotesque Peasants.
