Madness Information Service Online Newsletter Issue Number: 792 – Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th July 2014
Hello Madheads and welcome.
We begin with the news that Dave Robinson cheered us up earlier in the week when he commented that;
“Really Great news. Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra’s “BANGARANG” Ft Dawn Penn & Sharron Shannon has been added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist.”
Then, the news for next week got even better;
“Bangarang has gone up to B List on BBC Radio 2. Daytime Plays !!! We are on a rooooooooooooooooooooooll”
Nice one Dave. Indeed, it’s always good to hear your song on the radio and Darren Fordham reported this week that Thommo was checking out a campervan for sale, and while giving it the once over, turning on the stereo, Bangarang came out of the speakers! “Woman No Wan no Campervan!”, a new mix maybe! Catch the band this Friday at the Brixton Jamm!
Elsewhere, Mike and Madness have been busy taste testing bottled versions of Night Boat (Porter), and the (bitter) Lovestruck (seen previously on tap at the Newark gig).
As the recently re-purchased Growler brewery revamps and rebrands back to it’s Neathergate roots, Madness beers prepare to go beyond. Look for the supermarket with a big M. You nutty drinkers and collectors will have a new excuse to bring home bottles later this summer, and sup a Madhead of foaming beer.
Speaking of Summer, a batch of cool new T-shirts have been added to the Madstore. Our regular Buy It section brings details of these new additions. Check them out.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of this issue. It’s simply packed with news we’ve literally waited years for, Suggs in Soho Singing Cecilia live! (the rap! included) or the return of Crunch! Songs Live. Yes, yes the news that Magic Carpet will fly again!
It’s all here, so read on.
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
July 2014
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
The Magic Brothers
November 1st. Blakes @ The Custard House – Birmingham
Magic Brother Friday Headline set:
November 14th. The Big One 3. Park Dean, Sandford Dorset.
The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra
July 2014
July18th Brixton Jamm, London. Tickets from Skiddle.com
July 26th Wickerman Festival
August 2014
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 – (The Nutty Boy – A Crunch! Set of Songs)
*** New *** August 3rd – The Fidler’s Elbow. Kentish Town. 8pm – (Crunch! Songs Set)
https://www.facebook.com/events/648549731907550/?fref=ts7
(The warm up gig for Boom Town appearance.)
August 7th – 10th 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. Yes we’ve hinted for weeks at something different for Boom Town. It’s A Crunch! set of Songs. See MIS feature below.
http://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/news/chinatown-district-line-up-released-199
The Silencerz (Featuring Lee Thompson)
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.
Near Jazz Experience
July 29th – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE + The Aftershave + Guest DJ set Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free*
Deaf School
August
8th, The Islington, North London
9th, The Islington, North London (SOLD OUT)
10th, Rebellion Festival, Blackpool (SOLD OUT)
For details of future gigs keep an eye on http://deafschoolmusic.com for more information.
November
Thursday 20 – Borderline, London
Friday 21 – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Saturday 22 – Academy, Manchester
Sunday 23 – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
BUY IT
If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.
*** New *** New Madness T-shirts.
Over on the Madstore, at http://madness.sandbaghq.com/left-menu-madness/clothing/t-shirts.html/ a selection of new official T-shirts for you to buy, have been unveiled.
The most mentionable among the new designs is a summer white palms t-shirt, depicting a tropical sunset beach seen through an outlined Madness crowned M. Very Nice. It has a very Nassau Madness Seven mode we feel.
Other New Shirts include a ringer, showing a crowned M with a laurel ring around it, and an orange Madness London Logo on grey. See below for details of the tour T-shirt which can be bought on its on separately.
The M.A.D.H.E.A.D Tour T-shirt – Get it now.
What does any self respecting Madhead wear? The only true fan clothing of choice right now is surely the brand new Madhead T-shirt. Available now at least five months ahead of the tour, this T-shirt is so NOW!
The brand new 2014 picture of all seven of the band next to their happiness machine and ready to bring joy. You can look stylish in it in a range of sizes, you can promote this summer, the forthcoming tour and help your heroes and of course in this day and age by buying the bands official clothing you are putting your money into the future new album project pot etc of the band who exist these days on their own self produced record label.
We’re very happy with this move to give out the T-shirt ahead of the tour as it makes so much sense to us. The T-shirt is relevant and current for a longer period of time for the fan. Steer clear of knock off clothing and get the official Madhead T-shirt. Support your favourite band directly, like a true Madhead.
Available here… Via See Tickets and Madness.co.uk
SPECIALIZED: Mad Not Cancer. 4CD covers album for Teenage Cancer Trust – Pre-Order Now
Over 70 tracks. 4 CDs. Cover versions of Madness by not just Ska bands but lots of young up and coming acts of many genres including a few famous pop stars and Bedders on one track, too. All for Teenage Cancer.
http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu
The Suggs Selection.
The new compilation album of tunes chosen especially by Suggs.
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 3 CD album contains his own personal music joys.
Signed copies are available from record store.
http://www.recordstore.co.uk/recordstore/Signed/The-Suggs-Selection-Signed/3C6C02BP000
LTSO, Bangarang, Featuring Dawn Penn & Sharon Shannon
Out now.
itunes http://tinyurl.com/p2bquak
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/pwg6du2
SIGN OF THE TIMES
A collection of articles that have caught our eye over the course of the past week or so.
It’s oh-so Soho as loyal customers celebrate Bar Italia’s 65th anniversary
The music stage was firmly at the centre of the action and Tim Arnold, The Soho Hobo, who organised the acts, was joined by Suggs and Adam Ant on stage. The crowds erupted when the Madness frontman performed the now-legendary hits Baggy Trousers and It Must Be Love
LONDON FOOTBALL AND MUSIC.
http://cotonete.iol.pt/noticias/body.aspx?id=57862 (Translated)
Around the world cup, a music site from Portugal listed Suggs amongst many musicians supporting clubs in London.
England is another country passionate about football, division assigned to the musical community. In London, Roger Daltrey (the Who) Roger Waters (ex Pink Floyd), Ray Davies, Johnny Rotten (lead singer Fri Pistols and PIL), Chris Martin (Coldplay) and novelist Nick Hornby (very connected to music because the novel “High Fidelity”) go For Arsenal. The eternal rival Tottenham collects the sympathies of Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), Adele, Sting, Phil Collins, Manic Street Preachers, Status Quo, Paul Young – Bob Marley and even had a small ruin the Spurs. The number of musicians who like Chelsea are also numerous: Damon Albarn (Blur and leader of Gorillaz), Dave Gahan and Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode, Lloyd Cole, Billy Idol, Nik Kershaw, Gary Numan, Geri Halliwell and Suggs (singer of Madness) take sides with the Blues.
LIVE AND INTENSIFIED
Suggs – Happy Birthday Bar Italia
We all know by now that Suggs is a product of Soho. The bohemian area of London where he partly grew up, It’s featured in his books, his stage show and his TV work too, so no surprise that he often supports event there. He has before now appeared in a DVD supporting The French House, but last weekend he appeared for Bar Italia which celebrated 65 years in business, trading as one of London’s iconic cafes, with a line up of great music and a street party.
Tables, chairs and many stalls were set up all along on a closed section of firth street, from where an excellent array of food, drink was served including A Hog Roast, Organic Juices, Ice Cream, Pizza Slices, Cannoli,and Prosecco. On display were Ferraris and other vintage cars and the Bar Italia Scooter Club
At 3.10pm Suggs appeared in the line up to play 3 songs. But the day also included an appearance by Adam Ant.
Suggs was appearing with a local band/artist called Tim Arnold the Soho Hobo. Described as Rock and Roll Music Hall.
Suggs sang;
Cecilia
http://youtu.be/M9KO9d6Du5g (from Miss Lindsey D – Youtube)
Tim Arnold did the Louchie Lou And Michie One rap while playing guitar! Must be the only time this song has been done in full like that outside of a TV studio at least, back in the 90’s
Baggy Trousers
http://youtu.be/9nKEqQOWdJg (from Miss Lindsey D – Youtube)
It Must Be Love
http://youtu.be/bJJ0xS86jg4 (from the SohoHobo)
Suggs was said to be delighted as he signed and posed for a few autographs after completing his short set.
The History of Bar Italia, the Soho Coffee Shop, that the event was celebrating, can be found here.
Here is a video of Adam Ant Doing the old Johnny kid and the pirates number. – Shaking all over.
Jonathan Young
TWEETS OF A DOVE
Various posts from Facebook and Twitter that have caught our eye over the past week or so.
BEDDERS
Mark Bedford @I_be_MarkB
“After a mad dash from Holland, a very good afternoon at Glastonbury with @leethompsonska followed by a flat tyre on Blackheath. Variety.”
WOODY
Hilarious reply to fan Pete Symonds who was umming and ahhing about whether to attend The House of Fun weekender and had tagged the band in his post..
Woody Replayed bluntly…
“What do you want us to say? Don’t bother? You’ve asked people what to do, and you’re not taking their advice. Why ask? Shit, or get off the pot.”
We think Pete is now going! You can’t argue with that.
SUGGS
Graham McPherson @suggsgmcpherson
“Yes I do, and if you don’t mind me saying, much to the shock of the hay on wye mob. It is a small work of genius. #accordingtome”
SPECIALIZED 3 – MAD NOT CANCER TRACLISTING
Morning campers. Well, we’ve just been asked by Suggs for a copy of the Specialized album. Not a bad start to the weekend we say!
Almost there. Seriously, almost there. This has been some body of work. The acts-we salute thee. The Sponsors-wee adore thee. The grafters- we love thee. Nothing more nothing less love is the best.
TRACK LISITNG FOR SPECIALIZED 3- MAD NOT CANCER
(IN NO SPECIFC ORDER)
The Resonations – 1978
The Klank (USA) – Baggy Trousers
King Hammond – Bed & Breakfast Man
Skoisters – Benny Bullfrog
Billy Brown – Blue Skinned Beast
Darren Fordham & UPforitNESS – Burning The Boats (Mother Rose Mix)
The Feckin Ejits – Cardiac Arrest
Ska’Lett – Crying Shame
Spahni Dub Dancers Ft.Dennis Bovell (Switzerland) – Death of a Rude Boy
Bombskare – Deceives the eye
Swagga – Dont Quote Me On That
The Simmertones – Drip Fed Fred
Rude Boy George (USA) – Driving In My car
Indeed (France) – Burning The Boats
The Bighead – Embarrasssment
Special Brew – Forever Young
The Humanitarians – Grey Day
Andrew Crayford – The Harder They Come
Cartoon Violence – House Of fun
The Originals of Ska – If You Lose A Good Thing
The Evil Turkeys – In The City
The Bionic Rats (Rep of Ireland) – In The Rain
Chipmonks are go – Wolf man radio.
Big Fat Panda – Johnny The Horse
Sound Syndicate (Spain) – Return Of the Los Palmas 7
Servers – Lovestruck
Urang Matang ft. Big Jim Paterson – Madness (Nutty Mix)
The Service – Rise & fall
Chas ‘n’ Jane – Madness is all in the mind
The Values (ft.Neil Innes & Bedders)- Madness ( Unlimited Mix )
The Spritely Allstars – Misery
The Rough Kutz – Mistakes
Paul Brightman – My Girl
Matt Neil ft.Horace Panter – My Girl2
Bim Skala Bim ft.Dave Hillyard (USA) – Nightboat To Cairo
Maddy Carty – NW5
Esperanza – On The Town
Bluebird Parade – One Better Day
Kingston Ska Orchestra – One Step Beyond
The Crabs Corporation (Argentina) – The Opium Eaters
Dirty Revolution- It Must be Love
Auto- Prospects
The Hotknives – Razor Blade Alley
LP6 – Shame & Scandal
The Crooners (Germany) – Shut Up
System Of Hate – Stepping into line
The Amphetameanies – The Sun and the Rain
Rocket Punch (Phillipines) – Swan Lake
Addictive Philosophy – Take it or leave it
Ed Rome – The Prince
Martin Black – The Wizard
French Boutik (France) – Tiptoes
The Funaddicts (Australia) – Tomorrows just another day
Kingsize – ( Waiting for the ) ghost train
Erin Bardwell Collective – Wings of a Dove
The Iconics – You said
Ska Face – The young and the old
The Smoggers – Youre wonderful
Ska Dogs – Uncle Sam
Cabstars – Rockin in A flat
Porky Poet Ft. Terry Edwards – Keep Moving
Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer – E.R.N.I.E.
Thierry Arnold ft. Judge Fredd ( France ) – Patience
The Inflatables – Believe Me
Sumudu – Sarah’s Song
Theatre Of Ghosts – Walking With Mr Wheeze
Parallax Faction – Land Of Hope & Glory
Sarah Graham – Shadow Of Fear
Katalina Kicks- Yesterdays Men
Onex & Trax – Never Knew Your Name ( Late Disco Reverse Bass Edit )
Bare Bones- In The Middle Of The Night
Priced at £15.99 plus postage you can pre-order at the following link:
http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu
DISC ONE PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/H385Yhv7u9k DISC TWO PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/OcEePjTthmc DISC THREE PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/4PnxwPcm67o DISC FOUR PREVIEW – http://youtu.be/xjpf7ygQgZs
For a list of artists/songs go here: http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/#!artists/c1qyc
For any information relating to Specialized generally you can go to any of the following:
Web: http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialized3madnotcancer
Twitter: @specializeduk1
It’s nearly with us, and reviews will be landing shortly!
Paul Willo
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 532 – Sunday 12th July – Saturday 18th July 2009
We kicked things off by advising those who had ordered a ticket or Golden Circle wristband for the forthcoming Madstock 5 concert and were still waiting for it, to get along to our first article right away. For those who were now in possession of theirs we suggested they went on to section 3 where we had all the meet details for them.
Elsewhere in this issue we had the latest Madness chart lowdown from the one and only Paul Rodgers, and the first in a three part series from Chris Carter-Pegg, charting the bands’ three appearances at the Glastonbury music festival.
If that wasn’t enough, we also took another one of our weekly lookbacks, to find out what was going on in the world of Madness five and ten years ago that week.
10 years ago…
Issue 270 – Sunday 11th July – Saturday 17th July 2004
Cold and grey, those are probably a few words many Madness fans would have used to describe the weather they encountered at Thursday’s opening day of Manchester’s Move Festival.
The weather may have been poor, but from reading the reviews that came in following the event it seemed as if those who went had a cracking time.
With the lads on as the main act it came as no surprise to many that this issue featured detailed write-ups of their performance, and actually very little else (due to the lack of other Madness news doing the rounds). If you were unable to get along to see their slot, this edition of the MIS would give you some idea as to what went on.
Subscriber, Sarah Beamish produced the most detailed report of the week, and this became the lead article for the issue, as it was just so well put together.
We’re sure that even now Sarah remembers that day so clearly…
“the BEST moment of my entire life was when I, Sarah Beamish, had LeeKix come off stage and ‘duet’ with me. Let me explain…
Earlier in the day, I met a lovely guy who was dressed à la Lee from Baggy Trousers. I forget his name, but I think it was Mark or Matt or something. I told him about TMML so he should be reading this!!!
Anyway, he had as part of his costume, a red plastic blow-up saxophone. I borrowed this every so often to ‘play’ along to sax solos. During one of these escapades, I saw Lee watching me and he joked around, trying to ‘duel’ with me with exaggerated sax-playing.
I played along with the joke, and soon Lee told the cameraman filming him to turn around and point the camera on me!!! The cameraman did so, and soon I was being broadcast to the ENTIRE crowd on two screens approx 30 foot by 20 foot!
A little while later, Lee then went bananas and jumped off the stage and played around the front of the crowd. He came up to me, with the camera following, and squatted next to me and we both played our own ‘saxes’!! That had to be one of the best moments of my life!!!”
We finished off this week’s issue of the MIS with a heads-up from Madness Trading Ring co-maintainer, Steve Bringe. Steve was kindly passing on a message from Chrissy Boy, who had asked fans who had concerns over what versions of tracks would be used in the Madness Single Box Set V2 to get in touch.
15 years ago…
Issue 8 – Sunday 11th July – Saturday 17th July 1999
We started this issue off by thanking subscriber Chris Byrne for getting the set list from the band’s Hyde Park gig to us in time for the last issue of the MIS, and commented that unfortunately it was impossible for us to also get a review in time.
The lack of review the previous week was certainly more than made up for this week, as Total Madness Mailing List subscriber Adele Hargreaves had put together one of the longest and most detailed gig reviews we’d ever seen. Originally appearing in chunks over on the TMML, we printed it in its entirety in this issue of the MIS.
After weeks of putting the new MIS site together it was pleasing to find that people were starting to visit the new pages, and new subscriptions were beginning to crop-up. Our thanks went to Simon Roberts who had been providing help and support with the new site build, but at this present moment in time wasn’t on the MIS team.
Well, it couldn’t have all been good news this issue, as we had to sadly announce that the ongoing talks between Madness’ band management, the BBC and The Hackney Empire had unfortunately fallen through and as such, the Empire gigs for August had had to be cancelled.
With the Lovestruck single, and Wonderful album about to hit the stores (single – 19th July, album – September) we featured a single review from Channel Four’s Teletext site, and an interview with the band from The Independant. However, the promotional value of both these write ups would pale into insignificance compared to the forthcoming Madness Day (Thurs 15th July) on VH1. Consisting of over 12 hours of Madness, we were treated to band videos, specially recorded commentaries and much, much more.
This issue finished off with a lowdown of forthcoming gigs by Madness tribute veterans One Step Behind, courtesy of keyboardist Brendan Phipps.
Rob Hazelby
MIS FEATURE – GOING SOLO – CRUNCH! TIME FOR THE NUTTY BOY
Our long standing friend Mr Swandale returns with a new version of the Crunch! Website, which you can find right here; www.crunch.uk.com/
New Magic Carpet content is uploading, watch this space. The revamp comes at the most exciting time for Crunch! news in Six long years. I’m so excited to write the words, “In August Lee Thompson will be playing a full set of Crunch! songs publically for the first time since 2008 Brighton.”
The news is that the Boom Town Festival, in it’s China Town area, wants to hear The Magic Carpet Ride. Indeed Boom Town even has a magic carpet to get you up it’s hill!!! So it’s a deserving Catalyst here.
In preparation of this line up’s appearance at this Winchester cult music festival. The Nutty Boy, Kix, goes solo also with a warm up gig in Kentish Town’s – Fidlers Elbow on August the 3rd at 8pm. Be Sure to be there. If you’ve never heard these songs live before, or you miss them as much as many Crunch! fans do, you’ll want to hear this Lee Thompson Band line up performing, Daydreaming and more. This is a chance in more than half a decade.
https://www.facebook.com/events/648549731907550/?fref=ts7
While the news currently seems it’s not the full Foreman reunion fans hope for, at this stage, future fingers remained crossed, wishing for the full song writer duo of 1990’s cult album to be the boys again. Recent rehearsals at the bands facebook page show Tadman Bass, Vause Keys, and Spider drums alongside Sax man Vocalist Kix present and correct preparing for the event, and even original member Seamus is back in place in todays photo’s on organ (in place of hong kong dave.) Kevin Burdett once again takes place in strings position. Steve Hamilton (In places of steve) for saxophone. Making a larger new line up than last years private premises set.
In 2014. It’s a little sad that Crunch! has become such a forgotten band. At one time they genuinely were the last men standing of the good ship Madness. When THE Madness further eroded away in the last days of the 80’s The Nutty Boys arose from those discarded ashes when the rest had given up the ghost trains last steam. A song penned with Mcpherson became the bands catch hit amongst their fans, from an album programmed by Foreman, with fresh lyrics from Thommo emerging as a front man for the first time in the most eccentric of eyepatched charactorial ways.
Madness were no more. This was it. Fireball XL5 live or Take it or leave it (Speeded up) aside, It was this set of songs. Whistle, Magic Carpet, DayDreamers, Pop My Top, a classical Fur Elise, Complications, You Got It, that sang out the nutty sound, street folk twisted tales, angry and commenting lyrics, over a guitar and programmed freed up basic sound that allowed the musical talent of Chrissy Boy free-er reign than Madness often allowed in the juggle of music writers, this took his personal home made music into new places.
They grew a new set of heads into another Magnificent seven, and toured like young bands do, regular London spots and as far as Europe by packed van. Hi jinks and misshaps, that spawned tales that Chris was happy to later recount through-out the My Space era of online fan engaging, as if it was the middle chapter of his biography.
A couple of singles, got some radio play, they would pop up on radio 1 talk shows at the time, or a session with Phil Jupitus, as a new gang of nutty boys, personality and approach exuded. A few cable TV or late night networked shows from London were really all the band managed to branch out into at a time before the internet existed it was hard to grab the music papers interest or make the fresh statement for the nutty sound at a time when acid house was still resident, and get any further than that on limited resources.
While a wealth of song writing material appeared in live sets, some of it so truly rockingly inspired. The second album became a long promised work in awaiting like a “Chinese Democracy”, some of which only ever leaked into selected fan hands but never reached a more public paying audience or product. To this day. Saints and Sinners, Going Solo and Tap Dance having never made record is a fucking travesty.
The Madness tag occasionally dogged them at promotional levels to pack out gigs. Which was fought against. It was the returning shadow of the big parent band, that changed the course of the bands future, cutting out the little sunlight. Through early 90’s arena tours statements would forever declare Madness as no distraction to the commitment of this team to follow pop dreams together. (Especially while Suggs was following his), The Original Seven being back lead to the need for the name change, to give rightful distance, and with it came inevitable writing of history to turn Crunch! into the footnote handing back the keys to any madness line history. Knocked down by Madstock’s Earthquake through to Lovestrucks smash hit bottling them on the back of the head. Like nearly all fans I wouldn’t give up those prizes either for any kind of nutty boys side project. Crunch! Time.
2000’s decade gigs saw a re-release of the debut album, and sporadic gigs, with much fun but dwindling audiences, and by the end some times dwindling band members. The last attempt at new songs live, begat ironically “You cant keep a good thing down.” (Recently taken up to be Madness, and it’s not alone in filtering back up to the top team either.) But Crunch are sort of still kept down. Left alone for the longest of time in that back alley. A Triumphant brass section extended Brighton gig in 2008 akin to most band jolly ups, turned out to be the last full Crunch! gig to date, and Chris stayed in Brighton, hopped off the Magic Carpet there. Folgates glorious shadow would again bring a prize worth all the sacrifice of all solo distractions for even Mr Thompson in the following year. Crunch! had become Crunch?
Whatever happened to Crunch? wasn’t really asked, as the floodgates of returning Madness fandom swelled, and jumped down generations, and we all lived like kings, a great new creative Madness team was turning everything gold as the internet changed music marketing forever, and festivals multiplied exposure for live acts like a rabbit farm on heat.
What happened to Crunch’s nutty boys?, was it more a merger with Butterfield 8 members then into a ska orchestra. Small Reggae roots continuing music passions, or contentment with occasional front man show timing enough of passion, and the work of the main band the most important as clarified.
Mr Thompson has on occasion given mention to revisiting these songs though. A private gig last year at The Premises, was a fitting first slot, to blow dust off them after many years of whispers leading to nothing. Butlins has aired just a couple of versions too of these tracks during house of fun weekends. When you look at the radio play listing achieved by the ska orchestra, the BBC London sessions, the Jools Holland appearances, and live Glastonbury streaming concerts and chart placing and critical notices for The Benevolence of Sister Mary Ignatius. Achieved in just 3 years, the few remaining Crunch! fans that count happy memories, are bound of ask is it Crunch? Time! Most often spotters use the phrase “Watch this space” and for now it applies yet again.
At the moment, the nutty boy going solo tap dances down into the hall of fame again. Return to these tunes with him, August 3rd. Fiddlers Elbow, if you read this far I’m guessing you’re interest is kindled. If you used to follow this band. Or liked the album.Tell your mates of this feature. If your new to Crunch! songs check out this gig if you can. It’s something different. From the past, but I feel it’s got a third chapter for it’s round trip.
Jonathan Young
THE MAD HEADER! WIN DRUMSTICKS SIGNED BY WOODY (Worth £200)
“The Mad Header!”. Yes, It’s time again to ask the question, “What’s the best Mad album?”
So, all the other albums have been defeated.
The Original One Step Beyond, Naïve, but Nutty Brilliance that has endured the years. The bookend of Live Madness shows, with it’s 2tone roots in Ska covers and it’s Stiff emergence of music hall pub rock and roll meets a new youth culture. Nutty Training out of the Station.
Will face off against..
The Epic Mature Masterpiece The Liberty Of Norton Folgate, A double album, a box set, a Film. A Musical canvas of east London spreading back to the past. Lyrically rich and culturally deep. Everything for just a song to sing.
One Step Beyond Vs The Liberty Of Norton Folgate. The winning album takes the title of BEST MADNESS ALBUM
Over at the Grand Stand Stadium “All Things Madness”, packed with over 13,000 members (Find the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/249838181711283/ )
PRIZE WINNERS AND PRIZES
Judge Fredd, Kevin Filsell, Linsay Boyce, Natalie FitzGerald, Robert Wardlaw, Mark Bryan, Dinant Dondertman, Carl Humphries, Phil Smith have all won wonderful prizes, and now Helen Searle has won Signed Suggs That Close Hardback, donated by Darren Jones. The most impressive world cup of prizes on facebook moves on.
WIN – DRUMSTICKS SIGNED BY WOODY. – Vote in the playoff match where Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da is getting a German vs Brazil style kicking off of Absolutely for the title of Third Best Madness Album.
In the final you could win all of this….
THE SPECIALIZED CUP PRIZE. 1LP 2CD 1DVD 2EP 2 Singles, & 5 Downloads. + 4 Badges. [Specialized LP – (Specials Covers white vinyl album) – Beat Teenage Cancer CD Album. – The Big one 2 Live at Sandford DVD. – The ska vinyl EP – The non ska vinyl ep – Dave Wakeling Red New version of Mirror in the bathroom vinyl single – Ranking Roger new version of two swords Red vinyl single – 2tone stars red vinyl single – Specialive- download of concert – plus vari…ous download specialized singles – Prayer- nick welsh – it must be love- sanna Pekonen – andy keys clark- skank for England/king Hammond- Friday night satirday morning (punch n judy mix) badges x 4 (difff designs) Plus a New sealed copy of Suggs Selection 3cd album by Suggs Music company to Specialized.
Final Bonus second place prize. Madstock Vintage Madness football shirt.
Jonathan Young
MATCH FEES
With our focus on Specialized for Teenage Cancer this year, prize draws require a Pre-order/buy The Specialized – Mad Not Cancer Album. To enter the prize draw, though voting is free and open to all to take part. Or we will be asking you to just bung us a few quid in match fees sponsorship into the back of the net here, particularly in the finals when the prizes reach Trophy level.
https://www.justgiving.com/misthemadcharts
F*ck Football! Let’s Dance. As the Mad Header continues! This World Cup Final Weekend.
And our thanks to Musical Madheads, Warren Moyle, Hazel Foster, Alan Flynn, Monika Cooper, & Geo Adam, Darren Jones, Maria Ashe, Clare Marshall.
Jonathan F Young
TIME…
That’s just about it for this week.
All being well, next week’s issue will see a return of Darren West with a round up of Lee Thompson Closing the Barnet Music Festival, along with details of a few other gigs.
Until next week, take care,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Lindsey Davies)
The Author
