Hello, and a warm welcome to this week’s edition of the MIS Online newsletter.
While a number of Madness fans and some of the MIS editorial team are currently in a dark and gloomy Camden for the One Man’s Madness event, the rest of us have been busy putting this latest issue together for your reading pleasure.
On the subject of Lee’s One Man’s Madness project, we’d like to congratulate Mr. Thompson on reaching the 100% full funded goal. Well done!
This week we’re pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with the one and only Woody. Our favourite drummer talks about being back in Voice of the Beehive. It’s a fascinating read.
Moving on, and there’s news of a new production of Our House, which is separate to the current UK tour, and runs for three nights at the Sandpit Theatre, St Albans. If you’re in the area then please do support it. Check out our “Showtimes” section for more information.
Elsewhere in this issue, we have news of the latest “greatest hits” album that will hitting record store shelves (and Amazon) just in time for Christmas. While many of you will no doubt roll your eyes at yet another compilation album, we know that there are others who will jump at the chance to add this to their collections.
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.
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your support – it’s great to have finally reached the target and get to 100%. We’re keeping the store open for a few more weeks whilst we get all the production in place, we’ll have another update for you soon with dates for when you can expect your goodies.
Available to Pre Order now from Madness.co.uk & Pledge music.
Welcome to Full House – The Very Best Of Madness, a brand new compilation from the UK’s favourite band.
Encompassing the length and breadth of their stellar career, ‘Full House’ captures the legendary British pop band’s much-loved recorded output to date. Since the release of their last best-of in 2012, Madness’ phenomenal career has continued to go from strength-to-strength with the release of the critically acclaimed, top 5 album ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ and the top 10 charting, gold selling ‘Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da’. Containing hit singles from both of those albums, and unfolding largely in chronological order, ‘Full House’ is a best of and then some, featuring 42 of the songs that have made Madness one of the nation’s best loved bands. Kicking off with 1979’s ‘The Prince’ and wrapping with 2017’s ‘Another Version Of Me’, the album takes in bona-fide classics such as ‘Our House’, ‘Night Boat To Cairo’, ‘It Must Be Love’ and ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ along the way.
Madness say: ‘‘It’s nearly that time of year but Wot no Madness Xmas tour?! We wouldn’t want you or your loved ones to miss out on your yearly fix so here’s our promise to you -Full House, 42 of our greatest hits to fill those stockings with this festive season.’’
The Nutty Boys’ huge appeal continues to cut across the generations, with new fans discovering their life-affirming back catalogue all the time. ‘House of Common’, their annual family-friendly alternative to Carnival is fast establishing itself as a must on the festival circuit, their legendary ‘House Of Fun’ Weekender (November 17-20th) goes from strength-to-strength and recent knock-out performances everywhere from Glastonbury to Boomtown, V Festival to Bestival reinforce their unrivalled reputation as one of Britain’s greatest and most enduring live acts.
Artwork for ‘Full House’ is by the inimitable Paul Agar, whose cut-and-paste collage style has become synonymous with Madness’ recent work and will be instantly recognisable from his work on ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ and ‘The Liberty Of Norton Folgate’. The 4LP version also features a special pop-up gatefold mechanism that’s sure to make it a must have for fans and collectors alike.
A comprehensive compilation that perfectly captures the national treasures’ career to date, ‘Full House’ will appeal to fans old and new as Madness prepare to embark on the next stage of a career that has rewritten the rulebook and continually defied all preconceptions.
Full House will be released on November 17.
Please note: Orders are not part shipped so if wish to order catalogue music and you would like it shipped before 17th November we recommend you place separate orders. Unfortunately this item cannot be shipped to North America
1. The Prince
2. One Step Beyond
3. My Girl
4. Bed And Breakfast Man
5. Night Boat To Cairo
6. Madness
7. Baggy Trousers
8. Embarrassment
9. The Return Of The Los Palmas 7
10. Grey Day
11. Shut Up
12. It Must Be Love
13. Cardiac Arrest
14. House Of Fun
15. Driving In My Car
16. Our House
17. Tomorrow’s (Just Another Day)
18. Wings Of A Dove
19. The Sun And The Rain
20. Michael Caine
21. One Better Day
22. Uncle Sam
23. Yesterday’s Men
24. (Waiting For) The Ghost Train
25. Sarah’s Song
26. Lovestruck
27. Johnny The Horse
28. Drip Fed Fred
29. Simple Equation
30. Girl Why Don’t You
31. NW5
32. Dust Devil
33. Forever Young
34. Sugar And Spice
35. My Girl 2
36. Never Knew Your Name
37. How Can I Tell You?
38. Misery
39. La Luna
40. Mr. Apples
41. Can’t Touch Us Now
42. Another Version Of Me
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 699 – Sunday 30th September – Saturday 6th October 2012
With the launch of the 10th Madness studio album and next single getting ever closer, the past few days had seen the Madness promotional bandwagon go into overdrive.
Thursday saw Madness perform at the Camden Roundhouse as part of the famous iTunes Festival, and a North London pub was temporarily converted into a Madness themed public house to help promote the the single and album.
The single (My Girl 2) was due out on the 1st October, and the Amazon pre-order link was now available.
The ‘cover’ artwork was based on a variation of the Peter Blake themed album artwork, displaying a handwritten “My Girl 2”, scrawled on lined paper.
The single mix was a slightly altered version of My Girl 2 from the album. It didn’t feature the “Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da” shout intro and also featured a line from Suggs about Granny getting off the sofa!
The majority of this week’s issue was taken up with Jonathan’s detailed review of the band’s performance at the Camden Roundhouse as part of Apple’s iTunes Festival. Jonathan commented at the time;
“Seamus returns to keys at the roundhouse, and it was a pleasure to get to talk to him after, such a great job, considering we asked him how long he had had to master a set which included Madness showcasing 7 new songs. Yep 7. Half the new album in the home town and to the internet a fitting way to play the UK just before the album comes in a month.
What really came across was how much Seamus wants to get it right, when he’s standing in for shoes as awesome as Mike Barson. It’s true the feeling that during soundcheck the band might have nailed the new single a little better than on the night, to cameras broadcasting iTunes, and the fevered crowd. But the fact the crowd came out shuffling and singing was a good bench mark for just how good this gig was. Like that last shot of squashed crowd on the Madstock dvd were people so crushed never looked so less bothered and just happy to be there.”
Moving on, and it was MIS competition time, as thanks to the lovely people at Cooking Vinyl, who didn’t mind us raiding The Madness pub that existed in Camden in Thursday Night, we had a few new album decorations and advertisements to give away, from beer mats to bunting. To be in with a chance of winning, you just had to email us with details explaining how you were doing your bit to promote the new album.
Following this, we featured a short article covering Radio London’s coverage of My Girl 2 where the radio team had mixed opinions on the release;
Joanne: “It’s Madness and you get what you say on the tin feel good music”
Camila: “Better than the Olympics, not my thing”
Ben Duncan: “Bubble gum pop, good of it’s kind, but doesn’t do a lot for me”
Tony Moore: “Bits of tainted love shoved in with other thinks, love Suggs voice and energy of it, but standard 4/4, it’s ok but nothing special”
Joanne “For me I liked it, Madness makes me feel happier”
Continuing with radio, and subscriber Mark Doherty emailed in with the news that on Thursday 11th Madness would be appearing on “Radio 2 in Concert”. Presented by Jo Whiley, the show was scheduled to start at 8:00pm.
We brought this issue to a close with the news that a high quality rip of Madness’ performance at The Roundhouse, Camden, was now available on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. We had a feeling this wouldn’t be available for long.
10 years ago…
Issue number 439 – Sunday 30th September to Saturday 6th October 2007
This being the post Blackpool Madness Weekender edition of the MIS it was put together in record time, and as such was rather on the slim side.
The editorial team and a good chunk of the readership were suffering from very little sleep and far too much booze. Readers were told not to worry, as we’d back to full strength the following week.
We kicked off the few articles we had with the news that Gwen Stefani had admitted that she used to have a crush on Madness singer Suggs when she was young.
She said: “When I was younger, me and my friends found out about Madness and we loved it. I think because it was from England, and London, we loved that whole culture.
“And when I first saw the video for ‘One Better Day’ and saw Suggs’ wife I literally started crying – it was craziness!”
Next, it was over to Bedders. The Saturday leg of the Madness weekend played host to such events as a quiz, live question and answer session with former Stiff Records MD and Madness manager Dave Robinson, a Madness merchandise stall, and much, much more.
However, before all that, MIS co-editor, Jonathan Young kicked-off the day’s proceedings by reading out a special Blackpool Madness update, courtesy of non other than bassist, Mark Bedford.
Hello Jonathan,
Thanks for your mail about the weekend.
It’s been ‘Design Week’ across London, and we put on some events for that – so the day job has been a bit stressful. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Yep, on the road again at Christmas! I think it’s a good idea to go to different towns and not do the usual route.
I think we are going to play quite a bit of new stuff. We have more than enough songs for an album, so I hope people will get to hear them…
NW5 is getting better the more we play it. I hope we can do the same for Bingo and Let’s Go. We tried this song at a couple of festivals over the summer.
Let’s Go is a bit low for Suggs, so we might up the key. We have been rehearsing a sort of madder version but it’s one we could never remember how to play live, so that might have to be recorded. Bingo is brilliant in parts but needs more work.
We’ve been recording over the last couple of weeks as well. I think we’ve now got a definitive version of NW5, and we laid down a version of Let’s Go.
There are another couple of gems in the pipeline.
One called Forever Young (Ha! I kid you not).
Apologies again, if you give me a bit of notice I’ll write something longer for the next one!
Best wishes to all at the Blackpool Weekend.
Mark
We brought this week’s issue to a close by thanking Madness Weekender organiser Vince Carden for taking the risk and deciding to run with the whole Madness weekend ‘thing’. Vince did a fantastic job of arranging the majority of the weekend, including the booking of the hotel, music, and activities.
15 years ago…
Issue number 177 – Sunday 29th September – Saturday 5th October 2002
News in from MIS subscriber, Muzza was that the Madness musical press coverage was continuing, this time with a massive 3-page spread in Time Out magazine, which we declared to be well worth £2.20 of anyone’s money.
Rumours were also starting to filter in to us, that following the forthcoming release of the Divine Madness DVD, the Madness movie, Take it or Leave it would also be appearing on store shelves after receiving the silver disc treatment.
Meanwhile, fans were visiting the official Chas Smash web site in their droves, following the recent update, which consisted of news relating to a new album, information about the forthcoming Divine Madness DVD, and details of a new prize giveaway competition.
It’d been a while since they’d last performed together, but news reached us revealing that on Thursday 21st November, the one and only Butterfield 8 (Led by Mark Bedford and Terry Edwards, and featuring Louis Vause, Mike Kearsey, Dave Bryant, Tommy Barlow and John Eacott) would be live on stage at the London Jazz festival. The set would include much of the band’s debut album, re-issued by Artorial earlier that same month.
Following a batch of recent complaints from fans experiencing issues with the re-designed Madness site, a whole host of fans got in touch with the MIS providing a lowdown of possible solutions that others should try before dismissing the site as broken. Whilst all this was going on we discovered that the site had received further additions, in the form of a timeline, charting the history of the band from 1976 to 1986.
Rob Hazelby
MIS Feature
Back Behind the Drums with the Beehive
Following his accident earlier this year, Woody has been back behind the drums again with Madness, and now has commenced rehearsing for two forthcoming reunion gigs with The Voice of The Beehive. We catch up with him in this exclusive interview about drumming again, and playing with the beehive for the first time since the band ended in the 90’s.
1. Now rehearsals are beginning how is it to be back behind the drums of the beehive? And how challenging is revisiting these Beehive rock songs after all this time?
“Like Madness the songs appear easier than they actually are, so it took a bit of time re-familiarising ourselves with the songs, but now we’re getting back in the groove the songs are sounding massive, even with just the three of us. The girls will be joining us on Monday, to do a couple of rehearsals before the 1st gig on Wednesday at the Lexington. I’d forgotten how powerful we sound, but then again we always sounded better live than on record. It’s a real buzz.”
2. Which of the two albums you recorded with Voice of The Beehive do you like the most how it turned out?
“Let it Bee is a classic in my opinion. Honey lingers had some great songs but there was too much production, and programming.”
3. How has rehabilitation been going after your recent accident?
“It’s been challenging physically, but I’m getting better everyday. I could barely walk after my first gig back at Camp Bestival, but every gig since has got easier, and now it’s just managing the pain. 3 fractured vertebrae, and two fractured ribs takes no time to heel, it’s the nerve, and muscle damage that takes the time. I keep reminding myself I could have died, so I need to get over myself when it comes to pain, and to be honest the drumming takes me out of myself, it’s only when I stop I feel it the most.”
4. What was the best single moment of being in the beehive late 80’s and early 90’s?
“The live shows, and the fact we had such a laugh. We genuinely really got on. There wasn’t just a single moment, it was a great 7 years of my life. “
5. How have the reunited band celebrated being in a room together again. Was there a celebratory meal etc. or was it straight down to work?
“A lot of reminiscing, and middle aged men stories of aches, pains, bad eyes, gratitude for regaining our hair, relationships, properties and kids. Then it was down to work.”
6. Will you be wearing a long hair ponytail wig for playing these gigs?
“Contrary to popular belief, I had short hair throughout the majority of my 7 years with the band, so no I won’t be revisiting that long haired experiment that went so horribly wrong. You live and learn.”
7. The Lexington show sold out in minutes, were you ever in doubt that the band had been remembered so fondly by fans traveling from globe wide to come to these long awaited reunion gigs?
“I’m not surprised, as the band wrote some great songs, and (in my humble opinion) were one of the best live bands around.”
8. Which song are you looking forward to playing the most live again?
“Sorrow Floats.”
9. You were the first Madness member back onto Top of pops with the beehive after the original split, how had being on that show with a different hit band changed the experience as the decade changed?
“It was great, and still exciting even after having played more than 20 Madness hits on the show.
In my eyes it was a real personal achievement, and I was able to truly appreciate how lucky I was to still have a successful career. “
10. Monsters and angles was your biggest hit with the band. Who’s more a monster and who’s an angel in the world?
“We are all monsters and angels.”
11. Name the one song that got away. (which song should have made it to an album, but remained a demo, bside, or live only aired tune by the Beehive.)
“That’s one for the girls to answer.”
12. Lastly as your past times have evolved, can we see a Woody Woodgate photo of the bee’s.
“I’m always sticking my camera in some poor souls face, and the bees won’t escape my camera’s intrusive nature, but as for those pictures going viral? We shall see. ”
Woody Woodgate
Live Intensified
Tonight’s All Stars Gig by Lee Thompson
Set List:
Razor blade alley (Madness)
Wickerman (LTSO)
Rain Dance (Crunch)
Benny Bull Frog (Madness)
Boy in the box (Crunch)
Drip fed Fred (Madness)
Going Solo (Crunch)
Performed by:
Nick on banjo, Ned on acoustic guitar and Daley on drums (All from the Silencerz).
Mike Kersey on muted trombone
Louis Vause on accordion
Lee on sax and vocals.
We’ll have a more in-depth look at the One Man’s Madness film in a later issue, when we review the production in its 95% completed edit. Next, it’s heading to the BFI.
Jon Young
Time
That’s just about it for this issue of the MIS.
Next week we’ll have a Suggs and Rudimental special feature for you, and possibly a lowdown on today’s One Man’s Madness launch event.
