Madness Information Service Online Newsletter Issue Number: 786 – Sunday 1st June to Saturday 7th June 2014
Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the MIS Online newsletter.
With the 3-disc “Suggs Selection” compilation available to buy online and in the shops from tomorrow (Monday 2nd June) we’re pleased to reveal that you can win your very own copy by taking part in the competition we have detailed elsewhere in this very issue.
The promotion for this triple disc pack featuring some of Suggs’ favourite songs has been given a rather stylish TV commercial, and it just so happens that you can catch it here: http://youtu.be/O-hXBVhYkyc
You can also listen to Suggs talking about some of the tracks featured on the album in a series of videos here, on his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSuggsMcpherson/feed
Videos covering The Jam, Ian Dury are already up and more are to follow soon.
Once you’ve had time to view the above don’t forget to read through the rest of this week’s issue.
Enjoy the read,
Jonathan 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
June 2014
June 27th Jiwapop Festival, Montcada, Barcelona, Spain http://www.jiwapop.com/
June 28th, Night in the Park, Den Haagm Netherlands, http://www.nightatthepark.nl/
June 29th, Tivoli Utrecht, Netherlands http://tivoli.nl/
July 2014
July 3rd, Vienna Arena, Austria
July 31st – 3rd August, Reggae Sun Festival, Bordeaux, France
August 2014
August 2nd, Suikerrock, Belgium
August 12th Mallorca Rocks
August 13th Ibiza Rocks
August 18th, Kubana Festival, Krasnodar, Vesolovka
November 2014
November 21st – 24th 2014 – Minehead – Earlybird tickets can be ordered here: http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/madness2014.aspx
December 2014
All for the M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour
Thursday 4th, Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
Friday 5th, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton, Matinee
Saturday 6th, Brighton Centre, Brighton * SOLD OUT *
Monday 8th, Plymouth Pavillions, Plymouth
Tuesday 9th, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth Thursday 11th, First Direct Arena, Leeds
Friday 12th, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Saturday 13th, LG Arena, The NEC, Birmingham
Monday 15th, Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Tuesday 16th, The O2 Dublin, Dublin
Thursday 18th, The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Friday 19th, Phones 4u Arena, Manchester
Saturday 20th, The O2 Arena, London
Links to purchase tickets for the above tour can be found at: http://madness.seetickets.com/tour/madness/?pre=premad&src=madnesspre
For tickets also see links via: www.madness.co.uk
Suggs Live
June 2014
1st June, The Garrick, London
The Magic Brothers
Magic Brother Friday Headline set:
November 14th. The Big One 3. Park Dean, Sandford Dorset.
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
June 2014
June 29th Glastonbury Festival
July 2014
July 12th Lewisham’s People Day – Free!
July18th Brixton Jamm, London. Tickets from Skiddle.com
July 26th Wickerman Festival
August 2014
(Unconfirmed) August 16th, Newham, Under The Stars – Free!
August 31st, The Big Feastival, Alex James’ Farm, Cotswolds
October 2014
October 2nd, The Jazz Café, Camden Town
More festival dates to follow.
Ska Orchestra web site: www.ltso.mis-online.net
The Lee Thompson Ska Band
An appearance at the Boom town festival, Hampshire’s pop up city four day event begins on August 7th into the weekend.
Chinatown district is full of Ska and more bands this year, but we can confirm that this won’t be playing host to the Ska Orchestra
http://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/chinatown-district-line-up-released-199
The Silencerz (Featuring Lee Thompson)
June 2014
June 15th – Dublin Castle. 1.30pm £7 on the door.
November 2014
16th November – Confirmed in the Sunday Lineup of bands at Specialized The Big One 3. In Dorset.
Lee will be doing a photo signing session too.
(Under a new name, The Daley fronted Lee Thompson band line up)
Near Jazz Experience
No gigs planned
Deaf School
August
9th, The Islington, North London
10th, Rebellion Festival, Blackpool
For details of future gigs keep an eye on http://deafschoolmusic.com for more information.
Clangeratti
June 19th. Dublin Castle – Clive Langer’s new band featuring members of Deaf School.
WIN IT
Like Specialized page and win The Suggs Selection.
Copies of the new compilation album The Suggs Selection CD have been arriving early this weekend on the doormats of lucky fans across the country. The glorious new CD… which is really a CD single of So Tired by Suggs that we’ve all been waiting for since the 90’s that just happens to come with 59 bonus tracks by various artists ha ha. 
…sees Suggs once again in John Steed mode supporting a bowler hat and cane on the silhouette on each CD. You can win this nice 3CD set courtesy of Universal Music.
With Suggs claiming he’s done the job for you of playing a great load of tracks to your mates with out the problem of lots of 45’s strewn across you floor, (erm itunes? Suggs? Spotify? No? ok then), this is a nice insight to his musical tastes that stretch from early 60’s up to later decades when he was a partying record producer.
As one fan put it “so nice to see the main man against yellow again.” 
Indeed it’s a great cover picture and very like
The Lone Ranger in tint. Signed copied from Record Store go one better and have a free signed postcard of the album which is easy to frame as a great bonus.
If you aren’t into buying compilation albums though. Perhaps you’d like to win a copy from us. We had the privilege of meeting Suggs again recently after his one man show, in order to have a quick thumbs up chat for the year long support of The Specialized project. So if you’d like to win a copy of Suggs album.
Like the specialized page here…
https://www.facebook.com/specialized3madnotcancer
And copy the above link to your own facebook page to tell your friends about the project. Or on Twitter, follow:
https://twitter.com/Specializeduk1
And tweet to your followers about the project.
Send us a link as evidence to…
And next week we will choose a winner. (If you’re not on either social network we want a link of another website, or a proof of alternative method of promoting Specialized in your community.)
Jonathan Young
BUY IT
If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.
Gorgeous George – Girl’s Night Out Single
Out on May 26th. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Night-Out-Gorgeous-George/dp/B00K8I9PYG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399747064&sr=8-2&keywords=gorgeous+george+girls+night+out on Beer Belly Records.
LTSO, Bangarang, Featuring Dawn Penn & Sharon Shannon
Single release download date moved to May 26th. iTunes and Amazon links are now active.
itunes http://tinyurl.com/p2bquak
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/pwg6du2
Check out the Bangarang-Anim-ad here… http://youtu.be/YCSM9eTe08k
Let’s Skank For England – Specialized World Cup Single. Mr Scurf’s Koast Train Crew team up with Andy Keys Clark.
Released on Friday, the new unofficial England World Cup 2014 Skanthem “Let’s Skank For England” is now available to buy. The Specialized track has been composed to help raise money for The Teenage Cancer Trust … Special thanks to Paul Willo … available at iTunes, CDbaby … Please share & let’s get the word out there together!!
https://www.facebook.com/skaforengland
The Suggs Selection.
The new Suggs release we told you about recently, turn out to infact be predominantly a chosen selection of his favourite all time music.
It features one Madness track It must be love, and one solo track – So Tired. Alongside one self produced track The Farm’s – Stepping Stone.
The rest of the 60 track 3cd is his own personal music joys.
Signed copies are available from record store.
http://www.recordstore.co.uk/recordstore/Signed/The-Suggs-Selection-Signed/3C6C02BP000
Tracklisting
Disc 1
1. The Upsetters – Return of Django
2. The Jam – Beat Surrender
3. Freda Payne – Band Of Gold
4. Stevie Wonder – Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
5. The Miracles – Going To A Go-Go
6. John Lennon – Stand By Me
7. Faces – Stay With Me
8. The Kinks – Victoria
9. The Specials – Do Nothing
10. Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites
11. Toots & The Maytals – 54 – 46 Was My Number
12. Harry J Allstars – Liquidator
13. The Skatalites – Guns of Navarone
14. Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair
15. Betty Wright – Clean Up Woman
16. Ritchie Valens – La Bamba
17. Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free
18. The Temptations – Ball of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)
19. Junior Murvin – Police & Thieves
20. Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
Disc 2
1. The Who – I Can’t Explain
2. Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)?
3. Dexys Midnight Runners – Geno
4. Booker T. & The MG’s – Green Onions
5. The Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom
6. The Selecter – The Selecter
7. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Watching The Detectives
8. Bobby Womack & Peace – Across 110th Street
9. James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
10. Echo And The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
11. Happy Mondays – Loose Fit
12. Bad Manners – Lip Up Fatty
13. Lou Reed – Vicious
14. Dandy Livingstone – Rudy, A Message to You
15. The Ethiopians – Train to Skaville
16. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Egyptian Reggae
17. Max Romeo & The Upsetters – Chase The Devil
18. Georgie Fame and The Blue Frames – Yeh, Yeh
19. Ray Charles – What’d I Say
20. Etta James – At Last
Disc 3
1. Massive Attack – Teardrop
2. Primal Scream – Loaded
3. The Farm – Stepping Stone
4. Teardrop Explosions – Reward
5. The Cure – Close To Me
6. Deaf School – What A Way To End It All
7. Suggs – So Tired
8. Ian Dury & the Blockheads – Sweet Gene Vincent
9. Dave & Ansel Collins – Double Barrel
10. The Pioneers – Long Shot Kick De Bucket
11. John Holt – Help Me Make it Through the Night
12. Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Express Yourself
13. Jean Knight – Mr. Big Stuff
14. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – I’m Ready For Love
15. Womack & Womack – Teardrops
16. The Coasters – Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)
17. Ken Boothe – Everything I Own
18. Susan Cadogan – Hurt So Good
19. Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers To Cross
20. Madness – It Must Be Love
SIGN OF THE TIMES
A collection of articles that have caught our eye over the course of the past week or so.
Suggs tells his moving life story to appreciative audience
In terms of personality, Suggs came across as down-to-earth and unpretentious, rather than an über celebratory – someone you could imagine having a good chat with down the pub or, in my preferred setting, on a walk, if fortunate enough to have the opportunity.
It’s possible that a short question and answer session at the end would have enhanced the evening but I’m not sure how appropriate this would have been bearing in mind that the style of presentation was more soliloquy than conversation.
Cathal Mo Chroi
Dear All, I hope this finds you well, in the very best of spirits and that the day is turning in your favour. I am pleased to tell you that the album was mastered this Wednesday. Tim at Metropolis has done a fantastic job mastering the tracks and I can truly say that I am ecstatic.
Album mixes completed. Working on the running order of the tracks. 12 songs in total.
It’s been quite a journey getting to this point with the songs and now if providence is smiling it will not be too long until you hear something….
SPECIALIZED – PROMO TOUR DATES
Fancy a night out for a good causes?
13TH JUNE – THE ANVIL, BOURNEMOUTH SKOISTERS/ OFFBEAT OFFENSIVE / DJ TERRY HENDRICK http://www.wegottickets.com/event/268477
21ST JUNE – WALTON SPORTS & SOCIAL, WAKEFIELD NATURAL RHYTHM / BOOTS N BELLIES SOUND SYSTEM FT. GLADDY WAX Pay on door £6…. from 12.30pm.-Til late
5TH JULY – THE CITRUS CLUB, EDINBURGH BIG FAT PANDA/ THE SNIPES (ex Cock Sparrer) / SEA BASS KID/DJ MIGGY /FANCY DRESS!http://www.wegottickets.com/event/268579
26th JULY- KOKO GORILLAZ. CARDIFF EVIL TURKEYS/ STIFF JOINTS/ THE SPECIAL BRW / DJ SCOTTIE Please get in touch with venue or contact Wayne Wayne Uggy Campbell or Kevin Scottie Hunt (paypal available)
24TH AUGUST – THE GLOBE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE ALL DAYER ARTISTS TBA.
TOO SPICY 1ST ACT CONFIRMED
29th AUGUST – LAYTON INSTITUTE, BLACKPOOL THE TALKS, URANG MATANG, ADDICTIVE PHILOSOPHY & STRANGE TENANTS ( Australian ska legends) + DJ http://www.wegottickets.com/event/274201
12th SEPTEMBER – O’REILLYS SPORTS BAR THE SPECTRE & SPECIAL GUEST RODDY RADIATION THE KINGSTON SKA ORCHESTRA & THE LAST FAKERS +DJ NIK SKEAT http://www.wegottickets.com/event/273415
The culmination of this years project is of course The Big One 3 event at Parkdean Sandford. Over 30 acts crammed into 3 days. and a bucket load of other stuff going on as well. The best the UK & Europe has to offer. Whats current with a bit of legendary chaps thrown in. The originators of ska and their equally legendary torch bearers from the late 70s/early 80s. Its just rammed! Don’t miss your place.Book now on the hotline number below!
14-16TH NOVEMBER – SANDFORD, DORSET THE BIG ONE 3 FT. MAGIC BROTHERS, THE SKINTS,
THE SILENCERZ ft LEE THOMPSON, AND MUCH MUCH MORE BOOKING HOTLINE 0844 3356 3501
….
Suggs Supports Specialized coming soon…
Paul Williams
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 526 – Sunday 31st May to Saturday 6th June 2009
He’d been part of the editorial team for roughly eight years, and without a doubt the hardest working member of the MIS for all of that time.
We were referring to the one and only Jonathan Young, who would be departing to pastures new, following the mailout of this very issue.
Working as hard as Jonathan had, it came as no surprise when he told us that he needed to take a sabbatical, and concentrate on other things rather than spend so much time on the weekly MIS newsletters and podcasts.
The amount of time, effort and money Jon had put into the MIS over the years had been staggering, and we’re certain it wouldn’t have remained a weekly publication had he not been around. We thanked Jon for being a complete and utter legend.
Jonathan hadn’t ruled-out returning to the MIS at some point in the future, but did warn that it could be months or even years away if he did.
On to the articles, and these kicked off with the news that The Blockheads would be supporting Madness at their forthcoming Madstock 5 concert. Having already supported the band at Madstocks 1 and 2, the majority of fans were extremely happy with the news.
Continuing with Blockheads news, and we reported that the band were asking fans to appear in a concert scene for the forthcoming Dury movie “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll”. The band were looking for around 250 people, and you’d be required to be there from 9:30am until 7:00pm.
Suggs news next, and despite already seeing Madness umpteen times that week Jonathan manages to catch Suggs and his DJ set at The Reggae Roast, held at The Big Chill House.
Although commenting that “The man can’t mix for toffee”, he did follow up by saying that he knew how to work the crowd.
BBC news next, and the organization were reporting that Suggs and Rod Stewart would be helping to launch a charity busking campaign on HMS Belfast.
Suggs was due to perform on the ship, which was moored on the banks of the River Thames near Tower Bridge, on 20th of June. Other acts would also perform including Skye Edwards (Ex-Morcheba), Zarif a soul singer who toured with Beyonce, The Charile Rivers band and an unsigned band from UBR would also perform short sets.
Busking Cancer aimed to get musicians raising money for Cancer Research UK. Singer Rod Stewart, who had survived thyroid cancer and would attend the launch but not perform, said: “Busking is what music is all about – just getting out there and singing or playing for the sheer joy of it.”
Moving on, and it was over to Jon Young, who gave the lowdown on and a download link to the latest MIS podcast, which this time covered events surrounding the launch of the new album. Numerous people are interviewed including sound engineers, historians, roadies, cocknies and even the Madness Trading Ring’s Kevin Tizzard.
Next, we had exciting news for Australian Madness fans, as news in from MIS subscriber Warren Moyle reported that The Liberty of Norton Folgate was going to be screened at The Melbourne Film Festival, which was due to take place later in the year.
Did we detect the potential opportunity for an Australian Madmeet?
A week or so back Jonathan Young submitted a post to the Madness Central Forums, announcing the MIS’ 10th birthday. This kick started a 4 page thread, full of congratulations, thanks, and very nice comments at our reaching this milestone.
We decided to print just a few of those posts that made us smile.
On to ticket news, and since last week’s issue we’d contacted AEG in an effort to find out just what was the situation with regards to Madstock tickets. Although we were still waiting for a proper reply their automated response system informed us that tickets would be honoureed, and would be delivered in 4 to 5 weeks.
We brought this issue to a close by announcing that MadBoo was the luck winner of our recent “Bingo” competition, and would be the recipient of a special one-off edition of the Folgate box set, which as well as the standard goodies contained numerous other disks, singles and merchandise. Very nice!
10 years ago…
Issue 264 – Sunday 30th May – Saturday 5th June 2004
We started off this week’s issue by explaining that this was the first issue of the MIS where part of it had actually been compiled in non other than The Dublin Castle, with both editors (Rob and Jon) making notes for this issue.
Yes, this was just an excuse for more beer in our weekend but we still felt this issue came right from the heart of Madness land.
Over the years we’ve come to realise that many of you are real die-hard Madness collectors who are always on the lookout for that unusual item to add to your collection.
Well, for those of you keen to add a real one-off to your stash, you could have done a lot worse than popping over to Ebay, and getting yourself bidding on the following auction:
Item number 3817740249 was described as `MADNESS CHAS SMASH ORIGINAL GENUINE GIG SUIT (1992)`, and was being sold off by Madness fan and Madness Unsugged editor Vince Carden.
Here was the description for the item:
“Back in 1992 the week before Madstock (the legendary comeback gig), Madness played a warm up gig to a small and lucky audience in a club. It was to be the first time all original 7 members of the band stood together on one stage in more than 8 years.
Available now on Ebay is the purple Chas Smash suit that the Madness vocalist and trumpet player, Chas Smash wore on one of those legendary nights!
Would look great with a bowler!”
Digging back through his archives the legendary Mr. G informed us that this suit was won by Vince at the famous CancerBacup auction in the DC backroom, with a winning bid of £175.
At the time of typing, the suit had received 9 bids and was at £102. A real bargain for any Madness fan.
It’s always nice to read about the experiences of fellow fans, and one Steve Ward didn’t let us down. Regaling us with a lengthy piece, detailing his Saturday gig in London to see the band in the back room of The Dublin Castle, it turned out that Mr. G, Wee Stoo, and himself had done things on the cheap, and hadn’t booked a hotel. This resulted in the three of them being up for a whopping 27 hours straight.
Here’s what Steve said at the time:
“After a night bus, a coach, a plane and the car again I got home about 8:30am Sunday morning. I’d been on the go for 27 straight hours and I was absolutely knackered, so a quick cup of T and a kiss for the weans and the wife and off to bed for a well deserved kip.
Was it all worth it?
Aye right……………………”
Always on the sniff for more information, Jermaine of Tour Madness contacted us in an effort to get you, the readers, to supply him with yet more information.
This time Jermaine was after details of all the known Nutty Boys and Crunch gigs (minus TV and radio performances). Jermaine had already put together a hugely comprehensive list, but was after any missing dates, and further information on what he’d already listed.
If a gig takes place, you can be sure that one Jonathan Young will provide a blow by blow account of proceedings as soon as he gets back in front of a computer keyboard, and for the Saturday leg of the Dangermen gigs, he didn’t let us down. Detailing the run up to the gig, the gig itself, and the morning after, his review captured much of the excitement and merriment that took place over that weekend.
15 years ago…
Issue 2 – Sunday 30th May – Saturday 5th June 1999
Following the initial mail out of issue 1 the week before I was inundated with supportive emails (and even phone calls!) from online enabled Maddies who seemed to like the idea of what I was doing, and were keen to see more.
A few people contacted me and asked if I thought it was actually possible to keep something like this going on a weekly basis. At the time I replied with
“Well, we’ll see how things develop. If the flow of news and information slows down somewhat, then maybe this will be a bi-weekly bulletin. In the meantime, there’s loads of news and information coming my way so let’s make the most of it and keep this as a weekly news-bite!”
Had the staff at over at The Total Madness Mailing List bitten off more than they and their subscribers could chew? Quite possibly. With a whopping 4 separate prize-winning competitions and games running at the same time, it came down to ever-reliable and informative, Steve Bringe to pull in the reigns and give everyone the lowdown. In a lengthy email (which became a standalone article in this issue of the MIS) to the TMML, Steve listed the competitions, rules and the prizes up for grabs, which were various items of memorabilia from the recent Universal Madness album release. All goodies had been kindly donated by those lovely people at Goldenvoice.
With Madness’ appearance at the Party in The Park concert fast approaching, MTR subscribers Adele and John decided that this was a perfect opportunity to get another Madmeet organised. Well, two, actually. There would be an initial Madmeet taking place on the Saturday for all those with Party in The Park tickets, and the another on the Sunday for those who wished to take part in a guided tour of Camden Town.
Since the initial article in last week’s MIS, and a number of mails to the TMML, I’d received a number of emails from subscribers asking for the contact details of Nut Inc editor, Stuart Wright, as they were all keen to subscribe. Being the kind soul that I am, I was only too happy to oblige.
Always one to try and keep the fans up-to-date with the goings on in the band, Bedders contacted us with various bits and pieces of information. First-up was the news that the concert dates had changed from Saturday/Sunday 21st/22nd of August, so Friday 20th August, with a possible date on the Thursday, as well. Maddies were urged to alter their flights/time of work accordingly.
Bedders informed us that the album release date was now set as Monday the 4th of October, with a single pencilled in for Monday the 19th of July. At that time he commented that he realised that the release dates were a fair way away, but the tracks were still being mixed and cleaned-up.
Mark wasn’t able to reveal what track would be appearing as the first single, but he said that it was likely to be one of the new tracks which were previewed at the US shows. These were – `Johnny The Horse`, `Drip Fed Fred`, `Lovestruck` and `The Communicator`.
A number of posts had been bouncing around the TMML saying that the likely release would be `Lovestruck`, but until an official announcement had been made, we’d just have to keep guessing!
Following on from last week’s Nut Inc coverage, this week we turned our attention to Ian Taylor’s “Mad Not Mad” fanzine, which had recently landed on my door mat.
Although entitled `Mad Not Mad`, the zine wasn’t purely dedicated to Madness, but rather the ever-growing underground Ska-scene that seemed to be sweeping the country. However, with Madness being Ian’s number one love, the band did feature far more than other bands, so even if you weren’t interested in the all-round ska-scene, you were still encouraged to pick this up.
We finished this week’s issue with news in from Brendan of Madness tribute ‘One Step Behind’, who passed over details of the band’s 2009 summer tour. 15 years on, and the band are still playing to packed venues up and down the country.
Rob Hazelby
TWEETS OF A DOVE & THAT FACEBOOK
Recent nutty posting from Twitter, Facebook and other online sources.
Mark Bedford (@ I_Be_MarkB)
May 26th
“My bass playing alter ego, ‘Clam’, is due to re-appear in Jazz Club on The Fast Show special on BBC2 this evening. Grrreat!”
Suggs (@ SuggsMcPherson)
May 26th Martin Chilton Retweet.
“Memorable night chairing Suggs @suggsgmcpherson at @hayfestival – talked about his new book That Close and sang Baggy Trousers”
Charlie Higson of the Higsons/fast show retweet.
“Suggs takes number one spot in Art in a Box
https://twitter.com/eazllimited/status/469945654668963840/photo/1”
MIS FEATURE
Koast Train Crew Featuring Andy Keys Clark – Let’s Skank For England
The Soft Opening With Rhoda Dakar, 4th April 2014
You may be one of our readers who also enjoys Mr Scurf’s Wednesday Night online Ska Radio show, or perhaps a fan of South West prolific ska tune writer Andy Keys Clark. Both featured in our Live MIS night at Jaks in Butlins last year at The House of fun Weekender. Now they are lining up on the touch line as we start The Specialized World Cup Push. The single is out now.
Here’s Mr Scurf to tell us all about it, and why covering Madness’s kazoo based national anthem is now a football chant.
“In 1966 two Geordies were part of a team that put England on the Football map. The Charlton brothers are now retired and were known to enjoy a few pints and a chant to their favourite songs. In 2014 a new breed of Geordies and a Legend from Truro had a plan, a great escape from the everyday realism. Write a track for the World Cup in Rio, really!!!. OK then, let’s have a go. In fact, Let’s Skank, let’s Skank for England…
Koast radios Koast train Krew in collaboration with Andy keys Clark was the plan, a brand new ska-anthem to get the England fans in singalong mood with some catchy verses!!! Certainly. Born in May 2014 Lets Skank For England hit the download circuit, adopted and released under the Specialized Mad Not Cancer thanks to the founder Paul Willo.
The idea was born from general conversation during a Wednesday night show on Koast radio. Mr Scurf briefly mentioned a gap in the music scene as there had been no mention of an official World Cup track. The project started during March with some penned lyrics by researcher Neil which were subject to some team discussion and we liked it. Liked it a lot. Andy keys Clark was on board from the off and started looking at fitting the lyrics into a track. Mr Scurf obviously wanted to adopt a madness stylie England theme and so opted for Resurrecting the National Anthem in a kazoo style.
Andy subsequently supplied a track with vocal guide and the Koast train Krew were off!! 8am one Sunday morning we met at Koast Radio HQ and set up our very own Recording studio to lay down the kazoo and vocals, Many attempts later we thought Mmmmmm, that sounds proper mint. the recordings were emailed to AKC and the magic commenced…. This is our first single and it is a massive privilege to have been accepted into the Specialized project raising vital funds for Teenage cancer trust. One of our colleagues at Koast suffered with cancer during her teenage years and lost a leg. This made it just a bit more special to have the opportunity to play our part. Thanks to all the listeners and all those who have downloaded the track. Every penny really counts. !!!
Garry Scurfield.”
TIME…
We bring this week’s issue to a close with the same subject matter that opened it – Suggs.
Suggs appeared on BBC4 earlier this evening talking about That Close! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04619yt
At the time of typing the iPlayer link had yet to appear at the above location so don’t forget to keep checking back.
And finally, for those of you who still haven’t picked up a copy of Suggs’ book, the paperback version has now been released.
Until next week, take care,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Garry Scurfield)
The Author
