Re: [total-madness] Re: Wanted-Original Madness fans

[Adele Hargreaves]

Paul & gang I don't for one moment believe that Angela & Kate at the Beeb have any intention of putting Madness in that sort of light, everything that is being done for the show is pre-arranged & discussed with the band.  In fact they've spent days & days filming, getting to know what the band are about. The band feel that we the fans are an incredibly important part of Madness as a whole. They aren't looking for those tragically mis-informed freaks that make up the racist element of Skins, who were more interested in causing trouble than what the band were saying.   What Angela actually said was: >We'd like to talk to die-hard Madness fans who were part of their early skinhead following.   Personally I think the guys are to be applauded for having an honest documentary, lets face it a lot of the bands out there today, would have us believe that they have these gloriously untainted pasts, everything was sweetness & light. Its cobblers. Madness had a problem that wasn't their fault, they carried on & are publicly known to oppose all racism. I think they've learned their lessons in the past & I seriously doubt that this documentary will be used to detract from the band.   Adele   ----- Original Message ----- From: phurley To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 05, 1999 10:12 PM Subject: [total-madness] Re: Wanted-Original Madness fans Hi Everyone, I just wanted to make 100 % sure that Robert and Adele know what they're doing in asking for original SKINHEAD fans who have remained die-hard ever since for this documentary. I, like many others I'm sure, am an original fan since 1979 but I am not a skinhead, though I have nothing against skinheads at all ( I just don't have the hair for it!). All that I'm worried about is that the programme will turn into a stitch-up about Madness and racism (which I thought had been buried many years ago but with a new generation of people aware of Madness I suppose there's always the danger of it resurrecting). Whilst none of us I suppose will know the angle of the programme until it is actually broadcast, I would hope that the band and especially any other contributors to it would be aware of the potential for the whole Nazi thing to blow up again and be careful as to what they say. Just remember that true skinheads can be 'black,white, chinese,or anything really' and that you don't find yourself saying 'Don't quote me on that'!  Sorry to send such a serious mail at a time of such great excitement but as I said I thought all that was buried years ago and I would hate it to resurrect itself and cost the lads brownie points and sales Cheers Paul