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Madness
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Listening now: PhoenixStar666
Camden Town, London, England (1976 – 1986, 1992 – present)
Madness are a pop/ska band from Camden Town, London, England that formed in 1976. As of 2007, the band has continued to perform with their most recognised lineup of seven members, although it’s varied slightly over the years. They were one of the most prominent bands of the late-70s 2 tone ska revival. However, as their career progressed, the band moved away from ska & closer toward conventional pop music.
Madness achieved most of their success in the 80s. Madness spent exactly 214 weeks on the UK singles charts from 1980-89, thereby sharing the record for most weeks spent by a group in the 80s UK singles charts, with UB40.
Formation
The core of the band formed as The North London Invaders in 1976, and included Mike Barson (Monsieur Barso) on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy) on guitar and Lee Thompson (Kix) on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth (better known as Chas Smash) on bass guitar. Later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist “Dikron”. This six-piece lineup lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend’s garden. Smyth, who was poor on bass guitar, was replaced by Gavin Rogers, an acquaintance of Barson. McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch football instead of rehearsing. Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing.
By 1978, the band had allowed McPherson to return, after filling in temporarily for Hasler (who had taken over vocals when McPherson was removed).
Madness achieved most of their success in the 80s. Madness spent exactly 214 weeks on the UK singles charts from 1980-89, thereby sharing the record for most weeks spent by a group in the 80s UK singles charts, with UB40.
Formation
The core of the band formed as The North London Invaders in 1976, and included Mike Barson (Monsieur Barso) on keyboards and vocals, Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy) on guitar and Lee Thompson (Kix) on saxophone and vocals. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth (better known as Chas Smash) on bass guitar. Later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist “Dikron”. This six-piece lineup lasted until part way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as Suggs) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend’s garden. Smyth, who was poor on bass guitar, was replaced by Gavin Rogers, an acquaintance of Barson. McPherson was kicked out of the band for too often choosing to watch football instead of rehearsing. Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing.
By 1978, the band had allowed McPherson to return, after filling in temporarily for Hasler (who had taken over vocals when McPherson was removed).
Top Albums
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Divine Madness
MadnessBuy- Download Album
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Utter Madness
MadnessBuy- Download Album
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The Liberty Of Norton Folgate
MadnessBuy- Download Album
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Complete Madness
MadnessBuy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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KingGarage wrote:
...that nutty weizenbier
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Caeser1993 wrote:
Just got Liberty of Norton Folgate. It sure is amazing. <3
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popstinka wrote:
yes cardcaptorstace i'm surprised 'bout that too. Norton Folgate is a top album.
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local_boy wrote:
finally picked up the new album on cd, its got more tracks than on the downloaded version i had, even better. lovely album!
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cardcaptorstace wrote:
I'm surprised none of Liberty of Norton Folgate's tracks are in the top 15. :(
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carolzetas wrote:
It must be love...love...love. I love it. *-*
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K_I_K_O wrote:
Nothing more, nothing less - love is the best. Madness <33
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James_Hartley wrote:
Love the picture.
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cardcaptorstace wrote:
Yay, Total Madness!!
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Maagikki wrote:
One of which is an utterly horrid Dutch print. As if the cover wasn't bad enough, some of the songs feature some of the worst sound quality I've ever heard. Including a chopped up version of One Step Beyond.
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Maagikki wrote:
Tabeth wrote: Why are none of their old albums in print? Tell me about it. The only albums I got my hands on were two (fairly obscure looking) Best of's.
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Frannyloo wrote:
You can bid for a chance to meet Madness as part of the Absolute Radio 1st birthday activity - the money will go to Cancer Research UK http://tinyurl.com/ngpf7p
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KuDeJudas wrote:
idiot child
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Bartles wrote:
erictys: Their second-to-most recent now. ;) Does anyone else think it's such a shame Our House gets all the plays? :( People don't know what they're missing!
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erictys wrote:
please hear this 2 songs from their last album-elysium and saturday night,amazing!
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PLasmoEsmata wrote:
hAppY 30th MAdNeSs!
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El_Foggy wrote:
I GOT TICKETS FOR GLASGOW IN DECEMBER FUCK YAAS. 16th birthday aswell, close enough, yay.
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baked_tater wrote:
One of my favorites
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ImgonnaDJ wrote:
Tabeth, really :S ?
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Tabeth wrote:
Why are none of their old albums in print?
Videos
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Events
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Dec
1
Madness
Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Add shout
| 1 attendee
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Dec
1
Madness
Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Add shout
| 6 attendees
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Dec
2
Madness
Brighton Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom
Add shout
| 6 attendees
News
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BBC4 TAKE-OVER THIS FRIDAY!!
29 Sep 2009 | from www.12w3.com/ -
MADBLOG NUMBER 119 - BBC4 TAKE-OVER THIS FRIDAY - TLNF WORLD PREMIERE!!
29 Sep 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/madnessofficial -
28 Sep 2009 | from www.12w3.com/
Listeners
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churromagnet
Listening now
to Our House -
cruz992
Listening now
to Primrose Hill -
karpster
Listening now
to _. Madness - 05 -… -
Caeser1993
Top Listener
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homerss
Top Listener
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die_hammerin
Top Listener
Recent Activity
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Hanhan91, dontdrinkpop, JesseJames013 and 4 other people added Madness to their libraries. 1 hour ago
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ov4ar4etofred tagged Madness with ‘two-tone’. yesterday afternoon
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kingtiger1940, Shykid, ismetgurtunca and 5 other people added Madness to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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wirtala tagged Madness with ‘seen live’. yesterday morning
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champion_x tagged Madness with ‘ska’. yesterday morning
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haimbar added Madness to haimbar’s library. yesterday morning
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reedekolmteist tagged Madness with ‘seen live’. yesterday morning
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ov4ar4etofred tagged Madness with ‘ska’. yesterday morning
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ov4ar4etofred, music4paul, dwin69 and 24 other people added Madness to their libraries. yesterday morning
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priip tagged Madness with british, 2-tone and ska. Saturday afternoon
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Groups (136)
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Madness - Fans of the Nutty Boys
102 members
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Ashes To Ashes
47 members
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2 Tone
167 members
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The Specials - The Special AKA
137 members
-
Rude Boys & Rude Girls
188 members
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