We begin this week’s issue of the MIS with the sad news that the 2020 tour of the United States has been massively postponed.
Due to the continuing Covid-19 global lockdown this year’s US tour has been knocked on the head. While this is bad news it’s not the end of the world. If you check out our “Showtimes” section you’ll see a host of new Stateside dates for May and June 2021. So, while you’ll have to wait another year to see the band perform in the States you “do” still have a chance to see them.
The band have said that if you wish to request a refund then please contact the venue or the outlet you purchased your ticket from.
On a jollier note, we were contacted by Nick Woodgate towards the end of last week. Nick emailed to tell us;
“The Jojo Man Band is releasing an album (yet untitled) late May, early June.
I’ve been told a million times by professionals that I need time to promote it so that’s why the long run up.
It will be available for digital download and streaming on all major platforms.
There is some old Nick Woodgate favourites and new The Jojo Man Band songs.
The musicians consist of myself, Tim Maple and Accy Yeats, and is mixed and mastered by me.
I can reveal that plans had been made for some live London gigs but this has been put on hold”.
Naturally, we’ll keep you posted on the progress and if the “on hold” live gigs come to fruition.
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.
20th – 23rd – The 10th House of Fun Weekender. The Final Curtain. More info at www.bigweekends.com Tickets on sale now
2021
May
26th – NYC – Hammerstein ** new **
28th – Boston – HOB ** new **
30th – LA – The Greek Theatre ** new **
June
2nd – Oakland – The Fox Theatre ** new **
3rd – Oakland – The Fox Theatre ** new **
Lee Thompson
March
29th – A Voyage Round Lee Thompson. The Last Q&A for One Man’s Madness. Held at The Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, London, E8 2PB, 020 7241 9415 www.riocinema.org.uk
16th – The Courtyard, Herefordshire’s Centre for the Arts
17th – Bristol, Royal Redgrave Theatre
19th – Exeter, Corn Exchange
20th – Westlands, Yeovil
21st – Aldershot, Princes Hall
22nd – Hertford Theatre
23rd – Forum Theatre (Malvern Theatres)
24th – Warrington, Pyramind and Parr Hall
25th – Lythan St. Annes, Lowther Pavilion
27th – Hexham, Queens Hall Arts Centre
28th – Dundee Rep Theatrre
29th – Aberdeen Music Hall
30th – Edinburgh, The Queen’s Hall
The Sliencerz
May
30th – Bull and Gate, Barnet
Buy It
Record Store Day – Work Rest and Play ** revised date **
Release date: Moved to 20th June (was 18th April)
Format: Double 7″ single
Cat No. BMGCAT430DSV
Overview:
Fortieth anniversary re-issue of Madness’ “Work Rest & Play EP” – the follow-up to their debut album, 1979’s “One Step Beyond…”
Limited edition Record Store Day 2020 release on double 7” format with a triple gatefold sleeve including photos from the time of the original release.
Track listing:
Side One
Night Boat To Cairo
Side Two
Deceives The Eye
Side Three
The Young And The Old
Side Four
Don’t Quote Me On That
Record Store Day – Dance Craze 40th Anniversary Edition ** revised date **
This is a new half-speed master exclusively for RSD and part of the Two Tone Records 40th Anniversary celebrations. This is a soundtrack to the live movie of the same name featuring exclusive live recordings by The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat, Bad Manners and The Bodysnatchers. This is also first vinyl repress since its original release in 1981.
This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby goes back in time to report on what was going on in the world of Madness 5, 10, 15 and 20 years ago this week.
5 years ago…
Issue Number 829 – Sunday 29th March to Saturday 4th April 2015
Last Sunday Madness appeared at The London Palladium,to entertain the audience of ITV variety show “Sundy Night at The Palladium.” The episode, hosted by “Bradley Walsh” (of Whom Chrissy Boy said “He was class.”) also featured Olly Murs, and a cast of Billy Elliot performers.
Madness’ management then confirmed that at present the planned TV transmission date for us this is to be 9pm, Sunday May the 3rd on ITV. We promised to remind you again in a couple of weeks so that you didn’t miss it.
Jeni Leach, posting in the All Things Madness group said… “My Son and his lovely partner had priority tickets for this tonight and [had] no idea who was performing until getting inside. 2 tracks..Our House and It Must Be Love. They have had a wicked night.”
Also this week, Cathal Smyth announced that the first single from A Comfortable Man is – Do You Believe In Love?
On Amazon it was currently listed as available for download from March 25th.
Moving on, and in “Sign of the Times” Digital Spy reporting on the forthcoming single from Carl while the Essex Chronicle spoke to Suggs ahead of the band’s Chelmsford City Racecourse gig.
Our MIS feature took a look at the Madness promotional bandwagon, which last week saw Chris, Suggs, Bedders and Woody on Black Heath last Sunday, armed with mowers and ready to cut the grass for the forthcoming Blackheath Festival. The resultant photo shoot appeared in The Metro, London’s widely circulated, free paper, and many other local papers and new outlets around the south London area.
Next, it was over to Mark Adamson who provided the material for this week’s “Live and Intensified” article as he reviewed the recent Deaf School gigs that took place in Tokyo!
We brought this issue to a close with the news that Digital Spy had revealed that Carl would be appearing at further live dates and festival shows. Naturally, we promised to publish details as soon as we’d heard more.
10 years ago…
Issue Number 569 – Sunday 28th March – Saturday 3rd April 2010
We began this issue with some sad news, as it was announced that Madness’ former manager Matthew Sztumpf had sadly passed away. Matthew, who also worked with The Smiths and Swing Out Sister collapsed from a brain aneurysm a week ago and passed away on Sunday.
Another former Madness Manager, John ‘Kellogs’ Kalinowski and Mark Knopfler manager, Paul Crockford both paid tribute to Matthew, with Paul commenting;
“Matt was one of the good guys in the business. He did the best for his acts with honesty, dignity and most importantly, a sense of humour. He will be sorely missed.”
Moving on, and we had much jollier news to pass on as The Valle Theatre Company, Cheshunt, announced that they would be performing the Our House Musical. The production would take place on the 3rd and 4th of April at the Broxbourne Civic Hall.
Corinne Vallé, principal of the Vallé Theatre Company said: “Even if you’re not familiar with the music of Madness, you can’t help but fall in love with this show. It’s so funny and endearing, and the cast have really enjoyed putting it together. We’re really excited for opening night – we hope as many people as possible will come and see it.”
Next, it was over to Mick Jenner with a detailed review of the recent Big Ten gig, which was held at The Dublin Castle on the 21st March. With the band playing past midnight on a Sunday evening it was likely that many would have given the gig a miss or would have left early. After all, for a lot of people they’d need to be up for work in the morning.
Mick rounded off his review by commenting;
“As I hurried to Camden Town tube station with ringing in my ears and the uncomfortable feel of the icy cold air on my sweat soaked Fred Perry, my voice had almost gone completely. I just about managed to muster up the energy for two words to sum up Big 10….
Oi, Oi!!”
Further on, and we had yet more Our House musical news, as Ian Taylor of the Mad Not Mad fanzine got in touch to tell us that the school he was head of year at had just finished a three night run of the show. With a cast of 65, a full band and chorus, plus Ian playing the roll of dad, he said it was something of a dream come true to be following in Suggs’ steps.
Elsewhere Jonathan Young reported on a special live fan-compiled album that had been put together by himself, Stuart Wright, and Fred & Emilee and his band “Indeed”.
The project had come together to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sad passing of Ian Dury.
Featuring 18 tracks, the album could be downloaded from the MIS web site.
We brought this issue to a close with the news that Jean Pierre Boutellier was busy organizing a France-based Madmeet for the 14th of May. This would take place before the Madness concert due to take place in Paris later that day.
15 years ago…
Issue number 307 – Sunday 27th March to Saturday 2nd April 2005
With the Easter break well and truly underway, everyone seemed to be away from their keyboards, and instead, out enjoying the weather.
This was reflected in the short issue we had this week.
We started off this week by taking a look at the Official One Step Behind web site. The band had recently set up a web forum, giving fans the opportunity to chat with the band members, and to chat with other fans.
The band had also put together a downloads section, enabling visitors to obtain live and studio recordings of their covers.
Moving on, and we detailed the full line-up for the Badfest festival, which ran fromt he 29th to the 31st of July. With bands such as The Riffs, Big 10, Bad Manners, Jerry Dammers and many many more, the £45 ticket price for the three days seemed like an absolute bargain.
Next-up we highlighted a thread that had originally appeared on the official Madness messageboard, and had been answered by Lee and Chris.
A Madness fan was in search of the best place to pick up a Harrington Jacket. Lee and Chris were not only able to point the person in the right direction, but gave details of a short Madness tour, which you can find below…
“If you [or anyone else] want a Madness mini tour of the immediate area, the Mac Bar in Camden road used to be called the Eagle pub, which is where Dave Robinson took us for the legendary pint before signing us to Stiff records. The Entrance to the bar we were in [the saloon bar-ask your grandparents about public bars and saloon bars] can be found in the Royal College street side of the pub. Near the entrance you will notice some metal stairs which lead down to a basement in which we rehearsed for our first headlining tour in 1979.
Just next to this on the junction of Royal College Street and Camden Road was a clothes shop called “Swanky Modes” [now a restaurant] which Clive Langer’s wife Mel ran with Willie Walters. Mel and Clive also lived above the shop.
Head back down Royal College Street towards Kings Cross and you may notice a dilapidated car showroom which is where Suggs did his intro piece for “Shut Up” on the Madness video.
With that on your left glance down at the row of houses on your right and you will find it is the same row of houses the we “nutty trained” towards in “Grey Day” and is also the cover of “Divine Madness”.
Finally if you can find the steps that lead down to the canal this is where we did the video links for “Los Palmos Seven” and where I had the frogmans flippers on for “It Must be Love”.
Finish your afternoon/day off with a visit to the pie and mash shop on Royal College Street a few doors away from where you started off. Castle’s Pie and Mash-229 Royal College Street. Phone-020 7485 2196. Don’t forget to say Chrissy Boy sent you for a total blank”
Going back to the subject of clothing, and our next section came courtesy of the Warrior Clothing web site, who were kind enough to let us know what they’d been up to, and what new items they had in stock.
If you were (and in fact, still are!) after some good quality mod/2tone style clothing, this is one place you’ll want to visit.
We finished off this week’s issue by re-printing an exchange of words between one fan who was grumbling about the cost of a gig ticket being £27.00 (remember those days!), and Chas, who put a cheeky twist on the subject.
20 years ago…
Issue number 45 – Sunday 26th March to Saturday 1st April 2000
The other week it was described as looking `gleaming`, now it was back to being `totally unlikely`. In a recent update via E-mail, Total Madness Mailing List Co-Maintainer, Adele Hargreaves reported that the bi-annual shin-dig (Madstock to the majority of you) may not take place.
Apparently Vince Power at The Mean Fiddler (the organisers of the Madstock shows) wanted to present an `80’s Revival Festival`. Madness rightly didn’t want to be part of this as they felt they were a `today` band.
Other news was that the US tour mentioned a few issues ago may be organised to co-incide with the Stateside release of Wonderful. No further news was available, but if we heard anything we would let you know.
Looking further ahead, and Adele informed us that we should `start saving our pennies` as a Christmas 2000 tour of the UK was looking possible. Apparently the lack of appearance in Scotland last year had also been passed on to the band.
Adele finished by informing us that we should ignore all those who touted `Wonderful` as the last release from the lads. From what she told us, `the band were hoping to get back into the studio within the next year`.
We started off this week’s issue with an article from Mr. G, who emailed in to let us know that his Magnificent Seven web site had received a massive update, and that there were now 28 mp3s available for download that went all the way back to 1980, and included rare footage of Mike Barson’s farewell concert at the Lyceum in 1983.
We’d had Madmeets held in numerous locations over the years, London, Scotland, New York, Washington DC, and now thanks to Mr Carden and Mr. Foley, Ireland had been changed forever by the antics of a few of its residents in its first ever Madmeet.
The Vince Foley titled O’ Meet took place in Bruxelles bar with the juke box that contained ‘Complete Madness’, Various Ska compilations and the original versions of Under My Thumb, Apeman and Goodbye Blackberry Way.
Moving on, we next took a look at the latest line-up of gigs for Madness tribute band “One Step Behind”. These guys were so well organised that dates for 2001 were already being organised, such was the demand for their Madness inspired antics.
For those of you out there who missed the few gigs Ian Dury and his Blockheads played a month or so back, you’d be pleased to know that more dates had since been announced for later in the year. These would of course be dependant on the health of Ian.
We finished off this week’s issue with news that Madness fan Scatty was looking into organising a Madness festival. A date of June 11th had been pencilled in, and would consist of the following:
– A Madwalk (see the Madness related sites in and around Camden)
– A Madness quiz (pub quiz style, about Madness, with cash prizes)
– A Madness raffle, (with the possibility of a few signed items)
– Madness stalls (chances for maddies to get hold of those rare bits they want)
– Video shows of “Take it or Leave it, Madstocks, Greatest hits, interviews & dance craze, as well as any other videos of interest.
– A tribute band, (and maybe if possible, a karaoke)
And to round off the day nicely, a ska/madness disco which would raise money for “radio king’s” (a hospital radio station) in the process.
Would this ambitious project ever get off the ground? Only time would tell.
Rob Hazelby
Tweets of a Dove
Blackbird was of course a song on the last Madness album. With concerts banned there is still some music to be heard on the streets. Could the Bird’s be bringing the next album a musical influence? Here’s what Mark is listening to…
@I_be_MarkB
“Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3: With the reduced traffic noise in London, you can really hear the birds sing. Have a listen – they’re writing some good stuff.”
… conversations about McCartney’s Blackbird to the band The Black Crowes
Continue as Mark’s Followers turn to listening to the tweeting of the real Birds…
@SteveMoore
“Yes, But are they going to play any old numbers,Turn Turn Turn?”
@I_be_MarkB
“I’ve asked them to re-visit their first album.”
Sign of the Times
From Dean Martin to Gene Vincent: Ian Dury’s favourite songs of all time
It’s hard to quantify anything about Ian Dury. The singer and performer, who died 20 years ago today, wasn’t just the mercurial leader of The Blockheads, nor the mouthpiece for an increasingly disenfranchised sub-sect of society nor the inventor of the phrase “sex, drugs and rock & roll”. Ian Dury was a bastion of unbridled energy.
Here we’re taking a look back at a special moment as Dury joins a list of world leaders and the musical elite who have taken part in the British institution of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.
Ian Dury was never one for being a part of any establishment. The singer was an unstoppable force when he and his band The Blockheads burst on to the scene in the late seventies. He wasn’t a bright young thing full of spark and idealistic intent, he was a mid-30s former art school student who had a microphone and a lot of pent-up frustration.
Unlike his counterparts though, Dury wouldn’t rely on anger alone to get his message across, he would use his command of the English language as his tool. What’s more, his sprightly onstage demeanour belied his diagnosis of Polio, prowling as he did like a caged animal. His disgust for anything that appeared to coddle disabled people was also never too far from the fore. Dury refused to conform.
We’ll be back next week for the round-up of the latest Madness and Madness related news, and we have a feeling that we’ll be reporting on further gig cancellations over the coming weeks.
