MIS ONLINE – The Madness Information Service Online Newsletter
Issue Number: 906 – Sunday 18^th September to Saturday 24^th September 2016
Web: www.mis-online.net | Twitter: @MIS_Online |LinkedIn: Click here

 

Hello, and a very warm welcome to the latest issue of the MIS Online Bulletin.

In this edition we have an exclusive list of the song writing credits for the forthcoming new album, courtesy of a Mr. Woody Woodgate. If you wanted to see who was behind which track, now’s your chance!

Now, you may have noticed that the latest (series 49!) of Later With Jools Holland has just got underway on BBC2. This coming week, both the Tuesday and Friday showings of episode two feature the one and only Madness. You can find further details of upcoming episodes of this legendary series by going to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ml0l/broadcasts/upcoming

Moving on, and members of the Retro Madness Facebook Group may have spotted Darren Bennett’s photo of the extremely rare The Madness promo mobile (as in baby mobile, not mobile phone!).

The item looked to be in amazing condition, and although, at the time of typing, a rough value had yet to be suggested by the community, Chris Carter-Pegg does mention in the thread that one sold around 15 years ago for a whopping £150!

While you get your breath back, we’ll get the issuer underway.

Enjoy the read!

Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams

 

 

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

Friday 30^th – Sweden, Grona Lund Amusement Park

October

Saturday 1^st – Norway – Rockefeller Music Hall

If you’re attending the above gig you can find info relating to the pre and post gig parties here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1696784610576985/

Monday 3^rd – Germany – Berlin – Tempodrom

Tuesday 4th – Germany – Bochum – Ruhrcongress

Thursday 6^th – Dubai, Duty Free Tennis Stadium, UAE

November

Friday 18^{th –} Monday 21^st – Madness Weekender 6, Minehead

December

Thursday 1^st – Bournemouth – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 2^nd – Cardiff – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 3^rd – Brighton – Matinee – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 3^rd – Brighton – Can’t Touch us Now ** Sold Out **

Monday 5^th – Groningen, The Netherlands ** Sold Out **
http://www.de-oosterpoort.nl/programma/madness/

Tuesday 6^th – Tilburg, The Netherlands

Thursday 8^th – Newcastle – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 9^th – Sheffield – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 10^th – London – Can’t Touch us Now

Monday 12^th – Nottingham – Can’t Touch us Now

Tuesday 13^th – Bridlington – Can’t Touch us Now

Thursday 15^th – Glasgow – Can’t Touch us Now

Friday 16^th – Manchester – Can’t Touch us Now

Saturday 17^th – Birmingham – Can’t Touch us Now

Can’t Touch us Now tickets from: http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/madness/

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

November

November 5^th – Finland ** New **

http://tamperemusicfestivals.fi/jazz/fi/ohjelma/la/klubi/the-lee-thompson-ska-orchestra/

 

House of Fun Weekender

 

 

The Silencerz

Sunday 18^th September, Camden NHS Fun Day, Pancrease Road, NW1 1UL (by St Pancreas Hospital)

 

 

BUY IT

Madness – New Single – Mr. Apples ** Out Now **

You can get it for free as an instant download when you pre-order the album. If you already have done check your email folders for an Untouchable Madhead email notification with link. The sinful double life of the latest Madness song character laid bare.

 

 

Madness – New Album – You Can’t Touch Us Now – Pre Order  – October 28th

Pre order now – and get “Untouchable Madhead” Status.
http://www.madness.co.uk/cant-touch-us-now/

Confirmed Track listing: 16 songs.  (As shown as the download album on i tunes and Amazon,)

 

These 16 should also be the CD album in full. Chris Foreman has mentioned that not all 16 fit on the vinyl release much like

the vinyl edition of The Liberry of Norton Folgate which was the select shortened track listing.  He comments that this was ALL the songs, which may made the boxset second disc is made up of versions and demos of these songs.

 

1.   Can’t Touch Us Now
2.   Good Times
3.   Mr. Apples
4.   I Believe
5.   Grandslam
6.   Blackbird
7.   You are My Everything
8.   Another Version of Me
9.   Mumbo Jumbo
10. Herbert
11.  Don’t Leave The Past Behind You
12. (Don’t Let Them) Catch You Crying
13. Pam The Hawk
14. Given The Opportunity
15. Soul Denying
16. Whistle In The Dark

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Bite The Bullet ** Out Now **

Vinyl £13.55  (Includes free mp3 version)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FEA9NYE

CD £11.37 (includes free mp3 version)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FEA9NTY

Mp3 album also available on its own for £7.99

Tracks – Based on Amazon – Step It Up Sister, Bite The Bullet, Western Standard Time, Cuss Cuss, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Feel a Little Better, Hongry, The Wickerman, 30,60,90 , I am King, Cry To Me, I’ll be back again.
HEAR TRACKS IN PREVIEW
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GM41SM6/ref=dm_ws_ap_tlw_alb7

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra – Feel a Little Better (Luke Solomon Radio Single) ** Out Now **

“Pre order our lead single from Bite The Bullet. It’s a radio mix of Feel A Little Better, and at 99p it’s a bargain! Buy NOW!!” Fordie

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JOCV2ME

 

One Hear – Specialized Bob Marley Covers Album ** Pre Order Now **

http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/our-projects/appearing-on-combat-cancer/

Yes, at last here it is – what you’ve been waiting for!

You can now pre-order the Specialized 5 – One Heart tribute to Bob Marley & The Wailers the 2016 Specialized theme.

67 tracks from over 70 contributing artists –  4 CD’s in a boxset

Specialized do it again with help from some of the finest musicians about

 

 

SIGN OF THE TIMES                               

Lee Thomson Ska Orchestra – Robert Elms BBC London

The legendary Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra recently appeared on the Robert Elms Show for BBC London.

You can find the interview around 2 hours and 10 minutes into the show. There’s also Wickerman live in session by some of the band (Lee, Louis, Sheamus, Sumundu and Bedders).

Check it out here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0469zrv#play

 

Madness in Hyde Park

Madness Hyde park including a tribute to The Prince.

(We did notice Mr. Apples being compared to Keith Vazz had been removed!)

Find it via the iPlayer link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07thhzq

 

 

LIVE AND INTENSIFIED

Hyde Park Setlist

1. Taxi Driver Intro/One Step Beyond
2. Embarrassment
3. (Tribute) The Prince
4. Don’t Leave The Past Behind
5. NW5
6. My Girl (no slow intro)
7. Can’t Touch Us Now
8. Wings of a Dove
9. Herbert
10. House of Fun
11. Baggy Trousers
12. Our House
13. Rocking All Over The World Riffs/Madness
14. Night Boat To Cairo
15. Mr. Apples
16. It Must Be Love

 

 

MIS FEATURE – THE SONG WRITERS OF CAN’T TOUCH US NOW

Confirmed for us by Woody, here are the song writing credits for the forthcoming Madness album.

The forthcoming release includes brand new, currently unaired songs, as well as those featuring on the recent tours.

1. Can’t Touch Us Now – (Thompson/Foreman)
2. Good Times – (D.Woodgate/N.Woodgate)
3. Mr. Apples – (McPherson/Barson)
4. I Believe – (Thompson/Barson)
5. Grandslam –  (Foreman/McPherson/Foreman)
6. Blackbird – (McPherson/Foreman)
7. You are My Everything -(Barson)
8. Another Version of Me – (D.Woodgate/N.Woodgate)
9. Mumbo Jumbo – (Thompson/Finch)
10. Herbert – (McPherson/Barson)
11. Don’t Leave The Past Behind You – (D.Woodgate/N.Woodgate)
12. (Don’t Let Them) Catch You Crying -(Thompson/Foreman)
13. Pam The Hawk – (McPherson/Barson)
14. Given The Opportunity – (Thompson/Foreman)
15. Soul Denying – (Thompson/Barson)
16. Whistle In The Dark – (Thompson/Barson)

 

Our thanks go to Woody for the above.

 

 

I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN       

This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby, goes back in time to report on what was going on in the world of Madness 5 years, 10 and 15 years ago this week.

5 years ago…

Issue Number 645 – Sunday 18^th September – Saturday 24^th September 2011

“The treasure hunt would begin tomorrow”, we told our readers. Yes, the unique online geo-caching search for Madness was due to kick off the following day. The lucky finders would be placed in a draw to win unique personalised artwork, and a band video.

The hunt in question was being organised by Salvo Music, and would run from the 19^th September until the 2^nd of October.

Moving on from competitions, it was over to The Ska Orchestra, who, following last week’s recording of their debut album, had released a number of adverts featuring sounds of the album being laid down.

Not only that, but during his Koast Train radio show, Mr. Scurf had phoned up Jon Young live on air, interviewing him about all things Ska Orchestra.

Elsewhere, we continued on a non-Madness note as we reported on Bellestar Jennie Matthias, who was finally launching her own album, Peeping Tom. Thanks to Mick Jenner we were able to bring MIS readers a really detailed review of the album and a full tracklisting.

It was back to Madness next, as we revealed that following our Guided Tour of Madness, and prior to our next Guided Tour competition, Salvo Music themselves were also running a competition to give one away.

The music company had put a fair bit of effort into their competition. You had to play an online Madness game where the idea was to identify as many track titles that appear on the Guided Tour of Madness box set.  All you had to go on were 30 visual clues.

Next, it was over to the Essential Ibiza web site, who were reviewing the band’s recent performance at Ibiza Rocks.

“They might not see as much of each other these days but one thing is for sure, Madness have still got it. The chemistry between the band on stage is evident, the chemistry with their loyal crowd will never leave them and their ability to deliver is there for all to see. Encore delivered it’s time to say goodbye but not before Suggs and Chas Smash stand centre stage shaking each other’s hand as Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life plays through the speakers, at which point they start to sing along and in turn so does the crowd. They make a Morcombe & Wise exit stage left and it’s over. Madness has left the building, what an amazing experience!”

We brought this issue to a close with our feature article, courtesy of one Paul Rodgers. Paul was kind enough to give us a lengthy review of the Guided Tour box set. Following a glowing write-up, Paul finished off by saying;

“This, dear passenger, is, for now, the end of the journey. We’ve reached our destination. Last stop. The present. All change.

This box set proves that sometimes the journey is better than the destination, even those destinations that are never quite reached.

What does the future hold for Madness? For now it matters not whilst we can revel in this box set…”

10 years ago…

Issue 385 – Sunday 17th – Saturday 23rd September 2006

With Christmas fast approaching our thoughts turned to the eagerly anticipated Christmas tour. News regarding the support act(s) for the various dates had so far been no existent, but news filtering in seemed to suggest that US outfit ‘The Aggrolites’ may possibly be claiming the honour.

Here’s a reply taken from the official Madness message board following enquires from a Scottish ska band asking to support the tour;

“Aggro”

says Thommo(12/09/06),

“Not Possible, We have already confirmed a support who are ‘Los Palmas 6’……… Not really.

‘The Aggrolites’ from across the pond Tinsel Town boys, hopefully! Plus a couple of other surprises, double hopefully.

xL”

Jonathan caught this band as support to Madness in Hollywood in 2005 and they really did whip up an atmosphere that was somewhere between  fast paced ska LA style and enticing a crowd to riot! We felt they’d go down well with us Maddies.

On to the articles, and we kicked things off with a short update from the one and only Mark Bedford. Mark explained that a few of the band (4 or 5, plus the brass players) were going to be playing with a group y the name of Ska Cubano, at the Cuban Solidarity gig, at The Barbican this coming Friday. Details were limited, but Mark told us that the band would be playing a few songs and not a full set.

“It should be a good night. Hooking up with Ska Cubano is something we have been trying to do for a while.

They are quite interesting as they are part Cuban, part Jamaican and part British. They mix all the various musical styles together. it will be an exciting experiment. (without much rehearsal, ha!)”

It was over to the MIS web site next, as we reported it had received yet another set of updates, and with them a further batch of goodies had been added to the downloads sections.

In the audio section we had a live radio quality rip of the Madness gig recorded at Benicassim, Spain, on the 23rd July. However, it was the video section that had received a mass of updates, which were:

Madness – Taratata, France4, Recorded in 2005,

Lee Thompson – Interview on LCI, 2005

Madness – Heineken Night Life Fest, Rotterdam, Holland, 2002

Madness – Dangermen Interview, TV5, 2005

Madness – My Girl – FIB Heineken Fest, Spain 2006

We moved on to Airline BMI next, as we reported that they were currently running a promotion, together with Virgin Radio, offering participants the chance to win flights to certain destinations and party with Virgin DJ Suggs.

Focusing on Suggs’ Virgin Radio Party Classics slot between 6pm and 10pm, the promotion would give listeners the chance to win flights to a party session at destinations over three consecutive months, beginning on September 15.

To enter the Suggs competition you had to visit the Virgin Radio website and register your details, along with something surprising about yourself.

Ever since the news that “In the city” was on the set list in Japan, we at the MIS had been keeping our fingers crossed that it might get an airing on the Christmas tour as well. Now, it seemed we weren’t the only ones to make the comment, as the same question received a reply on the message board on the official site this week.

From “MrDankDonk”

11/09/06

“Are we going to hear ‘In The City’ in Glasgow on Dec 12th? perhaps with some organised audience ‘Looma Looma Looma Looma’s thrown in?”

“Looma,Looma,Loomas'”

says Thommo

12/09/06

“The rest of the band brushed up & performed this at the ‘FUGI Fest recently so I would imagine alllllll that hard work put in (a sound check) to get it fired up shouldn’t go to waste for a 1 off in Japan.

Would prefer to move forward.

xL “

Moving away from the real Madness, we stepped into tribute outfit territory, as Matthew Pendergast contacted us with news of his recently formed Madness cover band – ‘Divine Madness’. The group had recently completed their first gig which featured the following tracks:

One Step Beyond

Embarrassment

It Must be love

My Girl

House of Fun

Johnny the Horse (Acoustic guitar and piano only)

Our House

Night Boat to Cairo

Baggy Trousers

The band were due to next plat at Yates Wine Lodge, Allerton Road, Liverpool on Wednesday 11th October. Hopefully a few MIS subscribers would be able to get on down there and knock up a review. Only time would tell.

Next we passed things over to one Mark Bedford, who had been taking a look at the current Madness web site;

“I’ve been looking into re-vamping the Madness website, and in some ways I’ve been leaning to using the Madness site as the place to make announcements or news. In fact, slimming it down a bit, and then using MySpace for uploads and having a      forum for questions and chat, with the band dropping in answering stuff on there.

The Madness site has always been slowed down by the fact that,  for various reasons, it has become very complicated to get stuff uploaded. We think we can get much more audio and visual things up quicker going the MySpace route.

What do you think? Is MySpace something people can work with?

I’d be interested to know what everyone thinks…

Best wishes,

Mark”

We asked MIS readers to send in their comments and feedback. We’d then bundle them all up and send them over to mark. This was your opportunity to help decided what direction the MIS web site would take.

We brought this issue to a close by looking at what was going on in the world of Madness five years ago this week (you can find out by reading what was going on ten years ago below), and giving you a heads up on the next MOT gig, which was due to take place on Saturday 30^th September at the Fiddler’s Elbow, Kentish Town. One not to be missed!

15 years ago…

Issue 123 – Sunday 23rd – 29th September 2001

News hit us this week revealing that the next series of musical quiz show ‘Night Fever’ was well underway, and visitors to the Channel 5 web site were being given the opportunity to decide what songs should appear in future episodes. Unsurprisingly, at the time of reporting “Baggy Trousers” was winning by a mile.

Madness fan Chris Mountain was lucky enough to get along to the filming of the first episode of the new series, and reported back that the show featured The Blockheads, and non-other than Carl Smyth.

Tracks played included: Hit me with your rhythm stick (With Suggs), What a waste (With Carl), and Reasons to be Cheerful.

With the arrival of an A4 shaped parcel we were expecting to finally get our chance to review issue 2 of the Crunch! fanzine, “Saints and Sinners”. However, it turned out to be issue 8 of Ian Taylor’s excellent fanzine “Mad Not Mad”. Ian apologised to the readers for the 13 month long gap since the previous issue, but at a whopping 70 pages in size it was worth the wait. For Madness fans, the highlight of this issue had to be the “Madness Classic Album” article, which this issue focused on “7”.

This issue closed with us reporting that at the time of the issue going to press, co-maintainer Jonathan Young was supping beers downat the Mac Bar in Camden Town, in anticipation for a Carl Smyth solo set.

Rob Hazelby

 

 

TIME…

That’s almost it for this week, but before we go…

The latest issue of Uncut magazine contains a cover mounted CD with the Clang Group amongst the tracks on there. Within he mag itself, the band’s new LP received a very favourable 8 out of 10.

And finally…

Rumours have reached us suggesting that the Ska Orchestra may be heading to Orange Street. Naturally, we’ll have more news on this as and when it surfaces!

Until next week, take care.

All the best,

Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams

(With thanks to Mr. Woody Woodgate)