Hello and a very warm welcome to this latest issue of the MIS Online Bulletin.
Following a decent chunk of Madness and Madness related news landing in our mailbox in the run-up to week’s bulletin, we’re back to meagre news pickings this issue as things have been very quiet indeed.
It’s not just us here at the MIS struggling with news. We’ve had a look over at the official Madness web site and their last update is from 16th September where they’re reporting on the forthcoming Sky 1 screening of the “Madness; Before and After”.
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.
Description (from Lee!): It starts with my humble beginnings in NW5, on to petty criminality in N6, then onto the wide open spaces of 681, Hitchin Road, Stopsley, Luton and all the Shenanigans in between.
And Parking up on that mental bus – The 2Tone Tour in October of 1979, the first 22 Years.
This album was previously available as a pop-up 4 disc gatefold LP priced at around £50. The 4-disc release is now sold out on vinyl.
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, 10, 15 and 20 years ago this week.
5 years ago…
Issue Number 873 – Sunday 31st January to Saturday 6th February 2016
We began with the news that work continued on The Ska Orchestra’s next album.
This week Mr. Thompson was kind enough to show us a preview of a new video prepared again by Jeff Baynes. Jeff shot the Bangarang video and previously directed photography on Cardiac Arrest.
The promo featuring multiple dancing Lees was cut to Prince Buster track “Sit and Wonder”. Possibly a studio track from the original “Sister mary” sessions. Once the video went “live” we promised tol post it in a future MIS issue. Louis Vause recently revealed the band’s late November sessions added tracks, ” ‘Cuss Cuss’, ‘Sweet and Low Down’, ‘Shaft’ and ‘You Never Know’.” to the potential slate of material to choose from.
Over in “Sign of the Times” we continued on a Lee Thompson related note as we noted that the Evening Standard had reported that a petition had been launched for Lee to launch the 50th anniversary celebrations of his old school. 100 former pupils of Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park had signed a petition protesting against an old Etonian launching the celebrations at the school.
Former pupils said that one of their own alumni such as Lee Thompson, Eddy Grant or Ms Dynamite should have been asked instead.
Next, and in “Tweets of a Dove” Woody commented;
“Ragged Victorian street urchins? No, my brother Nick & I, early 1960’s.”
This comment was in relation to a set of newly released childhood pictures of Woody and Nick photographed by their father appearing on Woody’s Twitter feed.
We brought this issue to a close by commemorating the sad passing of Sir Terry Wogan, the news of whose death broker earlier in the day.
Issue Number 612 – Sunday 30th January – Saturday 5th February 2011
With Madness news continuing to be a little thin on the ground, this issue contained a real mix of subject matter. Yes, we’d filled it with as much coverage of our favourite band as we could, but we also have to look further afield to Madness-related news, also.
Our fist article covered the legendary Deaf School, their new album and brand new tour.
“The new mini album (first since the 70’s) “Enrico & Bette” was successfully launched to a large crowd at the Relentless Garage Friday night, with a couple of guest appearances by Mad Men into the bargain.
Jonathan Young reported at the time;
With 4 of the 5 new songs being played during a set that was one of the longest Deaf School shows since reforming again a few years ago, I think. Scheduled in an hour and half slot, It ran around 1 hour 45 almost in the end. From the slow opening sax of “Last Night” to theaccordion ballad of “Final Act”.”
Moving on, and we reported that The Blockheads were busy preparing for their first concert in Whitstable. The band would be performing at the East Quay, as part of the Whit Live series of concerts, on Saturday, April 30th at 7:30pm. Tickets were priced at a mere £15.
It was on to Madness news next, as we passed on the news revealing that the book “House of Fun – The Story of Madness”, would be receiving a re-print such was the demand for the book. Not only that, but author, John `reed was asking those who had read the original version to contact him with details of any glaring errors, so that these could be corrected in the re-print.
We brought this issue to a close with the news that Zavvi were currently selling The Liberty of Norton Folgate album for a mere £2.95, including delivery! What a bargain.
15 years ago…
Issue number 352 – Sunday 29th January to Saturday 4th February 2006
We had a packed issue for you this week, with a real variety of content for you to browse through.
Dan Burdett of North London band JAG explained to us exactly what the newly formed ‘Club JAG’ was all about. We had news about Konami’s latest release in its Dancing Stage series – perhaps of interest to those of you who (like us) needed to loose a bit of weight!
Further on, and we delved into the bowels of Camden Town, and revealed that there was more under your feet when you were trawling the area than you may have realised.
As well as that little lot, we also had an update on the plans London Transport had for re-developing Camden Town Tube Station, and how the locals were gearing-up for the next stage of the fight.
Also in this issue we brought you a review of the latest episode of Disappearing London, with Suggs. This episode focused on the rag and bone man Suggs met the previous week, and later on we had a full transcript of his visit to the shop where he bought his first ever Bowler hat, as seen in many videos since.
If that wasn’t enough, Madness Trading Ring co-maintainer, Steve Bringe gave us a heads-up, and advised us to keep our diaries free in December.
We had it all in this issue – video games, live music, local history, rumours, and even the latest news from Camden.
20 years ago…
Issue number 90 – Sunday 28th January to Saturday 3rd February 2001
After last week’s behemoth sized edition of the MIS, it probably came as no surprise to many to learn that this week’s issue was somewhat smaller.
Although things seemed to have been very busy on the internet chat forums such as the Total Madness Mailing List, there had been very little `news` as such. Still, one or two items of interest had been floating around, as well as a few bits and pieces which had arrived in the MIS mailbox, meaning that this issue was far from empty.
TMML and MIS Online Madchart compiler Andrew Langmead reported that the excellent Madness cover of the classic Abba hit “Money, Money” had recently been featured on UK television as part of a BBC1 programme trailer. Here’s what Andrew had to say;
“Tonight [26th Jan] on BBC1 there was a trailer for Sunday Night’s Omnibus programme about Loan Sharks which featured Madness’ version of Money Money Money as its backing track! How about that then?”
Following the recent Top 100 singles of all time chart which was aired on Channel 4 (UK), Jonathan Young revealed that a tie-in CD collection was coming out at some point in the not too distant future.
Whether this release would contain the classic `House of Fun` remained a mystery.
On to the articles, and we kicked off with part three of the third Madchart.
Compiled and presented by Andrew Langmead, we were taken on a journey from tracks 30 to 16. Things were really starting to hot-up, as we got ever closer to that prestigious number one slot.
Moving on, and with little in the way of Madness news to report on, we took a look at the VIP Events web site, and gave the music collectors amongst the MIS readership, a heads-up on what record fairs were taking place in the coming weeks. The biggest of these were at The Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, and at Olympia, London.
Following the MIS’ receipt of the latest edition of Tour Madness, plus two copies to give out as prizes, we revealed that Jermaine was now hard at work on the next massive update of this fantastic publication. In our moment of excitement we accidentally referred to Jermaine as a female. Whoops!
Following much discussion on the Total Madness Mailing List regarding the original lyrics to The Sun and The Rain, we rounded-off this week’s MIS with those original lyrics.
Rob Hazelby
Time
We bring this lean issue of the MIS to a close with a quick reminder that on the 12th February, from 7pm – 9pm you can join John Halpern, the UK’s No 1 crossword setter, and comedian Dave Gorman for a one-off, crossword-creating show to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
You can watch the magic live as John and Dave create a cryptic crossword, start to finish, on Dave’s chosen theme of Madness.
