Cathal Smyth

Cathal Smyth

Cathal Smyth, also known as Chas Smash, is an English musician from Marylebone, London. He is best known for his work with the ska and pop band Madness, where he performs as a backing singer, trumpet player and dancer. He also plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar and other percussion instruments. He initially joins Madness as a bassist.

Work with Madness

Smyth occasionally takes lead vocals in Madness, including on “Michael Caine”, “Wings of a Dove”, “One Step Beyond” and “Madness (Is All in the Mind)”. He begins as an occasional songwriter and later becomes a more regular contributor during the band’s career. He is credited as a co-writer on “Our House”, one of the group’s major international hits.

Other work

In 1990, Smyth becomes an executive for Go Discs. He starts his own record label, RGR Music, in 2002. His solo album A Comfortable Man is released in 2015.