2024-2025

The Madness frontman provides vocals on a new single by the indie beat punk band called Zombie Nation. He also appears in the video, which sees him and the band fighting off zombies and barricading themselves in a pub, much like Shaun of the Dead. After the band perform a Nutty Train in honour of their guest vocalist, Suggs himself turns into one of the undead.

Suggs and Mike appear on the popular BBC 6 Music show to talk about the new album and upcoming summer activity.

Suggs is a special guest on the Saturday morning cookery show. After having an English breakfast cooked for him, he talks about the band’s music and the upcoming Summer tour.

Suggs and Mike appear at the end of Ken Bruce’s show as the DJ marks his one-year anniversary as a presenter on the station. The duo perform a stripped back version of It Must be Love, with the vocals changed to “It must be Ken” to fit in with the celebrations. The show is broadcast from a pub, with other guests including Sharleen Spiteri, Vanessa Feltz and Basil Brush.

A special edition of the 2009 album is released, with additional tracks Bittersweet and The Roadette Song, plus a 24-page booklet with exclusive new liner notes from Suggs, Lee, Chris, Woody and Mike, and a poem by Carl.

The band appear on the prime time ITV chat show, playing Round and Round to close the programme. Recorded earlier in the week, the performance sees Mez deputising for Woody on drums.

For this year’s Record Day, a special edition of the 1980 classic is made available, with its six tracks including the original 7” mix and a previously unreleased instrumental specially mixed by Clive Langer. Side A: Embarrassment / Not Home Today / E.R.N.I.E. Side B: Embarrassment (Instrumental) / Crying Shame / You Said.

Suggs is a guest on episode 171 of the American podcast, during which he explores the band’s journey, revisits stories from their past and discusses the recent No1 album. Listen to it here.

Suggs joins DJ Gary Davies in the studio for the weekly trip down memory lane. Acting as co-host during the two-hour show, he introduces some of his 80s favourites, answers listeners’ questions and discusses the No1 album and upcoming tour. Wings of a Dove and Michael Caine both got an airing, after which Suggs reveals how they were recorded. After playing a live version of Keep Moving from 1985, Gary asks the singer how his voice has changed, with Suggs joking that it isn’t really any different because he didn’t have much of one to lose. Among the chosen 80s tracks are numbers by Echo and the Bunnymen and Aswad, with Suggs reminiscing about working together before quipping: “What a mix of haircuts that was.”

Lee fronts another of his spin-off bands, who play after a screening of his rocku-docu-mockumentary One Man’s Madness and a Q&A. With Lee his usual cheeky and chatty self, the running order is a mix of covers, with David Bowie, The Kinks, Prince Buster and Ian Dury all in the mix. Setlist: My Old Man / Tired of Waiting / Clever Trevor / Kooks / Mother’s Little Helper / Ghost Dance / Mr Soft / Dead End Street / Lola. Encore: All the Young Dudes / Jean Genie.

Bedders teams up with friend and fellow musician Mark Anthony to launch a new monthly music podcast, broadcast on Shoreditch Radio at 9pm on the first Monday of every month.

Two more albums from the band’s back catalogue get a makeover treatment as two-disc expanded editions. Oui Oui… contains 11 bonus tracks which weren’t on the original CD, but did feature on the deluxe version released in 2013. Liner notes from Mike, Chris and Woody are also included. The new version of Can’t Touch Us Now includes 14 mostly demo tracks not on the original release, as well as interviews with Suggs, Mike, Chris and Lee.

Rescheduled from January, Madness play two shows on the same day as a warm-up for their impending US tour, performing a matinee at 5pm and a later show at the same intimate venue. The 16-track setlist includes three Dangermen songs as well as a trio from the latest album. Mez deputises on drums, with Woody not expected to join the band on the upcoming US tour.

One Step Beyond / Embarrassment / The Prince / C’est La Vie / My Girl / Girl Why Don’t You? / Taller Than You Are / If I Go Mad / Chase the Devil / Run for Your Life / House of Fun / Baggy Trousers / Our House / It Must Be Love. ENCORE: Madness / Night Boat to Cairo

Madness head to the west coast for their first date on US soil since April 2012, kicking off the C’est La Vie in America Tour in Washington State. Tonight’s gig sees a mix of old classics, new tracks and Dangermen numbers, with Chris resurrecting his Showtime party piece with a rendition of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.

One Step Beyond / Embarrassment / The Prince / NW5 / My Girl / Taller Than You Are / The Sun and the Rain / C’est La Vie / Shut Up / Girl Why Don’t You? / If I Go Mad / Bed and Breakfast Man / Run for Your Life / Chase the Devil / Wings of a Dove / Mr Apples / House of Fun / Baggy Trousers / Our House / It Must Be Love. ENCORE: Madness / Night Boat to Cairo

“If you ever thought your middle-aged years weren’t meant for raising hell, just say to hell with the ageists and get suited and booted for a Madness show. The North London band might have been feeling their age, too, when they performed in Oakland — they joked about having come to America on the Mayflower for their first tour in 1979. But the vibes at the Fox Theater were youthful and immaculate, bringing everyone to their feet for the rocksteady beats, from the middle-aged fans to those barely out of their teens. It’s an impressive feat that the British ska revivalists that formed Madness in the late ​‘70s have retained six of its original seven members. The fanbase has remained just as devoted, not just in sound but in style. The two-tone genre (a heady blend of Jamaican ska and reggae with the punk and new wave sounds of the ​‘70s and ​‘80s, perfect for all-nighters on the dance floor) brought out the nattily dressed — slim-cut suits and pencil skirts, and the ​‘60s mod fashions made popular by the rude boys and rude girls of the scene that still persists in the Bay Area and beyond. Coming out to the instrumental theme song from Star Wars, the band (impeccably tailored, natch) launched straightaway into their early UK chart-topper ​One Step Beyond, a cover of Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster’s mostly instrumental song. An upbeat ska bop ladled generously with signature sax, it practically commanded everyone to get up and dance. From there, it was a mix of old and new, a herculean task of shoehorning a bit of everything from their 13 albums of horn-laden stompers, slow-and-steady, laid-back beats, and a few crossover pop and rock hits. Their biggest hit, 1982’s ​Our House (which was also the name of their early-aughts West End musical), with its whimsically upbeat hooks, has silly lyrics to match its party-time mood: ​“Our house, it has a crowd/ There’s always something happening/ And it’s usually quite loud.” They dipped into fan favorites, like the coming-of-age tune ​House of Fun, with its percolating bass and funhouse menace (“Welcome to the lion’s den/ Temptation’s on its way…”) and the whirligig, bouncy beats of ​Baggy Trousers, for mischievous kids who miss the freedom of youth (“Oh what fun we had/ But at the time it seemed so bad…”). They also threw in tracks from last year’s C’est La Vie, which doesn’t break any new ground musically, but does offer a tuneful, bittersweet overview of present-day perils, with its insta-celebs and political upheavals, as in the title track’s lyrics, which warn of ​“Justice, a toothless old hag/ It’s every man now on his own/ It’s all for one, you’d better run.” Given the crowd’s jubilant response for the band’s return to the U.S. (a tour was repeatedly postponed during the Covid years), there was an air of thoughtful gratitude from the band. As the crowd chanted for more, charismatic frontman Suggs mused aloud, ​“It’s not just music.” He’s right. It must be love. The opening band, Save Ferris (a name taken from the ​‘80s movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), played the hits that epitomized their third-wave ska sound, a genre which included their Orange County neighbors, No Doubt. More pop-punk and SoCal in sound and style, they were best known for their ​‘90s cover of Dexys Midnight Runners’ hit, ​Come On Eileen, and maybe for their cameo in the ​‘90s movie, 10 Things I Hate About You. An airy, mindless hit. An ​“Oh, I remember that song,” from distracted fans mired in Madness.
Robin Lapid, newhavenindependent.org

Before tonight’s gig, the band appear at Amoeba Records for an afternoon of signing.

After the fourth gig of the US tour, Madness are joined backstage by all four original members of No Doubt, who have previously cited the band as a huge inspiration. Also among the guests is American singer and TV personality Blake Shelton.

“Twelve years! You wouldn’t believe what it took to get here,” Madness frontman Suggs McPherson told the crowd at Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, who were very glad the London band were finally playing NYC again. They were supposed to play in 2020 but the pandemic obviously delayed that, and Suggs also noted that in some ways it was for the best, as during those four years, Madness released their terrific thirteenth album Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie (which went to #1 in the UK), not to mention a band memoir and accompanying three-part documentary. It all worked out and everyone onstage and off had a very good time. “I can’t believe we’re all still alive,” Suggs joked later in the show, but it is pretty remarkable that basically the same lineup that gave us their 1979 debut One Step Beyond… was on stage here 45 years later, including keyboardist Mike Barson, bassist Mark Bedford, guitarist Chris Foreman, and saxophonist/percussionist Lee Thompson, who seemed to be the keeper of good vibes (and at one point poured shots and passed them to the crowd). Drummer Danny Woodgate, who is still in the band, was not on this tour. They were augmented by a horn section and percussionist, and I thought they sounded fantastic. Even with songs from the new album, which the crowd around me seemed to know, it was a hitfest on Thursday night. And Madness have a lot of hits. Our House may have been their only US Top 40 single, but they were one of the biggest bands in England in the 1980s and most of their biggest songs (which got MTV and alt-rock radio play here) were performed at Hammerstein, much to the delight of everyone in the room, who were dancing all night. The band walked out to a mash up of The Thunderbirds/Star Wars theme and Suggs greeted the cheering crowd with “Hey You!,” as they launched into One Step Beyond; the night flew from there. The first part of their set was heavy on early classics, including Embarrassment, My Girl, The Sun and the Rain, Shut Up, Bed and Breakfast Man and Wings of a Dove. The band took a break after that, but Chris Foreman stayed onstage to perform a karaoke cover of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell which was random but fun. The band then came back to play four of their biggest songs: House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House and It Must Be Love. Their encore was introduced by a bagpipe player, and then they came back for two more songs — Madness and Night Boat to Cairo — and then said goodbye to the crowd while Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian played over the soundsystem. The crowd was in such a good sing-a-long mood, they started singing along to that too, and started dancing in a circle together. A surreal close to a wonderful night. Midway through the show, Suggs’ referenced The Life of Brian‘s joke about “What have the Romans ever given us?” in reference to ska legend Prince Buster’s influence on Madness. Suggs noted Buster gave them their name, inspired their debut single The Prince, and that their second single was a Prince Buster cover. (Madness is another cover.) It was all an intro to them doing a Prince Buster tribute, offering up another cover, Girl Why Don’t You? I was near the front for the first half of the show, which was great, but when I moved to the back after Bed and Breakfast Man I realized that was where the real party was. People had room to dance and were using it, and even the front lobby where the merch table was had loads of people shaking a leg. Watching the crowd lose it to House of Fun may have been the highlight of the night. People came dressed up. There were of course lots of Fred Perry shirts and porkpie hats on display, but there was also a large group of fans who showed up in red Madness fezes. With the Rangers in the NHL playoffs playing next door at Madison Square Garden, and fans in hockey jerseys everywhere, the corner of 8th Ave and 34th St was an interesting fashion show to say the least. The night was opened by Fishbone who I thought were also terrific despite “opening act sound.” There has been some inter-band drama lately, but this version of the lineup, featuring OG members singer/saxophonist Angelo Moore and keyboardist singer Chris Dowd, were all joy in their short set. Sometimes you get a metal Fishbone set, but they knew who they were opening for and their short set featured some of their most-loved songs, including Party at Ground Zero, Ma and Pa, Cholly, Everyday Sunshine and a cover of the Commodores’ Brick House. Angelo is still a dynamo frontman, jumping around, doing cartwheels, playing the theremin like a scratch DJ, and generally pumping up the crowd. He also addressed the Trump verdict, which had just come in a couple hours earlier, leading the crowd in a chant of “GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY” before dedicating Ugly to to him. (Madness also referenced the verdict later in the night.) When they were leaving the stage after their set, Angelo went back and grabbed the mic and told the crowd how excited he was to open for a band that were so influential to him, and he could be seen dancing and singing along to Madness’ set all night from the side balcony.
brooklynvegan.com

The frontman presents a video tour of Camden, during which he stops off at landmarks including The Dublin Castle as he relates the early history of Madness. The micro-doc is for the Netherlands’ Top 2000 A GoGo YouTube channel and runs for just over six minutes.

Back on home turf, and after a couple of weeks off, the band reconvene for the summer festival circuit, kicking off in the sunshine on the south coast. The running order is pretty much the standard Greatest Hits festival set, with four tracks from the latest album inserted and Mr Apples dropped from the performance after someone in the crowd requires medical assistance.

One Step Beyond / Embarrassment / The Prince / C’est La Vie / NW5 / My Girl / The Sun and the Rain / Hour of Need / Wings of a Dove / Lovestruck / Run for Your Life / Bed and Breakfast Man / Shut up / Round We Go / Mr Apples / House of Fun / Baggy Trousers / Our House / It Must be Love / ENCORE: Madness / Night Boat to Cairo

“Oh, what fun we had,” indeed. Walking down Margate seafront you could tell cockney legends Madness were in town thanks to the red fez-wearing crowds. The iconic ska band headlined the Dreamland stage on Friday June 14 as part of this year’s Margate Summer Series – as well as their own C’est La Vie tour. They are off the back of a No.1 studio album in the UK with Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est La Vie, knocking the likes of Drake out of the way in November. But before they sauntered onto the stage, rock band The Lightning Seeds warmed up the boisterous crowd who were more than ready to belt out their timely rendition of Three Lions. The bars which surround the main stage were packed between the performances but the queues moved quickly. Suggs and co, who had their heyday in the 70s and 80s, started their performance with what else but One Step Beyond followed by Embarrassment and The Prince. In between songs Suggs performed as a stand-up comedian and the crowd lapped up every second of it. Their newer songs such as Run For Your Life and C’est La Vie were featured as well as NW5 and The Sun and the Rain, released in 2007. Like any ‘older’ band there is a sense that the crowd, who were mainly in their 50s, wanted the hits they knew every word to and the more recent songs did fall a bit flat. This is not because they weren’t good or performed well, but rather that most of those in attendance simply didn’t know them. Around halfway through the performance, there was a pause – just after Run For Your Life – due to someone being ill. But after the break Madness came roaring back with Bed and Breakfast Man and Shut Up before heading into the encore of their truly massive hits. They left the best till last, with the lights now beaming in the dark, and finished off the entertaining night with House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House, It Must Be Love and Madness. Before heading off the stage Suggs played with the crowd, asking if they were still here, before sending the audience into a frenzy with my personal favourite – and what seemed like the song of the night – Night Boat to Cairo.
Joe Crossley, Kent Online

Madness, madness, they call it madness. And it certainly was on the Hoe as NW5’s greatest export created the mother of all knees-ups. From the front barriers to the beer tents people were skanking and stomping as Madness turned Plymouth Summer Sessions into a Saturday night party. Arriving on stage to the Thunderbirds theme, it was lift-off as One Step Beyond got the jamboree jumping, and it didn’t let up. Dressed in their sharp suits and hats, Madness were as much natty boys as nutty boys, and talking of hats, the audience was awash with them: fezzes, trilbies, and pork pies. There were also lots of DMs, Harringtons and black-and-white checks. Plymouth had really made the effort. It was worth it. Jaunty renditions of Embarrassment, The Prince, new track C’est La Vie, NW5, My Girl, and The Sun and the Moon tested the stamina of a jubilant crowd. They were up to it though. Suggs, always a wit, had even done his homework on the city. “Just got back from America,” he said. “They wouldn’t be there without you lot.” He knew all about the Plymouth Brethren too. Playing for about 90 minutes, Madness performed 22 songs, with highlights including the funky new number Run For Your Life, and first-album favourite Bed and Breakfast Man. “It was going to be a single,” said Suggs. “I don’t know why it wasn’t, perhaps there is still time.” Then things took a truly nutty turn as Chris Foreman took over vocals for a mind-boggling cover of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. Everyone loved it. With Lee Thompson blowing up a storm all evening on the sax, Chris then yelled: “It’s showtime!” Cue a rousing finale with plenty of singing along to House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House and It Must Be Love. An encore of Madness and Night Boat to Cairo was so good even the rain, which had stayed away all evening, came out to see it. “Is this cultural appropriation?” asked Suggs. “Or just a tea towel on my head?” What it was, was great fun. And it had all started five hours earlier with a fine set from Hardwicke Circus, not easy for the boys with many people still coming into the Hoe arena. Lightning Seeds were great too, with the audience in fine voice for Three Lions, singing along 24-hours before England kicked off in the Euros. The smart and catchy singles Lucky You, Life of Riley and Pure went down a treat. Marvellous. There’s another one. The Zutons performed a tight set too, all the better when Abi Harding was blowing her sax. But the 50-minute performance was, perhaps, a little too long. When Dave McCabe sang the opening line of Don’t Ever Think (Too Much): “I’m standing on the edge of a cliff…” Some wag shouted: “Jump.” There was a feeling that perhaps Lighting Seeds should have gone on after the Zutons, with the “football’s coming home” mass chorus having built momentum nicely before the main attraction. But the Zutons sure had their moment when Valerie brought back the sing-a-long vibe. People love to join in, and those three bands each gave them a chance, which they took like a striker gobbling up a loose ball. Special mention, too, to the woman who signs the lyrics during the performances. Not an easy job and performed with energy, swiftness and a smile on her face. She wasn’t the only one smiling at the end of a great third night at the Summer Sessions.
William Telford, Plymouth Herald

“Well if this is madness then I know I’m filled with gladness”. Sums it up really. The lyric from their eponymous first-album song may not have arrived until the encore but it was present throughout the evening. Madness have always been a reminder to not take life, or ourselves, too seriously. They can bring sunshine to the greyest of days, and did so in Guildhall Square, treating an exuberant crowd to most of their hits and plenty of north London banter. Welcomed on stage to the Thunderbirds theme tune, accompanied by typically comic visuals, the band romped through three classics before saying hello. One Step Beyond and The Prince came either side of Embarrassment, during which “I’m feeling twice as older” felt like a heartfelt chant from both the band and, let’s say, more senior members of the audience. Actually, doing the maths I realised that I was nearly ‘three times as older’ as when I first saw them at the Gaumont, and I wasn’t the only ex-nutty boy creaking where once I bounced. Having said that, the crowd included loads of younger folk and, surprisingly according to lead singer Suggs, lots of women, and they seemed to be enjoying the newer material. C’est La Vie, the title track of their latest album was a pleasing hark back to their earlier Ska roots. A personal favourite, the bittersweet 2007 song NW5 – “I would give you everything, for just that smile you bring, for just that song to sing” – seemed to be particularly well received. This and the ensuing My Girl reminded me that the band have always been able to deliver pathos alongside the cheeky chappie fun. Much of the stage humour was provided by Suggs and saxophonist, Lee Thompson, whose gentle sparring with the audience and each other seemed genuine and certainly not forty-five years old. Guitarist Chris Foreman, as well as keeping us informed of the England v Serbia football score, added to the chaos later by offering a karaoke version of Living on a Prayer while the band disappeared for ‘a cup of tea’. After this interlude the 80’s hits just kept coming. “There’s always something happening and it’s usually quite loud.” Our House had the whole crowd going wild, and the set came to a riotous, anthemic end with I Must Be Love. “I knew that it’s you I need to take the blues away” sums up perfectly how most fans feel about Madness. Suggs, Barso, Kix, Chrissy Boy, Woody and Bedders may have funny nicknames and cheeky grins but they are also excellent musicians and every song was delivered with class and quality. Back on stage for the encore, Madness and the classic Night Boat to Cairo allowed the Nutty Boys to finish with a flourish, reminding everyone of their Ska roots, eccentric pop songs (“It’s just gone noon, half past monsoon”) and outstanding musical ability. “Oh what fun we had”. Trousers may not be as baggy as they were back in the day but the feel good factor remained the same. As the band left the stage the PA pumped out Always Look on the Bright Side of Life and the crowd merrily dispersed singing along to the chorus.
Nick Mabey, in-common.co.uk

Madness put out an extended double-disc edition of their No1 album, with the 32 tracks including five previously unreleased numbers: I’d Do Anything (If I Could), which is credited to Chris, along with No Reason (McPherson), Hello Sun (Woodgate), Long Goodbye (Woodgate) and old favourite Culture Vulture (Barson/Thompson). Sung by Lee, the latter has been around in various guises since the 1990s, with this version more like the one performed at the 2018 House of Fun weekender than the one revealed at Madstock in 1996 that didn’t make the cut for Wonderful. Available in the usual variety of formats, the second disc also includes six live tracks from the 2023 Christmas tour: Theatre of the Absurd, C’est La Vie, Hour of Need, Round We Go, Run For Your Life, In My Street and Friday Night, Saturday Morning.

The Thunderbirds theme tune announced the arrival of Madness to the stage of Edinburgh Castle, a sure sign that the crowds would be treated to a fun-filled evening from these cheeky chappies with their slick suits, bucket hats and that unmistakeable North London banter. The set opened with One Step Beyond with its “heavy, heavy monster sound”, an early hit reminiscent of their late ‘70s ska revival days, with Embarrassment and The Prince following in quick succession. The C’est la Vie tour of the UK comes on the back of Madness gaining their first ever UK number 1 studio album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie, seeing off Taylor Swift’s 1989 from that top position, as lead singer, Suggs, happily told fans. The band performed the title track C’est la Vie, a song exploring the themes and absurdity of life along with Hour of Need, Run For Your Life and Round We Go from the same album. Suggs, sporting sunglasses and trademark suit, interjected between songs with humorous wit, suggesting that some of the audience may have inadvertently booked for the Spice Girls Reunion and Madness were not half as tough as them! The music was a good blend of more up to date and older numbers. There was something for everyone in an audience of mixed ages and young and old alike donning red fez hats; the perfect opportunity too to try out their ska dance moves from their younger days or just to join in with the beat. My Girl, an all-time favourite, and Wings of A Dove and Lovestruck hit a nostalgic note, sounding every bit as good now as they once did. There are tracks along the way such as Bed and Breakfast Man that the band felt should have been a single, but within their long career not far short of 50 years, there have been so many hits. House of Fun, their first UK No 1 single, had the crowd rise to their feet to join in with those infectious dance moves, as did Baggy Trousers and Our House, a real throwback to yesteryear. It Must Be Love, a cover by Madness of the 1971 Labi Siffre hit, raised the energy levels. “It must be love, love, love, nothing more, nothing less, love is the best”, the lyrics of a song that the crowd seemed to know so well and which saw so many couples tenderly embrace. As Madness left the stage, a lone piper appeared playing Scotland the Brave and Flower of Scotland. This was a nostalgic moment against the impressive setting of Edinburgh Castle and a fantastic lead up to the encore of the hits Madness and Night Boat to Cairo. As their career has progressed, Madness have moved closer towards conventional pop music than their ska roots, but Suggs, Barso, Kix, Chrissy Boy, Woody and Bedders, with their eclectic style and fun sense of humour, are still drawing in the fans, gaining new ones and leaving a crowd asking for more. On a parting note and what you might expect of Madness, almost all left singing to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Catherine Buchan, themodernrecord.co, 4 stars

Camden Town’s Madness braved sunny Scarbados as they headlined the Open Air Theatre as part of their summer tour. After a reel countdown, charismatic frontman Suggs shouted the instantly recognisable “Hey you! Don’t watch that, watch this” introduction of One Step Beyond. With its iconic saxophone and walking basslines, the instrumental made for a perfect opener. Just days after the Euros semi-final, they of course found the time to get everyone chanting “it’s coming home.” This was followed by The Prince, the band’s homage to ska legend Buster Prince and my favourite Madness song. Next, a sombre piano riff signalled the fan favourite NW5, transforming into a heartfelt chorus which the crowd sang along to. They then played C’est la Vie, their recent single which inspired the tour’s name. Between songs Suggs apologised to anyone at the concert who thought they were attending the Spice Girls Reunion, a joke he made the first time I saw Madness in 2018. He then began reminiscing about the band’s origins in 1976 in keyboard player Mike Barson’s bedroom, before playing My Girl. The aptness of their song The Sun and the Rain was not lost on the crowd, as their fezzes were paired with ponchos. Next up was Wings Of A Dove, and although we were seated in the stalls the song’s infectious feel good energy had everyone up, joining in with Suggs’ classic staccato dance moves. This was followed by Bed and Breakfast Man, another song I really enjoyed. If the song itself didn’t get people dancing, the huge disco ball on the screen certainly did. Despite promoting their new material, Madness still found the time for old hits such as Our House and Lamppost. A highlight of the concert was the stimulating visuals. Run For Your Life, a gloomy take on modern issues, featured a montage of modern pop culture. Mr. Apples was accompanied by a video showcasing saxophonist Thommo’s (not so great) acting skills. They continued with their classic hits, playing House of Fun with hypnotic visuals to compliment the humour and euphemisms of the song. Suggs lovingly addressed his fans once again, mentioning how nice it was to see so many young people. The band then disappeared, leaving only guitarist Chris Foreman on stage who launched into a completely unexpected cover of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. Clad in a royal mantle and pork pie hat, he looked like true ska royalty. Once Foreman was re-joined by his bandmates, they played Baggy Trousers, the nostalgic classic about Suggs’ schoolboy days. Looking down into the crowd all I could see was a sea of fezzes jumping up and down. They then concluded their main set with the sentimental It Must Be Love. After a brief interlude of bagpipe playing, Suggs returned, saying “we’ve got one more thing to say to you.” They kicked off their encore with Madness, a song originally by their hero Prince Buster but one that has come to encapsulate the band perfectly. Saving Night Boat To Cairo until last, Madness concluded their set on a high note. As usual, their exit music was Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Monty Python. One thing I loved about the concert was the band’s unique style and stage presence that has remained through the decades. They certainly know how to entertain; not only are they excellent musicians but they also had me laughing throughout the set. Their music is timeless – decades after their formation their hits are still adored and their new material has that distinct Madness sound. Overall, the great atmosphere and banter between the band made the set. To use Suggs’ own term, they really brought the ska to Ska…borough.
Lauren Wilson, nouse.co.uk

You could see that Madness were relishing bringing their own uniquely British brand of ska/ pop music to rural North Wales when they performed at Llangollen’s International Musical Eisteddfod on July 13. This was The Nutty Boys’ first appearance in the region since their much-remembered concert on Rhyl promenade in 2015. And they managed to bring that same thrilling atmosphere, which captivated that seafront audience, to Saturday’s concert. he Camden crew launched into their set with their hit One Step Beyond. Lead singer Suggs spoke of his delight at being back in Wales, revealing his connection with the country as a youngster while staying with his relatives. Addressing the packed crowd he said: “Isn’t it nice to be out and about. We’re all shapes and sizes but we’re still alive, and it’s nice to see some young people here!” The band’s followers dressed in pork pie hats and Fezzes roared with excitement as the band went on to remind us of their amazing collection of songs which include 15 top 10 UK singles like Embarrassment, The Prince and My Girl, along with tracks from the band’s recent number one album C’est La Vie and Run For Your Life. The football terrace chants continued during a fantastic performance by the group of its uplifting spiritual anthem Wings of a Dove which raised the roof of the venue. While most of the band exited the stage concertgoers earlier entertained throughout the show by the wonderful slapstick antics of saxophonist Lee Thompson were treated to more fun in the shape of an enthusiastic version of ACDC’s Highway to Hell by guitarist Chris Foreman which the crowd lapped up. Normal service, however, was soon resumed as the rest of the boys returned for home straight of their biggest hits as part of their 90-minute set. The surreal House of Fun had people all around me bursting into weird and wonderful dance moves while Baggy Trousers saw gig-goers pogoing in unison following some sage advice from frontman Suggs to a member of this cross-generational audience, Bella, to work hard at your education. Our House brought joy to everyone’s faces while arguably the group’s biggest hit It Must Be Love saw the audience take part in a moving, majestic singalong. Calls for were duly answered as the band performed an epic encore of their signature tune Madness and Night Boat to Cairo – clearly a moment the assembled army of fez-wearing fans had been waiting for and what will be remembered as an awesome climax to an unforgettable evening of live music.
Terry Canty, Denbighshire Free Press

Camden Town’s Nutty Boys brought to a close three nights of excellent music and which saw the Big Top packed with fez wearing fans. With the opening of One Step Beyond the crowd instantly knew that they were in for a real treat. Showing that they are about large sounds and big songs, front man Suggs delivered a live set that offered hit after hit such as Embarrassment and the British classic My Girl which had the crowd jumping and singing along in joyful exuberance. The Big Top was undoubtedly full of fun and Madness were as ever, fantastic live. NW5 was emotionally impactful and excellently performed, as was the lesser known songs such as The Sun And The Rain and Hour Of Need. A further highlight was Wings Of A Dove before they reached a searingly strong end to their main set, a four song run that started with Baggy Trousers, House Of Fun, Our House and set closer It Must Be Love that had the crowd belting the words right back at them. For the encore there was the anthemic Madness and the ska infused frenzy of Night Boat To Cairo which served to show that a Madness gig is fun from the off proving that they are still as nutty live.
Kevin Cooper, Derbyshire Live

With just the unmistakeable first note of gig opener, One Step Beyond, the crowd were instantly dancing and partying the night away. To see thousands of people just burst into dancing, with limbs flying everywhere in all manner of dance move, it couldn’t help but bring a smile to your face. The party continued as they performed Embarrassment, Mr Apples and Shut Up. Lead singer Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson controlled the stage, addressing the crowd in only the way he can. From giving out life advice about not falling in love with the first lamppost, a great way to introduce Lovestruck, and saying: “It’s so nice to be back here! Cardiff! Yes! People, music, friendship”. The rest of the band also put on a great show with Lee Thompson proving his incredible skills on the saxophone song after song after song. The party ended with a bang as Madness performed their most well-known hits, House of Fun, Our House, It Must Be Love and Night Boat to Cairo. The adoring fans sang It Must Be Love back to silent stage, they had cut the music to let the crowd have their moment, to which Suggs said: “Yes! You know that one!” Overall Madness brought a brilliant, fun and whacky party to Cardiff Castle which was the perfect setting for such a gig. They are welcome back to this House of Fun, anytime.
Steph Colderick, Wales Online

I’ll get this out here: I don’t think I have ever seen so many fezes in my life. You would have to go back in time to see such a sight, owing greatly again to Madness’s iconic 1979 music video Night Boat to Cairo. The merchandise stand was popping all evening long, with rows upon rows of people gathered to get a look at some of the souvenirs on display for purchase. But where the set lengths were compact and closely abided by, Madness graced the stage and performed a near-90 minute set. With all of the modern tricks applied, it became instantly clear how Madness had been able to establish such a legacy. Excerpts from films and television, their own music videos as well as fancy textual graphics provided an extraordinary backdrop for the group of bandmates. With witty banter interspersed between most songs, if I closed my eyes and only heard the banter from its members, I could almost perfectly imagine a buzzing workers’ social club. While a fair few of the tracks admittedly went over my head, it plateaued in the final half-hour of the set – a perfect storm of the outfit’s greatest hits, song after song. The sun set on the Abbey as we all stood in the ruin’s shadow, as Madness performed like only they could. Throughout the day, I couldn’t help but notice the reach of the spectacle. Oldtimers that were surely around for the advent of the group in the 1970s were still going strong, decked out in head-to-toe Madness merch! Suited blokes congregated together and went hard with pints in hand as they turned back the clock for one more night. Young children sat on their parents’ shoulders, while others mimicked what they were seeing with inflatable guitars and saxophones. One row in front of me, a blonde-haired girl that had to be my age encouraged the dancing of a woman that had to be in her 60s. Her male partner was joined by the elder’s partner for some cheeky conversation. It stood out to me as what this was all about: Music is a spectacle to be enjoyed by the masses, regardless of background, of wealth and of ethnicity. If it sounds good, it’s really good. If it’s really good, it’ll feel good – but a large part of what drives people to gigs like these is the community we find ourselves embedded within. In spite of age, gender, race and class, everybody came together in a humble showing of unity, all for a shared support and admiration for the bands who played. In these controversial times of war and acts of violence, I think it’s always important to remember times such as these. Madness are still that band.
Daniel Tomlinson, leedsliving.co.uk

Adorned in fez hats, Madness fans gathered under a perfect Sunday summer sun in the middle of Blackheath Common. Nostalgia swept through the predominantly baby-boomer crowd as Radio DJ David Rodigan prepared ska junkies for an afternoon of olden goldies, as he reminisced over the glory decades of the 70s and 80s that changed the course of music forever. His legendary playlist included iconic ska and reggae tunes from the likes of The Specials and Bob Marley, which could be enjoyed by VIPs from the comfort of the sofa lounge. The evening was still young when The Lightning Seeds graced the stage with their single Marvellous from their 1994 album Jollification. Boasting seven studio albums under their belt, the setlist appeared to be a chronological timeline of their musical career that has spanned 40 years. Lead vocalist and songwriter, Ian Broudie, closed their one-hour set with a song he wrote for his son, The Life of Riley, which the crowd reacted fondly due to its association with the BBC football programme Match of the Day during the 90s. Zuton Fever was not just the opening song for the Zutons, it was the theme of Uptown Festival. With only a six-track setlist, the tsunami of people grew further in anticipation of the band’s song Valerie, which achieved worldwide critical acclaim as a result of producer Mark Ronson’s cover album, Version, featuring the vocals of Amy Winehouse. The reinvention of the song that transitioned from an indie rock anthem into a Motown and retro Stax song became iconic, ruling the charts of 2007. The night was fast approaching and the festival was at its maximum capacity before the esteemed seven-piece ska rocksteady band Madness opened their set with their first song and studio album One Step Beyond, released in 1979. A touching moment arose as lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Foreman introduced their former landlady, who they owed all their success to, having tolerated their noise over their formative years when the band started in their bedroom in Camden Town. The eclectic pop band kept their biggest hits for the end, including iconic love song It Must Be Love, Baggy Trousers and House of Fun. The band proved themselves to be true musicians and artists, having brought love and joy to millions of fans across the world. The entire day of entertainment had to come to an end – however, the night was still young, with a lot of flyers for afterparties.
Nina Doroushi, theupcoming.co.uk

You know a band are pretty special when, 45 years on from their first single, they are still selling out venues the world over, recruiting new fans who weren’t even a thought when their mums and dads donned their first pair of Dr Martens. In the annals of pop music history, few groups have demonstrated the enduring appeal and cultural resonance of Madness. Yes, many of their members may be grandads now and could easily get by just churning through their plethora of hits – they spent a total of 214 weeks in the UK singles chart from 1980-86 – but there’s still an energy to keep producing truly great music. Don’t get me wrong, the majority of the sell-out crowd at Belfast’s Custom House Square on Friday night came for the classics, and the tempo was set early on as Suggs and co got off to a flyer, belting through One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince. However, it wasn’t long before the audience was treated to C’est la Vie and Hour of Need, both culled from their 2023 chart-topping album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie. They were thankfully met with appreciative applause – a tacit acknowledgment of the band’s evolving sound. While Madness have cultivated a reputation for ebullient anthems, their oeuvre reveals a depth often overlooked by casual listeners. Beneath the ska and reggae-inflected rhythms and catchy hooks lie poignant commentaries on racism, war, and familial discord, demonstrating a social consciousness that adds gravitas to their musical levity. I digress, though. This was a warm summer’s night and the temperature was cranked up as the crowd sang along to Wings of a Dove, Lovestruck and Shut Up. Suggs remarked how glad he was to see so many young faces in the crowd, and it was clear that this wasn’t a gig just for those of a certain age. I brought my five-year-old son for his first ever concert and he skanked with joy on my shoulders as hit after hit, including the likes of House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and Our House, ensured that the decibel level crescendoed, the energy palpable and electric. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, It Must Be Love filled the air, with a mass sing-a-long that could probably be heard throughout Belfast city centre. Signing off with Night Boat to Cairo, thousands of fezzes and pork pie hats bopped up and down in unison. Madness is a band that brings people of every age, colour and creed together. Some in society may seek to wallow in the misery of hatred, but the Nutty Boys are a shining example of how music can transcend boundaries, celebrating our shared humanity and joy.
Patrick Murphy, The Belfast Telegraph

Chris appears on episode 57 of the podcast to discuss the band’s 45-year career, including musical influences, songwriting, touring, recording, splitting up and getting back together.

The music from the TV series Thunderbirds began to play and the band members of Madness appeared one after the other on the LED wall in the background of the stage, all in the style of the well-known TV series. When the first musicians appeared on stage, the cheers from the fans grew louder. When singer Graham McPherson came on stage in a black suit and sunglasses, the audience went wild and a loud cheer could be heard. What could be more fitting than playing the song One Step Beyond first? One of Madness’s best-known songs. In the background, videos were shown on the large LED wall, which were abstract or sometimes showed the band members. While all the musicians never left their place on stage, Lee Thompson was constantly on the move that evening with his saxophone or trumpet. In his grey trench coat, sunglasses and hat, he often played with the fans in the front rows. He also tried to throw his tambourine onto his microphone stand from a short distance. Unfortunately, this only worked on the second attempt, which pleased him all the more. The boys played almost all the well-known songs one after the other that evening. Like My Girl, House Of Fun and also Our House. Of course, there were also some new songs from the latest album Theatre Of The Absurd Presents Cést La Vie. A special highlight was when Chris Foreman sang the AC/DC hit Highway To Hell in his straw hat. Even if the concert lacked a certain punch, it was a nice evening. The satisfied audience was bid farewell with the Monty Python song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Andreas Klüppelberg, reflectionsofdarkness.com

The former Madness roadie and Suggs’s best friend and best man dies aged 64 after a battle with cancer

With tickets for the Christmas tour now on sale, Suggs begins a round of media activity with an interview on the Chris Evans show. The two of them plug the festive dates, playing in America and Madness’s appearance at Car Fest 2025, where they’ll be headlining on Sunday August 24.

The frontman makes his second radio appearance of the day, joining Gabby Agbonlahor and Jeff Stelling on the breakfast show, where he discusses Chelsea and Madness, including his delight at One Step Beyond being played at Stamford Bridge.

Suggs joins host Nihal Arthanayake for an in-depth conversation on BBC Radio 5 Live. Over the course of an hour, he reveals that he’s given up drink after a long-running battle with alcoholism. He also reveals that Madness will be releasing another Greatest Hits compilation at the end of the year, plus that he’s moved into a new house in Leyton that has a man cave at the bottom of the garden, so he now communicates with wife Anne via walkie-talkie.

Suggs takes to the airwaves again, this time joining Ken Bruce to choose a selection of songs from his Golden Year, 1970, including Lola by The Kinks, Ride a White Swan by T Rex, Wild World by Jimmy Cliff and Up the Ladder to the Roof by The Supremes. The pair also chat about Madness’s upcoming tour, the House of Fun Weekender and the time Suggs was asked to play double bass at school, having never played it before.

Suggs makes another appearance on the station, this time choosing his top ten 80s songs. The rundown is: House of Fun (Madness), Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics), That’s Entertainment (The Jam), Mirror in the Bathroom (The Beat), Don’t You Want Me (The Human League), Keep On Movin’ (Soul II Soul), Relax (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), When Doves Cry (Prince), Good Thing (Fine Young Cannibals), Back on the Chain Gang (The Pretenders), Hungry Heart (Bruce Springsteen), One Step Beyond (Madness).

The director, cameraman and long-time Madness collaborator passes away aged 75 after a long illness. Jeff worked as a cameraman on many classic videos, including Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, Cardiac Arrest and Uncle Sam, and was also the brains behind Lee’s 2018 film, One Man’s Madness.

Suggs makes his seventh appearance on the long-running Sunday morning programme, joining Ben Miller, Sally Phillips, Matt Baker, Estelle and Emily Barber to discuss the year’s upcoming activity. He is also presented with a pair of walkie-talkies after his revelation earlier this month that he and wife Anne use them to communicate when he’s in his man cave at their new home. The singer also says he and his family now have an allotment, although he admits he’s ‘not particularly hands-on’.

Continuing his recent promotional activity, Suggs appears as a guest on Dermot O’Leary’s Saturday morning show, during which he discusses Record Store Day and this year’s touring activity.

For the annual collectors’ jamboree, Suggs and Mike appear at Rough Trade East in London for a one-hour signing session to mark the release of Take Cover!, a compilation of covers on translucent red vinyl. The running order is: Side A: ⁠One Step Beyond / My Old Man / It Must Be Love / ⁠In The Hall Of The Mountain King / Madness / ⁠Love Really Hurts / ⁠Sweetest Girl. Side B: ⁠Money Money Money / ⁠Oh My Love / Bittersweet / ⁠Roadette Song / If I Didn’t Care / ⁠The Harder They Come (Live At Madstock 1992).