Madness

Genres:	Music Videos & Concerts • Pop / Rock • Reggae • Television
Descriptive "tags":	ska • 80s • british • new wave • pop
Decades Active:	1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

This highly regarded UK ska/pop band evolved from the London-based Invaders in the summer of 1979. Mike Barson aka Monsieur Barso (Michael Wilson Barson, 21 May 1958, London, England; keyboards), Chris Foreman aka Chrissy Boy (b. Christopher John Foreman, 8 August 1956, London, England; guitar) and Lee Thompson aka Kix/El Thommo (b. 5 October 1957, London, England; saxophone) had been playing together since 1976, and were joined in 1978 by Suggs (b. Graham McPherson, 13 January 1961, Hastings, Sussex, England; vocals), Mark Bedford aka Bedders (b. 24 August 1961, London, England; bass), and Dan Woodgate aka Woody (b. Daniel Mark Woodgate, 19 October 1960, London, England; drums). Following a brief period as Morris And The Minors the band changed their name to Madness, and the classic line-up fell into place in late 1979 with the recruitment of Chas Smash (b. Cathal Joseph Patrick Smyth, 14 January 1959, England; vocals/trumpet).

By this point...

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