IN THIS ISSUE ...

1 - THE EDITOR WRITES - This weeks news and information in brief.

2 - GOULDMAN SOLO AGAIN AFTER THIRTY YEARS - All you Suggs fans may
    find this one of interest. You anoraks most certainly will -
    another album that needs adding to the collection?

3 - THE REAL CAR SHOW - We've had Suggs presenting the Channel 5
    karaoke show `Night Fever`, heading a 3 person team on the BBC's
    `A Question of Pop`, and a Christmas or two back the Madness
    frontman was even mucking in with the animals in `An Animal
    Adventure`. Well, it looks like Graham McPherson is once again
    trying his hand with yet another venture. Mike Hearne reports.

4 - A `SPECIAL` OPEN UNIVERSITY - Calling all Specials fans. Ok,
    I know it's not Madness related, but as many of you have a
    special place in your hearts for Coventry's finest I thought
    this may be of interest.

5 - CALLING ALL MADNESS WEBMASTERS - Do you run and maintain a
    Madness related website? If so, this news from dotmusic could
    be just what you're after to promote your website. Dotmusic's
    Franck Alfier is here with the details.

6 - TWELVE INCHES OF MADNESS - MIS Online subscriber, Christian Munk
    decides that it's time to let off a little bit of steam that's
    been steadily building up over the past few years. Don't worry,
    it's perfectly hygienic!

7 - THE FANZINE SECTION - Those of you who know `Nut Inc` editor
    Stuart Wright will probably be aware of the difficulties he's
    had in persuading the powers that be at `Record Collector`
    magazine to review his excellent work. Well, it looks like
    they've finally seen sense. Here's Mike Hearne with some more
    details...

8 - IT'S FOR CHARITY - Fancy getting your hands on a fully signed
    copy of the Ian Dury Tribute concert programme? Well, if you're
    after just such an item you're in luck.

9 - CRUNCH AT THE UNDERWORLD@ CAMDEN TOWN 14TH JULY 2000 - Reviewed
    by the MIS' very own El-Thommo (no, not THE El-Thommo).

10 - GOODNIGHT, GOD BLESS YOU ALL - Thanks and closing words.

[1] - THE EDITOR WRITES

Evening all,

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. I'm sure that
the crowd who managed to get along to Friday's Crunch gig in
Camden have been using it to re-charge their batteries after their
all day drinking and dancing session!

Some news for all you subscribers to Ian Taylor's excellent Madness/
Skazine, `Mad Not Mad`. It looks like the next edition of the `zine
should be arriving on your doormat sometime in August. Having spoken
to Ian a day or so before the Crunch gig in Camden, he assures me
that the issue will be featuring a full review of the gig as well
as a round-up of photo's taken from the evening. On a slightly
different note, Ian tells me that people have been encountering
problems when sending him E-mails. So, if you've sent him a mail
but are still waiting for a reply, it's possible that Ian didn't
receive it. If that's the case, please could you send it again.

For more information on `Mad Not Mad`, please visit the fanzine
section at the MIS Online site at: http://www.jabba.demon.co.uk/mis/
or drop Ian a mail at: bige at supanet.co.uk

Madness are once again appearing as backing music for UK television
programmes. No, it's not the fan at BBC's `Watchdog` who's been using
the lads back catalogue, but instead Channel Four who featured it in
last week's final episode of the `Lock Stock` series. The scene, shot
in a prison was showing the everyday routine of prison life to the
music of the Magnificent Seven. A new `Lock Stock` album has just
been released and is on sale in most UK music shops. Unfortunately
there's no Madness on it.

Following last week's `Party in the Park` and the announcement that
the old Suggster was to appear with a short set we were all
wondering just what he sang. Graham Hewson of the TMML informs us

     "First up was a great version on `Hit me With
      Your rhythm Stick` followed by `It Must be
      Love`.. Judging by the audience reaction they
      loved him (rightly so)".

Graham also reports that although Channel Four did televise `Party
In the Park`, the closest anyone got to seeing him on TV was as he
was walking off stage.

Time to get scouring the shelves of your local newsagents now as TMML
subscriber, Ian Mason reports that;

     "There's a cracking picture of our glorious
      leader at Party In The Park on page 6 of
      this week's OK! magazine. He's shaking
      hands very warmly with Lionel Richie in
      front of a grinning Martine McCutcheon. The
      caption says: 'The show featured Suggs from
      the still-popular '80s band Madness - he sang
      one of their biggest hits, It Must be Love,
      and was joined on stage by Martine McCutcheon
      and Lionel Richie".

Ian finished by telling us that;

    "Not that I read OK! on a regular basis of
     course - it just happened to be lying round
     the office...."

I'm sure we can all give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Right, just before we get underway with this weeks collection of
articles, Yoni Moshe of the Total Madness Mailing List reports that
VH1 are hosting a `Madness Greatest Hits` day (for about the 50th
time) on 18th of June at: 1:30pm and 6:30pm UK time. You'll probably
find that all the material featured has been aired many times before,
but you never know. Thanks to Yoni for the info.

Well, without further ado, lets get on with this weeks issue...

See you in the outro.

All the best,

Robert Hazelby (MIS Online Editor)

[2] - GOULDMAN SOLO AGAIN AFTER THIRTY YEARS

All you Suggs fans may find this one of interest. You anoraks most
certainly will - another album that needs adding to the collection?

Many thanks to Jose Gomez for digging the following report out.

Dome Records Ltd.
AND ANOTHER THING
Release date: 25th September 2000.
Catalogue number: For Your Love FYL 12

Not many artists leave it quite so long, but 'AND ANOTHER THING' is
the first solo album from Graham Gouldman in more than 30 years. It
follows the 1968 release of 'The Graham Gouldman Thing'.

The 10cc writer/ guitarist - responsible for such classics as 'I'm
Not In Love' - recorded his first solo album back in 1968, having
begun his career in the Sixties writing hits for the Yardbirds,
Hollies, Herman's Hermits and the Mindbenders.

After working during the Eighties and Nineties under the 10cc and
Wax banner with Eric Stewart and Andrew Gold respectively, Graham
has decided it's finally time for a second solo outing.

The resulting album was recorded in London, Los Angeles, Nashville
and Milan over the past year, with a range of collaborators,
including Andrew Gold (naturally), Chris Difford and Madness vocalist
Suggs, Frank Musker, Gary Barlow, former Nashville Songwriter of the
Year Gary Burr, and another Nashville writer Gordon Kennedy,
responsible for Eric Clapton's 'Change the World'.

The oldest song featured is a re-recording of a much sought after
Sixties song 'You Stole My Love', originally recorded by Graham as
a teenager with his first Manchester band The Mockingbirds. Another
early favourite recorded here by Graham for the first time is 'Heart
Full of Soul', one of his hits for the Yardbirds.

A softer, more contemporary note is struck by the shuffling Nashville
track 'Dancing Days', while 'Walking With Angels' - also written in
Nashville - is an epic, haunting performance.

'Can Anybody See You' sounds like a Sixties Dylan song that Dylan
never recorded, while 'Walking Away' - written by former Take That
singer Gary Barlow - evokes the Everly Brothers.

Graham, who recently appeared on a British TV Songwriters Workshop
trading songs and licks with Neil Finn of Crowded House, has
written songs in the past couple of years for the likes of Paul
Carrack, Joe Cocker and Kirsty McColl.

'And Another Thing' is set for release in September on the Dome
subsidiary label For Your Love - named after Gouldman's No 1 hit
for the Yardbirds.

For more information, point your browser at:
http://www.dxhunter.demon.nl/news/pressggsolo.htm

[3] - THE REAL CAR SHOW

We've had Suggs presenting the Channel 5 karaoke show `Night Fever`,
heading a 3 person team on the BBC's `A Question of Pop`, and a
Christmas or two back the Madness frontman was even mucking in with
the animals in `An Animal Adventure`.

Well, it looks like Graham McPherson is once again trying his hand
with yet another venture, this time as a presenter of ITV's `The Real
Car Show`.

Here's MIS Online subscriber Mike Hearne with some more details;

"The following is taken from the new issue of the Radio Times.

      Monday 17th July, 8.00PM ITV
      The Real Car Show - First of a six part
      series telling real-life car stories with
      a twist, presented by Suggs and Julia
      Bradbury. Including the experience of
      Charlotte, whose broken down vehicle led
      to a whirlwind romance with the recovery
      man and a chat about autos with celebrity
      guest Toyah Wilcox

The show`s trailers on Tyne Tees have also had `Driving In My Car`
as the soundtrack".

Thanks for that one Mike. Better get setting those videos again!

[4] - A `SPECIAL` OPEN UNIVERSITY

Calling all Specials fans. Ok, I know it's not Madness related, but
as many of you have a special place in your hearts for Coventry's
finest I thought this may be of interest.

Whilst enjoying my usual Saturday morning lie-in I flicked over to
BBC2 to the start of an `Open University` programme about problems
faced by residents living in both rural and urban communities.
Nothing too exciting about that you may add, apart from the fact it
was presented by ex Specials frontman, `Terry Hall`. Since he left
the band many years back he's given Coventry the boot and instead has
settled down in the countryside. Apparently the city life was making
him very depressed and the escape to the country was just what he
needed.

Now he was back in the city in an attempt to persuade his girlfriend
(who is about to marry) to move with him out to the countryside to
enjoy the way of life he has become familiar with. We didn't actually
see the future Mrs. Hall, but instead a number of university
lecturers chatting with Terry and discussing the pros and cons of
city and countryside life.

The whole programme was interspersed with clips from classic Specials
videos making it a light-hearted but educational 30 minutes. Can we
expect to see future `Open University` programmes featuring other
well known pop celebrities? Who knows.

If you missed the episode, I'm sure the OU will be repeating it often
over the next 20 years as they do with all their programmes!!

Robert Hazelby

[5] - CALLING ALL MADNESS WEBMASTERS

Dotmusic - the UK and Europe's biggest music website
(www.dotmusic.com) is re-launching its great, free service
exclusively for music webmasters like you.

By joining the dotmusic Webmaster Zone you will get the brand new
dotmusic ticker which covers all the latest news, reviews and
interviews, as they happen, on your favourite artist. Using the
ticker means you will get a link direct from dotmusic and the chance
to boost your traffic. We have over 800,000 monthly users for you to
tap into. (www.dotmusic.com/community/webmasters)

And that's just for starters. We also have loads of great prizes to
give away.

Free banner advertising on dotmusic to promote your website, digital
cameras, MP3 players, £250 ($380) voucher to spend in our online shop.

Here's how it works in more detail:

Once you register you get:

- A password to give you exclusive access to our Webmaster Zone
- A free CD of your choice once the ticker has been up on your site
  for 6 months
- A link from dotmusic to your website
- 20% discount on CDs and videos
- Access to our webmaster forum and advice on site design/new
  technology
- Exclusive music and technology/design news
- Shortlisted for the site of the week (MP3 players as prizes)
- Shortlisted for our site of the month (digital cameras)
- Shortlisted for the Webmaster Zone award (free banners on dotmusic
  plus £250 ($380)vouchers and free domain hosting)

So there you go. Register for the Webmaster Zone and join the other
850 fan sites already taking advantage of these great free offers.
Come and join us...

Click here to register for the Webmaster Zone
(www.dotmusic.com/community/webmasters)

Thanks,

Franck Alfier
dotmusic.com

[6] - TWELVE INCHES OF MADNESS

OK, gotta blow off a little steam here if that's fine with you!

Now, I've just been listening to "The Business" (the 1993
compilation) which I bought in London in June (along with "The Lot",
of course!). This has brought back a wish I've had for many years
now, and nobody's done anything about it.

We've seen compilation after compilation of Madness songs, Virgin
making money off of old material rather than properly promoting new
stuff. Yet apparently NOBODY's ever cared about the 12" versions of
Madness' great singles. They just sit there on old mastertapes, which
probably would need baking (as it's called) by now not to be
destroyed by playback.

Still, what did Virgin do with "The Business"? They teased us by
putting the UK 12" version of "Our House" (excluding the first 20
secs or so) on there, along with a bit of the thunderbolt and
"doo-doo-doo" intro of the 12" of "The Sun And The Rain". What's that
about? Where are the rest, Virgin? Where's "Tomorrow's Just Another
Day" and "Michael Caine" - not to mention "Wings Of A Dove"?

The thing with most (if not all) of the 12"'s is, that they add new
depths and angles to the songs. Think of "Our House" Stretch Mix.
Listen to the string arrangement... it's alive! You hear it all and
it puts new life into the song, making it even more melancholic
(something I like) than it already was.

Or what about "Tomorrow's Just Another Day"? It's longer, and far,
far better mixed than the album (and single) version; the sax is much
more clear and vibrant in the mix, as are the high hats and entire
drum section. It just sounds better.

I could go on... I won't (for your sake!). I guess I have sort of a
question with all this: Have you ever heard talk about such a
compilation to be/have been/should have been made? I know about
some... er, let's call it "unofficial", CD's created off of vinyl
records, but that's not the same. I could do that from my own 12",
but I want that clean, crisp (non-distorted) sound you only get from
digital media. Vinyl quite simply isn't that good of a media;
especially as the needle approaches the center of the record, where
the vinyl-to-needle speed is far lower than at the beginning. It's
really audible.

I guess that's it. Sorry about the whining, it's just quite
frustrating, ya know! But if you have any info on this... you
guessed it, I'd like to know!

Cheers,
Christian Munk (cmunk at stofanet.dk)

[7] - THE FANZINE SECTION

Those of you who know `Nut Inc` editor Stuart Wright will probably
be aware of the difficulties he's had in persuading the powers that
be at `Record Collector` magazine to review his excellent work. Well,
it looks like they've finally seen sense. Here's Mike Hearne with
some more details;

"This came from the fanzine section of the latest issue of Record
Collector magazine".

     Madness ; Nut Inc
     (Sample issue 2.50 or 5 issue sub 10 UK, 12 elsewhere
     to Stuart Wright, 29 Hollidge Way, Dagenham, Essex,
     RM10 9SP)

     32 pages of easy to read A5 B&W nuttiness, including
     fine pictures of Python Gumbies and a late 70s Dennis
     Waterman. Makes sense. In addition there`s part 14 of
     the Madness story, TV and release news, reviews and
     xeroxed media doings. "Complete Madness" and "House
     Of Fun" are dissected with mugshots of Arthur Daley
     to boot and a TV show that never was is recalled.
     Finally there`s a Nut Awards 2000 listing and details
     of related `zines.

"Must admit the review doesn`t sound very informative but I`ve copied
it verbatim!"

All the best
Mike H

[8] IT'S FOR CHARITY

Fancy getting your hands on a fully signed copy of the Ian Dury
Tribute concert programme? Well, if you're after just such an item
you're in luck.

Here's Martina Dolan, of CancerBACUP with the details...

We now have a one-off signed programme from the Brixton Tribute
concert for Auction - bids start at £100

Programme signatures include :
The Blockheads;
Robbie Williams
Wreckless Eric
Mick Jones of the Clash
Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols
Woody of Madness
Phill Jupitus
Wilko Johnson
Kirsty MacColl
Kathy Burke
Tom Robinson

To make a bid for this - go to
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/home/auction.htm
Bids to be received by Friday August 11th.

If you've not got quite that amount of money to splash around but
would like to get hold of one of the concert programmes remaining
copies can be ordered for 5 pounds by visiting:
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/home/ianduryprogramme.htm
or via the main cancerbacup homepage http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk,
or order direct via email to maryj at cancerbacup.org

Many thanks to Jenny Payne for passing on the news.

[9] - CRUNCH AT THE UNDERWORLD@ CAMDEN TOWN 14TH JULY 2000

For the people who didn't go: you have really missed out on
something! Everyone was there...well most of them anyway! Simesy,
Swanny (what would we do without him, then?!), Nutty Bex, Madame
Barso, Sarah Barso, Cheryl, both Vinces flew all the way from
Ireland, El-Thommo, Graham, On the Beat Pete, Mikel from Spain (!),
Adele, Scatty, too many to mention...

It was great to see Lee and Chris again in all livelyhood!

Crunch! played all kinds of favourites like: Fur Elise, Magic Carpet,
People!, Birthday Girl etc. The gig only lasted for an hour or so,
but the atmosphere was very good and the whole audience seemed to
want more all the time!

The band was in great form and although Lee didn't remember all the
lines, I think he had some great help from the members of the
audience who sang along to most of the songs. Thanks Becky and
Madame Barso for your vocal support!

Special thanks to all the band members who took their time to sign
stuff and pose for photos! They know who they are...

1 Person was missing though and you know who you are...we have been
waiting for you mate! Well, I hope everybody liked the evening...!

See you all at the Velvet Ghost gig somewhere later this year!

All the best, El-Thommo (not THE El-Thommo)

[10] - GOODNIGHT, GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Thank you to everyone who has kindly submitted material for this
week's edition of the MIS. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say
that the effort you all put in really is appreciated and makes the
reading of each edition of the MIS that bit more enjoyable because if
it was just left to my contributions each edtion would be very short
indeed!

Just before the completion of this issue I had a quick chat with
Simsey on ICQ. If all goes according to plan, the MIS and TMML
should be treated to a blow-by-blow account of the day's proceedings
of Friday's Crunch gig sometime over the next 7 days. So, if like me
you were unable to get along to the show, you'll at least feel safe
in the knowledge you know what went on before, during and after the
event.

Until next week. Take care and keep sending in the material.

All the nutty best,

Robert Hazelby