Madness Formed in the late 70's in
England. The founding members were Chris Foreman, Lee Thompson and Mike Barson, by 78' Carl Smith , John Hasler and Graham McPherson had joined the group. They started playing small gigs (
birthday parties and the like) throughout
London. Word of their sound spread quickly and they found neumerous
club bookings. They released their first album
One Step Beyond in 1979, featuring the singles
Our House and
It Must Be Love. Both
Songs reached to top of the UK Music charts. In 1983 they released their first
album in the US under the Geffen Record Label, the
single Our House Reached #7 but the band never achieved a level of success in the
US close to what they had in the
UK. Their popularity was consistent through 1986 when the band broke up for the first time. In 1988 the band re-formed and did a series of "Madstock" shows through out England from 1992-1996. After a 2 year
break the band re-formed in 1998 in it's current incarnation, and continues to perform to the present.
The Current band Lineup:
Suggs, Graham McPherson, Vocals
Chas Smash, Carl Smith, Vocals
Monsieur Barso, Mike Barson,
Keyboards
Chrissy Boy, Chris Foreman,
Guitar
El Thommo, Lee Thompson,
Saxophone
Woody, Daniel Woodgate,
Drums
Bedders, Mark Bedford,
Bass
Discography:
One Step Beyond
Absolutely
7
Complete Madness
The Rise And Fall
Keep Moving
Mad Not Mad
Utter Madness
A Collection Of Live Tracks 79-86
Its Madness
Triple Pack
Its Madness..Too
Divine Madness
Madstock
The Business
Heavy Heavy Hits
Also performed the song of the same name (originally a Jamaican ska tune by Lord Creator), off the
One Step Beyond LP:
Madness, madness, they call it madness
Madness, madness, they call it madness
It's plain to see
That is what they mean to me
Madness, madness, they call it gladness, ha-ha
Madness, madness, they call it madness
Madness, madness, they call it madness
I'm about to explain
That someone is losing their brain
Madness, madness, I call it gladness, yee-ha-ha-ha
Propaganda ministers
Propaganda ministers
I've a-got a heavy due
I'm gonna walk all over you
Cos
Madness, madness, they call it madness
Well if this is madness
Then I know I'm filled with gladness
It's gonna be rougher
It's gonna be tougher
And I won't be the one who's gonna suffer
Oh no, I won't be the one who's gonna suffer
You are gonna be the one, you