This weekend saw Madness headlining the Saturday of the much loved Camp Bestival Weekend, which ran from the 27th to the 30th at Lulworth Castle in Dorset.
We were also very pleased to learn that the one and only Woody continued to make an excellent recovery, and could be found safely installed behind his drum kit at the festival.
If you were lucky enough to get along to the event please do take five minutes to send us the setlist and your thoughts of the event.
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.
Lee Thompson DJ Set – Door 12 noon Afternoon event. – The Social. 5 little Portland street London, W1W 7JD
Lee Thompson – One Man’s Madness Film
October 1st – Matinee – Camden Dingwalls
October 1st – Evening – Camden Dingwalls
An advanced test screening version of the new Mockumentary comedy and life story film, hosted by Lee with A Q&A after the film and a special performance.
As we recently mentioned, Thommo’s film project “One Man’s Madness, A RockuMockuDocumentary”, is now live on Pledge Music
Lee Thompson’s comedy life story film, featuring multiple mad Lee performances, and starring all of Madness and many more well known voices, is nearly complete and coming out this year. All that remains to make this possible if for your to pledge and help complete the project as planned.
Over on the Mad Chat Facebook Group, member Jim Ryant reported yesterday Morrison’s are currently clearing out their presentation tins of Gladness Craft Lager, complete with pint tankard.
If you’re lucky enough to find this in your local Morrison’s it should be priced at a mere £6!
Also at Morrison’s, Andy Stav Davarias, of the Madness Facebook Group, reports that Absolutely London Pale Ale is back in stock. It’s rather nice, and well worth checking out.
11. Oranges And Lemons Again – Jools Holland & Suggs
12. No More Alcohol
13. Blue Day (feat. The Chelsea Team) [Stamford Bridge Mix] – Suggs And Co
14. I Feel Good
15. Alright
It collects all 8 of his top 40 singles, adding to that the original “Alcohol” and what was arguably the most like second single, if three pyramids had reached that stage, in “So Tired”
Adding 3 b-sides, the obscure “Same again” to two covers, “I feel good” (James Brown) and “Alright” by Supergrass, to no doubt try and encourage the casual music fan to buy this budget priced release.
Finally, it pulls the two tracks from Jools Holland and Friends albums. The near single “Oranges and Lemon’s Again” and the more forgotten bouncy “Jack of the Green.”
This new CD is out now and has started shipping to fans. The sleeve features a new cover design, based on a photo taken recently for Suggs Live show.
Fans have reported that “The Tune” is the instrumental version from the Cecillia CD Single, rather than the vocal album mix.
Jonathan Young
Can’t Touch Us Now – Limited Double Vinyl Edition.
2xLP ** New **
All 16 tracks. A new half speed master in gatefold.
180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
Limited & Numbered of 2,000
The inner sleeves inside the gatefold outer cover features “Hong Kong” and “Australian” versions of the albums cover art, no doubt used in some function on the recent tour. So, we’re treated to Hong Kong’s Tian Tan Buddha statue and Sydney Opera House replacing St. Paul’s, for example. There are also a number of other country references mixed in. We noticed Dame Edna! on the front of the Australian one.
MIS Feature – One Month to go Until House of Common
From the Official Madness email list…
THERE IS JUST 1 MONTH TO GO UNTIL WE RETURN TO CLAPHAM COMMON!
In this newsletter we have the pleasure of revealing who’ll be playing which stage on August Bank Holiday Monday. The main stage will be taken over by some of the most loved bands in Reggae and Soul including De La Soul, Soul II Soul & The Skatalites whilst the indoor arena will see David Rodigan invite a roster of his favourite RamJam artists for a more high octane atmosphere! With Minor Madness (our dedicated Kids Arena) also making a return after last year, this is fast becoming the place to be on Monday 28th August!
We can’t wait for a blissful Monday filled with sunshine, great reggae and ice cold beer!
TICKETS INCREASE IN PRICE TUESDAY 1ST AUGUST AT 6PM
With just 1 month, we are seeing a sharp surge in sales with fans from all over the country securing their place at the second edition of House of Common! We are now down to the last remaining £40 tickets and will be going up in price this Tuesday 1st August…
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 690 – Sunday 29th July – Saturday 4th August 2012
This issue got underway with the news that Suggs’ autobiography “That Close” now had a launch date of 25th October.
The RRP was around £19, and we were told would weigh in at around 400 pages.
The blurb from the Waterstones web site read;
“Suggs is one of pop music’s most enduring and likeable figures. Written with the assured style and wit of a natural raconteur, this hugely entertaining and insightful autobiography takes you from his colourful early life on a North London council estate, through the heady early days of Punk and 2-Tone, to the eighties, where Madness became the biggest selling singles band of the decade.
Along the way he tells you what it’s like to go globetrotting with your best mates, to sign away your entire song rights ‘in perpetuity’ and cause an earthquake in Finsbury Park.”
Next, it was over to Chris, who back in April spoke to Buzbin magazine. With a number of fascinating nuggets of information included in the article, we picked a few of the most interesting snippets and included them in this very issue.
Following this, we went back to the recent Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, and reported (courtesy of a certain national newspaper) on some of the buildings featured in the projection displayed on Buck House while band performed.
Single mother Nicola Williams, 28, who has a two-bedroom flat there, said: ‘I’m really pleased. I thought the housing looked a bit like mine but had no idea it was.’
Moving on, we went to Bedders who revealed he’d been working on something for release this coming Christmas.
“When July becomes December… Did some recording today for a track that will be out at Christmas time…
…Gives some credence to the old music biz adage: ‘you can’t a hire a sleigh bell between July and September'”
When asked if this was a christmas single he replied…
“We are but it’s not for who you think it might be….”
On the 5th July the band performed in Stuttgart. This week we had the full setlist and a number of YouTube links for your viewing pleasure.
We brought this issue to a close with Paul Rodgers and another one of his legendary Madness Stats, Facts and Figures.
10 years ago…
Issue 430 – Sunday 29th July to Saturday 4th August 2007
During his ‘Disappearing London’ show, Suggs highlighted the small number of rag and bone men still left in London, and he spoke at the time with local Camden character Alf, about his life and the job.
Sadly, this week Alf lost his recent battle with cancer.
The old-fashioned “totter” had pounded the streets of Camden for more than 50 years with his wooden handcart, bell and faithful Jack Russell terrier in tow, becoming a familiar, and much-loved sight to many in the borough.
Among those paying tribute to him this week were Suggs, the journalist and broadcaster Joan Bakewell, and David Bailey, who photographed him for the Guardian the year before.
Speaking on the phone from Italy, Suggs, who described the news as a tragedy, said: “He was a really tremendous person. I met him when he used to come down my road. I gave him my old wardrobe and he used to leave me cigars. He was a bright spark, a really inspiring person in this world of blandness.”
We moved on to much brighter subject matter next, as it was revealed that Madness were understood to have been in touch with a number of national newspapers, with the plan to release a covermounted CD. The Sun, with an average daily circulation (at the time) of 3.1m was thought to be one of the publications in the running.
Next, it was over to the BBC Norfolk web site, who’d put together a review of the band’s recent performance at Blickling Hall, on the 22nd of the month. The reviewer described the gig as poor;
“Maybe it was an off night or perhaps it was the shape of things to come, but it was a poor performance in a pretty venue which lacks the amenities expected”.
We hopped over to classic BBC comedy, The Young Ones next, as news reached us that a 25th anniversary box set was due out later in the year on DVD. Not only would it contain all the episodes, but an extra disc of all new extras. Madness were the only band to appear twice on the show.
It was back to song lyrics for the following article, as we had yet another go at piecing the words together for the new track “Let’s Go!”.
As Suggs put it at Newmarket;
“This is about being young, like a lot of our songs are. We are young at heart”
We brought this issue to a close with links pointing you in the direction of where you could place your order for the new Suggs album (which seemed to be a mix of his first two albums and a one off single).
15 years ago…
Issue number 168 – Sunday 28th July – Saturday 3rd August 2002
Deciding that it’d been far too long since the last Madmeet had taken place in Camden Town, a certain Vince Carden took matters into his own hands, and with that, the next North London booze-fest was swiftly arranged to take place on Saturday the 3rd of August. Naturally, the initial rendezvous location would be non other than The Dublin Castle.
News had reached us a few months prior to this issue, strongly rumouring that the legendary Blockheads would be supporting Madness on their forthcoming Christmas tour. However, an update from Simsey received this week indicated that instead we’d be ‘treated’ to DJs as an alternative to a support band.
Elsewhere this issue, and Chris Carter-Pegg got in touch to reveal that the web site for the ‘Our House’ musical had finally gone online.
Whilst the contents of the initial pages were minimal, it did give site visitors the chance to sign up with their email address so they could be kept up-to-date with future site updates and news of the forthcoming show.
One of the biggest articles in this week’s issue was an in-depth question and answer session that comedian and Madness fan, Dave Goreman had kindly taken part in for us. Dave was soon to embark on a nine date tour which took a wistful look at the lyrics from Ian Dury’s 1979 hit “Reasons to be Cheerful”.
Further on, and it was time travelling time once again, as we went back to the 19th of August 1982, courtesy of Jermaine of Tour Madness. This date saw the band appear in the Young Ones episode of ‘Boring’, where the band performed a pre-recorded version of ‘House of Fun’.
This issue finished off with a brief review, and links to a selection of photos of Madness’ recent gig in Spain.
Rob Hazelby
Sign of the Times
The Farm to Support Madness in Falkirk
Liverpool band The Farm will join Madness as their special guests when they perform at Falkirk Football Stadium next week (Friday 4th August).
The band, famous for hits such as ‘Groovy Train’, ‘Stepping Stone’ and ‘All Together Now’, will perform to a packed audience, ahead of Madness.
Originally formed in the early 1980s, The Farm released their first single ‘Hearts and Minds’ in 1984, which was produced by Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson, lead vocalist of Madness. They then went on to have phenomenal success with their ‘Spartacus’ album, also produced by ‘Suggs’, which reached number one in the UK album chart in 1991. The band took a break in 1995 and reformed in 2010 and are now regulars on the summer festival circuit. They’ve also released three brand new songs: ‘Feel The Love’, ‘The End’ and ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’.
Lead vocalist of The Farm, Peter Hooton, said:
“We’re really looking forward to performing in Falkirk, and are delighted to be supporting Madness. We love performing live and have some great classics plus new material for the thousands of fans coming to the show to enjoy.”
Madness with special guests The Farm will perform at Falkirk Football Stadium on Friday 4th August, with Jess Glynne taking to the stage the following evening (Saturday 5th August) as part of Rock the Stadium.
Carlie Davidson of LCC Live said:
“We’re delighted to add The Farm to the line-up for Madness’ show next Friday evening. They enjoy popular appeal and are renowned for their live shows – a great introduction to the legendary Madness.”
Live Intensified
100% Specialive in London
Downstairs at London’s famous 100 club, there has been an invasion from the North East of England.
Our own Paul Williams stands watching Lee Thompson soundcheck, he is wearing an event T shirt, the uniform of today. Skapones band name and the venue are proudly displayed on the front, and he’s surrounded by fellow band members and Specialized crew members all wearing the very same for the occasion, though in the case of Kat on merchandise the T Shirt is cut rather low into a feminine v shape and while Thommo and Daley and the Silencerz are now belting out Iron Shirt on the stage, I’m sure everyone has no doubt it would be a bumpy ride if you were trying to Iron that one! Hey, It’s all good for the sales though! And you can still buy the shirts now. Charity is the point of the night though tonight it feels like it’s nestling alongside the other equally warm idea of just having a fun night, in roughly the same large amount.
The music begins with fun grooves from Mr Swansdale up for the MIS, a well chosen list of crowd relevant hits from ska, to dub, to Missing Andy to Swagga, tunes that keeps the dancing going between bands, and tonight is a great atmosphere of great music.
THE SKAPONES
This is the third time I’ve seen them in action and the improvement is clear, sporting new mobile microphones on all their instruments, including an electronic double bass, the band are looking match fit from all their recent energetic dancing. As well as 2tone and Ska classics that land on instantly knowing ears, they perform their specialized gifted JAM cover too. It’s a different mode to the front man position, as Paul stops wandering stage like a chas smash and stands resolutely still to enter a weller like mode to deliver a song obscure from that bands catalouge but unmistakably Jam in it’s overall writing style and sound.
“Cradle to grave”, is the title song from a forthcoming debut album by The Skapones and is a story of loving these sorts of music genres all your life, with devotion, its a story lived before its written and a vow to continue, It’s upbeat and pleasant if not yet catchy to my brain, it’s danceable and once I’ve re-heard the lyrics likely to be a favourite tune to take to heart.
Some rousings version’s of Madness hits round out their set which, received much cheering from the club some 200 hundred or more packed into the dance floor, and an auction is announced for Specials artwork and MIS donated Madness Tickets into the bargain.
THE SILENCERZ Featuring LEE THOMPSON
Time hop, that facebook app, dragged up an Old video of Thommo’s Like Father Like Son from some fifteen years ago this week, showing we’ve enjoyed a decade and a half of Lee Thompson’s Other Other bands.
The Silencerz are now becoming Like Son Like Father, as they carve out Daley as front man band leader and occasionally play with out Lee Thompson present. Tonight is for Specialized though and so the ambassador is fully present tonight. So much so that “No lights” a firm favourite Alex Harvey cover, is the best version I have ever heard them do. Lee smashes this one out the park. It Took the roof off, in the sing along to many fans who were catching it from Lee for the first time. Others like Fran and Graham were reminiscing of their first time catching this one live, and catching each other.
Im not sure I’ve caught “Down let me Down” a latter Beatles tune before done by this band, and so that’s one that sticks most in my memory. Nick Godwin’s 5 original tracks all go down well, with “Better Days” being the freshest and newest, upbeat and wist full. The band now surely have half an album in the making here.
Set list
Step it up Sister
Midnight Rider
Don’t Let Me Down
Callie Road
Devil and The Deep Blue Sea
Clever Trevor
Having A Laugh
Iron Shirt
No Lights
The Prince
Wild World
Better Days
No No No
Don Logan
Guns of Navarone
Let Your Yeah be Yeah
54 46 Was My Number
Enjoy Yourself
Hello Josephine
With the last DJ’s tunes done by 11pm, and the lights on for chucking out time, the music still didn’t stop, many of those die hard fan’s who hang around The Invaders group online these day, took over external Oxford Street with their lungs. Hi-jacking a busker, they all launch into Oasis tunes and then our occasional
sax man Phillip Toogood pays to hijack the guitar instead and strums along as “In the middle of the night” is given the choral treatment. Luci filming the event in 360 revolve like a Jools Holland Camera move, as many video the moment. 11pm was obviously too early a finish for a night as good as this. A fitting end to Stav’s birthday bash.
Next stop for The Skapones and this crowd is The House of Fun Sunday in Reds.
While the Silencerz can be seen again in September at the Bull Theater in Barnet.
Jonathan Young
Time
That’s just about it for this week. Don’t forget that if you’re planning to go to House of Common but have yet to purchase tickets, the £40 offer ends at 6:00pm Tuesday.
