With Madness’ summer gigs all knocked on the head, fans now have a three month wait until the next chance to catch the band live.
Running from Friday 30th November to Monday 3rd December, the Madness Weekender in Minehead is currently the next opportunity you’ll have to see the band onstage.
Before that. Suggs kicks off the next stage of his one man show tour in September, so you could always go and see our favourite frontman perform while you wait for November to come around.
Meanwhile, the “Suggs My Life Story” DVD release from Pledge Music continues, with a date of November 2018 now being plastered on the Pledge web site, and a matinee theatre live performance and screening on the 15th October.
Check out our Showtimes section for more information. Be aware that if you’ve not yet placed an order for this DVD we recommend you hold fire until it actually sees a release.
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.
Available only for the next couple of weeks. These official Madness T-shirt’s feature lyrics from the Magnum Opus song The Liberty of Norton Folgate. They will be shipped on July 20th, available only for this limited time period.
Available in 3 sizes, the profit is going to the Music Venture Trust.
Lee Thompson’s One Man’s Madness DVD & CD Soundtrack
Lee ‘Kix’ Thompson is a most unlikely character. Early career choices had him spend a year in Borstal. He still hasn’t found the receipt for his first saxophone. Luckily, he met two other unlikely characters: Mike ‘Barso’ Barson and ‘Chrissy Boy’ Foreman, who shared his interests of graffiti, train hopping and music.
One Man’s Madness, a feature length rocku-docu-mockumentary directed by Jeff Baynes, tells the story of Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson, told by Lee and his fellow Madness band mates, his family, friends and musicologists, who strangely all look a little like him! From meeting Barso and Chrissy Boy, and later Suggs, Chas, Woody and Bedders, to becoming one of Britain’s most iconic and successful bands, this joyous and light-hearted film follows the path of Lee’s life through his lyrics and songs, including such Madness classics as The Prince, Embarrassment, House Of Fun, Lovestruck and NW5.
Two CD set. Original soundtrack to the 2018 documentary about Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson. Includes tracks from Madness, Crunch, ‘Thommosina Leigh’, Ian Dury, and the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra. Including Hidden Tracks. New Mad store T-shirts & Madshorts
Further New T-shirts are now in stock for the summer. Including Madness Shorts as this hot weather continues to encourage getting your legs out. The recent Stately Holmes tour T-shirt is now in stock on line. A rather fetching Lady Killers poster of the old Ealing comedy about a gang of roguish bank robbers, re done with Madness heads taken from old shut up artwork and repurposed nicely in this fitting parody. A fetching Morris Minor car picture harking back to Driving in My Car video and the Mad 7 number plate, with the paraphrase lyrics from Muswell Hill to Selsey Bill! Check out the Madstore now.
Danceable and delightful, this debut album of the band’s much loved original songs pushes on through, breaking the mould of standard ska cover band. Catchy tunes and powerful brass and rhythm section make this a must-listen. Featuring Lee Thompson.
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: 744 – Sunday 11th August to Saturday 17th August 2013
We kicked off this edition with some important news for those of you attending the Ally Pally concert on September 28th.
If you were planning to be in London earlier than the event you now had an opportunity to register at Madness.co.uk and be involved in a video re-creation event the band were playing. The band needed your involvement, so the more people who attended the better.
The event was due to start 3:00pm, and more information would be sent out to you once you’d registered.
For those of you looking to spend some pennies, the news this week was that the Take it or Leave it re-release complete with soundtrack CD was now available for pre-order.
The complete track listing was as follows:
Tracklisting of the CD.
1. Don’t Quote Me On That – Madness
2. The Business – Madness
3. I’m Walkin’ – Fats Domino
4. On The Beat Pete – Madness
5. Don’t Look Back – Madness
6. Reach Out I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
7. Embarrassment – Madness
8. Mistakes – Madness
9. That’s The Way To Do It – Madness
10. Rocking In Ab – Madness
11. Day On The Town – Madness
12. Swan Lake – Madness
13. In The Middle Of The Night – Madness
14. Razor Blade Alley – Madness
15. Madness – Madness
16. Steppin’ Into Line – Madness
17. Night Boat To Cairo – Madness
18. Sign Of the Times – Madness
19. Solid Gone – Madness
20. One Step Beyond… – Madness
21. Bed & Breakfast Man – Madness
22. The Prince – Madness
23. Baggy Trousers – Madness
24. Grey Day – Madness
25. My Girl – Madness
26. Take It Or Leave It Madness
On to our MIS feature, and this week it was Woody being interviewed by Koast Train on the 19th June.
The interview was absolutely huge and took up most of the issue, but it was a fascinating read. Our thanks went to Looby Loo who had to transcribe the whole thing!
Next, it was on to Tweets of a Dove, where we featured posts from Chris, Carl and Suggs. With the band having been busy recently, the three of them had lots to say.
We brought this issue to a close with the news that now there was an official event taking place at the forthcoming Ally Pally gig from 3:00pm, the Dublin Castle meet planned for earlier in the day would be much shorter to allow fans enough time to get along to the event in time.
10 years ago…
Issue 484 – Sunday 4th August to Saturday 16th August 2008
We had loads of Madness news for you this week, but surely what had to be THE big story of the past seven days was Madness’ performance at Newmarket with two thirds of the gig minus Mike, who was late back from his holidays.
The interesting thing is, while some of you were a little miffed regarding Mike’s absence, others out there commented on just how impressed they were that the rest of the band mucked-in, and managed to keep the show going despite being one man down.
Elsewhere subscriber Graham Whitfield reported on taking his five-year-old son Harry to his first Madness gig, when the two of them saw the band at Aintree, Doncaster.
“The only problem was, Harry insisted on sitting on my shoulders for two whole hours of solid jumping up and down at each gig, so that he got the best view. I’m visiting an osteopath on a weekly basis.”
It was over to Dance Brigade news next, as we reported that the band had been fortunate enough to be asked by photographer Jules Annan to take part in their first ever photoshoot at Little Dean Jail in Gloucester.
“Using the original scooters from the film QUADROPHENIA. The jail is now a museum run by Andy his hospitable wife Nicola and fabulous daughter Kirsty Jones and they spent the whole day looking after us all brilliantly. The museum houses some of the strangest things seen to man, it has memorabilia from the crime world, weird ancient animals some with two heads, some seriously horrific stuff, torture equipment, the list is endless.“
Following this we moved on to Dury news, as we gave you the lowdown on all dates for the new Ian Dury play The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury. Alongside the dates we were told that the show featured very strong language. Did we really expect anything else?
It was over to Jonathan Young and Jackie Read who kept the issue content flowing with their reviews of Chrissy Boy’s recent birthday party gig – AKA Newmarket.
“Set wise a good long clutch of expected hits, including Tomorrow’s Just another day. No grey day. Danger men’s Taller than you are and Iron shirt. Newer’s NW5, Forever Young, and Dust Devil”
We passed the issue over to Looby for the next part as she detailed the mass of recent updates to the In Print section of the Madness Trading Ring web site. Articles ranged from those published in early 1981 all the way up to April 2008. Someone or some people had certainly been busy!
Wristbands were the subject of our next article when Jonathan Young reported that the USB audio wristbands from the recent Newmarket gig would sadly be unavailable. The blame was put down to a technical error. A real shame, especially for those who had put up money upfront and now had to wait for a refund.
15 years ago…
Issue 222 – Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th August 2003
Continuing on from last week’s issue where we had a real drought of Madness related news, it was once again very slim pickings. However, although we had little to report on it hadn’t dried up totally.
We’re not sure how he did it, but MIS subscriber Graham Whitfield seemed to dig out Madness related news no matter what. This week he reported on the release of a new compilation album `One Step Beyond` and also on on Madness’ appearance on `Pop Years: 1980`.
This ‘One Step Beyond’ album contained a whopping 45 tracks, three from Madness, and numerous from The Specials, The Beat, The Selector, and more. At the time the RRP was £17.99. However, a number of online stockists were selling it at a more wallet friendly £12.99.
Mr. G returned with news of a string Edinburgh appearances by Madness/Bad Manners tribute outfit, `Badness`, and if that wasn’t enough, we also had news on Chris Foreman’s recent birthday, courtesy of Madness Trading Ring maintainer, Steve Bringe.
So, what was the news? Being the obvious Madness fans that they are, online music stockist eil.com offering a 10% discount on all orders for a limited time.
There were no hidden catches. The only criteria was that your order had to contain at least one item from the Madness back catalogue.
You couldn’t say fairer than that, could you?
Rob Hazelby
MIS Feature
Sore Throat With Morris and the Minors – Poster Found
Last month, amusingly in an online group referred to as “Shit London”, a picture emerged which caused a bit of a stir among some of the maddie community, when Landlord of the Dublin Castle, Henry, then shared it to his friends to see…
A discovered poster, windswept but hanging on, fly posted to a wall, depicting Morris and the Minors one and only gig at The Music Machine. Could it really be this had survived near 40 years!!!
This poster, torn and battered still clearly shows the venues name and shows the dome shaped roof as its logo of the venue now know as “Koko”. Underneath the bands Sore Throat, and The Snivelling Shit are listed. Both of whom were above Morris on the bill that night as his Minors quietly changed their group name to Madness upon opening the set.
What ever happened to The Shits? Seems they folded quickly as punk did in the late 70s, their lead man dying in 97. Sore Throat did have a more recently reinvention a few years ago though, here’s an extract from Camden Journal, when they played under a new name in 2011 in Finchley..
“A BAND started by school pals in the 1970s has reformed for another taste of life on stage, 35 years later. Reid Savage, Dan Flowers and Greg Mason met at William Ellis School in Highgate more than three decades ago and enjoyed some success with their band, Sore Throat. By 1976, they were enjoying five bookings a week and were well-known faces at Camden’s legendary live music venues. Now, they are back, albeit with a new name, perhaps reflecting the passing of time. Performing as Groovy Dad, the three musicians, along with rock journalist friend Neil McCormick, will return to the stage next month.
Mr Savage said: “In our mid-teens we started knocking about with each other and by the age of 17 we were playing in our band Sore Throat.” They proved to be mentors to another Camden band with a William Ellis link – Madness were a little younger and would follow them religiously. In return, Sore Throat asked the young “Nutty Boys” if they would like to join them on the bill at a gig at the Music Machine – the nightclub now known as Koko in Camden High Street.
Sore Throat scored a deal with EMI and cut a record, but failed to follow it up with a hit and the members eventually pursued other careers and projects. Then, a couple of years ago, Mr Savage was approached by friends who asked if he would play at a party. He said: “A lot of our friends have been having 50th birthday parties and someone asked if we would reform Sore Throat.” The idea of getting the entire crew back together was stumped by the fact one member, Matt Flowers, Dan’s brother, was running a successful art gallery which meant he was not available for jam sessions.”
But Mr Savage knew enough other musicians for this obstacle to be overcome. He added: “Because of the umming and ahhing, I just put together a band and got on with it, and it has worked. One of the funniest things is we get is a lot of old girlfriends from Camden School for Girls and Parliament Hill show up. They suddenly get interested in what we are up to.”
Fair to say that overall of the three Madness are the ones to go down in history making this poster legendary. Suggs of course refers to Sore Throat, affectionately in his one man show, My Life in Words and Music, asking “Whatever happened to them?”. Well now you know.
Equally bemused at this posters longevity, Cathal Smyth asked of Henry, “where was this poster?”
Well its down a nondescript side street Hanway Place South side, London. Henry adding his own lament on the disappearance of illegal flyposting…
“Before Camden Council Fly-posting enforcement policy. (The poor ‘ol Venue has to go around removing the ‘decor’ these days.) Once upon a time in the good old days the bands used to turn up a week or two before the gig, grab a bucket of wallpaper paste and brighten up the town’s closed down shop-fronts and graffiti walls with information on the up and coming gigs. I miss these posters.”
Quite. Even as late as the 90s Lee used to Fly poster his own gigs! Seems so implausible then that this poster has been missed and weathered well enough to still read, or that Koko has not identified and told to take it down even!!
If we return instead to Koko’s much more recent past and January this year, it hosted another Madness event near 40 years on, a showing of Suggs Movie made with Julien Temple. While we await to see this project reach DVD, once it does, then maybe then we can see proof that this is really a film recreation prop used in Julien’s montage story telling. The film makers guilty of leaving it up to bemuse the passing public. This seemed to satisfy Carl as an explanation, he drifted back to happy band memories…
“I’m sure you’re correct in saying it’s been recently put up for Suggs film. I can’t imagine it could have survived this long!
I remember the show vividly. Heady days! Definitely taking on the world then & tres Nut, Nut, Nutty” Cathal Smyth.
Jonathan Young
Sign of the Times
Camden Town singer Suggs’ plea to save Good Mixer
CAMDEN Town music legend Suggs has rushed to the defence of the threatened Good Mixer pub, saying he loves it “like my non-existent dad”.
The Madness singer called for supporters to save the “landmark” pub in Inverness Street and warned that Camden’s heritage was at risk of being dumped like a plastic bag in the canal.
Suggs – real name Graham McPherson – was speaking with just days left to respond to a planning application from the building’s owners that regulars fear will lead to the pub’s closure.
He told the New Journal: “I love the Mixer like it’s my non-existent dad. Man alive, how many Camden landmarks will go?
“Shall we just say good- night, pack ourselves off to bed and forget about it? Shall we drop what’s left [of Camden] in a Sainsbury’s carrier bag in the canal. Our culture – who cares?”
I was lucky enough to watch from side of stage which sent tingles through me. I think I was as much in awe as the first time I saw them play in the 3 arena, which is almost 10 years ago.
I was at side of stage because I had kindly been granted work shadowing for a live session within audio production, as I work in Radio
and am a student of audio production. I was learning about how it’s all put together. Which is very professionally done, and precise when it comes to Madness.
Their was 2 really epic pieces for me during the gig. Being right beside the stage speakers as Chris played the solo to Our House. Still to this day there is something about that solo that makes me choke up and also we got Lovestruck again as it holds sentimental value to me.
Getting to see Chris go pure berserk during the the night was fantastic especially to Baggy trousers and Nightboat.
It’s really given me a new found respect for the band and what they do so often.
Seeing the the main standing arena so empty during the day and then watching how it changed instantly at the start of the gig I saw the amount of people and nearly bricked it I can only imagine what it does to a stand in member playing with Madness for the first time!
During the gig quite early on Suggs and Thommo had spotted a bloke filming the set and ripped the piss out of him and told him he wasn’t allowed, this kept some form of connection with that member of the crowd throughout the night when ever they seen his mobile phone been taken out.
I just wanted to thank the band along with Pete H, Andy and LJ for an absolutely amazing experience.
Shannan McBride
Time
That’s just about it for this week.
Don’t forget to check out the official Madstore where several new items were uploaded towards the end of last month:
