Knocking Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) down to Number 2 following three consecutive weeks at the top of the Official Albums Chart, this is Madness’s first studio album to manage a Number 1 – their previous two being greatest hits collections Complete Madness (1982) and Divine Madness (1992). This also marks the group’s 20th Top 40 album to date, and 11th Top 10.
Madness: ‘The Rolling Stones? They just ruining retirement for everyone!’
When Suggs was 20, and Madness were in the flush of success that saw them reach the top 10 with 15 singles in just three years, the singer was interviewed for Smash Hits by Neil Tennant.
“I said, ‘There’s no way I will be playing that f***ing “Baggy Trousers” when I’m an old man of 30.’” He laughs – cackles, rather – since that’s exactly what he will be doing next month at Madness’s annual run of Christmas shows, at the age of 62.
“But the f***ing Rolling Stones just keep f***ing going and ruining it for everyone. You’re supposed to be f***ing dead now!”
Back then, Madness were the Nutty Boys: street-smart (and street-tough) kids from Camden Town and Kentish Town, whose songs reflected the turmoil of teenage life with wit and empathy and joy.
They were the band who, as one of their songs put it, kept going “One Step Beyond” – in their videos, in their ability to create chaos that they just about harnessed. These days they are rather more venerable. Suggs is in his seventh decade, though his ability to insert expletives into any sentence is a testament to that past.
It’s also an indication of how combustible Madness can be. They can disagree about anything, Suggs says.
At the moment, it’s what they’ll be playing at those Christmas shows. “There’s huge arguments about how many songs we play off this new album. But who do you think’s coming? Do you think there are going to be any office parties there? What do you reckon? Do you want to hear our new album, with your party hats on? I don’t think so. So do five or six new songs, for your own mental health. But then they’ve got to be given the big guns, out of the old purple velvet bag of joy.”
Madness 13th album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie, is out November 17th via BMG. As a preview, they’ve shared three songs from the project. Out in November ahead of a UK tour
Theatre of the Absurd marks the first album from Madness since 2016’s Can’t Touch Us Now. It was recorded in Cricklewood, London at the beginning of this year, where members Graham “Suggs” McPherson, Mark Bedford, Chris “Chrissy Boy” Foreman, Mike “Barso” Barson, Lee Thompson, and Dan “Woody” Woodgate found harmony alongside engineer and mixer Matt Galsbey, Consequence reports.
Tying the 14 songs together is a prologue from actor (and longtime fan) Martin Freeman that runs throughout the album. Pre-orders for Theatre of the Absurd are ongoing.
Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie Tracklist:
01. Theatre of the Absurd
02. If I Go Mad
03. Baby Burglar
04. C’est La Vie
05. What on Earth Is It (You Take Me For?)
06. Hour of Need
07. Round We Go
08. Lockdown and Frack Off
09. Beginners 101
10. Is There Anybody Out There?
11. The Law According to Dr. Kippah
12. Run for Your Life
13. Set Me Free (Let Me Be)
14. In My Street
Madness 2023 Tour Dates:
11/30 – Aberdeen, UK @ P&J Live
12/01 – Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
12/02 – Newcastle, UK @ Utilita Arena
12/04 – Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff International Arena
12/05 – Nottingham, UK @ Motorpoint Arena
12/07 – Liverpool, UK @ M&S Bank Arena
12/08 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
12/09 – Manchester, UK @ AO Arena
12/11 – Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre
12/12 – Bournemouth, UK @ International Centre
12/14 – Sheffield, UK @ Utilita Arena
12/15 – London, UK @ The O2
12/16 – Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena
