Madness

Madness are an English pop and ska group from Camden Town, London, formed in 1976 and active since then. They are associated with 2 Tone, new wave, pop, pop rock, psychedelic pop and punk, and are one of the best-known British bands to emerge from the late-1970s 2 Tone ska movement.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins as The North London Invaders in 1976. The early line-up includes Mike Barson on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman on guitar, Lee Thompson on saxophone and vocals, John Hasler on drums, Cathal Smyth, known as Chas Smash, on bass guitar, and later lead vocalist Dikron Tulane. Graham McPherson, Suggs, takes over lead vocals in 1977 after seeing the group perform. Chas Smash is replaced on bass by Gavin Rodgers, and by 1978 Suggs returns, Thompson rejoins, and Daniel Woodgate and Mark Bedford join on drums and bass. After a brief period as Morris and the Minors, the group adopts the name Madness, taken from a Prince Buster song. Chas Smash later returns as the seventh member, adding backing vocals and trumpet.

Records and chart success

Madness first gain wider recognition with “The Prince” in 1979, released on 2 Tone Records and promoted by a performance on Top of the Pops. Their debut album, One Step Beyond..., is released on Stiff Records and stays in the British charts for more than a year, reaching number 2. It includes re-recordings and singles such as “One Step Beyond” and “My Girl”. The Work Rest and Play EP follows, led by “Night Boat to Cairo”, and reaches number 6.

Their second album, Absolutely, reaches number 2 and includes “Baggy Trousers”, “Embarrassment” and “Return of the Los Palmas 7”. The third album, 7, marks a shift away from early ska toward a more conventional pop sound and reaches number 5. Around this period the band release “It Must Be Love”, a remake of the Labi Siffre song, which reaches number 4 in the UK and charts in the US. In 1982 they score their only UK number 1 single with “House of Fun”, and The Rise & Fall includes “Our House”, which becomes one of their best-known songs and reaches number 5 in the UK and number 7 in the US. “Wings of a Dove” follows in 1983 and reaches number 2. Keep Moving reaches number 6.

Line-up changes, break-up and return

Mike Barson leaves the band in 1983 and officially departs in 1984. The remaining members leave Stiff Records and form Zarjazz Records, a Virgin Records sub-label. The album Mad Not Mad follows in 1985 and reaches number 16. After recording a set of demos, the group announces a split in 1986 and releases the farewell single “(Waiting For) The Ghost Train”, which reaches number 18.

In 1988, Suggs, Chas Smash, Lee Thompson and Chris Foreman form The Madness, which releases one self-titled album and two singles before splitting. Madness reunite in 1992, first with a reissue of “It Must Be Love”, then with the compilation Divine Madness, which reaches number 1. They stage Madstock! at Finsbury Park, London, and later repeat the event in 1994, 1996 and 1998. Their live performance of “One Step Beyond” at the first Madstock! is linked with an earth tremor.

Later work

After Wonderful in 1999, which reaches number 17, Madness release music connected to theatre and live performance, including the stage musical Our House, which runs at the Cambridge Theatre and wins the Olivier Award for best new musical in 2003. A previous stage production, One Step Beyond!, also appears at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1993. In 2004 the group perform as The Dangermen, playing reggae and ska covers, and the project leads to The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 in 2005. Chris Foreman leaves during the sessions but later returns. The album reaches number 11, their highest studio chart position in many years. A later single, “Shame & Scandal”, reaches number 38 in the UK and number 12 in France.

Madness work on new original material from late 2006. “Sorry” is released in 2007 and reaches number 23, with a version featuring Sway DaSafo and Baby Blue. “NW5 (I Would Give You Everything)” and a re-recorded “It Must Be Love” also appear in the German film Neues vom Wixxer.

Themes and recognition

Although often associated with humour and catchy songs, Madness also write about serious subjects. “Embarrassment” addresses teenage pregnancy and racial tension. “Tomorrow’s Dream” deals with animal testing, “Mrs. Hutchinson” criticises the National Health Service, and “(Waiting For) The Ghost Train” comments on apartheid. The band receive an Ivor Novello Award for “Our House” in 1983 and another for Outstanding Song Collection 17 years later. They also receive a Mojo Hall of Fame award in 2005.

Members

The band’s most recognised line-up is a seven-piece, and over time the group includes Chas Smash, Lee “Kix” Thompson, Dikron Tulane, Chris Foreman, John Hasler, Mike Barson, Suggs, Garry Dovey, Gavin Rodgers, Mark Bedford, Daniel Woodgate, Steve Nieve, Seamus Beaghen, Kevin Burdette and Graham Bush.