The mad history.
If you ask any one if they have ever heard Madness, they usually answer ;yeah, I've heard "our house". And that's why I'm wrighting this, to learn people more about the best band in the world. So the next time I ask you something about'em you are gonna surprise me with all your answers.
But who are Madness? To help you out while you're reading this I'm gonna pronounce the band for you:Lead singer Graham"Suggs"McPherson, Piano: Mike"Barso"Barson, Saxophone : Lee "Kix" Thompson, Trumpet: Carl "Chas Smash"Smyth, Guitar:Chris"Chrissy Boy" Foreman, Bass:Mark "Bedders" Bedford and Drums:Daniel"Woody"Woodgate.
The Mad History:It all began 1976 in North London when Mike Barson who just had learn to play piano decided to start a band. He asked his mates Chris and Lee who always wanted to form a band, and they didn't mind joining. But the problem was that none of them could play a note, well Mike could at least tinkle a few ivories. Lee came over a saxophone, and by that time he was out of work so he had plenty of time to practise
.Chrissy boy's dad had tried to teach his son to play the guitar a few years earlier, but Chris wasn't having any of it. Now he was giving it another shot, and in the beginning he only played one string at a time. At this time the punk rock was taking England by storm. They weren't good musicians but instead of playing the new hip music they were playing along to a Fats Domino Lp. Another friend, John Hassler became the band's drummer and Lee met Carl Smyth who agreed to learn the bass. A friend of Carl fixed the bands first gig at his party the 30th of June 1977. The band called themselves The North london Invaders
and they were an instrumental band. One of the people who liked their proformence was Graham McPherson, and later he became the bands singer. Chas and Lee didn't come along with Mike so they quit the band. That was just before their first proper gig, but replacements weren't too hard to find. A guy called Gavin Rogers came in on bass and one of Chris' old schoolmates, Lucinda Garland played sax. After that gig she left and Lee came back. Now it was Suggs turn to leave the band, after choosing to watch his beloved Chelsea instead of practising with the band.John Hassler took his place, but he sang as bad as he played drums. And guess what Gavin Rogers did, he also left the band (I had no idea). And The North London Invaders third bass player became Mark"Bedders"Bedford. And an old Heavy Metal drummer named Daniel Woodgate took his chance to join the band. By the time the Invaders had a lot gigs and once Hassler was on a holiday and Chrissy Boy asked Suggs if he wanted to stand in for John and he jumped at the chance.After that John Hassler was history and suggsy was back.
1979 arrived and The Invaders kicked off the new year with a gig at the London Film Makers co-op. The band had to change their name, because there was another band around with the same name. Chris came up with a name; the B side song from Prine Buster's classic single One Step Beyond called Madness.
And Madness became the name of the band. They celebrated with a gig at the Music Machine, and that night their ex-bass player Chas Smash jumped on the stage and danced in a strange way. And now the famous"Nutty Dance" was born, and Carl had his place in the band as a dancer. Later that year Lee, Suggs and Carl went to a Rock Against Racism gig. They were heading a big surprise, a band who played the same style of music as Madness. They were called The Special AKA, and their keybord player Jerry Dammers owned a ska label called Two-Tone, where Madness released their first single,The Prince.
It reached number 16 in the chart list. After touring with Two-Tone bands Madness signed the Stiff label where they released their first album, One Step Beyond. From the album they released two singles,One Step Beyond and the giant hit My girl.
Then they released their second album in 1980, Absolutely witch included hits like Baggy Trousers and Embarrassment.Their third album from 1981 was called 7, including songs like Grey Day, Shut Up and Cardiac Arrest.Then they released a singel that were on any albums, House Of Fun witch reached number 1 in the chart list. After that they released another chart list number 1 record, a best of album called Complete Madness. In 1982 The Rise And Fall was relesaed, that included another hit, the one and only Our House. After their fifth album Keep Moving, Mike Barson had enough of all this madness and he left the band. The others had a hard time in the begining, but soon they were getting used to play without him.They left the Stiff label and started their own label called Zarjazz, and they released their last album in 1985, Mad Not Mad. The band members began to form other groups. Suggs, Chris,Carl and Lee started a band called The Madness,
and later Carl and Lee formed a band called The Nutty Boys.
Mark plays bass in a jazz band called Butterfield 8 and Suggs started a solo career under the name Suggs.
In 1992 Virgin released Another best of Madness album called Divine Madness, a chart list number 1?Yes!!!
Madness became so coveted that they made a reunion concert the 8th august 1992 called Madstock. Two years later the Madness fans wanted more so they made another Madstock in 1994, and again in 1996. And this year 1998 Madstock 4 is gonna take place 7th june, and the question is, is there going to be a concert year 2000, I don't think that the maddest group in the world would let their fans down.
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