Welcome to this British bank holiday edition of the MIS newsletter!
This week, in the run up to the release of his debut solo single “In Your Mind”, Woody Woodgate and singer Dan Shears have been shooting a video with media group Life Imitates Art.
You can find photos from the video shoot on both Twitter and Facebook. These are simple shots of the two men against a plain background, seated in easy chairs. Much like the song’s imaginative tale of a bedtime story like daydream, expect the video to jump between reality and inner fantasy when it’s finished.
We’ve seen one picture of an enhanced background effect so far, and a colourful dreamscape of Woody swimming past a coral reef (superman style, and still in his suit). As soon as it’s online we’ll have all the links for you for the video and new single.
So, what of the tune itself? Well, it’s a catchy one with a pop groove, and we took an instant like to it when we first heard it at The Dublin Castle shows last year. We think when this video comes out our readers with young children my like to test the tune out on their little ones. It’s got a Sesame Street style seal of approval, like a Disney soundtrack, alongside fitting in with any happy Summer day you might be having.
Anyway, it’s a case of no rest for the Woody, as The Grandslam begins this week, and the excitement amongst fans builds as many happy posts on Facebook about the arrival of tickets will testify to.
Woody told us “We’ve rehearsed a handful of new (Madness) songs”, and that the rehearsals will continue on through the week
“We’ll know at the end of this week”, he said of which ones might be chosen to first air during this Summer’s touring.
If you get along to the Grandslam (which has just had Newbury Racecourse on the 19th September added to the list of dates!) let us all know about it. In the meantime, you can hear more from Woody as he talks to Mr Scurf on The Koast Train this week. (Interview details and link in our feature section)
The Grandslam kicks off in Lincoln on Friday 29th, at Lincoln City Football Club. Come on you Mads!!!!!!!!!!!!
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
2015
GRANDSLAM
“Sporting theatres jumping with joy is the goal. Grandslam Madness – the greatest open air tour in the history of Rock & Roll…”
May
29 – Lincoln City Football Club *** This coming Friday ***
30 – Gloucester Rugby Club *** This coming Saturday ***
June
3 Chelmsford City Racecourse
6 – Portsmouth, Fratton Park *** General tickets sold out ***
26 – Newmarket Racecourses
27 – Doncaster Racecourse
28 – Hove, Sussex County Cricket Club
July
2 – Silverstone Circuit
3 – St Helens, Haydock Park Racecourse
4 – Carlisle Racecourse
5 – Montrose, East Links, Scotland
9 – Epsom Downs Racecourse
10 – Chepstow Racecourse
11 – Rhyll Outdoor Events Arena
September
11 – Canterbury, Kent County Cricket Club
12 – Bristol, Gloucester County Cricket Club
13 – London, On Blackheath
18 – Leeds, Yorkshire County Cricket Club
19th Newbury Racecourse. *** New Date ***
25 – Wolverhampton
26 – Chester-le-Street, Durham County Cricket Club

November 2015
November 20th – 23rd 2014 – Minehead – The House Of Fun Weekender Five
Early bird tickets on sale now
http://www.bigweekends.com/the-weekends/specialist-music-weekends/madness-house-of-fun-weekender.aspx#ico=OB_Madness

Near Jazz Experience
June
16th – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE + Bad Cats Blues + DJ Set
Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free* 8.30pm BST
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/NearJazzExperience

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
July
24th Llangollen Town Hall, Denbrighshire, Wales (Fringe Festival Event)
August
1st The Garage Highbury, London

Cathal Smyth
More events coming. Possibly this autumn

Deaf School
June
4th – Prince Albert, Brighton
5th – The Garage, Highbury, London
September
5th – Bingley Music Festival (Headlining Stage 2)

The Clang Group
19 June – The Islington, London N1

BUY IT
The Grandslam Tour T-Shirt
http://madness.sandbaghq.com/
The Grandslam kicks off this Friday, and you can get the latest official Madness T-shirt here…
http://madness.sandbaghq.com/home/charcoal-grandslam-t-shirt-online-exclusive.html
The charcoal grey T-shirt (available in small or large sizes) costs £20 and is exclusive to the Madshop. It’s also available in advance of the tour, which is nice

New Accessories
Brand new Madness vinyl stickers.
Cover your pencil case, fridge, exercise book, vinyl boxes, hamster cage, wallet, picture frame, tooth brush holder, local lamppost, envelopes, passing double decker busses, birthday cards, mobile phone case or other, with new Madness stickers. In 6 piece sets of classic M’s or a union jack worded M.

Also now available – Madness Brewing Company. Bottle Opener.
http://madness.sandbaghq.com/left-menu-madness/accessories.html/

A Comfortable Man – Cathal Smyth solo album. Signed Packages Now Available. *** Out now! ***
Remaining limited LP’s, CD and download. Album available May 11th.
Signed Super Deluxe Bundles are now available, containing the Limited LP, CD and download editions. The preview track and single download instantly, and you also get a pack of 10 art postcards. The album is available in a Digipack CD with 8 page booklet.
More info at: http://cathalsmyth.tmstor.es/ Price – £28.99
If you attended the Wilton’s music hall gig and already have the LP, or if you are only interested in certain items there are a range of other buy options available. Signed CD’s separately. Etc.

In Your Mind – Woody Woodgate solo album.
Pre-Order Now on Amazon. – *** Released July 6th ***
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TZEMCMQ
OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SIGNED ALBUM INSTEAD http://www.propermusic.com/product-details/Woody-Woodgate-In-Your-Mind-Ltd-Autographed-Edition-188454
Album released June 1st. 13 tracks with new band line up and vocalist Dan Shears.
www.woodywoodgate.co.uk
*** New Info *** The first single from the album will be “In Your Mind”. A release date for this is to be confirmed. Shooting for the video will commence shortly.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
News and info from online and offline media sources.
Cathal Smyth on Jools Holland, Radio Two.
Listen again to Cathal’s appearance on Jools Holland’s radio show, where amongst talking about his new album, and performing impromptu “Are the children Happy?” on the piano; Cathal also sang a number with Jools Holland’s band, choosing a cover of Lou Reed’s – Perfect Day, version that Graham Yates described on twitter as “Perfect”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vbxgq

Q The Music Extra
http://www.qthemusic.com/10113/the-q-show-extra-cathal-smyth-madness-chas-smash-interview/
Cathal Smyth – AKA Madness’ Chas Smash – recently popped in to The Q Show on Absolute Radio – and you can now listen to an extended version of her interview.
As he’s gone from being a Nutty Boy to A Comfortable Man – the title of his new solo album – he speaks to host Pete Mitchell about a life in music.
Listen to the extended version of the interview at the above link.

A Comfortable Man – Mojo & Uncut Reviews
Goodbye to the house of fun now you’ve come of age. Four Stars Mojo.
First circulated last year in limited vinyl form, A comfortable man is Chas Smash from Madness doing the cathartic, post-divorce thing – in excelsis. It’s a dark story a break up with his childhood sweetheart 10 years ago led to rehab a move to Ibizia much painful self contemplation and last year a ritual purging by a shaman involving the powerful Amazon hallucinogenic ayahuasca. He may or may not still be in Madness. the Musical document of his journey is appropriately desolate but altogether rather moving essentially it’s Smythe playing Victorian parlour piano accompanied by mournful strings and celestial backing vocals. Unburdening in fragile husky tones about rehab (you’re not alone) lifting off to a better place (Goodbye planet earth) and ouch, the kids (Are the children happy?)

Madness Clown Gets Serious. Uncut 8/10.
Cathal Smyth is better known as Chas Smash, the bez of Madness, but his debut album is not the work of a gurning showman. Instead, it follows the breakup of a 28 years relationship and the ensuing years of rehab and therapy. The LP springs to life when Smyth (the co-writer of the deathless Our House lest we forget) ignores the ponderous ballads and hits the pop jugular. “Do You Believe in Love?” and “She’s got the light” are joyous naif: “Love song no7” tugs effectively at the heart strings: while “Are the children happy?” is the most gut wrenchingly poignant divorce song you’ll ever hear.
Thanks to Darren Dixon for scans of the above articles.

Win 4 Chelmsford Hospitality Passes
Chelmsford City Racecourse are offering the chance for someone to win 4 Summer Village Hospitality Tickets to our forthcoming Race Night on Wednesday, 3rd June.
Enjoy an evening of Racing, Live Music from the band Madness and a Luxury Buffet in our Summer Village Marquee situated on the lawn next to the stage.
…
To enter simply comment below the title of your favourite Madness song and tell us why, on our facebook page.
One lucky person will be picked at random. Competition closes at Midnight on Thursday, 28th May 2015.
https://www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordCRC

Win Tickets to See Madness at Montrose
http://www.montrosereview.co.uk/news/local-headlines/win-tickets-to-see-madness-play-in-montrose-1-3777227
Send your answer to news@montrosereview.com with ‘Madness Competition’ in the subject line,
Answer C – House of Fun, And your name, address and phone number. 
Entries must be received no later than 5 pm on Friday, June 5 – which is a month before Madness’ performance. Entries must be aged over 18. One correct entry will be picked at random.
The winner of the pair of standard tickets will be notified by phone after the draw has taken place soon after the closing date.

LIVE AND INTENSIFIED
The Grandslam is Here!
If you’re attending any of the gigs this Summer, and you’ve got more fan passion in you than just the length of a one finger typed tweet send us in your reviews of Madness’ biggest ever outdoor tour.
Your review doesn’t have to be massive. Just a sentence, a paragraph, or a set list, or a video link, or a full blown account of your Grandslam. It’s entirely up to you. Whatever your experience let all our readers know how your day was, what were the best bits, and make Madness proudly a band people truly talk about.
We’lll publish your efforts in a future MIS newsletter, in our Live and Intensified GrandTales section, and also on our website blog. There may even be a prize or two given out come September!
Be a sport and send us your post match analysis.
Send whatever you madly muster to Jonsmad@hotmail.com
Jonathan Young

MIS FEATURE – MR SCURF TALKS TO WOODY
Woody Woodgate appeared on our favourite radio show this week; Mr Scurf’s Koast Train.
You can listen back to the audio here: (In the full show, Woody appeared I the second hour)

The chat began with talk about Booze and Woody being tee-total these days. It’s Earl Grey he likes now, and a new drink, “Chocolate Tea”, which his wife has discovered.
Woody talks about his new band lead singer, Dan Shears. How great he is at hitting the notes, and how Woody once worked at a school and was impressed with Dan back then about 10 years ago when he was an A level student Woody taught.
“He reminded me of the lead singer of Muse”, and then coincidentally Dan contacted Woody again after years of not being in touch, to talk about a music project he was working on, it was then somewhat fated that Woody asked him to try out for his new band idea.
“Working in a pub, or working with Woody from Madness? Yeah I’ll do it!”, was Dan’s reply, Woody tells us.
The Woodgate Brothers song writing team of Woody and Nick is compared to the Lennon and McCartney set up.
“I like ear worms. My Brother Nick sends me songs virtually every day. He is prolific. I have to be brutal and say ‘can I sing it? does it go round In my head’. Nick comes up with some cracking choruses. I change it all and being a control freak. Without Nick this album wouldn’t be coming out. Magic brothers was Woody and Nick, this one Woody Woodgate, is me taking it more to my way. I recorded all the musicians and produced it.”, Woody explains.
Speaking about “Magic Train”, the new album’s opening track he commented, “Reminds me of Santana gone mad… Nick had a riff and the chorus and he sent me loads of guitar solos, which one should we have. But I just cut them all up and used bits of all of them. Then spent weeks building percussion. I love prog rock and Santana but there is a point where you go “OK, let’s get to the chorus now” but I’m a bit of a pop freak, so it’s me doing Santana in 3 minutes. No other inspiration, but we nearly called the album Magic Train following on from Magic Line, but then we thought people would be buying us anoraks.”
Scurf talks about Multi track recording. “I learnt from Clive Langer, with multiple track and stripping it away.”, Woody replies.
Speaking about “In The Mind”, Woody said that it was about his dad reading the boys bed time stories, and that imagination that kids have. The song isn’t about Nick’s mental illness at all, which one reviewer has said. It’s about fantasy and play.
This results in Woody and Scurf competing for best “Fake gun” Noises. Woody in his mind choosing a machine gun which he then impersonates loudly vs Mr Scruf’s Western pistol ricochet.
Any plans for live gigs?
“The major problem is people not paying us! Clubs and bars and pubs. It’s based on profit to pay. Just putting the band in a van costs. We are going to try and do a few gigs. Could be The Dublin Castle. But would be nice to venture out. I know Carl Smith has done some nice venues, put in a lot of effort. I would like to go down that line, but he will have to see. Playing live is not a given, but yes I would love to play live.”
“I just want a couple of scheckles” says Woody in a python like voice as Scurf urges London venues to get in touch.
Madness questions…
At the recent Blackheath. “Who had the best mower?”
“I had the mower with a disintegrating handle! got covered in black stuff. They were from a museum.”
Did you win the Silverstone racing? from that second photoshoot there.
“Yes I did. Jim Ogara’ is fanatical about cars he had the perfect racing line. I was following him. I over took a couple of laps. But I wont talk about his time! But out of the band. Yes I won! I’d been once before to Brands Hatch. loved it”
If you could play in any band that ever existed?
“Bad Company. AC/DC. I adore Roxy Music Phil Manzanera solo albums. Steve Hillage, but his drummers are too good, I don’t think I could keep up.”
Can you remember your first drum kit?
“Yes from a west end shop, a drum kit called Ajax. It was fantastic. I bought later a big premier kit, single headed, that I did One Step Beyond on. Ajax. They are worth something now. I missed a trick there. I got a Gretsch in 1981. Still drumming on it so long, it’s now an antique.”
The final question was about the band superstition of shaking hands before a gig. “We only shake the hand of the band. Anyone who is on stage that night. No one else.”, explained Woody, saying that they had been doing it for years.
Woody was talking to Mr Scurf on Koast radio. Thanks very much to both.
The Koast Train show is every Wednesday from 8pm online. Check it out at: http://www.koastradio.co.uk/koast/

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 577 – Sunday 23rd May – Saturday 29th May 2010
This issue got off the starting blocks with the news that Bristol’s famous music venue, The Fleece and Firkin, would no longer be playing host to tribute acts.
The news came to us from Bristol based Madness tribute “Nuttyness”, who reported that;
“It’s Sad news the New owners of the Fleece and Firkin have decided that they don’t want to do Tribute Bands any more
So this will be our last gig in the Fleece until they decide to wonder why their tills are empty, its very sad for us as this was our home gig, and the staff have always treated us well. (it will be missed)”
Next, it was over to the Sunday Mercury, who were reporting that Suggs was due to play one of the smallest shows in his career, in Birmingham.
How? Suggs was booked to perform at the Irish Centre, in Digbeth’s High Street. He’d then take part in a live interview on stage, where fans could ask him questions from the floor. The event would raise much needed funds for the Chernobyl Children’s Project.
It was time to get you to part with your readies next, as Retro Madness were here with their latest offer. This week they had reduced the price of the very rare Grey Day UK 12” from £39.99 to just £19.99. Not only that, but that included postage and packing!
Following that we went over to Jonathan Young, who had managed to grab a few minutes with comedian Adrian Edmonson, who had been performing in his new band “The Bad Shepherds”. Asked if the band had ever considered covering a Madness track he commented;
Yes we have tried a few. It’s just not quite there. We’ve been trying to do Grey Day, and also Our House.”
We continued with Jonathan as his outro was a length piece of Madness / holiday related poetry. Who said the MIS wasn’t a cultured publication, eh?
10 years ago…
Issue 315 – Sunday 22nd May to Saturday 28th May 2005
Things had certainly quietened down after a previous hectic couple of weeks. However, on Tuesday fans finally got to hear a couple of tracks from the forthcoming Dangermen album when Mike and Suggs appeared as guests on BBC Radio 2’s Drive Time programme, hosted by Jonnie Walker.
For those of who’d missed it, we’d painstakingly knocked-up a transcription of the show which you could find elsewhere in the issue.
We’d also put together a brief write-up about the new tracks so you could get some sort of idea as to what they were like. Those of you who had been lucky enough to catch the show (or use the BBC’s wonderful `Listen Again` facility), were urged to write in with their thoughts on the new tracks.
We finished off this extremely short issue by urging those of you who had yet to order your tickets for the Forest Tour to get along to section four, where you could find out what venues had had their allocations snapped-up, or were about to.
15 years ago…
Issue number 53 – Sunday 21st May to Saturday 27th May 2000
Looking at this week’s edition of the MIS, it was clear that news had certainly not been hard to come by. There had been loads happening over the past 7 days, and with the `Ian Dury Concert` and `Velvet Ghost` events in the not-too-distant future, it was looking as if we’d be in for a lively couple of weeks.
Vince Carden had been in touch to say that subscribers to Madness Unsugged would receive issue 4 in about two weeks time. He apologised for the delay caused by an annoying printing problem and said that if anybody wanted to take out their impatience and aggression on him, you could beat him up at either of the forthcoming madmeets!!!
Thanks to Brendan Phipps, you’d also be able to find an up-to-date photo of the band displaying all current members of the group.
It was well worth a look.
Alongside the Ian Dury tribute gig on Friday 16th of June, TMML subscriber, Scatty had been beavering away organising additional events of which, some had been listed in past editions of the MIS Bulletins. If you were planning to come along to the show and would like to come along to the pre and post-gig events as well, Scatty told us that it was your last chance to put your name down.
Still on the subject of `Madmeets`, Scatty and MIS subscriber, Vince Foley were also organising a little get together on 10th June to celebrate Mr Smash’s appearance in London’s Finsbury Park.
In this week’s collection of articles, we took a look at two new video (remember those!) bootlegs containing around 3 hours of Madness footage. Imaginatively entitled “Madness TV Appearances (Tape 2), and “Madness Live (Tape 3)”, these would set you back £17.50 each.
Next we featured an in-depth review and write-up of the new Dr Martens CD, courtesy of Complete and Utter Madness. Weighing in at 2 CDs, this album featured such bands as The Blockheads, Bad Manners, The Sex Pistols, and of course, Madness.
Moving on, and we gave a quick plug to the forthcoming Ska Fest 2000, which was due to take place at The Empire Arena, Morcambe from Friday 16th to Sunday the 18th of June. The line-up included The Specials, The Selecter, The Hotknives and many, many more.
With tickets priced at a measly £55 for all 3 days, ticket holders were in for a cracking weekend at a really small price.
Elsewhere in this issue was a re-print of an email originally sent to MIS subscriber Wozza, from Blockhead Mickey Gallagher. Mickey detailed some basic details of the forthcoming Ian Dury tribute gig, due to take place on the 16th of June, before hinting on the band’s future plans for the rest of the year.
We finished off this week’s edition of the MIS with a reminder that tickets for the forthcoming Ian Dury tribute gig were still available, and could be purchased from various outlets (of which we listed all known ones).
Rob Hazelby

TWEETS OF A DOVE / THAT FACEBOOK
Dan Shears ‪@danshearsmusic
“Meeting went very well. Tomorrow we shoot the video for @woodymadness single ‘In Your Mind’ :)”

Woody Woodgate @woodymadness
“@danshearsmusic Looking very much like a male model in the filming of In Your Mind”

Chrissy Boy ‏@CBoyForeman
“I just donated to help @sumofus stand up to Bayer and save the bees. Can you help?
https://action.sumofus.org/a/bayer_cologne/”

Mark Bedford @I_be_MarkB
“’Baby I Love You’ has one of the greatest couplets in popular music: Have I ever told you, how good it feels to hold you.”

Cathal Smyth @CathalSmyth
“Thank you to everyone who came along to bush hall it was simply a pleasure to play to so many receptive people. You have my eternal gratitude. C xxx”

TIME…
We’re almost done for this week, but before we finish we’ve got a couple of last minute snippets to pass in your general direction.
Clearly excited about the prospect of performing alongside Madness once again Roy Stride from Scouting For Girls said in a recent interview“We are thrilled to be playing with Madness in Lincoln, such an historic and beautiful city and we know it has a great reputation for live music. We always have great fun when we play with Madness and we always ensure the crowd does too!”
And finally, don’t forget to go back to the “Sign of the Times” section above and enter the competitions currently running which are giving out free tickets to a number of the forthcoming Grandslam gigs. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it!
Have a good week!
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Garry Scurfield and Darren Dixon )

“Perfect Day”
Just a perfect day
Drink sangria in the park
And then later, when it gets dark
We go home

Just a perfect day
Feed animals in the zoo
Then later a movie, too
And then home

Oh, it’s such a perfect day
I’m glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

Just a perfect day
Problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
It’s such fun

Just a perfect day
You made me forget myself
I thought I was someone else
Someone good

Oh, it’s such a perfect day
I’m glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

You’re going to reap just what you sow
You’re going to reap just what you sow
You’re going to reap just what you sow
You’re going to reap just what you sow