Hello, and welcome to this packed edition of the MIS newsletter.

This last week our MIS DJing line up of Jonathan & Owen, (with help from Gary Saunders & Mark Bowen), embarked on a second tie up tour of the Big one 4 weekender and The House of Fun Madness weekender.  We called the trip our Grandspam. (S.P.A.M = SPecials And Madness you see!)

Many thanks to Paul Willo for a second inclusion in his Specialized charity money raising event. A great friendly weekender packed with live bands and DJ’s, our highlights were seeing stiff artist Jona Lewie (in the kitchen and then the lounge!) and watching Paul’s own band The Skapones rock the house with a special guest spot from Lynval Golding who had earlier in the weekender tributed Rico Rodrigues in such a heartfelt manner, and also told a story about Lee Thompson setting off a hotel fire alarm! Great Music, Tears and Laughter The big one has it all. Our MIS tour raised £435 for teenage cancer and the event ended this year with a clash band stage invasion.

The House of Fun Madness weekender is the subject of this issue’s in-depth review. From brand new & rarely heard live Madness songs, to a ton of linked solo band performances that saw Suggs sing a Clive Langer tune, the mighty return of a full Crunch! line up, Woody Woodgate unveil a new band to play his solo albums, John Hasler DJing, and a nutty Thommo surprise film it was the most “Madnessy” weekender ever held. We’ve lots to tell you and comment upon, Some great bands inspired by Madness too, Nutty Dressers, and wider cool entertainment of merit in ska, reggae, pop, comedy, sport and party genres. Come back with us, or peer into our world if you couldn’t make it and find out how mad it all was. All that and some Lard.

Now, sit back and enjoy the read!

Jon 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

2015

No further gigs planned

2016

November

Friday 18^{th –} Monday 21^st – Madness Weekender 6, Minehead

 

Suggs

March

17^th – An evening with Suggs and Friends for Pancreatic Cancer. The Emirates Stadium

April

22^nd – Scarborough Spa Theatre
23^rd – Lincoln Drill Hall
24^th – Carlisle Sands Centre
25^th – Ilkley King’s Hall
27^th – Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre
28^th – Bath The Forum
29^th – Worcester Huntingdon Hall
30^th – Wrexham William Aston Hall

May

1^st – Crewe Lyceum Theatre
3^rd – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
5^th – 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

January 15th 2016 – Jazz Cafe – Camden Town London

 

The Silencerz Featuring Lee Thompson

December

19th – Saffron Walden Town Hall – 9pm

 

Deaf School

November

29th –  York Duchess

December

9^th Liverpool – Kazimier
10^th Liverpool – Kasimier ** SOLD OUT **
11^th – Newcastle, Think Tank
12th – London, Hoxton, Bar & Kitchen

 

Near Jazz Experience

More info at: https://www.facebook.com/NearJazzExperience

No further gigs planned

 

 

SOUL FULLFILLING – THE STORY OF THE HOUSE OF FUN WEEKENDER 2015

Hello readers. I’m Home. And I’ve a tale to tell you about last weekend. Perhaps you share in it’s good times, perhaps your route through was different to mine and your good times happened elsewhere at the weekend, or perhaps you couldn’t make it along and want to know the goss on what went down at House of Fun 2015.

Welcome all. The story starts with a rare Madness song.

“… I don’t want to spoil it, something rare, something we’ve not played, not necessarily from 79.”

Said Chrissy Boy talking to Mr. Scurf on Koast Radio on Wednesday 18th November after the last London band rehearsal for the weekender ahead had just taken place. He was busy printing off guitar chord sheets to take with him to Minehead for that special Friday’s set, and was interrupted for a long chat with the Koast Train about all things Madness and Crunch!

“If This is a dream, don’t try to wake me” – Madness – Soul Denying

Since it’s rumoured inclusion in Madstock 96’s soundcheck but then not making it to the stage that day, since it’s later airing by one off Solo Thommo band Mr. Wheeze after the song was rejected from the Wonderful album, and since it’s intriguing published online lyrics from Madness.co.uk appeared over more than decade ago now, the Madness penned track “Soul Denying” is a song of at least a little legend. To about four old Madness anoraks anyway, (Jon waves from inside his rain coat), the ones who haven’t quite destroyed their brain cells with years of alcohol and gig parties, when it comes to remembering pointless trivia from eons ago. Anyway my point is there is a tear of joy in my eye, (and now it’s running down the rain coat, see that’s why we train spotters wear them, for moments of sentimental fanboy gushing like this) to be hearing this one live at last. “Are you still going to be there, in the morning, when the birds have flown?” Yes. Madness always & forever. I cherish the moments you do something rare, different, unique, just trying out, brand new, I love that as a band you are still living not just always on a repeat button, once again The House of Fun is the place to see this band as they are now, and Friday night is a unique treasure trove.

Now, you might agree with me reader, or you might have been less fussed still enjoying a new pop tune that sounded a bit like it might have fitted The Rise and Fall album, or you might have not given a shit at all about this moment, fair enough. It perhaps wasn’t there for your soul. Maybe the hotdogs were meant for you, or that solid gold hit Embarrassment made you dance. Perhaps seeing the nutty dressed Maddiemobile crew cruising in their cardboard car may have raised your smile, getting a stylish new T-shirt from the merchandise stall giving you a glow, Hollie Cooke’s sweet singing tones massaging your ears, a breakdancing Cuban brother in his underpants tickling your fancy, lip up fatty from The Inflatables skanking you back to your youth memories, competing at darts and hitting 180 (can I tell you my shit darts joke later? ok then I will, remind me), a slab of funk music DJ’d with passion, Herbert taking her in the loo, a holiday swim with your head still full of music, playing bingo with a noisy crowd, a skeleton face paint playing deceased hit makers, Mr. Happy’s garish shirts, gladness beer after beer, Micky D grumbling about old age, a chalet romance for two, partying with your great friends, smashing a fez pinjata, a bloody big singalong, selfies, group photo’s, meeting a hero, a stuffed pizza crust, discovering songs by Home Town Hifi, autographs, just having a break from work or the kids, crazy golf, Nutty art, a dancing crocodile, a crazyman on stilts playing like he is Elvis, dreamy pop songs from a drummer, a rum punch recipe, group hugs, geno washington’s stage banter, face masks, wondering about pirates, backdrop clown faces, avoiding Lee Thompson’s flying tequila bottle, bagpipes, prizes, puns or a packed out shared big top full of It Must Be Love, Love, Love. Somewhere, someplaces, all over, scattered or everywhere there were memories to make, times to be had, unique and varied, desired or new discoveries. I found many. I hope you did too, or that you like hearing about them.

If you were a bit stuck, still worried about home, if plane flights were a nightmare to land from, if you got ill, if tiredness zapped the times from you, if you drank the wrong way, if domestics, bitchy mouthfuls, or fan politics flooded your day, if obscure songs means you are moaning, or yawning to repeated hits was your focus, if any band member overstepped rudeness, if you needed to leave and visit the hospital, or you got in a saturday scrap, If some dickhead dancing about too much at the back of any stage annoyed you, or exfriends and loved ones that no longer mean anything are around and you just hoped all those Mr No’s would all just f**king go for a burton. I hope none of this took you away from you hunting down your soul moments, and you were able to still find your weekender underneath that. Moaning is good when it helps improve, but try to not take away someone else’s small prized part of the weekender in doing so, that peice of fun might have been for them, fun for all isnt just about providing things of mass popularity, it’s about delivering something I would call diversnutty! With so many venues you can find those bits that are for you, if you just Keep Moving.

Oh wait we got that tune as well!!!!!!! Brilliant. Now that was a moment, opening a gig again with that! First time since the 80’s. Mad not mad tour and even longer for Mike since he played that. Brilliant.

Here is all the other moments I found, and just my particular route through The House of Fun.

WEDNESDAY 

My mind has never quite grasped the idea of The House of Fun weekender being a Friday 4pm till a Sunday Midnight kind of thing. Sure that is the time slot the entertainment ran for this year, but my brain kicks in much earlier to the mode, the excitment of anticpation, planning and packing is all part of the buzz, and I’m always incapable of leaving the mindset of the happy Butlins bubble, and the background noise of those memorable times and great family of fans until normally a week or so after the event has finished. Looking through everyones photo’s and videos and memories etc. Having stayed with my team in the south west of England here since last weekends Specialized event, and taken in holidaying in nearby Exmoor zoo where they let you hold a cockroach, we were now in Butlins early. (They have bunnies running around here but no roaches by the way.) There is a red carpet down on the boardwalk and for a moment I think Butlins must be receiving Madness royalty early this year, but Chrissy Boy on radio has already explained this evening that only Wrong uns like us would be here this early! Turns out the Butlins Staff Awards takes places tonight, and as I work at Butlins one day a year for about half an hour, surely I count right?! I dont look out of place in my Crunch! beanie hat when all the party going staff are in tuxedo’s do I? This gatuex buffett dinner is for me too im sure? Owen, Mark and Gary and myself all drink the cheap beer on what was supposed to be our designated day off, while Katie Price does something that apparently counts as DJing and then by the time The Cuban Brother come onto the stage Im drunk and not really sure if the weekender hasnt actually started yet???  Do those break dancing leisure suit larrys live here or something? Don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time. We’re crashing a ball! If I thought that night was bizzarre it set the stage for things to come…

THURSDAY

Then Madness asked me if I wanted to go on stage for Friday’s set. My gobsmacked face fell onto the floor into a pile along with a few friends, eight of us, reacting the same stunned way squeaking a yes please in high notes. They were setting up a mock Dublin castle backdrop for Friday’s gig. Adding a few barrels and stool tabels at the side of stage, and the Gladness bar from the Grandslam tour was there, offsetting this with a video backdrop screen of inside The Dublin Castle pub (specially shot). Cleverly inserting a live feed into the top right corner of the picture in the same place that the pub houses it’s TV screen. This gives the illusion of a live link up with the band on stage and the Camden watering hole. They need a few extra’s to play the part of dublin castle drinkers, mostly trusted payed band crew will take these parts, but they need a little more variety of bar fly and are shooting some promo video on the stage Friday for some future use unknown to me at this time. I’ve got previous experience of being a Dublin Castle bar fly, and unlike a lot of fans I know, I hadnt yet done the Madness on stage thing which more often was a Night Boat dance moment for quite a few regulars I know like my good friend Dicka and others, so I was thrilled with this invite and especially hearing new songs upclose. The whole thing is still under debate though, as we have a drink in Minehead town to celebrate the honour and get some practice in of glass lifting techniques. We will have to be much more sober tomorrow on good behaviour.

FRIDAY

Welcome to The House of Fun 2015

INN ON THE GREEN

Now It’s Deano “Mod Boy” Mumford who really starts the weekend. DJing in Inn on the Green (as opposed to being Suggs pianist normally). I meet and greet arriving fan friends for the first time today. We’ve done our regualr lodge entering ceremony, (well Mr Scurf was stood on his head on the sofa when I got there having the complimentary bottle of perry poured mostly up his nose, and thats as good as any years hellos have been really with my best room mate), Alan Flynn is now showing off his unique Madness M sunglasses with Fly like pin hole vision, everyone is trying them on. A few jars with Tony from the Inflatables to put the world to rights, as Sister Cookie takes to the stage to play and Warren is holding the “All Things Madness Meet up” here with Darren, Clare, Maria and Hazel all arriving too, there is something going on with cardboard heads with fezzes on and football managers faces but im none the wiser on what this joke is, more on Alan’s cutouts this year later on. A horse walks past. Well a horse head. Why? Not totally sure, but there arent many long faces it’s a meet up and it’s Friday everyones happy. I’m turning down drinks and have to be sober for whats to come tonight, a few of us have some nerves, not least over wether it will happen, so I drift off and have a chat with Chris and Emma from Retro Madness at stage front, hello hugs and chats about tonights set. Looking up at the stools on stage from down here on the big top floor they start to look like the easiest things to fall off ever invented. DJ Darren is spinning some top tunes, and shortly Madness will enter the weekender and unleash Mumbo Jumbo onto party goers and holiday maker Maddies.

MADNESS ON STAGE

We stand in a group of 10, Pete Mayor Birthday boy now added to the group of fans, with his wife Mad girl Allie. Chrissy Boy had been round the lodge earlier today as we broke the news to Pete. Happy Birthday mate. Everyone is feeling like a waiting room in a maternity ward at edge of the stage entrance. Then stage manager Jim briefs us on all the do’s and don’ts like “No filming/photos” “No talking to the band” “No leaving your seat” and we had already been told “No drunks” so we werent as pissed as most of the crowd had started to be settling into their weekend. Then the weirdest feeling of standing behind the black curtain and walking up just a normal flight of stairs knowing that over 5,000 people were on the other side. Jelly legs moment, but my brain was just thinking, “yeah, cool, bring it” and in delight that with new songs coming we would get a great insight into Madness as they are right now, tonight. Up close.

I was ushered to the Chrissy Boy side of stage, near the gladness bar and the brass boys, with Mark Bowen, when the rest of us, Owen, Sharon, Lynn, Gary, Laura, Nicky and the Mayors were sat with the band family and crew near the entrance on Thommo’s side. This meant myself and Mark had to walk over the stage, making sure we didnt  trip over cabels, we took our seats with a couple that I didnt know sitting there. So it was nice to meet you Sarah and Ben Hamlen. We had a lovely chat it transpires with out too much details here, that some health issues had dogged this lovely couple for a while, and Ben had written to management to do something special for his partner, never realising that this weekender would then be marked with them on the corner of the stage front. I didnt let Sarah chicken into swapping seats though ha ha. I got out some Lovestruck beer mats and gave them a nutty gift to go with their free gladness pints that had just arrived. They told me afterwards they loved the experience as the best thing ever.

Then the band walked on. Touch your nose reader. They were that close right in front. We had already lapped up looking at the set list and it delighted us. And you might be surprised how much the lighting pointed at the band stops you really seeing into the crowd that much unless you are really trying. I could only see Carol Escate waving up from the barrier and little much beyond it, though the atmosphere and shape of the crowd is a definate presence effecting the playing of the music in subtle encouraging ways the band feeding of it at times.

Then Mumbo Jumbo Night began. A dream that will live long in my memory. What a set list. Of 17 tracks 12 Madness songs, is purely what the night delivered to my ears for the first time. Two from old albums, the rest from this year. 8 tracks were entirely new, first time out played by Madness at a gig tonight. 12 are songs debuting this year. Thats a mighty bold set list from the now 6 peice band. And it still managed some thrilling kick backs to returning tracks.

Between the lines… It read…

Keep Moving

What a dream to hear this and sing along. We’ve waited for so long, and now it’s time. Stools have never been as danced upon as our seated bodies did now. We are hearing through stage monitors as much as we are the speakers. I’m later sadly told by a good handful of fans that the sound set up this year was a little off for the big top. On the Saturday I knew what they meant about the central bass speaker making too much of Woody’s drums and low frequencies and hitting you almost physically in the chest like a constant tickle if you were in the front several rows. Shame I hope it’s not set that way for 2016’s weekender. But here on stage Friday night the guitar is very audible and the brass boys from our monitor speaker vantage point, but we can still hear the keys and Thommo’s playing though more prominently on solos. It’s like being on Axecam for a whole gig. The title track from one of my favourite albums is a thrill on top of a thrill.

You Can’t Touch us Now

An Mc Hammer Cover. No. No. It’s not. But you can’t expect an excited anorak to take in details about every song when there is as many as this turning out in the set in one go. Seriously in five years of House of Fun Weekender we really really have been so wonderfully spoilt by what Friday sets have given us in our songs heard live lists. I’ve heard a bit of this one back, and it seems to have a shouty anthem like bold chorus. Sounding good, maybe seems a little bit of a re-tread of Cant keep a good thing down though. Far too early to really compare to any length.

I Believe

Having explained the nature of Friday nights to everyone Suggs introduced the third song. “This is called I Believe.” …  “Hello everyone,” said a happy relaxed Chrissy Boy to our table, and with a grin added about the song “We dont know this one.” Ha ha. But they got through it. Its was a happy poppy tune and milder in performance which was a nice contrast to the delivery of other new songs in the set.

Don’t Leave the Past Behind You

As this sweeping majestic tune takes off in the big top, first heard on the Grandslam tour, there is a little more crowd reaction to this one, Woody is just grinning. I pretty much stare at him for three minutes and watch how he leads the band members in and onwards, skill in action. A few fans must have heard this from Grandslam and footage as it got a bit more of singalong.

Promises Promises

A rare bouncing marriage anthem from Seven becomes the first album track since 1993’s airing of Tomorrows Dream to appear from this album (singles aside).

“Hearing songs I never heard before live, like their new stuff, but most of all Promises Promises my fav track off Seven album, I don’t care if I sound sad but made me cry!!” Lynn Lawlor

Blackbird on the Wing

Atmospheric, slow talky intro, rain sound effects and mentions of Soho streets. Owen Collins points out that this was written about Amy Winehouse, so beyond Circus freaks we have a second tribute to her, and of course it’s noted that The Dublin Castle standing behind us all is where she was often seen drinking, bar-maiding etc and Camden her musical home. A moving song.

Mumbo Jumbo

The bouncy Thompson/Finch/Madness song of political intrigue and condemnation, full of gobbledegook. A joy to sing along to Mr Thompson in his pomp. Propaganda Ministers. From her viewpoint Allie is transfixed watching Mr Barson’s fingers crossing over the keys.

Herbert

This is the character story track of a girl the daughter of some gangster type and the lavatorial humour of their coupling verse shot gun wedding style rejection from the father of the bride not to be. I love it.  This McPherson / Barson tune was my favourite sing a long from the Grandslam and tonight it will be superseded by another tune in a charactorial writing mode coming up.

Rockin in Ab

And then they played, Rockin in Ab. All the ska heads, all the old school, the long term, and well versed fans in love with One Step Beyond album, and anyone who can dig simple rock n roll went mental in the room. Boom the crowd all dancing and rocking. Like Neil Armstrong starring back at the earth from the moon and going “wow that looks weird”, I look over Chris Foreman’s shoulder down at the bopping throng of bodies and appreciate in a whole new light what Madness have to go through in putting new material out there, when crowds animate and feedback atmosphere the most to known material. (and this isn’t even House of Fun yet, this is just a bloody great first album track). Nicki Evans hides her head in her hands as the song starts, she’s been waiting to hear this one live for a long time. I watch Chrissy Boys guitar playing bobbing too and fro with the neck of the instrument, feels like take it or leave times to be witnessing this, occasionally during the gig he will go over for a setting change on the pedals by the amp.

“Let’s have some fun tonight”

Grandslam

The most played of the new songs now, and feeling less at home mid set to my mind. Still sang along heartily.

Suggs introduces it as their bond song that didn’t get into the film.

Whistling in the Dark

A spooky track. A waltz. Shares some musical similarity to some lost music with lyrics previously about Karno’s magic and the art of theatre dying. This tunes lyrics are completely different though, there is a feel of a Scooby Doo cartoon about it all. Haunting music, has this been written recently or resurrected from late 80’s writing session, it nicely stands out from the rest of the set. Sits alongside Grand Pantalon, and waltz into mischief as a certain kind of Madness track but it’s got it’s own darker elements and uniqueness.

Another Version of me

Another Version of Me is another Woodgate/Woodgate tune. A Version atmospheric. Introspective and reflective, like album tracks from Absolutely, Rise and Fall or Grey Day it has a serious downtrodden lyric.

Razor Blade Alley

Wow I’m having a Madstock flash back to a younger Lee Thompson performing this at my first gig the 1992 Sunday.

To be witnessing this one up close, having befriended Lee and followed many a band of his since, the reality of sitting here and watching this from a new angle hits home and I return to being gobsmacked by the day and how many songs the band have brought to fans since. Joe Auckland’s muted Trumpet solo is a joyous moment to witness so close up.

Given the Opportunity

Written a long time ago on lists of songs prepared for Crunch! So must be Thompson/Foreman. This is the second of two tunes hearing for the first time I go away singing the chorus of. I slipped my Crunch! hat on for this one as an in joke to it’s roots and a plug for Sundays reunion gig which is sure to be another highlight of this weekend.

“Do you remember the last time, temptation took a hold of you”

“Given the opportunity, they’d strip me bare”

“I have nothing more to add. I have nothing left to say. So just go away.”

Mr. Apples

“The sun goes down, He is heading off up the side of town.

His eyes sparkle, midnight glow, trouser pockets he’s ready to go,

oooo Calm down Mr. Apples,

you are gonna do yourself in,

tell us where’ve you bin?

ooooo calm down Mr. Apples

you are gonna wear yourself out,

now what’s it all about?”

This is a song about an old fashioned pervert says Suggs. Clearly a trouser fumbler up to no good. It’s just got a great chorus. This is one that stuck in my head after the gig and was able to sing along after only hearing it so briefly at this weekender.  Cox’s pippin? No it’s just the way my trousers ruck up Madame.

Would this now be an inappropriate name for Madness Cider? Ha ha. Love it, from nice man George to house of fun, colourful writing married to a catchy tune. My favourite of the new batch thus far.

Soul Denying

A grand song with deep lyrics and swirling sounds, so kept rightly for an end moment. A Thompson lyrical composition with I think Barson music. I hope it’s getting recorded this time and wasn’t just brought out for Butlins only. I need to hear this again. It’s like Elysium in that it’s got dual lyrics from two voices and a complicated song structure but given multiple hearing you can sink into it’s world view more. Very layered and more than just a simple chorus verse plod that some songs have, this has many sections. The title comes just once in the song, and the refrain of “Will you still be here, in the morning, when the birds have flow” is more the chorus.

House of Fun

With the gig almost over the band play their number 1 hit to welcome the crowd to the event once again, and this is the point where we break the rules, out of our seats ‘cus you’ve just got to dance to the best band in the world, and even if they throw us off now, we can dance to the exit. Everyone is stomping dancing around, the band seem to slightly struggle through the tune though, off put by the overbearing invasion of Suggs son in law grabbing a mic, but the roller coaster picks up again and I couldn’t be in a more uplifting and privileged moment to witness and take part in this evening, the big top once again echoing this songs chorus as the biggest hello of a started party. We take a set list and photo once the band have departed and then like that Morrissey tune we get off the stage. The moment is celebrated with one more backstage group hug and then is over and we should really be going home now. But this being House of Fun the joyous entertainment was only just beginning. So we retire stunned to the lodge for an hour of chatting about what happened and what new album length sounds we had just heard in full.

SILENT DISCO

Having sadly missed Hollie Cook, we then spent the remaining Friday hours whiling away party grooves in the Silent Disco which comes on a little late bringing relief from some African Rhythms that were on in there from Tambu something or other, music I just wasn’t into myself it sounded like screaming mostly, fair enough if you are reading and like tribal hardcore, it was busy in there. In the silent disco The two DJ’s were mashing up dance music with more obvious Madness fan pleasing Brit pop and 80s (Yes Deano was now on the decks here). So I rave out to The prodigy and sing along to stone rose and Suggs, fresh from stage invading the Dub Pistols, came and joined the floor near us too enjoying the headphones meaning no one could add to the photo requests queue and autograph hunting for a moments rest as he wandered about happily arms in the air. Thommo on the other hand (the one in which he had a near emptied bottle of tequila) was giving autographs (rather blurred lines) and photographs (mostly obscene poses) to any passing fan (whatever her name was). Kicked out of Jaks for having his own drink and not wearing his pass by the ever vigilant traffic warden like presence of butlins security staff, he was playing the part up to the small crowd and letting off the steam of all that month of hard band work he had just put in to deliver that special set list. A popped top of Thommoness now and he would later have to deliver more Madness and some Crunch! We had met him earlier testing out his stage stilts for Centre stage entrance, and I’d given him a copy of Sean Gaskin’s drawing of him for the beer mat MIS were giving away at this weekender with Lovestruck and he chuckled at the image. Even days full of tequila and ones that seem like a dream still end in bedtime. But hey tomorrow isn’t just another breakfast man.

SATURDAY

THE LARD LODGE LUNCH

I begin the day with a little fans party. Donald Trull has come all the way from Carolina in the USA, good effort, perhaps the most traveled fan, so as well as the usual crowds gathering together for an early drink round ours, we made this party in his honour as our guest. He runs the Lard Biscuit which is in part a Madness website (in that it practically ranks all the albums using a system based on cheese burgers) so this is a lard party. We had planned this before we knew we would be avoiding Reggae Aerobics (which judging by official photos so did pretty much everybody else) or Grandslam sumo football, but it seems appropriate my fat arsed or drunken friends would all gather around a lardmeister at this point. Thanks Owen for the epic cheese toasty making. Cheers Vicki Lee for the punch recipe which warmed everyone against the harsh winds that had been so strong as to nearly blow the inflatable arch over at one point, and it got some great reviews even though we didn’t have all the ingredients.

WHO IS LEE THOMPSON?

As a man who has put a couple of daft things into Butlins cinema section of these weekender in my time I was delighted the band had done some work on a mockumentary. Predominantly it was a Thommo documentary. The band all played themselves colourfully talking about Thommo, but between them appearing lots of other voices did too. Clive Langer, Thommo’s wife, Dave Robinson, a musicologist and more, and an opera singer was singing Thommo lyrics. All the time these were speaking on screen we saw the most hilarious renditions of drag act Les Dawsonesque impressions of these people, all performed by Thommo mouthing along, or pomping up facial smug looks all brilliantly perfect comedically ya. Even Daley later admitted after the 16 minute film ended that his father had his mother down to a tee with his mannerisms. I look forward to whatever future release or version this project takes as we were told it’s a trailer. It was many peoples highlight of the weekender, and to me just a joy that someone in the band is still taking nutty video seriously after all these years and this bands track record in that department with videos etc. Tonight a lot of video images will come back to haunt the big top for the fancy dress of course.

BED AND BREAKFAST MAN & NICE LADS GEORGE

Great to start the evening with Mr. Hasler he should be here every year now please. Hearing him play Uncle Sam at one point, means I can kind of tick off each era of Madness being represented by a song at this weekender, with tracks from Seven and Keep Moving in the set, and most other albums offering up one by the end of Saturday. His little effort with seven year scratch and indeed Stav’s blue faced fancy dress which would be encountered next brings just a hint of Mad not Mad to this comprehensive celebration of all Madness music. Its really been the most Madnessy weekend ever staged I think.

Chris and Bedders watch on as Gorgeous George perform a set, great to see Carol Escate meet her favourite band member, and Chris finds it funny to have a photo with a girl wearing an “I prefer the bass player” T-shirt. Then Home Town Hi Fi arrive on site dressed collectively as Madness in the Grey Day video. That must make them a low fi today. Well Dave’s had an eye swell up and a hospital trip this morning but thankfully he’s ok to play tomorrow. Phew. Gorgeous George deliver a set of swagger and London voice with a slight Dexy’seque gypsy twang and approach at times.

NUTTY DRESSERS

The theme of Madness videos didn’t massively catch on with our direct fan circles, due I think to a mixture of fatigue (lots of fans have done this several times at weekenders, holidays or gigs) and the fact the magnificent seven don’t offer a lot of female options (washer women mummsie look when it’s women dressing as that isnt as funny as a man doing it). No denying it’s bang on topic though, and despite the swathes of cops, robbers, night boat dressers and a few more often seen easy Madness tropes, there were some outstanding efforts too. I wish I had been flashed by the female Embarrassments! ha ha I’d have complained authenticity that Lee didnt have a bra on when he did that video intro! The Maddie mobile, the Wednesday/Thursday end of the world signs from Tommorrow’s just another day, the xl5 fireball rocket man (no one let him off thankfully!), some Lovestruck angels carrying their own lamppost. There was a lot to look at. A winner is still to be drawn from online Instagram.

MADNESS

With the opium eaters as intro music, a curtain dropping and fairground of horse carousel rides and fairground mirrors as the backdrop, The band opened with House of Fun and circus music all just like tours from the 80’s and the hits flowed filling up the big top with this fancy dressed happy thousands of Madness fans of all types. Without a tour and beyond the Grandslam this gig felt slightly special itself, set apart. We got the last new song in the form of Where did all the good times go, and the return of Tomorrow’s Just another Day, with a new dub reggae ending (something that they had experimented with in the soundcheck for longer than actually attempted on the nights playing). It was a fine and beautiful party, I mostly spent about 17 rows back with Gary Saunders, shattered and emotional sharply dressed as Cardiac Arrest but thankfully not having a heart attack, and dancing with whatever energy was left, Gary is the first Madness fan friend I ever made and most recently in the weeks surrounding House of Fun the best of companions and we just sing away the years watching Madness do what they do best. My flashing policeman’s helmet caused Lee to remark “I’d know though ears anywhere.” We even got a baggy piper. Johnny Gauld was on site. After being on Madness’ stage at the end of the gig this pied piper of pissheads lead the drunken Madness crowd astray from the end of the gig through to the Reds venue for the next band up, an incredible Scottish Ska invasion would continue this party…

THE AMPHETAMEANIES

I’d been aware of the Amphetameanies, dubbed Scotland’s greatest ska band, for a few years, owing to the online presence of one ‘Mr DankDonk’ on the Nutty Forum all those years ago. It wasn’t until last year’s Specialized Big One, though, that I finally got to see for myself what all the considerable fuss was about. The label was justified, let’s put it that way. So it was with more than a little bit of rabid excitement that I learned they were finally coming down to play at Minehead, and it seemed I wasn’t the only one looking forward to it. As the Caledonian Cowboy played Pied Piper, leading a Biblical surge out of the Skyline at the close of Madness’ gig, the sweating masses followed – truly a sight to behold, especially trying to watch everybody fit through the doors to Reds at once. Inside, Johnny kept the hungry crowds warmed up with more pitch-perfect piping as the punters piled in. Then, it was time for the main attraction: The North-of-the-Border nonet took to the stage, lead as ever by the chalk-and-cheese partnership of heavyweight Stan, and the comparatively waif-like Jane.

There’s a lot of things I like about the ‘Meanies but top of the list must be the fact that they aren’t just any other ska band; the influence of the 2Tone era is obvious and palpable, both in words and music, but they aren’t just yet another third-wave ska revival outfit playing pork-pie pop. Theirs is a distinctive sound, formed over almost two decades, and the gathered crowd (gathering larger by the minute) is clearly as impressed as I am. The tight-as-hell brass section, landing punches loud enough to leave brass bruises, a whirlwind of keyboards and guitars, all held together by a drummer only on his fifth gig(!) and Gordy ‘Wilko Feldman’ Davidson’s bass – Gordy still dressed as a Yesterday’s Man hare Krishna, which somehow only made it better. That sound was never better exhibited than on ‘Goodbye Boyfriend’, beginning Jane’s innocent-sounding vocals over a relaxed keyboard melody, before taking off into a deliciously biting and acerbic rant at an old flame. “A goodbye kiss? Don’t take the piss!” After a short early period where the dancefloor was a tad sparse, the mood of the night won out and it was soon at capacity – perhaps most amusingly, when the whole room were dancing and singing along to ‘Hand Of God’; the fact it was a song celebrating England being knocked out of the World Cup was perhaps lost on quite a few audience member. Speaking of things being lost on people, the highlight of the set for me was the excellent ‘Say Something Special’, a song about 2Tone fans somehow managing to miss the overarching message of the label and still managing to be racist boneheads – depressingly as relevant as ever. After a set that won over new fans and delighted old fans just as easily, the band retired to the dressing room in contentment, trumpeter Johann even climbing onto the luggage shelf for an extremely-cool looking band photo. A job well done and a long journey definitely worthwhile. Here’s hoping the best Scottish ska band will be back next year to entertain us again.

Ta,

Owen the Nutter

Saturday ended again for us in Jaks listening to Darren Bennett & Madame Sorcher DJing a fine selection.

Time trickled away and soon it was Sunday.

SUNDAY

“Chrissy Boy done a periscope of him playing Crunch! tracks in his chalet or room or what ever …he done two and it was him playing along on his new guitar it was like the most amazing thing ever for me to watch coz, I couldn’t be there & I wasn’t around for the “crunch” days and obviously I look up to CJ and I nearly started cryin watchin them.” Shannan McBride.

And then it was Sunday I was up early again, Soundchecking two bands and rounding up a bunch of happy to be silly individuals. MIS was on duty. Owen Collins only recently asked to DJ a longer part of the show, was as hung over as Keith Richards’, due to probably a similar reasons, (absinthe and nuns, Blame The Church who had played last night.) Thanks to a sharp awakening swim and borrowed sunglasses he once again brought the vibe to Jaks. As outside Officer tit head (myself) Mr Punch (Gary Scurfield in a red hat and on kazoo) inducted the crowd into the competition and into Jaks, giving away Lovestruck beer mats. Nicki Evans was brave enough to join us as Judy in a pinafore, and Gary Saunders the dangerous sausage obsessed crocodile we had to chase away so the show was safe. Baby Dicka took photo’s with the diorama as people entered the venue.

The DD photography will bring a gallery of those pictures soon.

HOMETOWN HIFI

“Where do you start with House of Fun weekender 2015? The whole band were absolutely wired to be playing Jak’s bar on the Sunday but were not gonna miss the opportunity to sample the incredible atmosphere and array of incredible bands playing over the weekend. So many familiar faces, fun was in the air for sure and to top it all Madness delivered two nights on the bounce amidst a weekend of stunning performances from some of the best live acts you could hope to witness. As for us? Well Jak’s was rammed and we couldn’t have been happier, eternal gratitude to Jon F Young for having us and all those who made it a memorable moment for Hometown Hi-Fi. We really were welcomed to the house of fun”: Dave Roy Smith & Home Town Hi Fi

Young Jim Crowe has an echo of Suggs about him when he was starting out, just 19 and skinhead with polite cheeky stage banter, and Smudge has been compared to Lee or Chas depending on who’s looking on. Their music sometimes sounds like Absolutely had a 1980 sister album, but the writing is theirs and it’s lyrically about now. The influence is clear but the direction of a young band is forwards and quick and keenly so. Last time The House of Fun happened this band was barely into venues and cover versions, in 2016 they are dropping all covers. Chequered is a song of theirs I love, clever catchy and complete.  Long Gone goes down as their known song, being a hit EP in fan circles. They blend in Selecter some Specials and a Toots track. New songs like Jimmy the fly are character based and just starting to establish themselves. The venue is packed the cheers genuine and one drum stick drop aside it’s all pretty amazing how quickly this band fit in here and go down like a band you’ve specifically wanted to see, I hear lots of compliments about them across the rest of the weekend.

Jim is slightly confused though to see a crocodile fighting a man in a hat with a tassel on. But then so were security. We should have perhaps told them that in spinal tap style a puppet show theme follows the great band. We give away  some beer, records and artwork themed around Punch and Judy Lovestruck record. As well as beer mats designed especially for this weekend endorsing Lovestruck. We publically thank Mathew Stanton for his £320 winning bid on the blind auction online of the test pressing 7 inch record. And we start the auction on the Lovestruck diorama which eventually goes for £105 by the end of the evening. Money going to Specialized.

THE INFLATABLES

They are no Muppets. This professional party band has helped all three of our shows in jaks each year to sucess, thanks to them and Tony Bass, I’ve completed this trilogy of events. This is their 35th year and they throw out some T-shirts commemorating this fact, whilst delivering an hour of tunes to crowd please to the point of the doors once again almost being shut to keep the venue from being over subscribed. God it was hot in there. I cant take my eyes off of you. Being a song that stuck out to me as a high point amongst tunes I’ve heard them do more often. An Alan Flynn prop, a cut out of Suggs holding Chrissy Boy’s Showtime favourite of Bon Jovi’s living on a prayer album, which he once again treated us to this weekender, dances at the side of stage, enjoying the show.  The upstairs centre stage is missing a few hundred people clearly when I arrive up there to meet Swanny. As Crunch! is due on shortly. Owen ends the Jaks show thanking them for another great job as a fellow Oxford resident, directs everyone upstairs as we close our venue.

CLANG

Clive Langer and few of Deaf School but sadly not Andy Mckay at this gig, make up a trashing guitar band, with a few nods to bands and records Clive has been connected too, like Roxy Music and Robert Wyatt’s ship building. I found them a little noisy without shape when I caught a part of their Jaks set Saturday Night. Here on Sunday they are bolstered by Suggs. He sings an intriguing original rock song about being around town, and give a rendition of Love is the drug that he’s often appeared on with the band at Camden venues. This starts things off wonderfully in centre stage for a triple line up of Madness solo bands. Something we’ve always wanted at these weekenders and only now at the fifth one are really being spoiled with at length. The biggest deal is the one up next. The show stealers.

CRUNCH!

We’ve waited 8 years for this.

Here he comes. On stilts!

With an Elvis quiff and the usual prisoner shirt, white face make up, and long raincoat look, a taller than taller Mr Thompson takes to the stage with a lot of help after a walk through the crowd. A couple of numbers from up on high before the stripping down of the costume to more manageable a levels. A brilliant comedic moment as he took off the stilts but then could no longer longer reach the tall microphone, so proceeded to sing “ace of spades” back up at it, in a Lemmy style.

For many the highlight of the weekender. Crunch! are back. Some fans have only come because of this event. Miami John, Fran and Graham. There is the axeman back with the band it feels right, Hong Kong Dave back too. Bouncing Tadman, and grinning horse teeth Vause. All the hits from the album, all the usual still unreleased after sooooooooo long second album potential tracks. Saints and sinners sees me giving my all to singing along to this rock and roll growlathon of a track. God I need a recorded version of this. Do a vinyl single and CD now pleasssssssssseeeeeee record it brand new and put the best old demo version on the flipside. I need this in my life. Devil pic on the aside label, angel on the reverse. You know it would look good. I can almost feel it. I want to own it. Dont make it 8 years until the next show boys. Brighton, at least do a summer Brighton gig together that doesnt involve much travel. Please please please seeing a united Crunch! was so good a sight to witness, I was jumping and dancing to this set like an excited fan many years younger than I truly now am.  Magic Carpet, Daydreamers, Going Solo, Tap Dance. Such great tunes.

The venue is packed I’ve not seen it this full on a Sunday since Paul Heaton. Lee complains the sound a little but it’s ok in the venue. He mockingly says Woody sobotaged it for Crunch! set, and Suggs invades to reclaim Magic Carpet as his song. Thats a Crunch! moment 25 years in the making. Wow. What a happy 25th Anniversary this is.

“People” was 17 and a half minute version. Well probably. And It wasnt long enough. We didnt want them to leave.

To the monkey puppet (which is so 2010 – Says Vicki Lee) that was dancing at the back of the stage we say Hello, but we ask the question why do you hang around with that other guy? You could hear the bitterness in the collective cheer of the crowd as Thommo on stage joked at the hangers on at the back of stage to all f**k off.

He had been bantering as normal but the crowd wasnt, this rebutal repaid Friday’s insult to fandom, they were happy it had been voiced.

Paul Rodgers says. ” I thoroughly enjoyed it despite being under the weather and wish I’d felt good enough to have more of a dance. Personal highlights were Spider’s drumming on Saints And Sinners and his interplay with the irrepressible Tad on Fur Elise. These two are the best rhythm section around when Woody and Bedders aren’t

in the room. I briefly joined the fun for Going Solo and Whistle only to realise that my chills were multiplying and that it might be best to retreat to the back again!”

Crunch! (or The Nutty Boys as I will always think of them) reminded me why for so many years they were my favourite band. The return of Chrissy Boy and Hong Kong Dave added a fair bit to their arsenal, not least because I assume Dave was the keeper of the samples. In amongst some fine axe chops from CB it was impressive to see him adding backing vocals on the aforementioned Saints And Sinners. I’ve not seen him do this before. Maybe it was presence of Lee’s sax mic set up that allowed this. In this incarnation (and the Lee Thompson band one) Lee is playing more sax. Previously he only ever played during the Fur Elise duels. But anyway, I digress. A cracking return to form and the best Sunday gig I’ve seen at Minehead in any of the five years I’ve witnessed. Here’s hoping Crunch! don’t stay in hibernation too long before their next outing….

WOODY WOODGATE

Then as a great contrast to all the rock and ska, we get something representing at the Madness weekender those sing along choruses and high emotional tunes that Madness records are also known for at times, but in a rarer form. We get the side project songwriting of Woody Woodgate.

It was almost a completely different band to The Dublin Castle shows, we were a bit disappointed Sobihan, Woodys wife, didn’t choose to be in this line up and prepared that Nick wouldn’t be joining the weekender too far from his comfort zone (Though he rang us later to hear the glowing report of how it all went down) Woody came to the front of the stage to explain he had a shy lead singer now called Dan Shears who wanted Woody to do all the talking in the gig, but that Woody wasn’t going to. You can understand Dan’s trepidation for his debut gig fronting Woody’s music to Madness fans, some already fans of these albums, but a lot of ska converts to try and make too or hold an audience. Dan is indeed a timid but professional singer with a gentle voice, echoes of David Beckham’s speaking voice, Jarvis cockers slight frame and swagger and Ian Broudie lightning seeds sensibilities when singing Woody and Nick’s penned music. There was indeed a tribute to Nick acknowledge as the voice on that first album made in a speech at one point, all very respectfully handled. The wider band involved young keyboard players female backing singers and bass player and the only familiar member (from the Dublin castle show) Tim Maple on guitar still doing some killer solos.

We got a mixture of the two albums, both Magic Brothers and Woody Woodgate solo albums. To my memory they were played in order too, songs from The Magic Line all first and songs from In your Mind all second. Except for holding back the big single to the end of course. So we got about 16 tunes. My memory may be slightly wrong but I think this included.  Always be with you, Downtown, The River, Tysea Hill, They Tell You, Magic Train, In your Mind, We’re all going to Brighton, Mother, Come to Me and a few more.

Something, was always going to be a stomping delight for me. But live in the large set up of Centre Stage I think witnessing Dan Shears and the band singing/playing “Everything is Sunshine” blew me away the most. I loved it on the album. Here it is done justice and a large crowd heard it. It was such a breath of fresh air to contrast the other music at the weekender it was a thing of gentle beauty.

The room had slightly emptied after Crunch! as people went for food etc, but filled again near the start of Woody’s set, with the dance floor noticeably thinning down, towards the last 5 songs of a set. I don’t think this is too bad a reflection on the reception. The shouts, the cheers and the clapping were all full of love for Woody and this line up, as they triumphed a warm crowd several times bigger than the Dublin castle shows had achieved. If it had a “not ska” reaction the walks outs would have been on track 2, I think Madness fans checked out and had their fill before moving on to their next activity and going off to eat, after hearing music not all of which is danceable, some of it is very swaying tunes.

It’s so great that what was in Woody’s mind was out there now for all to enjoy at The House of Fun. It topped a great three band set of Madness musicians unlike anything ever staged before. You dont have to hide your love away was the lighters in the air moment. (well it would have been had smoking laws not killed that practice off) But Shamen is clearly a track Woody is proud of. His last beaming grin could be seen encoring that complex rock song.

After must needed pizza, and then slush puppies (great in a hot venue) we return later to watch the funk and soul show, after a much needed rest. It was really a great Sunday run so far.

GRANDSLAMMING FEZ BANGING

The Grandslam sports competition winners were announced on stage by some pirates. Given a glass M trophy.

Oh what’s that? The darts joke? Oh yeah. This guy goes into a church fete darts competition and it gets to the point where he needs the triple top maximum to win the match. He throws one dart and sure enough triple top 60 points. He throws another dart but oh no only hits the single 20 this time, he surely can’t win this crucial round now and assure the match is his. He carefully aims the third dart nervously misses the board, the dart hits the wire, bounces off into crowd smack into the centre of Sister Mary’s skull and she drops deceased to the floor. The dartsman yells triumphant victory.  “YES!!!!!! ONE Nun Dead & 80!!!!!!”

The fans at The House of Fun weekender smash a Fez pinata with bats, in the same way you want to hit me now if you didn’t find that joke funny.

WOAH GENO!

Mr. Washington is in his 70’s, what an incredible voice. What a mover for his age. The man seems so alive onstage. And the banter. It rival’s Lee Thompson tall tales. And the laugh. It’s like a flip top bin opening right in your face and and sid james jumping out. A pleasure to hear him sing and a pleasure to meet him back stage afterwards. What a legend. He made Sunday stay on a high. We met him later and got him to do a jingle for Koast Radio, which will soon enough be heard in Mr Scurf’s lookback show, but there is still one more act left.

CRAIG CHARLES

Then the funk and soul man himself brought the final part of the weekender to a close. What began with Soul Denying could now end with Soul filling up your ears to the point they couldn’t take anymore. Uptown Funk jostling with Living in America, and a five minute mimed bass solo. The man loves his music and it shows in his show.

Backstage we meet the man, as Owen who had been egged on to be his stage dancer, now trades poems with him.

(and as a Red Dwarf my short interview with him can be found over at the best fan site ganymede.tv)

Some of what I write now may be pure invention

But that’s not because I wasn’t paying proper attention

I’ll level: I struggle with memory retention

When there were so many highpoints that all deserve a mention.

 

But I’m told that they’ve all been pretty well covered

In this review of a weekender quite like no other.

No further words can be added to the story

Of two nights of Madness and four days of glory.

 

So I’ll just say this: Sat swapping poems,

Some which were Craig’s and some which were Owen’s,

In a dressing room reeking of booze fags and sweat

Remains one of my happiest moments yet.

 

Because as I sat there with the guy from Red Dwarf,

I’m A Celeb, Corrie and Robot Wars

It hit me the only reason I was here

Was due to a band  that have given us years

 

Of unbridled pleasure, and years of fun

And years of joy in the rain and the sun.

It’s Madness of course, that I’m talking about

It scares me to think where we’d all be without

 

Them. Because I’ll say this: Weekenders are great,

And two sets on two nights only ices the cake,

But what really makes it (and ask anyone)

Is the people you meet down at the House of Fun.

 

Some say we’re a family, and there is some truth

In that happy statement. Here is the proof:

We’re all pissed as newts (that’s what family’s for –

Still don’t believe me? Ask Suggs’ son-in-law…)

 

And if it weren’t for Madness, who we all love so much

How many of us would now still be in touch?

Either nothing in common or peas in a pod,

Reeling and wheeling, abnormal and odd,

 

Pissed-up and pissed-off and battered and tossed

Crying and flying, hopeless and lost,

All brought together now under one ceiling

Dancing in time now to one common feeling:

 

That this is the band who we’ve all paid to see

But there’s so much more justifying the entrance fee

And I’m not talking DJs, be it Bennett or others,

And I’m certainly not talking the damn Cuban Brothers

 

But the sense of being amongst family and friends

Is for me, the highpoint of these weekends.

So yes, Long Live Madness, the best of the bands,

But even more, long live their legions of fans:

 

The f*cked-up, the f*cked, the drunk and the dancing

The flirty, the shirty, the dirty, romancing,

The twats and the prats, young, old, good and bad.

Long live every one of ‘em.

Long live the Mad.

We weren’t ready at Midnight to finish to be honest, not even at 1am were we ready to call time on the weekender. Thankfully Vicki Lee was hosting Inside Lodge Number 9 so we could all pool the remaining beers and snacks and have a sing-a-long end of this years Sugar-de-tushing, Crunch! Clang! Bang, Funky, Mumbo Jumbo Hometown House of Fun filled weekender.

MONDAY

“Are you still going to be there?  When the morning comes?  And all the birds have flown?”

The Butlins version of Soul Denying would be “When all the seagulls are being noisy twats, and all the beer is drunk.” Their sound circling in the sky wasn’t so harsh this year, maybe I drank less towards the end. Goodbye hugs and we begin that car journey home leaving everyone.

4 years and 5 weekenders in to The House of Fun experience, I usually feel as blue as a Thommo Crunch! prisoner shirt when the shows are all done, and to have left the fun all behind, the big tops upside down titties getting smaller in the rear view mirror.

This year I don’t. Or at least not yet. It’s been so Fun packed. Probably the best one yet. Thank you all.

In my Soul I just feel fulfilled.

Jonathan Young

 

 

BUY IT

Madstock – CD / DVD Edition

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madstock-CD-DVD-Madness/dp/B013P0C9KK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1439655285&sr=8-3&keywords=madstock

Just over 23 years after the famous comeback gigs, and just a month before the live album’s 23rd anniversary of release, Madstock is back.

Last available on DVD in the guided tour boxset only, and last on CD via a crappy on demand print service option many years ago. For around £12 you can now get both together.

The CD contains Razor Blade Alley as a bonus track for the first time on CD from the weekend’s concerts, and collects tracks previously only available from the concerts upon the CD single of The Harder They Come. These 4 bonus tracks have been included at the end of the album, Chrissy Boy has pointed out they aren’t part of the Live Album’s original mixing by Clive Langer being sourced elsewhere and masters are impossible to find nearly 25 years on, so appear as the final bonus tracks on the album.

The album features a new montage of photographs from the weekend as it’s cover, much like the recent CD/DVD edition of Take It Or Leave it.

 

Grandslam T-Shirt Sale 

Did you enjoy this summer’s concerts but perhaps forgot to pick up a souvenir, especially if you went Silverstone where the F1 merchandise overshadowed taking home any Madness goodies.  The remaining Grandslam T-shirts are now just £10.

If you’re small you can get them in grey, and all three main sizes are still available in Blue.

http://madness.sandbaghq.com/home/navy-grandslam-t-shirt.html

Lincoln and Pompey specific football T-shirts are also still available at £15.

 

CRUNCH! Hats and Polo Shirts – Get Ready for Their House of Fun Return
** BACK IN FASHION **

Crunch beanie hats and polo shirts (most sizes available Small / Large / XL / XXL) get them now from the official band page on Facebook, which is run by the ever reliable Mr Swanns.

Order now for pre HOF delivery.  Last day November 16th.

If you’re going to the HOF Weekender you can have your itenm delivered directly  to you as Swanny will be there from the Friday afternoon.

£19.99 polo shirts delivered.   £17.99  collected at House of Fun.

Beanie hats £8

https://www.facebook.com/crunchbandofficial

 

Punch and Judy Madness Toy Theatre

A pop-up miniature theatre, in card form, featuring Punch & Judy. The collage by artist Peter Quinnell was commissioned by British band ‘Madness’ to celebrate their single ‘Lovestruck’ – it features characters from Music Hall, Punch & Judy and Madness videos. Folds down neatly to the size of a 7 inch single, it can be sent as a card. £8.95

http://www.pollocks-coventgarden.co.uk/index.php/toy-theatres/punch-judy-lovestruck-diorama.html

 

Madness Craft Beer

http://m.bhs.co.uk/h5/product?productId=20960250

An amazing gift for any Madness and Craft beer fan. This gift pack includes a mix of 2 bottles. Gladness Craft Lager and Lovestruck Premium Amber Ale.

Contents:

• 1 x Gladness Craft Lager 500ml
• 1 x Lovestruck Premium Amber Ale
• Madness Brewing Co. Pint Glass

 

 

WOODY WOODGATE’S SETLIST

One of the final bands on stage at Minehead was headed by our very own Daniel Woodgate.

MIS subscriber Jacek was kind enough to compile the full setlist, which you can find below…

Always

Downtown

They Tell You

The River

Tysea Hill

Smile

Mother

Magic Train

Everything Is Sunshine

Come to Me

Friday Night

We’re All Going to Brighton

in Your Mind

Something

You Don’t Have to Hide

 

Encore:

Shaman

Shaman

 

Our thanks go to Jacek for the above.

 

 

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 Number 603 – Sunday 28^th November – Saturday 4^th December 2010

Things were pretty quiet this week, but with the Christmas tour now well and truly underway, we were sure that a steady stream of gig reviews would crop up over the next few weeks.

This week we learned that a number of new songs had been aired on the tour already. At the Blackpool gig these were “Blue and Black” written by Mike, and “Big Time Sister” written by Thompson/Foreman. Meanwhile, for Glasgow fans were treated to “My Girl Part 2” and “La Luna”.

Moving on, and with Christmas just around the corner we reminded you to treat a loved one (or yourself) to the 4 DVD box set – Gogglebox. Due for release in late November / early December, the set would cost £50.

Next, and for those of you who’d had their Big 10 appetites whetted following Mick Jenner’s recent review, may have been interested to learn that the band’s next gig was to be on Saturday 11^th December at the Loaded Dog. Not only that, but we were told that it would be Dan, the drummer’s birthday, so absolute silliness was guaranteed.

We brought this issue of the MIS to a close, with a YouTube link showing the band recording footage for one of the UK Gold TV trailers which were aired back in the Summer.

10 years ago…

Issue number 343 – Sunday 27th November to Saturday 3rd December 2005

We were hoping the list server outages we all experienced last week had now sorted themselves out, and this issue of the MIS would land in your mailboxes around its usual time.

Those of you who had now taken advantage of our RSS feed (see last issue) would from now on be able to get hold of the latest issue of the MIS via the feed regardless of whether the list server was playing proverbial silly buggers or not.

We were always trying to add more features to the site, so if there was something you felt we should have made available, we asked that you got in touch and let us know.

This week one of the main topics of conversation on the Madness Trading Ring seemed to have been about the forthcoming single, ‘Girl’, which we thought was due out tomorrow (28th), but as the date has been changed so many times we’d lost track.

The general view seemed to be that it would sink without a trace.

MTR subscriber Ged Hartnett commented at the time that;

“No TV appearances or radio air-play! It seems hardly worth releasing it”.

Whilst another subscriber replied saying;

“As it stands, there is no point releasing it whatsoever. What makes it all the more frustrating is there’s not even anything on it to make the real fans (such as us) buy it, as the B sides are a live recording most of us probably have anyway, and a dub”. 

Here at MIS Online we hoped the single made its mark on the UK music charts, but we wouldn’t be holding our breath.

On a jollier note now, and it was pleasing to see the new Divine Madness CD/DVD box set receiving a decent amount of coverage on UK commercial TV channels. Hopefully this would give the album a high number of sales and at the same time get a few more people into the band.

On to this week’s collection of articles, and we started off with a transcript of an article from the latest issue of BBC News Magazine which revealed the story of how the classic Madness track, ‘Embarrassment’ came to be.

The article went down so well with the readers, and generated such a positive response, that many of the replies were also featured in this issue of the MIS.

Moving on, and we reported on a current prize winning competition currently being run by Record Collector Magazine. Up for grabs were 10 copies of the CD/DVD combo pack of the Divine Madness re-release, and you could be in with a chance of winning a copy by answering the question “Which London hill did madness drive up?”.

It was over to the DotMusic web site, next, as we re-printed a short and to the point review of the forthcoming ‘Girl, Why Don’t You’ single. No star rating was given, but the review was certainly a positive one.

We moved away from Madness for our next article where we reported that North London band, and friends of the MIS, M.O.T, had a two hour long gig planned at the Dublin Castle for the 27th of December.

Tickets were a mere fiver, and as well as MOT you’d be treated to a mod/motown/reggae disco afterwards.

We rounded off this issue by giving readers a quick heads-up, and explaining that the next MIS wouldn’t be out until Monday the 5^th of December, as the editorial team would all be in London for the Astoria gig.

15 years ago…

Issue number 81 – Sunday 26th November to Saturday 3rd December 2000

Did you fancy joining a few like-minded fans in a pre-gig drink before the Blockheads/Phil Jupitus gig on Monday 4th December at Camden’s Dingwalls? If so, we suggested you got in touch with one of the moderators of the Ian Dury Mailing List for further details. The plan was to meet in Dingwalls Riva Bar (upstairs) from 6pm.

Next, we had some interesting news for German speaking Madness fans. Deciding that as there were so many English Madness sites, Lars Vogelgesang set up his German language Madness web site, Mad Not Mad.

On to this week’s articles, and we got things underway with a review by Andy Clayden of Mark Lamarr’s reggae show “A Beginners Guide to Reggae”. Suggs was the special guest, but unfortunately, as he didn’t bother to take along any records from his own collection they had to pick from Lamarr’s selection instead.

At the end Lamarr asked him what was happening musically, and Suggs said he’s thinking of doing some more solo stuff in a reggae style.

Suggs concluded by saying that Cecilia had killed the Lone Ranger off as it had too much candy floss on it.

Moving on, and in last week’s MIS we reported that subscriber and music teacher Suzie Wilkins was currently teaching her school recorder group to play the classic “March of The Gherkins”. Well, this week she’d sent us an update.

Although she was unable to be present at the first rehearsal, she told us that the tune was very close to the original, but she had to change the key up one semitone and some portions of the piece had to be changed. Apart from that we were assured that it was very close to the original.

With any luck the song would have its first public airing at The Eastbourne Music and Arts Festival.

We finished off this issue with a transcript of an Adrian Thrills interview from many years ago. Conducted with the band following one of their matinee gigs, we found out what music the band listened to, how many gigs they’d played, what jobs they’d like to do if they weren’t in Madness, and much, much more.

Rob Hazelby

 

 

HOUSE OF FUN – THE LARD PERSPECTIVE

In 2009 I made my first trip to England to attend the fifth Madstock. Purely by chance, in 2015 I ended up coming to the fifth House of Fun as well. I would never have done so if not for Caro Emerald, to be honest. Her fall tour dates presented the opportunity to see my current top two favorite acts in one UK journey (which Jon Young dubbed “Night Boat to CARO”). As much as I’ve mused about making the Butlin’s pilgrimage, I was never sure the House of Fun was the place for me. It meant braving the cold November climate and making that long haul to someplace called Minehead, and I knew the House of Fun was a highly social event. People room together in lodges and chalets with lots of late-night merrymaking amongst old mates. I was afraid of hanging round your House of Fun and feeling so out of place, an American from outer space.

I needn’t have worried. What I found at Butlin’s was wave after wave of kind, friendly, wonderful people. “Welcome to the House of Fun” isn’t just the chorus to the classic #1 hit. It’s also the prime directive. The only trouble I had with the many fellow fans I met was keeping up with all the names and understanding all the accents. I realized I had no reason to fear being an outsider intruding on some private community — in fact, I’ve already been a fully paid-up member of the Mad club ever since Our House caught my fancy in 1983. Coming to the House of Fun is like coming home. Let me share a couple of highlights from my Weekender that vividly illustrate this.

Awaiting the Friday night Mumbo Jumbo set, I was giddy with anticipation. With the tented interior of the Pavilion awash with red lights and DJ Darren spinning the likes of Ian Dury, The Jam and The Specials, I could not believe my good fortune. “I’m really here, I’m really here, I’m so happy right now!” went the mantra inside my head. So when Suggs and the boys make their entrance and the first tune is Keep Freakin’ Moving, a joyous delirium seized me. My Butlin’s roommate Paul Rodgers marveled to see an American fist-pump and shout “YEAH!” as if my sports team had scored a goal. It was a decidedly non-British response, he said, but he was pleased to see a foreigner demonstrate the same level of excitement as a homegrown Madness fan in proper recognition of this rare and momentous occasion.

The second standout event was the Lee Thompson documentary. It wasn’t listed in the official program of events or featured in the mobile app. I only heard about it at Jon Young’s Saturday lunch held in my “honour.” People were buzzing about Thommo’s film of some uncertain subject matter or other. So I tagged along to the cinema for 20 minutes of utter hilarity, a secret HOF Easter egg I’d been granted access to via word of mouth. As I watched the film, I was aware of how vastly different it would have been to see it as a web video at home alone, in the typical solitary habitat of the U.S. Madness fan. Yet here I was in a packed audience of like-minded idiots, all of us howling together at Lee in drag, catching every sly reference, being in on the jokes together. That’s what made the experience so amazing. Our sharing of these unique fan moments serves to exponentially magnify our collective glee.

And that, my friends, is what the House of Fun Weekender is all about. The band plus the fans plus the special one-of-a-kind moments. As Suggs said, it adds up to three days of my unbridled joy. I’m so grateful and fortunate that I bore witness to the truth of the House of Fun: We can make it if we all live together as one big family. Rating: Ten Lard Biscuits. Cheers, everyone.

1. Trull

a.k.a. Donald from America

 

 

TIME…

That just about wraps it up for this week. We do hope that the reviews of this year’s Madness Weekender have helped to either fill in the blanks or shown you just what an excellent few days you missed out on.

With the 2016 Madness Weekender already booked by many members of the Madness community we’re already seeing people posting countdown days until it’s here with us.

Be patient. It’ll be here soon enough!

Until next week, take care,

Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams

(With thanks to Donald Trull and Owen The Nutter)