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MADNESS BIOGRAPHY |
04 September 2010 |
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Madness began life as ska group The Invaders, formed by Mike 'Barso' Barson, Chris 'Chrissy Boy' Foreman and Lee 'Kix' Thompson in 1976. |
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By 1978 they had changed their name to Morris and the Minors, and recruited Graham 'Suggs' McPherson, Mark 'Bedders' Bedford, Carl 'Chas Smash' Smyth and Daniel 'Woody' Woodgate to the line-up. Later that year, inspired by the title of their favourite Prince Buster song, they renamed themselves Madness - making their debut under this name on the fateful day Margaret Thatcher became PM. |
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The lads signed to Two-Tone Records, and toured with with label-mates The Specials and Selecter. The ska revival was at its height and the newly-christened Nutty Boys quickly tasted success. Their first single, The Prince, was an instant Top 20 hit. Suggs was dead chuffed. "The real thrill of this, is being so popular, when we're really just a bunch of absolute knobs." |
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Leaving Two-Tone, Madness signed to Stiff Records, making Number Two with their debut album One Step Beyond, which stayed in the charts for over 12 months. During the next three years, Madness released a staggering 13 UK Top 10 singles. Madness became video pioneers and owe much of their success to the wacky promos they made to accompany each single. Night Boat To Cairo, featuring the nutty boys wearing fezzes and doing unspeakable things, saw the birth of their video lunacy. |
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Everybody loved the Nutty Boys. In 1981, Madness began playing matinee shows on their tours, so under 16s could see them. Bless! Madness' second album, Absolutely, reached Number Two in the UK and In 1983 Our House became a US Top 20 single. Madness were on a role. But later that year, Mike Barson the band's chief songwriter, decided to quit and move to Holland. |
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Madness faced up well to his loss and the hits kept on coming - including Michael Caine, Yesterday's Men and Waiting For The Ghost Train. |
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But the band was getting weary and in 1986 they split, partially reforming two years later and releasing an eponymous album, which was not a great success and failed to capture the essence of their younger, nuttier days. "It was the worst thing we ever did," shrugs Woody philosophically. |
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You can't keep Nutty Boys down for long, though. In 1992, Madness reformed for Madstock! the first of what would become annual mind boggling Madness festivals in London's Finsbury Park. As the band stepped on stage they received a five minute roaring ovation and wiped tears from their eyes.The only person who didn't have a good time was Morrissey, who was jeered off on the first day of the festival.. "Lord Mozzington will not be appearing today," announced Suggs on Day Two "A stray cigarette paper blew onstage and almost had his eye out" |
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Since 1995, Suggs has rarely been out of the public eye - first with a solo album, The Lone Ranger; then as the presenter of Channel 5's karaokefest. Night Fever. But what we were really all waiting for was... |
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A new full-on Madness album! And lo, nutty 30-somethings' wishes were answered with 1999's Wonderful - a fantastic return to form. All that was missing was an airborne, sax-toting Lee Thompson - but then, you can't have everything. |
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