We begin this week’s issue of the MIS with an official press release from the band…
“FAO Madheads
Official update on forthcoming Mad Shows.
Please forgive what looks like a messy diary, we are waiting on instructions from promoters and can only announce changes once they give us the nod and for various reasons it’s not that simple.
We realise this looks very confusing so if anyone has any Q’s on anything gig related (or other stuff) please do email us at info@madness.co.uk and we will reply to everyone.
Below is what we know for sure All shows in May, June and July are postponed to 2021.
We expect all of our European shows in August to be postponed, as soon as we can make that official we will.
For those who are wondering we have HOFtimism (Thanks MIS for this word!) for The House of Fun Weekender, but we await word from team Butlins. We are keeping everything crossed.
Barcelona is now officially 27th June 2021. We hope to announce Murcia and Valencia asap
Stay Safe, Stay Nutty, we aim to entertain you’s soon”
As soon as we hear anything further regarding future gigs we’ll be sure to let you know.
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.
The MIS Team have taken a look, and a lot of sizes seem to be sold out already.
New Album From Nick Woodate – “JoJo Man”. Out Now
Here’s Nick;
“Because it stresses me out to have people pay for my music or have to have vast amounts of followers to earn the smallest bit of money I am releasing my album on Soundcloud totally free to listen to and stupidly it doesn’t earn me a penny. I don’t think you even need to create an account.
Nick also told us;
“It’s ended up being more of a compilation album with 3 new songs to people that know. I might have 8 new songs to put on this album”.
We’re blown away with Nick’s generosity of making his latest album free to download. Nick isn’t asking for any donations. What a gent!
In Before We Was We Madness tell us how they became them. A story of seven originals, whose collective graft, energy and talent took them from the sweaty depths of the Hope and Anchor’s basement to the Top of the Pops studio.
In their own words they each look back on shared adventures. Playing music together, riding freight trains, spraying graffiti and stealing records. Walking in one another’s footsteps by day and rising up through the city’s exploding pub music scene by night.
Before We Was We is irreverent, funny and full of character. Just like them.
Record Store Day – Work Rest and Play ** revised date **
Release date: TBC. Was 18th April then 20th June
Format: Double 7″ single
Cat No. BMGCAT430DSV
Overview:
Fortieth anniversary re-issue of Madness’ “Work Rest & Play EP” – the follow-up to their debut album, 1979’s “One Step Beyond…”
Limited edition Record Store Day 2020 release on double 7” format with a triple gatefold sleeve including photos from the time of the original release.
Track listing:
Side One
Night Boat To Cairo
Side Two
Deceives The Eye
Side Three
The Young And The Old
Side Four
Don’t Quote Me On That
Record Store Day – Dance Craze 40th Anniversary Edition ** revised date **
This is a new half-speed master exclusively for RSD and part of the Two Tone Records 40th Anniversary celebrations. This is a soundtrack to the live movie of the same name featuring exclusive live recordings by The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat, Bad Manners and The Bodysnatchers. This is also first vinyl repress since its original release in 1981.
Tracklisting:
Concrete Jungle
Mirror in the Bathroom
Lip up Fatty
Razor Blade Alley
Three Minute Hero
Easy Life
Big Shot
One Step Beyond
Ranking Fullstop
Man at C&A
Missing Words
Inner London Violence
Night Boat to Cairo
Too Much Pressure
Nite Klub
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, 10, 15 and 20 years ago this week.
5 years ago…
Issue Number 835 – Sunday 10th May to Saturday 16th May 2015
This week finally saw the general release of Cathal Smyth’s solo debut album “A Comfortable Man”. In some ways this was a continuation of his song writing that had weaved through many incarnations of Madness albums, and a few previous short lived endeavours beyond Madness, too. In other ways this was a new departure in its sound, and a brand new distilled focus of his artistic intent musically.
Now was the time to buy “A Comfortable Man” to see if the sound was for you. You could listen online via YouTube, Spotify. The whole album was currently previewing on SoundCloud via Q Magazine. We asked you to listen and email in with your thoughts.
Most of this week’s issue content came from Carl’s appearances in the media in support of the public release of “A Comfortable Man”. We hoped you enjoyed the album. It’d been a lifetime coming.
With Carl’s album now finally seeing a release it would come as no surprise to learn that almost the entire “Sign of the Times” section was dedicated to the man and his new album. Suggs did manage to sneak in and speak to Simon Mayo on BBC Radio 2, where he even plugged the new Gladness ale by opening a bottle live on air.
This week’s “MIS Feature” was a track-by-track review of Carl’s “A Comfortable Man” album. If you wanted to know what the MIS team thought of the new release before you parted with your cash then this was the section for you.
We brought this issue to a close with the news that following the release of the Lovestruck 7” as part of the annual “Record Store Day” event Graham Yates had worked out that just over 12% of all singles had found their way on to eBay.
10 years ago…
Issue Number 575 – Sunday 9th May – Saturday 15th May 2010
How would you like to have Madness staying in your house while they gigged in your neck of the woods? Well, with many of the stars performing at the Manx Telecom Bay Festival asking to stay at locals’ houses rather than hotels you could have had the band staying at your gaff during the event.
Here’s what Suggs had to say at the time;
“It is my first visit to the Isle of Man and I have been made most welcome and the house we are all staying in is fantastic”.
This week we also reported that on Wednesday Madness played a secret concert that was so intimate it may have been in Suggs’ front room.
The press reported at the time;
“Packing out Camden’s Flowerpot pub with friends, family, former flatmates and even a few fans, the Nutty Boys played a truly special show.
Within touching distance – especially when using the bar as a second stage – the band enjoyed the gig just as much as the audience.”
On the 1st of May a group of Madness fans from Barcelona took a car to see the band perform in Murcia. Thankfully for us they documented their road trip, which saw Madness perform at the SOS 4.8 Estrella Levante Festival in front of 35,000 festival goers.
“Madness were supposed to start at 11.30 pm, but heavy rain in the afternoon caused a one hour delay… Spanish timing…
The Madness show was as usual: 90 minutes starting with classic One Step Beyond – Embarassement – The Prince. In the middle of the concert a mix of: Classic hits (My Girl, Shut Up,…), Dangermen covers ( Chase the devil, Taller than you are,…) and new songs (Clerkewall Polska, Forever young,…). And the final rush with all the hits:
House of Fun, Bed and Breakfast Man, Wings of a Dove, Baggy Trousers, Our House and finally It Must be Love.
And, as you can imagine, the classic encore: Madness and Night Boat to Cairo, but this time nobody joined the band on the stage.”
Elsewhere in the issue, and we reported that Union Square’s re-masters/re-issues were to continue, with both The Rise and Fall and Keep Moving seeing the light of day on the 28th June.
Both albums were to feature promotional videos, plus a second disc of 12” mixes, b-sides and rarities.
We brought this issue to a close with links to more of the Madness range of Ben Sherman clothing, and photos of Carl’s son, Milo, modelling the new range of attire.
15 years ago…
Issue number 313 – Sunday 8th May to Saturday 14th May 2005
We started off this week’s issue by welcoming back our old friend, Stuart Wright, who kicked-off the articles with a review of the recent JAG gig, held at The Metro Club.
Stuart’s lengthy review finished with;
“…this is a band that has enormous potential and is rapidly becoming a real group’s group as many other musicians make a point of seeing them play when they can. Their set has plenty of variety and the musicianship adds a nice wash of colour to a strong set of songs.
Check out Jag for a good night out and you won’t be disappointed”.
Moving on, and it’d been all of a couple of weeks since Madness last appeared on a compilation, so we thought you’d like to know about a forthcoming one from Virgin, entitled `The Best Album Tracks Ever`.
From Madness we had `Night Boat to Cairo` (from the One Step Beyond album), The Specials with `Blank Expression` (from The Specials album) and from the legendary Ian Dury and The Blockheads we were given `Sweet Gene Vincent` (from the New Boots and Panties album).
The compilation was a three disc affair, featuring 41 tracks.
Next-up we reported that Crunch would be performing on the same day as one of Madness’ Forest Tour gigs. How did Lee and Chris expect to do this? Well, the gig would take place earlier in the day meaning that Lee would have time to get to the Forest gig and perform with the rest of the band later that day.
Due to reasons we weren’t prepared to go into it was looking unlikely that Chris would be performing at this or any of the other gigs on the Forest Tour.
With the band signing a one-album deal with V2 records, to release an album of reggae and ska covers in April 2005, Chas took some time out from his busy schedule to chat to Youth Music about life, the universe and that famous “nutty sound”. Carl revealed the type of music he was in to at the moment, gave advice on new musicians just starting out, and revealed just what this forthcoming album was about.
We finished off this week’s issue by reminding those who were planning to meet up with fellow Maddies at one of more of the Forest Tour gigs to get over to the MIS forums where a number of meets were already in the process of being organised.
20 years ago…
Issue number 51 – Sunday 7th May to Saturday 13th May 2000
Some people do the nuttiest of things. In an attempt to cheer himself up after hearing that Madstock 2000 was now a non-runner, MIS Online subscriber, Chris Carter-Pegg had dug deep into his pockets and had forked out for a new number plate on his car. No, not just any old number plate, but ‘M7 CCP’. As Chris rightly pointed out at the time, “I must be mad!”
Elsewhere, and Chris Byrne reported that on Wednesday 3rd May, the legendary Suggs hosted a 3 hour radio show from 10am – 1pm on London’s XFM Radio Station
In news that would interest the collectors out there Jenny Payne reported that the classic `Seven`, `Rise and Fall` and `Absolutely` were apparently being re-issued in the UK with separate covers. Jenny continued by telling us to take the information with a pinch of salt as this is was first time she had received info from this source.
Those of you subscribed to the Total Madness Mailing List and who contributed to Cancer Bacup in aid of the late Ian Dury could all give yourselves a pat on the back. The TMML’s Simsey reported that;
“”I have informed Martina at CancerBACUP that members of The Total Madness Mailing List, from both Britain and Abroad have pledged in excess of £100 to the charity. She thanks all the members very much for their generosity.”
Moving on, and `Madness Unsugged` editor, Vincent Carden reported that a page had been set up on the BBC’s Ceefax service where fans could write in and discuss their favourite Madness single. You could E-mail them yours.
Vince also told us that;
“Seamus ‘Mad Not Mad’ Beaghan was on Later on Jools Holland last week playing the keyboards for “Death In Vegas”.
It was also time to get those blank video tapes out and those videos set. TMML subscriber JRC reported that Ian Dury would be featured in concert on the 7th of May at 11.40 PM On Channel 5. Perhaps it was a bit late for those of us who had to work, but was ideal viewing fodder for the students amongst us.
Moving on, and it was time for some congratulations. The Total Madness Mailing List’s Stuart Cook recently took part in a `Stars in Their Eyes` style competition at Freeport Village, West Lothian.
Performing as the almighty Suggs, and wearing a pin striped suit he sang the classic Madness single, `My Girl`. Once the results were in, it turned out that Stuart had got himself to the finals.
Congratulations also needed to go out to Vincent Carden who recently had his excellent fanzine, `Madness Unsugged` reviewed on Channel Four’s Teletext Service. It’s a shame Teletext couldn’t be bothered to get in touch with Vince to let him know that the review would be on as he subsequently missed it.
We finished off this week’s issue with the news that Madness were to perform alongside other stars on Friday 16th June in remembrance of the late Ian Dury.
Tickets were not yet available, but we did know that all proceeds would go to the more than worthwhile Cancer Bacup Charity which Ian Dury played an active part in promoting.
Rob Hazelby
MIS Feature
Online Madness Quiz Time
While away the next hour of your lockdown with this selection of Madness quizzes.
Bonus point for spotting which question they totally screw up by misquoting a band that’s not Madness, but actually called mindless!!
Then check out. Quizmoz. But beware it’s out of date, and question 13 is insanely debate-able with 3 near correct answers by our reckoning, ( just go with the most obvious general answer to that one.)
Then you will be warmed up for a whopping 75 questions in a series of rounds set by different people. Plenty of lyrics to remember. We are sure the London locations quiz is written around our old MIS lists. This all then Culminates in 20 harder questions. One of which even stumped us! You have to be note perfect to hit that one!
We will drop you a hint. Suggs says “not just now.” to this letter.
Then there is this quiz. The Answers are Madness related. But only one relates to our favourite band, the rest are themed on the English word or topic of “Madness”. Just for some variety.
We’re almost done for this week’s issue of the MIS, but before we go you may be interested to learn that Suggs appears in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it snippet a new NHS charity fundraising video.
to this letter.
