1 – THIS IS WHERE THE MADNESS BEGINS – The obligatory intro.

2 – THE TRACKLISTING OF SISTER MARY IGNATIUS – Ladies and gentlemen,
we bring you the track listing from the debut album by The Lee
Thompson Ska Orchestra. Out June 3rd.

3 – THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS – This week MIS co-editor, Rob Hazelby
goes back 5 years to issue number 466, and the week of Sunday
6th April to Saturday 12th April 2008, and then back 10 years to
issue number 204 and the week of Sunday 6th April to Saturday
12th April 2003.

4 – MY REVIEW OF SUGGS’ MY LIFE STORY – MIS subscriber Kristine
Burnett reviews Suggs’ recent One Man Show performance at the
Kings Theatre, Southsea.

5 – HOW CAN WE TELL YOU TO BUY IT? – News of behind the scenes
footage, album, single information and more. Here’s jon Young and
Vicki Lee.

6 – OH MY LOVE LIVE, DECEMBER 2003 – In 2003 Madness set off on a tour
that featured one of the truly great set lists since their
comeback. As well as playing the likes of Prospects, Victoria
Gardens and March Of The Gherkins this tour was the first where
they tried out new tunes for what would eventually be 2005’s
Dangermen Sessions. One such tune was a cover of the 1971 John
Lennon album track Oh My Love. Vince Carden explains.

7 – MAY & AUGUST SKA ORCHESTRA GIGS – A recap of those May dates, and
more information on previously stated August Events that would be
happening, in the shape of the United Colours Festival in
Sheffield, supporting the legendary Skatalites plus news of the
Belgium Jazz Festival date.

8 – NEAR JAZZ RECORD STORE DAY EXPERIENCE – News of a new record and
more gigs from Mark and Terry. Look out for the special Record
Store Day 7″ release from The Near Jazz Experience – in a 3d
sleeve with 3d glasses!!

9 – HOW CAN I TELL YOU THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH? – Ok, so last week’s April
fool about how the band made a video at the BBC for their new
single was just that, our yearly attempt to pull the rug from
under fans. But we aren’t joking when we say there is video of
the band performing a session at Absolute Radio to promote the
new track this week.

10 – THAT’S YER LOT – A few last minute words before we finish for
the week.

[1] – THIS IS WHERE THE MADNESS BEGINS

Hello, and a very warm welcome to this latest edition of the MIS Online newsletter.

The MIS team have been busy making the most of this first spell of decent weather, keeping themselves away from the keyboard just long enough to get some sunshine on their pale complexions.

Thankfully for you, we’ve not been away from the computer for too long, and we’ve got a massive issue of the MIS ready for you this week.

From single and special edition album news, to details of forthcoming Ska Orchestra gigs, a new record from The Near Jazz Experience, and more, you’ll find it right here.

Enjoy the read,

Rob Hazelby, Jonathan Young, Liz Maher, Simon Roberts
Email us at: robert, jonathan, liz, simon @mis-online.net

[2] – THE TRACKLISTING OF SISTER MARY IGNATIUS

Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the track listing from the debut album by The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra. Out June 3rd.

The Benevolence of Sister Mary Ignatius

1. Guns Fever
2. Bangarang
3. Midnight Rider
4. Fu Man Chu ft. Bitty Mclean
5. Ali Baba
6. Mission Impossible
7. Eastern Standard Time
8. Hot Reggae
9. Hello Josephine
10. Napoleon Solo
11. Soon You’ll Be Gone
12. Soul Serenade

Available from Axe Attack Records June 3rd.
Pre-order link coming Soon.
www.ltso.mis-online.net

Jonathan Young

[3] – THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS

This week MIS co-editor, Rob Hazelby goes back 5 years to issue number 466, and the week of Sunday 6th April to Saturday 12th April 2008, and then back 10 years to issue number 204 and the week of Sunday 6th April to Saturday 12th April 2003.

5 years ago…

Issue 466 – Sunday 6th April – Saturday 12th April 2008

Talk about being organised and making your plans early, but it seemed that this week it was exactly what Madness had done, as the news went out that tickets to see Madness at the O2 Arena on Friday 19th of December were now on sale!

We were certain that this was one of if not the earliest date tickets for a Madness Christmas concert had gone on sale.

On to the articles, and we kicked things off with the news that Robert-jan over on the Nutty Forum had unearthed a hidden track, a Suggs sung collaboration with a band called Little Massive, who feature ex-Arnold members.

The video was quite weird and arty. A man was sat in front of a mirror, putting some make-up on and transforming himself into a woman. The on screen text said the song was performed by Little Massive & Suggs.

After further research from the one and only Graham Yates, he was able to confirm that the Suggs track was a hidden track 11 on the Little Massive album “Dog Gone”.

Here’s what Graham had to say at the time;

“It’s a printed CD-R and cover showing that this
is obviously an unsigned self released effort.
But that doesn’t detract from the fact this was
done for the love of the music. And quite good
it is too.

Some nice acoustic soft chill out music somewhere
between solo Mccartney, country and The Charlatans.
But obviously it’s the Suggs collaboration that
interests us here”.

Next-up we passed proceedings over to Steve Bringe of The Madness Trading Ring, who’d managed to bag an interview with The Beat’s Dave Wakeling. Sure, it wasn’t Madness but it proved to be an essential read.

Further on, and we held our hands up and admitted that we’d issued yet another April Fool. This year we’d gone for a Madness interview in a monthly horse-based publication, with the pun title of “Norton Foal Gate”.

Graham Yates immediately emailed us to tell us how terribly weak the idea was and that he’d spotted it straight away. He wasn’t fooled, and no one would be. We were able to inform Graham that by this point we’d had already fooled one of our own editors and a reader who excitedly emailed to tell us of his contacts in IPC media and how he would definitely get hold of a copy of the CD for us!

We brought this issue to a close with the news that as Madness were due to appear at The Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday evening, that as long as Jonathan didn’t drink too much you should expect a review in time for the next issue. That said, we also asked that if you were planning to go along to send us in your reviews of the gig no matter how long or short they were.

10 years ago…

Issue 204 – Sunday 6th April – Saturday 12th April 2003

Sick with the continued re-re-releases of Madness material, one Madness fan by the name of Matt (we never did find out his surname!) decided to take matters into his own hands. Setting up an online petition (have any of those ever worked?!) he asked fans to put their name to a proposal of a Madness unreleased 12″ album. Five years on, this much anticipated release has got no closer to materialising.

If the recent Madness gig at the Royal Albert Hall had got you yearning for more live music, then the news that Madness spin off Like Father, Like Son, we’re going to be performing at The Hope and Anchor pub on Saturday 19th of April must have been a real blessing to many of you out there.

Always a master at tracking celebrities down for interviews, one Jonathan Young managed to rope Phil Jupitus into answering a whole mass of Madness and Blockhead related questions. Five years on, this is still an extremely enjoyable read.

With the second series of radio comedy ‘I Think I’ve Got a Problem’, now well underway, co-editor, Jonathan Young took time to review the second episode, as well as provide a lowdown of the songs sung during the show.

We finished this issue with news that as Suggs’ one week stint appearing in the Madness musical, Our House, had gone down so well, he would be returning for a massive five week long stretch from Monday 7th of April.

For those who missed his performances the first time around, this would be an excellent opportunity to catch him treading the boards.

Rob Hazelby

[4] – MY REVIEW OF SUGGS’ MY LIFE STORY

A very good friend of mine, Bev Warren, phoned me one day and asked me if she could come to visit me and my family. Bev and I used to go to school together and stayed pals ever since. She also asked if I would like to go and see Suggs with her. My reply was “You know that is a silly question. Yes, yes, yes please”.

So, on Tuesday 2nd April off we went to Kings Theatre, Southsea, Portsmouth, to see Suggs’ “My Life Story”.

It was truly a great show. He sang “See You Later Aligator”, “Baggy Trousers”, and a few other hits. Suggs made us laugh, feel sad, but not for long as he soon made us a laugh again. With his story of when he was a child, when he joined “The North London Invaders”, why they changed it to “Madness”. He told us about his poor cat Mamba, the questions he asked his mum about his dad. How he met then married Bette Bright. Suggs did a Tommy Cooper trick and everyone laughed. He then ended on “It Must Be Love”, and some lyrics said “It’s 30 years”, smiled and carried on and the audience laughed. There was a lot more but don’t want to spoil it for you.

A lady in the audience shouted “I love you Suggs”, which surprised him (I think) then Bev shouted “I love you more”, so I had to join in and shout “and me”, poor Suggs looked at them both and smiled and carried on, bless him.

The show was two hours long. Well, I mean short, as I for one wanted more, but as we was leaving I said to Bev “That was really really good. I’d love to see it again. I really hope he comes back and comes back with Madness too”.

If he comes to a theatre near you then I strongly recommend you go and see him. You wont be disappointed.

Suggs, if you read M.I.S, this is for you. When I saw you at O2 London back in December 2008 I asked you if you could come to Portsmouth and you said you would asked your manager. Well you did, and I would like to say many, many thanks.

All the very best.

Kristine Burnett

[5] – HOW CAN WE TELL YOU TO BUY IT?

Dear Zoltar, Please can we have How Can I Tell You as a Madness single Today?

Zoltar: YES!

And about this time next week can we have a 70 track special edition of the latest Madness album, please?

Zoltar: YES, YES!

This week Madtube uploaded a new video of the album cover photo shoot, with Suggs confirming our theory that their design uses Zoltar as a magical giver of Yes! from the film BIG.

And what gifts is Zoltar bestowing upon us lucky Madness fans? Well, today the single is released, and you can download it from Amazon now.

http://tinyurl.com/cau37be

If you’d rather get it elsewhere, iTunes are also selling it.

The iTunes order link can be found here:
http://bit.ly/YXZvTr

The single download contains:

The truncated (radio edit) mix of the shortened song, for completists.
A live version (though reportedly this is just a sampler of the Butlins concert you get when buying the album special edition, so not really new to all). Most interesting of the 3 tracks is the demo version unique to this download. We say interesting, because it’s a privilege to hear such a basic beginning to the song. No doubt that it was so massively captured right in the final album mix, when compared to such a humble beginning here.

A programmed organ, and tambourine effect, next to rowdy band chorusing, sounds rather like the salvation army paying tribute to the pet shop boys, rather than the polished Simon and Garfunkel harmony of the final record.

It has a feel of being a step out of time at first because we are so used now to changes made to the intro timing and lyrics, which here feature an extra line of wisdom. It’s a demo so raw that they chose to fade it out here before the 3 minute mark. Makes you wonder what sweary/sham-bolic miss/quality of recording issue may have presented itself at the later end of the demo’s delivered source file.

Buy the single now to bare witness yourself to this behind the scene’s peak, found only from this purchase.

The single was promoted this week on Alan Carr’s Grand National Channel 4 show. If you can put up with the brass section being on an island, while Alan Carr snogs a Miranda Hart cardboard cut out. We couldn’t. But a female backing singer added to the live vocals over mimed music (unless James Corden really can play trombone!) added another element to proceedings much like recent radio sessions.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/
alan-carrs-grand-national-specstacular/4od

Madness’ horse, Sol, came a reported 7th.

With the single now out. Buy IT. Or If it’s horses for courses, buy the 70 track Special Edition this week…

www.madness.co.uk

Because it’s due for release in just 1 week. Eeek!!!!

Jonathan Young / Vicki Lee

[6] – OH MY LOVE LIVE, DECEMBER 2003

In 2003 Madness set off on a tour that featured one of the truly great set lists since their comeback. As well as playing the likes of Prospects, Victoria Gardens and March Of The Gherkins this tour was the first where they tried out new tunes for what would eventually be 2005’s Dangermen Sessions. One such tune was a cover of the 1971 John Lennon album track Oh My Love.

For somebody who does not have the best technical voice Suggs puts in a great shift with a vocal performance a lot more melodic than the excellent original. The track was recorded in 2005 with Chrissy Boy stating that it would probably be used as a future b-side. It has been re-recorded in 2013 and will appear on the upcoming deluxe box set version of Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da out on April 15th 2013.

Just like 4am this will be a Madness recording of a track that Suggs has already covered as a solo artist. Check out Suggs’ beautiful acoustic recording of the track which appeared on the 2003 charity CD “Anything But Summertime”.

I believe the pianist on the Suggs version was the keyboard player from Kilburn And The High Roads but cannot confirm this. (It’s Rod Melvin, accorording to the sleeve notes – Ed)

Vince Carden

[7] – MAY & AUGUST SKA ORCHESTRA GIGS

A recap of those May dates, and more information on previously stated August Events that would be happening, in the shape of the United Colours Festival in Sheffield, supporting the legendary Skatalites plus news of the Belgium Jazz Festival date.

So, the tour dates are now.

16th May Chelsea (Under The Bridge)
20th May Bristol (The Fleece)
24th May Manchester (Band On The Wall)
25th May Newcastle (Think Tank)

Go to the events pages on
www.ltso.mis-online.net for ticket links.

AUGUST DATES

11th August Sheffield (Don Valley Bowl)
16th August Belgium (Brussels Summer Fest)

UNITED COLOURS FESTIVAL

On August the 11th the band are 2nd on the bill to supporting the Legendary Skatalites. On the 2nd day of a two day festival staged at Sheffield’s Don Valley Bowl.

The line up includes. Skatalites, Toasters, Neville Staple and Bad Manners, Cockney Rejects and Lambrettas, on the same day as the ska orchestra. As well as UB40, Missing Andy and The Beat on the Saturday,
amongst many more bands. Tickets are £35 for the
Sunday. Or £60 for the Weekend. Plus £20 camping.
Available soon.

https://www.facebook.com/events/562158613809256/

Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra are playing The Brussels Summer Festival 16.08.13

http://www.bsf.be/mont-des-arts-en

Day pass is 15 euros.

Darren Fordham

[8] – NEAR JAZZ RECORD STORE DAY EXPERIENCE

News of a new record and more gigs from Mark and Terry.

Look out for the special Record Store Day 7″ release from The Near Jazz Experience – in a 3d sleeve with 3d glasses!!

Acoustic Parts I & II was cut direct to disc by Lewis Durham at Riflemaker. An analogue artefact for digital times…

Complementary download if ordered at the Greedbag Store http://sartorialrecords.greedbag.com/

Lots of shows with The NJE (including a gig in Paris)

APRIL 2013

22 – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE University of Chicago, European branch.
Onstage 7.30 *Free* http://centerinparis.uchicago.edu/

23 – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE + B’layachi at Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free*

26 – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE @ Scaledown 7-11pm – details

http://www.theorchestrapit.com/scaledown

Join the NJE on new facebook page here.

http://www.facebook.com/NearJazzExperience

FORTHCOMING…

Terry plays at Yoko Ono’s Meltdown on June 23rd

The finale is a star-studded celebration of the John & Yoko album Double Fantasy. The core band is comprised largely of members of the “Rain Dogs Revisited” musicians led by David Coulter.

Line-up here

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series
/yoko-onos-meltdown

Don’t forget to drop by at the store –
http://sartorialrecords.greedbag.com/

The Near Jazz Experience/Dear Thief split 7″ single is available with free mp3 downloads of the tracks (only via this site):
http://sartorialrecords.greedbag.com/buy/live-at-indo/

Terry Edwards
http://www.terryedwards.co.uk

[9] – HOW CAN I TELL YOU THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH?

Ok, so last week’s April fool about how the band made a video at the
BBC for their new single was just that, our yearly attempt to pull
the rug from under fans. But we aren’t joking when we say there is
video of the band performing a session at Absolute Radio to promote
the new track this week. We are back to bringing you real news that’s
well worth a look at – this 4 track acoustic session featuring Suggs,
Mike and Carl.

http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/player/Madness/10413
/Live-session.html

You can check out the band stripped to just a three man piano and
harmony set up, with backing singers Sam & Kelly performing…

Never Knew Your Name
How Can I Tell You

Misery
Embarrassment.

For the latter two tracks you need to sign up for a free account and
log in to view. These didn’t air on the radio.

But yes. Don’t go looking for any other video. BBC presenters were not
sticking ice creams in their faces to aid Madness up the charts,
although plenty of fans did jump to the cause. Domingo Munoz told us
one fan in Mexico did go as far as pushing an ice cream in their face
to protest the cause, though we are yet to see video evidence of this
taking place as daftly requested in our April joke article.

Steve Champan who works in nearby offices to the BBC, advised us to
speak to Chris Evans directly because he’s a nice chap and could
probably help us. If anyone could have genuinely helped us it would
probably have been Steve who works in TV. Many other fans wrote in
supporting the obtaining of the footage, which in reality does not
exist. The best passionate fans plea for common sense was probably
Karen Le Crass who wrote to us…

“I am astounded that the BBC have gone so far
as to ban the Madness video! Annoyed because
equipment was compromised is understandable
but banning is petty. Madness represent
attitude without anger and there is precious
little of that around these days.

If sticking an ice cream is the worst thing
this encourages children to do then as a parent
I would be thankful, fun is a positive element,
MaDneSs are a positive element with a positive
influence that has serious messages put across
in an accessible format that is not overworked
or too heavy! Innocent fun, not even provocative
fun eg ” the time I stuck an ice cream in your
breasts”!!”

We had masses of anti BBC comments posted over on the facebook page we
manage for the Live Suggs show. Best of all Marcus Dillistone, a film
producer who once worked on countless high level productions in the
past, was keen to make a whole video for Suggs instead! So we sent
him to the ice cream shop for a morning to think of ideas before
coming clean, that cornettos were not needed.

We even had Timothy Barson asking. “What’s the ice cream story?”

Our favourite fooled fan though, has to be Elaine Delemere Parker
who wrote simply in outrage at the news on her facebook.

“That’s a joke!!!!!! :-(”

Jonathan Young

[10] – THAT’S YER LOT

That just about wraps it up for this week. However, before we go it’s
over to Paul Rodgers for some last minute chart news…

Not much to report this week. Total Madness was number 117 on the
album chart last week.

This week’s chart shows Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da dropping to number
60 in its 22 top 200 week. It is now only 48 points behind the Liberty
Of Norton Folgate on basic chart performance. Anywhere above number
153 in next week’s chart will see it overhaul its predecessor. It’s
good to see Madness bucking the trend of most careers by getting more
and more successful as time goes on… The album drops 2 to number 12
in this week’s indie chart and there the trail goes cold.

The remaining 28 indie chart places published today do not contain
Complete Madness or Total Madness, let alone some other album along
for the party.

With the band promoting it on telly and radio warming mildly to it,
How Can I Tell You is available to buy now. Whether you will or not
is up to you…

Until the next time…

Paul Rodgers

And with that, we’re done!

Liz, Rob, Simon, Jon

(With special thanks to Terry Edwards, Darren Fordham, Vince Carden
and Paul Rodgers)