If you’re into your meteorology, then today’s the first day of autumn. If you’re not, then you’ve got almost another three weeks of the summer to look forward to. Regardless of how you measure your seasons the end of the year is still a long way off.

What does this have to do with Madness? Well, this week rumours reached us of Madness being booked to play in Dublin this New Year’s Eve. If performed at the right time this could effectively see the band take part in their last gig of 2013 and their first of 2014.

The gig has sort of been confirmed by one of the band, but the full announcement with regards to venue has yet to be revealed. It’s likely that it’ll be the main Countdown Concert in the centre.

As always, if we hear anything further we’ll be sure to let you know.

In the meantime, the band are booked for a whole stack of gigs over September, October and November so as fans there’s much to look forward to.

Enjoy the read,

Jon Young, Liz Hazelby, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts

SHOWTIMES

See below for all forthcoming Madness and Madness related gigs and events. If there’s something we’ve missed off or you feel should be added then please let us know.

Madness

September 14th, Madness play Free at Applepop Holland.  21.25pm at The hoofdapodium – http://www.appelpop.nl/

September 15th Rockhal, Belval, Luxembourg
September 16th L’Olympia, Paris, France
September 22nd Northants CCC, UK
September 28th Alexandra Palace, London, UK

October 12th Esprit Arena, Duesseldorf, Germany

November 22nd – 25th House Of Fun Weekender, Minehead, UK

*** NEW *** December 31st – Dublin *** UNCONFIRMED ***

For tickets see links via: www.madness.co.uk

Suggs Live

Suggs My Life Story, the West End of London December Run.

http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/garrick-theatre/suggs_my_life_story_in_words_and_music

December 1st     – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 8th     – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 15th  – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 22nd  – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

September 7th, Meatopia, Wapping (www.meatopia.co.uk)

October 2nd Brighton, Concorde 2
October 3rd Cardiff, Globe
October 4th St Albans, Arena
October 5th Norwich, Waterfront
October 18th Ipswich, Corn Exchange
October 25th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
October 31st (Halloween)  Jazz Cafe, Camden Town.

November 1st, Komedia, Bath
November 8th, headlining the Friday of Specialized, The Big One 2, Parkdean, Sandford, Dorset

See ticket links via: www.ltso.mis-online.net

Deaf School

Saturday, 19th October, Liverpool, East Village Arts Club
Thursday 24th October, Jazz Café, Camden Town, Book Launch

More info at: http://deafschoolmusic.com

Cathal Mo Chroi

Friday September 13th. – Part of The Number 6 Festival. Portmeirion Wales. First airing of solo songs, at The Town Hall, in a slot run by composer Joe Duddell adding strings and harp to the songs.

BUY IT NOW

If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.

Pre- Order The Magic Brothers Single.

The debut Magic Brothers single “You Don’t Have to Hide Your Love Away” is now available to pre order on iTunes.  The single mix is a slightly different EQ to the album version of the track – The Vocals are a little higher in the mix.

Pre-order it now.  It’s out September 2nd.

The Liberty Of Norton Folgate – Reissue on Salvo

This edition is retailing at just over £5.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Liberty-Of-Norton-Folgate/dp/B00DB51OTM/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1

Fu Man Chu 7” Single

Fu Man Chu has been made into a 7 inch vinyl single. Pressed as a limited run, and licensed for sale, it’s predominately created for the DJ Japan market. But ,if you want to grab one phone Rads on 07940293945 to confirm and you’ll be given the address to send money to.

£4.50 for one £7.50 for 2. Basically £3 each plus postage. Cheque to R Shand.

Pre-Order Available – Take it or Leave it Re-release With Soundtrack CD

Following the sell-out of the Gogglebox box set, the Madness movie has been sadly unavailable. From October 7th it’s back, thanks to those lovely people at Salvo sound and vision.

This is being re-released for the first time with a nearly complete soundtrack CD of all the tracks from the movie, including a couple of old rock and roll numbers by the original artists. Namely Fat’s Domino, and The Four Tops, along with all of  Madness’s tracks which are heard throughout the movie.

There’s new packaging for this re-release which will be available from music stores and online outlets, for under a tenner. This release also and contains a booklet containing information about the film.

Mad Not Mad Fanzine – Summer 2013 Edition

Reviewed in issue 743 of the MIS, this latest edition of Ian Taylor’s Madness/Ska-zine spans a whopping 70 plus pages and features a CD covermount in the form of “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”, by Too Many Crooks.

Priced at a mere £5 delivered (for UK readers. Those oversees will need to check), this is amazing value for money and is absolutely bursting with content.

For order enquiries and more information, you can contact Ian Taylor of Mad Not Mad at bige70@blueyonder.co.uk

Hopefully, the bigger response Ian gets the less of a wait we’ll have until the next issue surfaces!

MIS FEATURE

MIS Presents – Jak’s Nightclub, Butlins, Minehead, House of Fun Weekender

12 weeks this Sunday it’s Side-Show-Time for us at MIS as we take over Jak’s Nightclub venue on the Sunday Afternoon/Evening of The House Of Fun Weekender.

3 live bands, 4 DJ shows. Fan fun in Jaks nightclub venue. Hope to see you there. Those of you that stay on the Sunday round it off with this additional fun.

https://www.facebook.com/events/661809580496133/

Jak’s nightclub (the venue at the back of the big top next to the arcade) is ours on the Sunday afternoon to evening. For one Sunday instead of bringing you a packed newsletter of items we will be filling a stage with joyous things instead, celebrating the fun had. (Note: Those who can’t attend – don’t panic as we will have an issue of the MIS out that night, also)

THE INFLATABLES

We’ve Oxfords finest playing a solid hour of great classic reggae covers for us. The Harder They Skank, the Hot Hot Hotter it gets and the more you Enjoy Yourself. It’s our headliners The Inflatables, with a dance party of great tunes selected for you by us. You’ll be sure to end your weekend in style. They are even helping us pay homage to a lesser-known moment in proto-madness history with the help of our special guest spot singer, Darren Fordham from The Ska Orchestra.

MR Scurf’s Koast Train (Live)

Before them we return the mirth of Mr Scurf’s Koast Train to the shores of Minehead for a big live broad cat. Meow. Sorry, that should say broadcast, our weekender reviews and a great live radio ska show will this time fill a stage in Jaks, and go out live on Koast Radio on the internet. www.koastradio.co.uk. There will be name that choo-choo tune with the nutty professor and we’ve even an exciting guest cameo moment with Andy Keys Clark if there is Time.  Mr Scurf will be aided by 400 clones all called Dickinson.

Shut Up

Garry and the boys from the North East descend on Minehead with their band Shut Up. They’ll be playing a short set of their nutty original penned songs, such as Just Desserts. Yum yum. Goodbye Mr Apple Pie and Hello candy floss Butlins.

Indeed

In something of a delightful coup, we are also importing from France, celebrated band Indeed. A group to whom Suggs once gave the title of “best band to cover a Madness song” no less.  In the afternoon in grand pantalonlike atmospherics they will perform their cover of The Sun and the Rain, as well as a half hour set of original penned tunes one of which may contain nuts.

DJ SETS –  POP baSTARds with Jonathan F Young,  Owen Collins from Insanity Radio, Introducing Patrick Clifford

We’ve DJ sets additionally, as Jonathan F Young presents POP baSTARds, the worst thing your ears will ever see, as we dig up the pop charts crimes against Madness and question The House of Fun?. Prepare for sliced cheese with mould. While intrepid airwaves adventurer Owen Collins has a more pleasing set of tunes from a man who’s gone loco for insanity radio marathons, he’ll be serving up the biscuits his way, and we introduce new comer Patrick Clifford to the decks with a no nonsense Essexy approach to tunes. Over all 50% of our record playing will be Madness and related. The obscure and much loved but lesser heard at gigs type of tracks, will get a public airing through our PA system set up by a loving sound-man.

That’s MIS Presents. 4 till 10.30pm Sunday in Jaks nightclub. Completely free and for the fans, as always. Just a little bonus fun added into your full  house weekender, which will announce it’s own proper mainstay lineup across the three packed days of live acts soon, including those full on real Madness sets etc shortly and more.  This is our side-show-time. Hope to see you there.

Jonathan F Young

I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN

This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby, goes back 5 years to issue 487, and the week of Sunday 31st August to Saturday 6th September 2008, and then back 10 years to issue 225 and the week of Sunday 31st August to Saturday 6th September 2003.

5 years ago…

Issue 487 – Sunday 31st August to Saturday 6th September 2008

You’d had your chance, you’d been sent reminders, but today was the day when MIS/MTR subscriber Paul Muscat said “Enough is enough”, and he stopped accepting entries for the 2008 Mad Chart.

A good three of four months in the making, the timescale to submit entries for the 2008 chart has been the longest running yet, and with around 180 songs to choose from the Madness back catalogue, you could be sure that the final results wouldl be well worth the wait.

We had a feeling that the results would get the fanbase talking, and would possibly raise a few eyebrows. We were sure that we’d be in for an interesting couple of weeks ahead.

On to the articles, and we reported that the one and only Dave Robinson had been presented with the coveted Mojo Medal. Presented by Phil Jupitus, the award was issued on June 16th, but we’d only just found out about it, thanks to the team at news.co.uk.

Next, and busy with terrible puns, and fake Victorian Fossard songs, it seemed we’d forgotten to include the lyrics to two new Madness songs – ‘On The Town’, and ‘Dust Devil’. Thankfully, Graham Yates and Lee Buckley had rectified this little omission and lyrics to both tracks were printed in this very issue.

Moving on, and taking a well earned breather between Tour Madness updates, TM editor, Jermaine, was here with a collection of Dutch related Madness news snippets and tidbits, ranging from news of a New Wave version of It Must be Love to One Step Beyond being used on an episode of Footballers’ Wives.

Over to Nutty Radio next, and it was here that we reviewed the first 60 minute episode of Adam Nicholls’ Madness-tinged internet radio station. Despite this being the first ever show and very much a test, 12 listeners tuned in and listened from start to finish. Not bad for the first airing, and we hoped that more shows would follow.

Jonathan Young commented at the time;

“This Try-out show was an interesting new idea. It proved that the technology works and that the hard set up work paid off. That people are interested in it. That Adam can front a show well, and will improve with practice. It highlighted some of the issues that can help improve future broadcasts. Such as the level between broadcast volume of voice and music, the thought that some people might listen using headphones. Crackling voice issues. What is the best satisfactory run time, for a show like this? And thoughts about how scripted it should or shouldn’t be. Along with myriad potential future directions to take with content”

Next it was competition time, where we gave you the chance to win a copy of an extended edition of Record Collector magazine. The extended part came in the form of an MIS review of the Hackney gig which would be included as an insert, and could be compared against the magazine’s own write-up. Most odd.

To be in with a chance of winning this special prize you simply had to answer the following question;

If Madness wrote a song about Record Collecting what would they title it?

We brought this issue to a close with a reminder that if all went to plan, next week’s issue would see the start of Paul Muscat’s latest version of the Madchart appear in the MIS. The results would be drip-fed to us over the coming weeks, culminating in the reveal of the top ten favourite Madness tracks as voted for by fans.

10 years ago…

Issue 225 – Sunday 31st August to Saturday 7th September 2003.

With the previous couple of issues tending to be a little on the lean side it was nice to see that suddenly news had ramped back up, and we were once again able to push out a packed MIS.

We started off the issue with the latest news surrounding the forthcoming Madness Weekender. With less than four weeks to go until the big event Vince Carden gave those people who had put their namesdown the wonderful news that the hotel in Great  Yarmouth was like a five star establishment compared to the dump used for Blackpool (and a dump which would once again get used some 4 years later in 2007).

Moving on, and the next article really raised a few eyebrows when it landed some ten years ago.

According to Andrew Fisher of The Sun newspaper Cathal Smyth’s brother, Brendan decided he was going to claim £500 from Madness tribute act ‘Ultimate Madness’, for using Madness’ walk, over the past 12 months. Then, going forward, he wanted £100 per performance.

But the Birmingham based band – started by saxophone player Jason Reynolds – have vowed to fight the demands.

Jason, 30, of Great Barr, Birmingham, said: “Madness are our heroes but this is a real kick in the teeth. The walk is only a small part of the performance.

It’s daft. We only earn about £600 a gig, so we’re hardly making millions from copying them”.

Brandon Davis Publishers spokesman Tony Martin, acting on behalf of Mr Smyth, confirmed: “Brendan owns the copyright to the dance and is demanding payment for its use”.

Following the publication of the link to this article on the Madness Trading Ring, Suggsy of Madness tribute group `First Step Below` decided a response was needed…

“I normally keep very quite in this forum but I am 100% gob smacked by this (and those that know me will say and not much can do that). This time I couldn’t help but put fingers to keyboard. I would like to pass on that 1StepBelow are 100% behind Ultimate and all the tributes should stand united and help fight this silly claim. Although we don’t do the walk in our show it’s a matter of principle.

We all work very hard for very little gain, and often crowd participation is our only reward, taking into account that many of us supported the boys during the early days and remember spending my paper round money on them.

And our stage shows are just a continuation of our respect and support. Although I am pretty sure that the Nutty Boys didn’t instigate this they should support us as we support them.

Maybe John Cleese should sue Brendan Davis Publishers And then Hitler could sue John Cleese or something equally as stupid.

If Brendan Davis Publishers would like to get in touch maybe I can find them some proper work that would look better on their balance sheets”.

Thankfully, even the band thought it was a daft claim, with Lee Thompson commenting that it was ridiculous.

Moving back to the forthcoming Madness Weekender, and Cheryl decided to tease all those down to attend, by listing just some of the goodies available in auction, due to take place in Great Yarmouth.

Masses of signed items were available for bidding on, including Woody’s drumsticks, vote for Fred flyers, various issues of Nut Inc, and much, much more.

Finally, we finished off this week’s issue with news that the forthcoming Christmas tour had proven to be so popular that an extra date had been added, and it was one that the Irish Maddies were especially pleased with, as on the 6th of December the tour would kick off at Dublin’s ‘The Point’.

Rob Hazelby

LIVE AND INTENSIFIED

Reviews and write-ups of live gigs. You’ll find them here.

Craig Charles Fantaty Weekender

[A] superb evening at the Fantasy Weekender in Bristol last night with a great set from the Ska Orchestra. Craig Charles gave them a crackin’ intro and the crowd, consisting of mainly trannies & students, loved it.

Craig was a wonderful host and totally appreciative of everyone that played. The video shows him coming on stage with the album, reading out the title and telling everyone to buy it and that LTSO were some of his favourite people. Really nice.

http://youtu.be/K6jsrYt8EJ4

The gig itself was a cracker and well attended by the various crowds who were dancing to DJ’s in other parts of the building. No surprises to the setlist, Guns, Bangarang, Heatwave, EST, Fu Manchu, Hello Josephine, Soon You’ll Be Gone, Mission Impossible, and a sort of encore of Broadway Jungle.

Craig Charles gave them a cracking intro which I had the luck of recording on video attached to Guns Fever (I’ll be uploading them all to Youtube ) and all in all the gig went well. There was a fair bit of feedback but I think this was down to the sound guys plugging in one of the cables wrong according to Bob. It was a lot better to listen to than Sheffield however.

A very funny moment during the gig was when this woman dressed like Dolly Parton (huge plastic bosoms) stood at the front to get Thommo’s attention which he gave her briefly but didn’t really bother because he thought she was a man. She kept shouting to him that she was a girl, lifting her sunglasses up off her face but he didn’t take any notice – she was quite taken aback!!

Mr Charles was happily walking around the crowds outside talking to everyone, which is where I got the photo. In fact, I didn’t see him backstage at all which just goes to show how nice he is. I showed him my photo of him with me at an event earlier in the year and he said “Oh yeah, I remember, do you want another one?” – whatta guy

I got to chat to Spider (who was drummer at this gig, also the bass played was the guy from the church gig in Barnet earlier this year) and Thommo and also they’ve got something planned recording-wise in Brighton over the next couple of days apparently, they both seemed pretty sure about it.

Looby Loo

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Various articles that have caught our eye over the past week or so…

Madness to Headline Second Blackpool Concert

Iconic British chart toppers Madness will complete the line-up for Blackpool’s first ever Illuminations Switch-On Weekend.

Madness front man Suggs said he is looking forward to playing at a unique and quintessentially British landmark. Suggs said: “Madness in Blackpool? With illuminations? What a combination! We’ll definitely be wearing our sunglasses on stage for this one.”

Full article at the ITV.com web site:
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2013-08-31/madness-to-headline-second-blackpool-concert/

Nick Woodgate Guests on Koast Train

This week it was the turn of the other Magic Brother, Nick Woodgate, to grace the airwaves of Mr Scurf’s Koast Train.

Nick spoke about his life with his brother, early bands, and the genesis of The Magic Brothers Album. For those of you who missed it here is the interview in full. Thanks to Darren Dixon for the recording….

http://youtu.be/Et1Vxl2supo

Northants Telegraph – WOW 24 7

In a lead up to the northants gig  Suggs is the star interview with Anna Brosnan.

In a chat that covers the usual topics from Buckingham to Finsbury earthquakes and the choice of set lists, the most interesting question is surely just this,

and one that fans are starting to ask now that the Oui Oui era edges closer the end of it’s run.

But what does the future hold?

Suggs said. “We have no plans to retire, it must be somewhere on the horizon but I can’t see it just yet.  As long as we are enjoying ourselves and the knees hold up we will keep going.”

TWEETS OF A DOVE

Random wafflings from Chris’ Cupboard, Twitter and Facebook.

Suggs @suggsmcpherson
“Yes indeed, the pool of black! Great people, the sun shone, met the mayor AND saw the illuminations. BPL!”
“The last time I went to Blackpool [I] took my kids to see the lights in July. We waited and waited. Then they came on! In August. Well, how was I etc…”
“Never mind the football, forget the book, DJing done and dusted, off to sunny Blackpool and illumination. We’re on at 5!”

Chas Smash via Facebook
Flew in to Manchester and drove to Blackpool. The stage was just by the Blackpool Tower and I arrived around 3 of the clock to Suggs having some rather fine Fish & Chips in the coach which was our dressing room…well I had to have some as well, how could I resist? Though it just wouldn’t be quite proper without the addition of some Curry Sauce and Mushy Peas.. very, very nice indeed.

It was a beautiful afternoon with seagulls in the clear blue sky. The sun shone and the breeze brought with it a lovely fresh scent of the snot green scrotum tightening sea. Blackpool don’t you just love it. I almost went for a swim (he lied)

Regarding the show. The reason for being there. To celebrate the turning on of the famous Blackpool Illuminations. I am running out of ways to describe how lovely the audience were. We seem to attract a very positive crowd. You are all really good natured folk and you lot to my left on the balcony gave me a smile or too. In future wear name tags. Getting to know you, getting to know you so well.

Once again seeing the happiness on so many faces. What a buzz. Quite frankly my view is that Madness are the working man’s Pink Floyd. We are a bright shining virus of joy. Some kind of therapy. Give us an audience for an hour and the virus of joy is injected and happiness abounds. Amazing and I have to tell you we are all very happy indeed. What a pleasure it was today. The fish & chips tasted great and with the curry sauce being so good on my chips I never got round to the mushy peas. Maybe next time…….

The Fish & Chip Parade

coming to your town soon

with

salt

vinegar

&

love

Chas

x

Cathal Mo Chroi
This week release, a video excerpt from a track Love Song Number 7, which sounded like a classical piano arrangement of the old (crack in the pavement tune) he wrote…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD5mSktEPLg

My home is the nest of my dreams & the shelter of my imagination. It is my sanctuary & my solace. The music in this film is an excerpt from Love song No.7, it was shot in my home & on the island of Ibiza.

As well as announcing the names of 5 tracks that will be on his solo album…. More on those in a future MIS.

This project began when I wrote two songs: “Are the Children Happy” & ” Love Song No.7″ in April 2005. I had just separated from my wife and as the saying goes I was feeling the feelings. When the words & music came I felt two things, one that I had truly found my voice and the other that I really was an artist. The songs were cathartic, so very personal and came directly from my heart. If songs can contain a moment, can capture the emotions. Then these two songs contain how I felt then.

I had left my family home for the last time and saying it hurt doesn’t quite cover the emotional turbulence that consumed my every day. I decided that I would wait five years until I recorded and send them to her. I wanted to give time. Time to allow things to settle.

So time moved on. I moved on & everything changed. I lived, experienced, loved & wrote more songs. One song “A Comfortable Man” is autobiographical and that’s the name of this song cycle. It’s been a while, in fact its been quite a journey yet there’s no rush. Next year I will release these as an album. That will be 9 years since inception. I like the number 9.

At Festival No 6 with the help of the magnificent, charming & talented Joe Duddell who will be conducting his String section with a Harpist in the beauty of the Town Hall. I will perform some of these songs.

The world belongs to the patient man.

“A Comfortable Man” has been in the works for some time. I live in Ibiza and have a studio at home. I am lucky to have a baby grand Bosendorfer piano which is quite the most beautiful instrument a joy to play & takes pride of place. Its a Mac set up, very simple but does what’s required.

The songs were produced and some recorded by Charlie Andrew both in ibiza and London. Charlie had much acclaim after producing the Mercury Award winner Alt J. So he’s hot at the moment and I am fortunate to work with him. His lovely wife Kirsty arranged strings, and sung on a few tracks making an excellent contribution. A lovely couple and very talented.

Others have contributed in the process of bringing these songs to light in the first days of arriving on the island Felix Quine the son of Charlotte a good friend of mine and a terrific qualified mid wife came over from Brighton and helped set things up and was in house engineer for some significant time. Felix, tolerated me, got into chess and reading more, was great company, helped me with the demoing of most of the songs and The Wrens Burial and A Requiem For Common Sense were recorded by him and appear on the album with added Strings by Kirsty Charlie’s wife. Paul Powell also engineered and programmed in the studio and also played bass on a few of the tracks.

A true & cool brother and friend who is enthusiastic selfless & a truly talented musician. Henry Sarmiento III who runs Sonic Vista Mastering Studio here on the island is another dude who has been invaluable in helping with the studio in introducing me to Dylan who is now in the chair in the studio is a most intelligent and passionate young man and a major asset to my reality. The calibre of those who I have been graced to meet and work with has been an adventure that continues to challenge, stimulate and reward. The Gods are smiling. Love to all x

Peace

Cathal

TIME…

We’re almost done for this week, but before we go we’ve got a few last minute bits we couldn’t slot in anywhere else in this issue.

Returning the favour, Lee Thompson and backing singer Darren joined Bitty Mclean at his gig at the Jazz Café, launching his new album, this week. The vocalists guested in versions of Fu Man Chu and Bangarang.

Darren Fordham commented “Well, that was strange. 20 years ago I bought ‘It Keeps Raining’ by Bitty McLean and tonight at the Jazz Café he was calling me up on stage with him. Funny how things turn out, eh?”

Next, and you may recall that in last week’s issue the one hour long, Magic Brothers Meet at the Dublin Castle, which is due to take place between noon and 1pm on the day of the Ally Pally gig.

The Facebook group for the event is already proving popular, with 85 fans already confirmed as going. If you’d like more information or simply want to confirm your attendance then get along to;

https://www.facebook.com/events/230333307110466

And finally, here’s Madness taking part in the Blackpool Illuminations switch on – in the sunshine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZownxhQjOM&feature=youtu.be

Until next week, take care,

Simon Roberts, Jon Young, Liz Hazelby, Rob Hazelby

(With thanks to Looby Loo)