Hello Invaders fans.
This week, in a run up to the House of Fun Weekender, which takes place in just three weeks time, we take you back to before 1979 and the earliest days of this band that would go on to be called Madness. These were their formative days in North London as The Invaders.
Turn the clock back to 35 years ago, and read on to our feature.
We also have a peek back at The Stiff Records era in an exclusive extract from a new book by Richard Balls entitled “The Stiff Records Story”.
You can also win a copy on us, too!
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
November 2014
November 21st – 24th 2014 – Minehead – Last places on sale (4 person plus) 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

2015
The 2015 House Of Fun Weekender has now been announced as prize worthy. (Venue location confirmation and dates to follow)

The Silencerz (Featuring Lee Thompson)
November 2014
* This week * November 8th – Hertford Corn Exchange. 39 Fore St. Herts. SG14 1AL With support. The Skammers.
November 16th – Confirmed in the Sunday Lineup of bands at Specialized The Big One 3. In Dorset. Lee will also be doing a photo signing session. Day tickets are now on sale.

Suggs
March 2015
12th March – An Evening With Suggs and Friends, in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK. Held at The Emirates Stadium. At £160 a ticket we’re not sure if many MIS readers will be attending! http://www.thegigcompany.org/events/pcuk2015/

Woody
Dan Woodgate will be signing photo’s for Fan’s at The Big One3. At 12 Midday on Saturday November 15th. Day tickets are now on sale.

Near Jazz Experience
November
November 4th – NEAR JAZZ EXPERIENCE + support & guest DJ set – Indo 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT *Free*

Deaf School
November
Thursday 20 November, The Borderline, London
Friday 21 November, Academy, Manchester
Saturday 22 November, Trades, Hebden Bridge
Sunday 23 November, Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton

The Blox – A Tribute to Ian Dury and The Blockheads
November
* New * Sat 1 Nov The Railway,Longfield,Kent.
* New * Sat 15 Nov The Rolleston,Swindon,Wilts.
* New * Sat 29 Nov The Edenbridge Club,Edenbridge,Kent.
* New * Sun 30 Nov The Market Inn,Faversham,Kent.
December
* New * Sat 6 Dec The Alexandra,Chatham,Kent.
* New * Fri 12 Dec The Imperial,Crawley,W.Sussex.
* New * Sat 13 Dec Regans Bar,Gravesend,Kent.
* New * Thur 18 Dec The Chequers,Billericay,Essex.
More info at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-BLOX-The-Tribute-to-Ian-Dury-The-Blockheads/107932982594850

BUY IT
If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.
Madness – One Step Beyond 35th Anniversary edition CD.
You can now order the new edition of One Step Beyond 35th Anniversary, from Salvo Sound & Vision:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Step-Beyond-35th-Anniversary/dp/B00MH9NERS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1408230182&sr=1-1&keywords=one+step+beyond
This Anniversary edition has been digitally re-mastered from the original 1⁄4 inch tapes by Tim Turan, and comes with recently unearthed rehearsal recordings from 1979, including two songs that have never appeared anywhere before. “Lost my head” and “Sunshine Voice”. It’s also very interesting to see Absolutely album track “You Said” on the rehearsal tape and Grey Day B-side “Memories” as well as hearing versions of tracks that made the album some 5 months before the debut LP was recorded.
Hear previews of these tracks, and help yourself to a free download. You can even re-name the album, creating pictures you can share with people. Visit the mini site to do all this: http://www.madness.co.uk/one-step-beyond-35/
There is a DVD of videos and Top of the Pops/Old Grey Whistle Test appearances, that includes the Young Guns documentary, and a 24 page booklet that speaks to Clive, Alan and Chris about the album.

FAB TOONES EXTRA APRIL 1979 Rehearsal DOWNLOADS
iTunes Exclusive Tracks. – There’s Always Something There to Remind Me. Shop Around.
Amazon.co.uk Exclusive Tracks. – Swan Lake. Rockin in Ab.
Madness.co.uk Exclusive Free Downloads. Madness. My Mates.

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! 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.
Available here… Via See Tickets and Madness.co.uk
http://tinyurl.com/nzy6ybm
Cathal Smyth – A Comfortable Man – Limited Vinyl
Numbered 1 to 1000, this is a limited edition vinyl of “A Comfortable Man”, with a download code for the mp3 album. Available end of September from Cathal’s website. The album will also be available from Amazon and iTunes soon.
SPECIALIZED: Mad Not Cancer. 4CD covers album for Teenage Cancer Trust
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.specialized-project.co.uk/#!shop/c1atu (remove hyphen from URL)
*New Book* BE STIFF. The Stiff Records Story. Richard Balls.
Product ID: ISBN_978-0957570061
£16.99 New (see below for press release)

SIGN OF THE TIMES
An Exclusive Extract From New Book – The Stiff Records Story
The Stiff Records Story by Richard Balls is out now. Here we have an exclusive extract from the book.
If Tracey Ullman was the queen of video, Madness remained the undisputed kings – and Stiff’s only dependable breadwinner. From July 1982 to June 1984, all seven singles they released made the Top 20: four reached the Top 5. Even the group knew some of the videos were now stronger than the songs. But coming up with ever more existential ideas and then trying to film them on the cheap was something the band regarded as a challenge. And when Stiff moved into Bayham Street in Camden, a large garage to the rear of the premises proved the perfect space for film shoots.
Mark Bedford remembers: “We would go into Stiff and we would sit around a table in one of the rooms there. It would be us and Dave, and we would literally fire off as many ideas as possible. Some of them were hysterical and completely un-filmable, because they would take up hundreds of thousands of pounds or would defy the laws of physics to actually film. There was one fantastic time when Chas and Chris got into talking about building a rubber street, so that when you stepped on it would move and bend. Those brainstorming meetings were absolutely fantastic for the amount of things that came out of them. From a few hours of having lists and lists of stuff, it would be then knocked into a workable, filmable sort of story, but with hardly any money!”
Healthy and safety was never Stiff’s strong suit. A piano was dropped into a muddy field from a height in the making of “Shut Up” narrowly missing someone’s foot and “It Must Be Love” had involved a devil-may-care attitude to filming under water. For “Driving In My Car”, the boys wore straw boaters and were filmed driving around Camden in a white Morris Minor. The Fun Boy Three were on the pavement trying to thumb a lift to Coventry, but the “Maddiemobile” drove on. All pretty safe by Stiff standards; until it came to the last scene. “The big deal at the time was there was these Volkswagen ads where the Volkswagen fell and Dave wanted to do that,” says Foreman. “We got this Morris 1000 and I mean, Christ, it was hauled it to the top of this studio by just a piece of rope and poor Nigel [Dick] had to climb up this thing. I remember it to this day. He had a pole with a knife on and that is how they did it – a pole with a frigging knife on! And it just went and we filmed it in super slow motion.”
Madness’ eleventh Top 10 hit didn’t feature on an album, but the next single did. “Our House” was one of the group’s strongest songs in years and although it didn’t reach the rollercoaster heights of “House Of Fun”, more than three decades later it stands as their most iconic. “Our House” made No. 5 in the UK chart and the video featured on the Christmas edition of Top Of The Pops, the BBC long having decided not to attempt to get them all in the same room.
“Tomorrow’s Just Another Day” was the second single to be taken from The Rise And Fall, and reached No. 8. A darker affair, like “Grey Day”, the video began in a prison and in a reversal of the video for “It Must Be Love”, they wore white against a black background. This time, Foreman had come up with the story idea, causing a fallout with Robinson in the process. “Before ‘Tomorrow’s Just Another Day’, Dave had seen this advert where a car gets chucked out of a plane on a parachute and he kind of got the rights, or so he said, to this advert,” Foreman explains. “We were rehearsing and he [Robinson] turned up and he was going on about this ad and I go, ‘Look Dave, I’ve written a flipping idea for “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day”’. He had this kind of hamper to reward us, or something like that, and he threw it on the floor. And I said, ‘Sorry to have hampered your plans’ and he was livid. But it was a great idea and everyone was coming up with good ideas.”
“Wings Of A Dove” did even better and – not to be outdone – the Stiff boss got his wish. The video was shot at an airfield where Madness and an entire steel band boarded a Dan-Air plane. After take-off, they leapt about the cabin performing the song. Then at the end, both groups piled into a van, giving Robinson the chance to use the advert he’d got showing a large van being parachuted from an aircraft and hitting the ground. Another victory for style over content, “Wings Of A Dove” soared majestically to No. 2.
In reality, it wasn’t a van, but a bombshell that was about to be dropped on Madness; arguably one from which it would take years to recover. Mike Barson announced he was leaving. The pianist, on whose timeless pop melodies so many of their songs were founded, had married his Dutch girlfriend and was moving to Holland with her. He had also felt under increasing pressure to come up with material for the group, but Foreman says it was a band decision that proved the final straw. “Ben Elton and Richard Curtis were writing a television series for us because they really liked us,” he says. “We told Mike and that’s when he said, ‘I’m leaving’.”
Top Of The Pops viewers didn’t know it yet, but the sight of his arms growing longer and longer in the video for “The Sun And The Rain” was symbolic of his departure, which would come months later. The poignant touch was added by Lee Thompson. “Mike Barson was going to leave the band and he [Lee] wanted Mike to play the piano and his arms to get longer as he moved away from the piano,” says Foreman. “Lee and Chas were going to burst out of the piano as well. So, we were in the old basement in the wee midnight hours and they got this guy, the Stiff carpenter, to build a piano out of balsa wood. And they’d given him all kinds of speed to keep him up and he’d made this piano. We start filming and the first thing that happened was that it got smashed to bits.”
A Madness Christmas Party for Greenpeace on 21 December 1983 at London’s Lyceum Ballroom turned out to be Barson’s swansong. Ian Dury and his new group The Music Students were also on the bill, along with hippie Neil from The Young Ones. Barson moved permanently to Amsterdam and would not play another show with the group for nine years. As 1984 dawned, Madness were about to enter a new era. And Dave Robinson was about to make the biggest mistake of his Stiff career.
If you would like to win a copy of the book. Answer this question….
What street did Stiff move into in Camden?
Sent your answers to Jonsmad@Hotmail.com and we will let Soundcheck Books know the winner in a week or two.
Richard Balls.

MIS FEATURE – THE SONGS OF THE INVADERS
So, in just three weeks time The House of Fun Weekender opens it’s doors again. (A small number of places still available to book now)
The Friday night set sees The Invaders Vs The Dangermen. Which surely means we are in for a unique set of tunes from the band more widely known as Madness. This week in part one of a two part feature we look back at the earliest line up and sets played by the band.
Who are The Invaders? What did they play? Read on….
The Invaders began in Mike’s house, with Chris and Lee, and the line up would go through Gary Dovey, Gavin Rodgers and Lucinda Garland, (and Carl on Bass) before settling in with Suggs, Woody, Bedders, and ever changing roles for John Hasler. They played School parties, functions and broke onto the pub circuit in London. They supported Shane McGowan’s punk band The Nips, before a name change was needed when a band with the same name started to release records. The band played Rock and Roll, RnB, Ska and Reggae.
“It’s Too Late” By Carol King, has been stated by Mike Barson in previous interviews, as the first tune they knocked around with in his Bedroom.
Hampstead Trade Hall in 1977 can be argued to be The Invaders first gig. .Si Birdsal’s party. as seen in Take it or Leave It, was just a touch earlier than the flying saucers logo landing from space to christen this band, and Mike’s bedroom boys were considering the name The Pirate’s at that time of their first private appearance. (Despite the drum kit depiction in the band’s film.)
“See You Later Alligator”, by Bill Haley was a rock and roll early staple, while their first ska cover was perhaps “Feeling so Fine” By The Gladiators.
Champs Instrumental “Tequila” joined the set by the time of The City and East gig in February 1978.
1959 Coaster’s Hit “Poison Ivy” was played in the band’s own style around this time, but dropping most of these covers from their later recording plans,
The Lambretta’s would be the punk era band to chart at number 7 with reworking of this classic tune in 1980, and not any future line up of The Invaders. The Invaders would start the tradition of playing a nutty skank of classical “Swan Lake”
Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life” also gets a mention around this time in the band development. Giddy up a ding dong.
“Sunshine Voice”, and “Mistakes” are penned by the band, which features John Hasler, before he became the band’s Pete Best. As is “Lost My Head”, while Madness would record “Mistakes” making it a B-side. It wasn’t until April 79 rehearsal tapes of Madness were uncovered and released last month that full version of the other two self penned songs emerged.
Hasler performed “The House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals, with the band during his stand in period as lead singer during the bands development, (and Suggs’ occasional absence due to the footie)
“New Song” (became My Girl) and “In the Middle Of The Night” would emerge in the last days of The Invaders gigs.
Most surprisingly perhaps is the fact that “Grey Day” was played by The invaders in 1978, in some earlier form.
On Friday February the 16th 1979 The Invaders played their last gig, at The Dublin Castle, Camden Town. The first time this had happened.
By the time February 22nd at The Music Machine the band were billed as Morris & The Minor’s but became Madness before setting foot onto the stage, then first billing of the new band came at the Hope and Anchor. By the end of the year, Madness would be their household name on their ticket to fame.
By appearing on stage at The House Of Fun Weekender it will have been a gap of 35 years and 9 months since The Invaders last played, and this will be their biggest ever audience.
(If we include Si Birdsals party in this, mentions to Jail House Rock (Elvis), I’m Walking (Fat’s Domino), Lover please (Clyde McPhatter), Just my Imagination (The Tempations ), and The Roadette Song (Kilburn and the Highroads) can be added. Some of which were instrumental versions)
“Shop Around” the Smokey Robinson cover is probably highest on most fans wish list for the Invaders returning set list. Given it’s rare by continued appearances from later Madness moments.
Truth is though, there are not comprehensive lists known of the full Invaders gigs. Only Snippets. So beyond the mentioned songs, which tunes make it to the stage, could include further early rock and roll gems. “There’s always something there to remind me”, only recently started to delight fans via it’s one step beyond 35th inclusion. It’s a tantilsing prospect still filled with uncertainty. The invasion begins Friday the 21st. Only at The House Of Fun.
Next Week. The Songs of The Dangermen…
Jonathan Young

HOUSE OF FUN – PRIZE DRAW AND FANCY DRESS
It was announced this week that all new bookers and previous bookers of this years House of Fun Weekender are to be entered into a prize draw for the following items.
– Madness Meet and Greet
– A Signed Madness merchandise pack
– A Signed Guitar
– 2015 Free House Of Fun Weekender

Madhead Fancy Dress
Have you worked out which Madhead you’re dressing up as on the Saturday night yet?
The Grand Prize for the best costume is the Madhead Golden Ticket.
This year, to enter to win, we’re asking you to take a picture of yourselves on the Satur…day night in your full get-up then post it using Instagram including #FancyMadhead in your comment.
Your picture will then automatically appear at mad-head.co.uk where you can all help pick the best one!
Good luck!!
The House of fun Weekender page.

LIVE INTENSIFIED
Rhoda Dakar Sings The BodySnatchers @ Camden Jazz Cafe
“Camden Jazz Cafe to see The Bodysnatchers, the only all female 2Tone band. Except now it’s Rhoda Dakar and friends, who are all blokes as far as I can see! …
Being serious for a minute am really looking forward to it Rhoda Dakar is a brilliant singer and in Easy Life The Bodysnatchers released one of 2Tone’s better singles.”
This is the first time Rhoda has sung a full bodysnatchers set in 33 years. A 35th anniversary tribute to the songs, and also a launch of a new album project.
“The gig started with a jam on 007 with Paul Tadman and the guitarist initially setting the scene, joined by Seamus and the drummer. This worked as intro music before Rhoda joined the men on stage to add her distinctive vocals.
Rhoda then attempted to briefly tell us what was what – she wanted to perform what would have been The Bodysnatchers’ album as she was constantly being asked to and asked if she would reform the band. To this second question she gave an emphatic, resounding and permanent sounding ‘no’ ”
“Well I’d seen hints of Rhoda’s comic genius whilst on stage at Minehead with The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra Official, but last night showed a gift for timing too. Can’t believe I hadn’t heard Hiawatha since about 1983 (The Belle Stars single version). What a great tune. Easy Life remains one of the best 2Tone singles and the live version of Dance Craze had me totally hooked on The Bodysnatchers, only to discover they’d basically split by the time I heard it!”
Too Experienced – http://youtu.be/2XqLQ0VYntk
Do Rocksteady – http://youtu.be/nO6MI_AU1pI
Ruder Than You – http://youtu.be/X5pY7HpYOlM
Rhoda said on stage that her band were so good she would have to up her game.
“It’s a fair comment when you have Seamus Beaghen, Paul Tadman and Terry Edwards (all of whom I know from another life) on stage. Loved the drummer’s feel too. They certainly created a fantastic groove to soundtrack the evening.”
“There were many, many long anecdotes between songs, a competition for best male and female dancer, sweets thrown in handfuls to the crowd and personal shouts to people she knew in the audience including one bloke who apparently used to go to all The Bodysnatchers gigs”
“The setlist consisted of (in no particular order apart from as they appear on the CD): Easy Life, The Ghost Of The Vox Continental, Happy Time Tune, 007, Private Eye, Too Experienced, The Loser, Mixed Feelings, Hiawatha and Let’s Do Rocksteady. A Madness style encore was then requested as Rhoda told us she’d talked so much the band had no time to go off and come back on again, so they would have to turn round and pretend to not be there. With this done the band launched into Ruder Than You to end their set.”
“Really enjoyed her gig. Would pay money to see that band again as long as she carries on giving out sweets to the audience.” [Well It was Halloween], and only if she stops talking. ”
“Rhoda thanked the band members, some of whom played on the album, some who were acting as live band only as (for example) two of The Specials are now on their own tour.”
“After the gig Rhoda was happy to pose for photos and to sign copies of the CD, especially for those of us who had pledged via her Pledge Music page. As far as I know this is the only way to buy the CD, so if you want to buy it, or the vinyl etc. head to: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/thebodysnatchersalbum”
“Rhoda has announced that as the album project has achieved the minimum value of pledges it needed to go into production that a percentage of profits will go to her favourite charity, details of which are on the site I think. If they aren’t search you tube for Rhoda and I’m sure you’ll find her talking about it.
The other good reason to buy it is that Rhoda claimed to have a house full of CDs, a situation she doesn’t want to live with forever.”
Recent Rhoda Interview about this show and album launch here.
http://reggae-steady-ska.com/bodysnatchers-reunion-rhoda-dakar-interview/
MIS/Paul Rodgers / Videos Tom Fhay

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 548 – Sunday 1st November – Saturday 7th November 2009
Paul Rodgers got this issue off to a roaring start with the news that for a sixth successive week and an eleventh week in total this year, Madness were in the top 40 with an album. The question was, which album?
The Madness album in the top 40 this week was once again Total Madness, which slipped 3 places to 39. Unless album sales had dropped dramatically week on week (there was always some fluctuation) Paul estimated that it was likely to have sold roughly 6,000 copies in its sixth week on the chart.
Those with an O2 mobile phone contract may have been aware that as customers they were able to get their hands on O2 Priority Tickets up to 24 hours before they went on general release to the public.
Keen to make it one of the reasons why you stayed with them (or possibly moved to) as your mobile provider, O2’s ad agency had recently put together a minute long TV commercial.
Entitled “The Walk”, this advert showed a variety of singers/bands taking the walk from their dressing rooms to the stage. It’d been beautifully filmed, and Madness featured in it a number of times.
Competition news next, and how did you fancy getting your hands on a pair of tickets for the London O2 or Edinburgh New Year’s Eve shows? Well, by entering two separate competitions you could be in with a chance.
All you had to do was sign-up with your details to be in the running. Simple!
In sports news we revealed that Woody was at it again. At what? Taking part in the London Marathon, that’s what. Yes, our favourite drummer had signed up to for the 2010 London Marathon and was raising money for Cancer Research. Woody commented on his JustGiving page that;
“This year, I hope to break the 3hr 30min mark and raise £8k for Cancer Research UK!”.
Following this we took a look at Apple’s App Store where a new Madness app had recently appeared. Entitled “The Mad App”, we were told that it would deliver up to the minute news feeds, gig information, exclusive wallpaper, access to videos and more.
We weren’t sure where the app pulled its news from so were unable to vouch for its accuracy, but as it was free we suggested you took a look at it.
This issue drew to a close with the news that Spanish TV Show ‘Aplauso TV’ now had their own YouTube Channel.
Why did we think you should be interested? Well, Madness had appeared on there numerous times over the years, and you could now see some of their classic performances by clicking on a number of YouTube links. Performances included Mrs. Hutchinson, One Step Beyond, It Must be Love and Cardiac Arrest.
10 years ago…
Issue number 286 – Sunday 31st October to Saturday 6th November 2004
Following last week’s sad passing of legendary DJ John Peel, we were planning to print an article in tribute to the great man.
However, thanks to the efforts of subscriber John Thorpe, he’d beaten us to it with a lookback at the great man that was far better than anything we could have compiled ourselves.
On a jollier note, we discovered that the one and only Suggs had appeared in the latest edition of adult Brit comic ‘Viz’. The story, like the majority appearing in the publication over the years, was completely farcical, revealing that “Finance experts, Opposition politicians, and Londoners over the age of 37 have hit out at Tony Blair’s latest underhand scheme – to privatise Madness frontman Suggs!”. The story continued with “Labour’s promise not to sell off the talented Nutty Boy, which was one of their key election pledges in 1997, is expected to be broken within weeks of their projected third consecutive victory at the polls next year. A vote of no confidence would then be likely to follow within days”.
Next-up was a contribution from a certain Paul Rodgers, who, in response to last week’s coverage of the Record Collector’s Madness Price Guide, felt he had to write in and set the record straight (no pun intended), as it were. Paul explained just how incorrect the valuations were, and that the price guide was so poor that it was known by other collectors for being so.
Here’s just a small snippet of what Paul had to say at the time;
“The best example I can give is the test pressing of the hard vinyl of the My Girl ballad version flexi.
When they valued it at £20 I had twice sold it for well over £100, in fact £20 was a price I would have ripped someone’s arm off to buy one to sell! I have now sold two copies 3 times (I bought the first one back years later and re-sold it)”.
Paul returned later in this issue with the news that Madness, Specials and 2-Tone fan, Dave Baker had sadly passed away in early September.
Paul explained that he would be assisting Dave’s long-term partner with the Ebaying of many items from his (Dave’s) huge collection, and that items would start to appear over the coming weeks.
On a jollier note, the issue continued on with the latest news from the Warrior Clothing web site, which urged you to get your orders in before the Christmas rush took hold. Orders over £20 would have a ska CD bundled in with them, and those over £10 could have theirs Christmas wrapped – which was actually a Christmas carrier bag! God bless ’em!
The rumours of a November tour had been doing the rounds for months, but as the month got ever closer and the news still failed to surface, things were looking doubtful. This week our doubts were confirmed when Chas explained that the November tour would not be taking place, as the band were now busy in the studio, following their signing with V2 Records.
We finished off this issue with news from Bristol’s Madness tribute outfit, One Step Below (these days known as Nuttyness), who were urging us all to snap up tickets for their next gig at The Bath Football Club, which was due to take place on the 6th of November.
The band also revealed that on the 19th of December they’d once again be supporting the legendary Bad Manners.
15 years ago…
Issue number 24 – Sunday 31st October – Saturday 6th November 1999
Finally, the day you could wander into your local music store and pick up a copy of the new Madness album was almost here. Monday the 1st of November would see the release of the first ‘proper’ Madness album since 1985’s Mad Not Mad.
A number of extremely lucky people had somehow managed to get their hands on the album a few days before release, and in this issue you could find out exactly what they thought of this much anticipated production.
On the subject of releases, by the time this issue landed in most subscriber mailboxes, the second single from the new album, Johnny The Horse, had been available for almost a week. Many noticed that this had received next to no advertising whatsoever, and we had to wonder just how this would affect sales. For internet enabled fans it was hard enough trying to keep track of shifting release dates, but what chance did those without dial-up or broadband have?!
Reports were flooding in highlighting the fact that branches of Woolies and WHSmith weren’t stocking the single, with Virgin store assistants not even aware of it’s release.
Last week we revealed that the band had been (or were about to) record a cover of Abba’s Money, Money, Money. News this week was that the track was going to be shown on an Abba special night, hosted by Denise Van Outen. News was thin on the ground, so we promised to post more as and when we heard anything further.
With the festive season just around the corner, we thought it was time to get our readers in the spirit, and so thanks to the efforts of one Steve Bringe we featured a transcription of an article from a 1992 edition of ‘Deadline’, which featured Suggs and Carl, and their views on the whole Christmas ‘thing’. If you were of a nervous disposition we recommended that you read with caution.
Elsewhere in this issue we gave a quick heads-up to our subscribers, reminding them that the weekly online Monday Madchats (organised by Bob Timm of about.com) were still alive and kicking, and Vince Foley emailed us with news revealing that Suggs and Carl had recently appeared on VH1 Zone 1, with Julia Carling and Gideon Coe. In the 10 minute segment Carl suggested the possibility that IF the Wembley shows sell out for December 22nd and 23rd, they would put on an afternoon performance for the kids.
Thanks to the typing efforts of subscriber Chris Byrne, the issue continued on with an article from last week’s issue of the NME.
Entitled “On the Couch – Suggs From Madness”, our favourite frontman answered all manner of weird and wonderful (most weird, though!) questions flung in his general direction.
This issue finished with a number of reviews of the new Madness album, Wonderful. Taken from official sites and from fans own views and opinions, those of us still waiting to get our hands on tomorrow’s release could at least get some idea of what we were missing.
Rob Hazelby

SPECIALIZED
Day tickets are now on sale from the Specialized Store for the Big One3 Weekender
Friday, Saturday, Sunday prices have remained the same for the third year running – £15.00, and a ticket to all three dates remains at £30.00
Simply pay via Paypal and bring your receipt to the event in exchange for a wristband.
See you there!
Get yours now.
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TWEETS OF A DOVE
Mark Bedford @I_be_MarkB
“A great night at the Jazz Cafe listening to Rhoda Dakar replay The Bodysnatchers LP. Memories are made of this…”

Woody Woodgate @woodymadness
“Always amazes me that people are still following @magicbrothers3 even when I’ve repeatedly said I’m only tweeting @woodymadness Oh well”

Richard Balls @RichardBalls
“Be Stiff coloured vinyl which inspired my five book covers were: Lene (red), Mickey (blue), Eric (green), Jona (yellow) and Rachel (white)”

TIME…
Polling has now closed on the Mad Chart 2014, with the results currently being tallied and collated. Once the counting is complete the top 40 is to be DJ’d during The Mad Chart Show at The Big One 3 and at The House of Fun Weekenders in just two and three weeks time, respectively. Issue 811 of the MIS is set aside to be a special issue for the top 100.
Next, and the organizers of The House of Fun Weekender have announced the 2pm Sunday Carry on Madheads cinema experience with spot prizes for dressing as characters from the film being screened – holiday classic Carry on Camping.
Carry on Camping Continuity – http://youtu.be/ambDN0IArVk
Finally, if you’d like to attend Reece’s warm up gig for the House of Fun Weekender, it takes place at The Dublin Castle this coming Saturday afternoon, November 8th.
Pop over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/MadnessChat. It’s free to guest-listed members of Mad Chat.
And with that, we’re done for another issue.
Until next week, take care,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Richard Balls and Soundcheck Books,
Paul Rodgers, Paul Hardisty and Tom Fhay)