Madness Information Service Online Newsletter Issue Number: 791 – Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th July 2014
This week we begin with news of a message from Lee Thompson, ahead of the Ska Orchestra’s next concert. In the video our favourite saxophonist is talking during a recent trip to Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, and ahead of the Brixton Jamm event.
The video’s just over a minute in length, but beautifully shot and looks extremely professional. Check it out!
Moving on, and if you’ve been lucky enough to attend the most recent of Madness’ European concerts you may have noticed a rare re-appearance of Dangermen single, Shame and Scandal popped into the set (along with Dust Devil staying in the play list at both concerts since Folgate Friday broughy it back last November). Sadly, though, the Barcelona gig failed to take place due to the festival organisers of that event removing all live music from it’s organised activities, and instead being a plainart festival.
Now, on with the issue!
Enjoy the read,
Jonathan 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
July 2014
July 31st – 3rd August, Reggae Sun Festival, Bordeaux, France
August 2014
August 2nd, Suikerrock, Belgium
August 12th Mallorca Rocks
August 13th Ibiza Rocks
August 18th, Kubana Festival, Krasnodar, Vesolovka
November 2014
November 21st – 24th 2014 – Minehead – Earlybird tickets can be ordered here: http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/madness2014.aspx
December 2014
All for the M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour
Thursday 4th, Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
Friday 5th, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton, Matinee
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton * SOLD OUT *
Monday 8th, Plymouth Pavillions, Plymouth
Tuesday 9th, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Thursday 11th, First Direct Arena, Leeds
Friday 12th, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Saturday 13th, LG Arena, The NEC, Birmingham
Monday 15th, Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Tuesday 16th, The O2 Dublin, Dublin
Thursday 18th, The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Friday 19th, Phones 4u Arena, Manchester
Saturday 20th, The O2 Arena, London
Links to purchase tickets for the above tour can be found at: http://madness.seetickets.com/tour/madness/?pre=premad&src=madnesspre
For tickets also see links via: www.madness.co.uk
The Magic Brothers
***NEW*** November 1st. Blakes @ The Custard House – Birmingham
Magic Brother Friday Headline set:
November 14th. The Big One 3. Park Dean, Sandford Dorset.
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
July 2014
***CANCELLED APPEARANCE*** July 12th Lewisham’s People Day – Free!
July18th Brixton Jamm, London. Tickets from Skiddle.com
July 26th Wickerman Festival
August 2014
August 31st, The Big Feastival, Alex James’ Farm, Cotswolds
October 2014
October 2nd, The Jazz Café, Camden Town
More festival dates to follow.
Ska Orchestra web site: www.ltso.mis-online.net
The Lee Thompson Ska Band
August 10th An appearance at the Boom town festival, Hampshire’s pop up city four day event begins on August 7th into the weekend.
Chinatown district is full of Ska and more bands this year, but we can confirm that this won’t be playing host to the Ska Orchestra
http://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/chinatown-district-line-up-released-199
The Silencerz (Featuring Lee Thompson)
July
July 6th Lee Thompson closes the Barnet Music Festival, at The Builders Arms
November 2014
16th November – Confirmed in the Sunday Lineup of bands at Specialized The Big One 3. In Dorset.
Lee will be doing a photo signing session too.
Near Jazz Experience
***NEW*** July 29th – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE + The Aftershave + Guest DJ set Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free*
Deaf School
August
8th, The Islington, North London
9th, The Islington, North London (SOLD OUT)
10th, Rebellion Festival, Blackpool (SOLD OUT)
For details of future gigs keep an eye on http://deafschoolmusic.com for more information.
November
Thursday 20 – Borderline, London
Friday 21 – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Saturday 22 – Academy, Manchester
Sunday 23 – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
BUY IT
If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.
The M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour T-shirt – Get it now.
What does any self respecting Madhead wear? The only true fan clothing of choice right now is surely the brand new Madhead T-shirt. Available now at least five months ahead of the tour, this T-shirt is so NOW!
The brand new 2014 picture of all seven of the band next to their happiness machine and ready to bring joy. You can look stylish in it in a range of sizes, you can promote this summer, the forthcoming tour and help your heroes and of course in this day and age by buying the bands official clothing you are putting your money into the future new album project pot etc of the band who exist these days on their own self produced record label.
We’re very happy with this move to give out the T-shirt ahead of the tour as it makes so much sense to us. The T-shirt is relevant and current for a longer period of time for the fan. Steer clear of knock off clothing and get the official Madhead T-shirt. Support your favourite band directly, like a true Madhead.
Available here… Via See Tickets and Madness.co.uk
SPECIALIZED: Mad Not Cancer. 4CD covers album for Teenage Cancer Trust – Pre-Order Now
Over 70 tracks. 4 CDs. Cover versions of Madness by not just Ska bands but lots of young up and coming acts of many genres including a few famous pop stars and Bedders on one track, too. All for Teenage Cancer.
http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu
The Suggs Selection.
The new compilation album of tunes chosen especially by Suggs.
It features one Madness track It must be love, and one solo track – So Tired. Alongside one self produced track The Farm’s – Stepping Stone.
The rest of the 60 track 3 CD album contains his own personal music joys.
Signed copies are available from record store.
http://www.recordstore.co.uk/recordstore/Signed/The-Suggs-Selection-Signed/3C6C02BP000
LTSO, Bangarang, Featuring Dawn Penn & Sharon Shannon
Out now.
itunes http://tinyurl.com/p2bquak
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/pwg6du2
SIGN OF THE TIMES
A collection of articles that have caught our eye over the course of the past week or so.
WIN TICKETS TO SEE MADNESS (Nottingham)
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Win-tickets-Madness/story-21310141-detail/story.html
“Since their Alexandra Palace date last September Madness have been locked up the studio making brand new music. Watch this space!”
HOW TO ENTER: For your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Madness, simply answer the following question by text or online:
HOW MANY MEMBERS MAKE UP MADNESS?
A) SEVEN B) TEN C) FIFTEEN
MY FAVOURITE PHOTO – SUGGS – The Express http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/483560/My-favourite-photograph-by-Madness-frontman-Suggs
Here’s me and Anne on our wedding day in December 1981 at St Luke’s Church in Kentish Town, north London. The kids in the front are Matthew – the son of Madness guitarist Chris Foreman – and Isla and Tamsin, the daughters of very close friends of mine.
Then there’s my mum, Edwina, on my right, and Anne’s mum, Christina, is on the other side. It was such a great day, with all our friends and the rest of the band there – and Anne had the idea to have an Anna Karenina theme, hence the outfits. (Full interview on the above link.
LIVE AND INTENSIFIED
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra @ Glastonbury.
To see the band play Glastonbury was a real treat. Thanks to the BBC it was an online event even for those not there in the mud also here is some more reactions.
Darren Dixon was there front and center and once again his mascot Steve Maddie the grey haired Monkey (Star of out MISWAS film and last seen in the video from i tunes gig of Never Knew your name) made it not only onto the stage, he was danced with when Darren Fordham gave him a twirl, later both of them would make it to the thumbnail picture on the i player.
Darren Dixon told us “This year was one of the best for me. Good crowd by end though and feedback was excellent from people there.”
Darren Fordham commented “The bloody D key didn’t work on my mouth piano! lol As ever, home now, feet up, beer in hand, reading your comments. Overwhelmed as always. Thank you all so much for your positivity, love and for getting behind us. Lee was interviewed after the gig, and hinted at another album. Let’s hope so ”
The set list was as follows: The songs marked with RB were shown on TV on the BBC Red button coverage highlight shows.
Guns Fever, Heatwave, Ali Baba, Eastern Standard Time, Hot Reggae – Hot Pants, Sit & Wonder, Tunnel One, Fu Man Chu RB, Mission Impossible RB, Bangarang RB, No No No RB, Hello Josephine, Broadway Jungle RB
Though Soon You’ll be gone was cut short from the set list and not played.
There was a bit of a fumble with Dawn Penn’s appearance, Announced one song too early, Dawn came on anyway. Which was handled by Mez turning the already started song into more of a drum intro roll ending it. Then during the Drop Down, part of the song, No No No, Dawn started a speech about her new single, and left thinking the low music was the end of the song, rather than the bands attempt to get the crowd to sing along with the Ba-Da-Da-Bap-Bap riff. It was saved by Darren shouting “Join in,” confidently from the middle mic, and the band managed the re-engage the crowd into completing the song altogether.
You can watch again, The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra’s appearance at Glastonbury here for the next month via the BBC i player.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0215zm4.
If you are international and not a BBC compatible fan, fear not youtube has the footage currently here.
http://youtu.be/-7pw5_F6ILM (thanks to Markfrank008)
Grab an audio rip of the concert here. (thanks to phil morris)
MADNESS AT TIVOLI (Holland)
Tivoli ….
The second time seeing Madness. Just in one weekend. That’s very special.
After several performances of Madness in the HMH it’s good to see them in a smaller venue. Everybody is standing close to the stage. Doesn’t matter if you’re standing in front or not. The evening started with the match between Holland and Mexico, what a climax. Suggs and Barson were standing at the bar. No one noticed, except 2 fans.
After the match Madness on stage. Woody wearing an orange shirt no 14, the number of Cruijff. He has done his homework very well.
Suggs asked the audience to sing a dutch football song so we started ‘Wij houden van Oranje’.
At one song Barson lost the keys which was very funny. Don’t know which one, maybe The sun and the rain or Wings Of A Dove.
Carl had a lot of interaction and was sometimes standing in the public.
The final was of course NightBoat with some fans on stage. It was clearly to see Madness were enjoying to perform again.
We had a good time as well, despite the absence of Lee and Mark. Some weekends you will never forget, this is one of them.
One Step Beyond
Embarrassment
The Prince
NW5
My Girl
My Girl II
Take It Or Leave It
The sun and the rain
Iron Shirt
Shame And Scandal
Bed And Breakfast Men
Dust Devil
Shut up
Misery
——
Chrissy Boy doing Fight For Your Right
——
House Of Fun
Baggy Trousers
Wings Of A Dove
Our House
It Must Be Love
——
Tarzans nuts
Madness
NightBoat To Cairo
——
Playbacking Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
One Step Beyond
http://youtu.be/Hk0b8pGdr5k
Showtime and House of Fun
http://youtu.be/D6xtEy4Kk2w
Take it or leave it (front row)
http://youtu.be/YV78qA4SjQw
Dinant Dondertman
TWEETS OF A DOVE
Various posts from Facebook and Twitter that have caught our eye over the past week or so.
WOODY
Magic Brothers @magicbrothers3 · Jun 26
“@Leeparker_tv: Great speaking to Woody from @MadnessNews for #ChelseaTV Look out for his Famous Fans show soon pic.twitter.com/RNCybLSjmQ”
SPECIALIZED 3 – MAD NOT CANCER FOUR DISC PREVIEWS – PRE-ORDER NOW
The third Specialized album “Specialized 3 – Mad Not Cancer” is moving closer to being released and is available to pre-order now.
The actual release date for the album is still being finalised but is expected to be around the end of June, early July at the latest. The 4CD’s are Mastered.
The artwork is being finalised.
The album weighs in at a whopping great 4 CD’s, which gets you over 70 covers of Madness tracks by bands/artists from all corners of the globe and runs to over 4 hours of music!! All proceeds will go to Teenage Cancer Trust for whom the Specialized project has raised over £50,000 in just over 18 months – this year looks set to blow the doors off!!
Get in with those pre-orders fast though, the CD package is limited edition and will sell out quickly.
Priced at £15.99 plus postage you can pre-order at the following link:
http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu
DISC ONE PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/H385Yhv7u9k
DISC TWO PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/OcEePjTthmc
DISC THREE PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/4PnxwPcm67o
DISC FOUR PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/xjpf7ygQgZs
For a list of artists/songs go here:
http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!artists/c1qyc
For any information relating to Specialized generally you can go to any of the following:
Web: http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialized3madnotcancer
Twitter: @specializeduk1
It’s nearly with us, and reviews will be landing shortly!
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 531 – Sunday 5th July – Saturday 11th July 2009
It was less than two weeks to go until Madstock 5, and in an effort to make the event where fellow fans could meet up with others, Jon Young posted up his mobile number for you to use on the day to assist with finding fellow Maddies.
If you didn’t fancy calling you just had to look out for the blue Madness banner with yellow lettering amongst the crowd.
Those who were in London prior to the event were also given the heads-up on a Mad Meet at the Dublin Castle, which was due to take place the day before Madstock 5. Well, if you were in town it would have been rude not to, right?
Moving on, and this weekend saw the launch of yet another fantastic internet based service for Madness fans, to compliment the numerous other resources already available on the web. Located at www.retro-madness.co.uk this new website provided fans with the opportunity to get hold of hundreds of different official Madness collectables from the past 30 years, all under one roof.
The brain child of Madness fans Emma Southerby and Chris CP, this new venture has come about following their realisation that having been together for nearly 10 years, retaining two comprehensive Madness collections was excessive! Consequently, Emma’s collection was to be gradually sold off via this ‘Retro’ Madness Shop, thus enabling other fans to pick up items that were deleted and disappeared without trace many years ago.
With Madness’ Glastonbury performance televised, it was only a matter of time before the more tech-savvy out there ripped and uploaded the footage to the net, and we were pleased to say that we were not disappointed. Links appeared on TheBox, Dimeadozen and ISOHunt, all accompanied by an MIS disclaimer to point out that the uploads were nothing to do with us.
Axecam news now, and first was the axecam, then came the random rehearsal footage. Now things had taken a turn for the weird, as Chrissy Boy had started to use his camera for short, 5 to 10 second meet and greet the stars clips.
Footage included artists such as Damon, Graham and Alex from Blur, Jools Holland, Lynval Golding, and many more. Yes, they were odd, but they were also rather amusing.
On to gig news, and it was revealed that Madness were one of the bands booked to play the Isle of Wight Festival. Not only that, but they’d be headlining the event.
Elsewhere, and while many of you had been enjoying a lazy Sunday, Paul Rodgers had once again been compiling the latest batch of Madness stats, facts and figures. In this week’s update Paul revealed that Folgate had fallen from 5 to 7 in the Indie album chart, and that Complete Madness had climbed from 14 to 11 in the same one.
In the main album charts Folgate fared better, climbing from 75 to 59. Perhaps the Glastonbury Coverage was starting to pay off.
10 years ago…
Issue 269 – Sunday 4th July – Saturday 10th July 2004
This past week seemed to have played host to a small `blip` in Madness related news, as we were pleased to announce that for the first time in a number of weeks our intro actually featured some items of news!
Those of you hadn’t been over to the official Madness web site in a few weeks probably wouldn’t have been aware that a certain Mark Bedford had updated his section of the site with a wonderful tribute to the legendary Pathway Studios. It’s was a fantastic article, and one that you’ve been mad to miss.
Also on the site, but this time on the news page, were hints that further Dangermen gigs may yet take place. Here’s that message in full:
“DANGER MEN ARE GONE!
A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR VIEWERS.
WE ‘LL BE BACK SOON”.
Moving on, and …
Just before the issue was due to go out news reached us revealing that work on the next Madness Weekender had just begun. Here’s what co-organiser, Vince Carden had to say;
“People have been asking about the timing of the next weekender and having spoken to Cheryl, we have a come to an agreement that early next year (February or March) we shall do one. It will be in a different format from the previous one and when the plans get going we will let all fans know through the MIS”.
It’d been all quiet in the One Step Behind camp for a couple of months, but that came to an end when the band’s Brendan Phipps contacted us with a mass of news – the two most exciting pieces being the band being filmed in Holland at The Ahoy Hall for a big tribute concert, and the other that the band would be appearing on a CD covermount for the Daily Star, with their Market Trader single.
With the Move Festival taking place this Thursday, we decided to give those going a quick information burst consisting of band links, transport information, and even pricing details for those still thinking about getting tickets to the open air concert, which was due to take place at the Lancashire County Cricket Club.
The original Young Gifted and Black album had proven to be a favourite amongst the Madness fanbase, so when news of a sequel album reached us we went off to find more information. Imaginatively entitled Young Gifted and Black 2, this double album featured classic after classic, and even now, some ten years on, is still well worth adding to your collection.
The full issue 269 can be found in the MIS archives, at the following location:
http://www.robomod.net/pipermail/madness/2004-July/000242.html
15 years ago…
Issue 7 – Sunday 4th July – Saturday 10th July 1999
We started off this issue with the news that the final episode of Chris Evan’s chat show TFI Friday had featured Madness not once, but twice, with live versions of ‘Lovestruck’ and ‘Nightboat to Cairo’.
What a great way to finish off the run of a TV show.
Earlier guests on that evening’s show had complained about the lack of air conditioning in the studio, and this was plain to see with Suggs and Cathal sweating buckets on stage. A certain Mr. Thompson obviously had more brains as he was keeping fairly still and cool with a pair of designer shades and (get this!) a sombrero.
Chris Evans continued the Madness love-in on his Virgin Radio show, where he’d been plugging `Lovestruck`, and had declared it his CD of the Week.
We’d had `Nut Inc` and it’s excellent (but slightly irregular) issue releases from Stuart Wright, and we’d had the recently released `Mad Not Mad` `zine from Ian Taylor up in Bolton. Well, now it was time to announce another `zine in the form of `Ska-Mad`. We had no idea what the fanzine was like, but gave readers the details of where they could go to order it for a mere £2.00.
Onto the articles, and we started off with Andrew Langmead’s transcription of the Lovestruck lyrics. “I’ve had a go a deciphering the lyrics to Lovestruck”, commented Andrew. “Anyone wanting to offer any corrections is more than welcome, some of the words are a bit strange”.
Looking back at his transcription fifteen years on, we have to say that he did a fantastic job!
Elsewhere this issue we featured an article from the Evening Times of Glasgow, where they ran a story about Madness going back into the studio to record their next album. Unfortunately, unlike the fans, the paper declared that the name of the album was as yet unknown.
Next-up, and after many, many repeats of old and used footage for the regular VH1 Madness Days, it looked as if we’d be getting something new.
On Thursday 12th July, VH1 would be hosting yet another Madness Day, but this time it would include never before seen footage!!
Madness were in the VH1 studio on Thursday 24th June to record a set and some other surprises!
We finished off this week’s issue with a promise to subscribers that the MIS web site would be fully up and running by the time the next issue landed in their mailboxes.
Rob Hazelby
THE MAD HEADER! – THE LAST SEMI FINAL – ABSOLUTELY OUT (Prizes to be Won)
“The Mad Header!”. Yes, It’s time again to ask the question, “What’s the best Mad album?”
It’s down to Three. And Absolutely is OUT! The previous title holder of best ever Madness album. As voted in 2006 by fans is no longer the leader.
In the world cup style head to head voting of Madness albums Vs Madness albums your votes will decide. Which of these newer albums takes on One Step Beyond in the final.
Over at the Grand Stand Stadium “All Things Madness”, packed with over 13,000 members (Find the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/249838181711283/ ), the group is now resplendent in it’s “F**k Football, Let’s Dance” mock banner.
It’s all about the music.
PRIZE WINNERS AND PRIZES
Winners Judge Fredd and Kevin Filsell and Linsay Boyce have been posting pictures and videos thank you’s up on the page. While
Natalie FitzGerald, Robert Wardlaw, have now been joined by Mark Bryan, Dinant Dondertman and Carl Humphries, and Phil Smith
As lucky winners, of vintage and new albums, singles, T-shirts, hats, Signed CD, and unique style Madness designed Clocks.
The prizes in the last 3 games are the most impressive to win though and are all still up for grabs.
Darren Jones has donated a Signed Suggs That Close Hardback.
Best of all Woody has personally signed a set of gig used drumsticks, complete with his woodpecker signature on each stick for this competition.
And The final will be an impressive bundle of Specialized items, Paul Willo has announced…
THE SPECIALIZED CUP PRIZE. 1LP 2CD 1DVD 2EP 2 Singles, & 5 Downloads. + 4 Badges. [Specialized LP – (Specials Covers white vinyl album) – Beat Teenage Cancer CD Album. – The Big one 2 Live at Sandford DVD. – The ska vinyl EP – The non ska vinyl ep – Dave Wakeling Red New version of Mirror in the bathroom vinyl single – Ranking Roger new version of two swords Red vinyl single – 2tone stars red vinyl single – Specialive- download of concert – plus vari…ous download specialized singles – Prayer- nick welsh – it must be love- sanna Pekonen – andy keys clark- skank for England/king Hammond- Friday night satirday morning (punch n judy mix) badges x 4 (difff designs) Plus a New sealed copy of Suggs Selection 3cd album by Suggs Music company to Specialized.
Final Bonus second place prize. Madstock Vintage Madness football shirt.
MATCH FEES
With our focus on Specialized for Teenage Cancer this year, prize draws require a Pre-order/buy The Specialized – Mad Not Cancer Album.
To enter the prize draw, though voting is free and open to all to take part. Or we will be asking you to just bung us a few quid in match fees sponsorship into the back of the net here, particularly in the finals when the prizes reach Trophy level.
https://www.justgiving.com/misthemadcharts
F*ck Football! Let’s Dance. As the Mad Header continues!
And our thanks to Musical Madheads, Warren Moyle, Hazel Foster, Alan Flynn, Monika Cooper, & Geo Adam, Darren Jones, Maria Ashe, Clare Marshall.
Jonathan F Young
TIME…
Today (Sunday) saw Suggs appearing at an event in Soho, marking an anniversary for the long running Bar Italia. If you were lucky enough to get along please write in and let us know what went on.
Sadly, this week the planned Madness gig in Vienna had to be cancelled and rescheduled. A minor illness meant that one of the band members was unable to travel at the last minute.
A new date for Vienna will be announced soon. When it’s made available we’ll be publishing the details in a subsequent issue of the MIS.
Until next week, take care,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Dinant Dondertman)
The Author
