In The Southampton Daily Echo {my local paper} tonight
there is an interview with Carl alongside a picture in
which Madness look like seven cardboard cutouts stuck
together!! The interview reads as follows:
It's a mad, mad world
Madness, those original nutty boys play the BIC tonight.
One of those great British singles band, who stormed the
charts with a combination of sure-fire pop nous, cheeky
gang mentality and endearing videos, this year the band
even has a brand new album 'Wonderful' to promote.
Co-singer Carl "Chas Smash" Smyth explains the band's
renaissance-although he admits he never expected the band
to be together 20 years since they first hit the charts
with hits like 'Baggy Trousers', 'House Of Fun' and 'One
Step Beyond'.
"I think there's a pop path that runs along and a few of us
and some other pop bands are on the trunk road running
along on our own little world" he says
"In 1979 I wouldn't have believed we'd have got this far.
We thought we were lucky with each single. It's a funny old
game!"
Madness originally split in the mid-80s. The band had
become steadily more serious in their writing and image and
were worn down after years of touring and the music
industry machine.
The turning point came with the timely release of a
greatest hits collection that unexpectedly sent them back
to the top of the charts in 1992. It was time for a
reunion.
"I was working for Go Discs, and Virgin said they were
gonna release a greatest hits so we got really involved
with it." says Carl.
"We did the advert and got as involved as we do with
anything - and it seemed that if we were going to reform
then this was our chance. We got some dates in Finsbury
Park and we thought it would be great to play a gig in our
local area. It took us a bit by surprise."
The band became a regular fixture of the summer festivals,
appearing at one-off gigs rather than embarking on long
tours.
The album is Madness's first for 14 years but the band
weren't in a hurry to record it. "We'd thought about a new
album since 1992".
"We were waiting for the songs to come really and weren't
willing to record anything that wasn't going to stand up to
our legacy if you can call it that" adds Carl
Luckily it wasn't long before the band were making a return
to the charts with the singles 'Lovestruck' and 'Johnny The
Horse'.
Carl says "It was great. I'm more concerned about chart
position now than I ever was".
"Before it was about being in a band, now it's like 'God, I
hope we make a dent!', you know?"
Chris Lawrenson The Daily Echo
Fiona Linnell
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