Word in from our friend Charles at the BBC that Chas and Woody will be appearing on the Late Show with Keith Middleton on 28 August 2010 at 9:00 pm.
It’s an exskavaganza with Horace Panter of the Specials and Ranking Roger of the Beat (amongst others) taking part.
Steve Bunyan at Union Square Music alerted Madness Central to some great news: Madness’ “Total Madness” greatest hits compilation topped 100,000 sales! Here’s the article from Music Week:
Madness took time out of their busy schedule yesterday to receive an award from Union Square Music to celebrate over 100,000 sales of their Total Madness Greatest Hits album.
The album, which was released on 21st September last year, was supported by an extensive marketing campaign and TV advertising, catapulting it to number 11 in the UK Chart and helping it stay in the top 75 for 14 weeks.
The band, fresh from their fantastic headline slot at T in the Park at the weekend, were filming idents for UK Gold’s ‘Summer Comedy Madness’ season. They were joined by long-term producer Clive Langer, who also received an award for the production of all of Madness’s singles along with his collaborater Alan Winstanley.
The awards were presented by USM’s Director of Marketing, Steve Bunyan and Label Manager Holly Barringer, who thanked the band for all their hard work and congratulated them on their continuing success after over 30 years in the business.
Union Square Music, who took over the band’s back catalogue in 2008, have to date re-released critically acclaimed expanded versions of the first five original Madness albums on their imprint Salvo, plus several hits packages, selling over 250,000 units so far. More releases are scheduled for Q4 this year and throughout 2011.
This Saturday, 5th of June, Suggs will participate in the BBC 2 series ‘I’m in a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band!’ Taken from the BBC 2 website:
After five documentaries exploring the DNA of the rock ‘n’ roll band and the roles in the band, from lead singer through guitarist to drummer, the series goes live with Jonathan Ross at BBC Television Centre as the nation decides who the greatest rock ‘n’ rollers ever are.
Jonathan is joined by a panel of rock ‘n’ roll experts – Lauren Laverne of 6 Music and Kenickie; Stewart Copeland of The Police; and Mark Radcliffe, narrator of the documentary series, Radio 2 presenter and member of The Shirehorses – to debate the UK’s favourites, accompanied by a live audience, a house band and some of the great rock ‘n’ roll songs.
The programme follows an online vote on the I’m in a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band! website, with the top three bands, singers, guitarists, drummers and bass players unveiled and debated on the show. Advocates including Al Murray, Suggs, Mark Ronson and Sharleen Spiteri speak on behalf of their favourites and lock horns with the panel of experts, with the nation then invited to vote on each category. The results are announced at the end of the show, crowning the nation’s favourite band of all time and unveiling a fantasy band consisting of the nation’s favourite singer, guitarist, drummer and bass player.
Episode 6 of ‘I’m in a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band!’ airs this Saturday at 22:00 on BBC Two except in Northern Ireland (analogue) and Wales (analogue).
Steve Bunyan, Director of Marketing at Union Square Music, sent along a note to Madness Central alerting us to the release of a new Madness compilation cd entitled ‘Ultimate Madness’, which will be available exclusively at Tesco and Tesco.com.
Here’s what Steve had to share:
You may be interested to know that we are releasing a 21 track single CD Ultimate Madness best of exclusively with Tesco and Tesco.com next week for Father’s Day. £7.95 instore
Nothing new for the fan I’m afraid but with the power of Tesco’s behind it will hopefully sell well and keep reminding the great British public about our favourite band. The album will be TV advertised from this Sunday and there will hopefully be some radio promotion to tell you about in the next few days.
A standard single CD version of One Step Beyond (with the original album track listing and artwork) will also be exclusively available from Tesco.com ahead of a more general release later in the year.
The track listing for Ultimate Madness:
The Prince ~ One Step Beyond ~ My Girl ~ Night Boat To Cairo ~ Baggy Trousers ~ Embarrassment ~ The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven ~ Grey Day ~ Shut Up ~ It Must Be Love ~ Cardiac Arrest ~ House Of Fun ~ Driving In My Car ~ Our House ~ Tomorrow’s (Just Another Day) ~ Wings Of A Dove ~ The Sun And The Rain ~ Michael Caine ~ NW5 ~ Dust Devil ~ Forever Young
Steve was also good enough to attach images of the album art, with and without the exclusive Tesco sticker.
The Griffin Players, one of the longest running drama groups in Luton and Dunstable are very proud to present the amazing, Olivier Award winning musical, Our House.
Set to the iconic music of Madness, this cleverly written show promises to be a fantastic night. Following the story of young Joe Casey, we see the two different paths his life could take after he is faced with one of those crossroad choices – stay or run?! With a talented cast and brilliant band, this fast moving comedy adventure is guaranteed to have you out of your seats, dancing and singing along to many classic Madness hits.
So slip on those baggy trousers, and go driving in your car along to Casey Street, were we welcome you to “Our House”
The production will be staged at the Luton Library Theatre from the
16th to the 19th of June 2010
Ticket prices are:
Adults £11
Concessions £9 (Wed/Thurs)
Call the Griffin Players Box Office on 07906 075455 or the Library Theatre on 01582 547474.
Alternatively email boxoffice@griffinplayers.co.uk or go online to http://www.griffinplayers.co.uk.
If you have yet to enjoy the Suggs travelogue “Suggs’ Italian Job”, it is now available as a free streaming presentation on Sky.com.
All eight episodes of Suggs’ journey through his adopted holiday home are available at Sky.com, covering subjects from pizza to opera to Neapolitan puppetry. Ever the charismatic TV presenter, “Suggs’ Italian Job” is well worth the viewing.
Madness Central has received word from Terry Edwards that he’ll be playing with Madness at the Caribana Festival in Switzerland on 12 June. Terry will be taking over trumpet duties in the horn section for the festival.
Terry has collaborated with Madness several times, both in studio and live. Terry is also the author of ‘33 1/3 One Step Beyond’, the fan and critically acclaimed non-fiction tome of Madness’ debut album, ‘One Step Beyond.’
Caribana Festival Official Website:
http://www.caribana-festival.ch/en/2010/
The Olivier award-winning Madness musical Our House is taking the stage once again at the Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales.
Starring James Randall in the role of Joe, the Pontypridd Theatre Company will be performing their production of Our House from May 19 through May 22, 2010.
Tickets are £6.50 and £8; call 01443 485934 to reserve your seats.
Madness is confirmed to perform at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary, this August.
The festival, which begins on August 11 and ends August 18, this year features a bevvy of huge names in music. Including Madness, the all-star line up boasts The Specials, Muse, Bad Religion, and The Hives amongst dozens of others.
Madness performs the first night of the festival, Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 10:30pm.
Sziget Festival, Obudai Island, Budapest, Hungary
Official Sziget Festival Website
http://www.sziget.hu
Ticket Information
http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english/ticket
Madness Management have confirmed that the long rumoured Madness DVD boxset is indeed in the making. Artwork is drafted and the contents are being decided. We’ll post the latest just as soon as more information is available.
