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NUT THE NINE O’CLOCK NEWS
Madness discuss the rising cost of wackiness by Robin Smith
IT’S GETTING expensive being a nutty boy.
The Madness feature film ‘Take It Or Leave It’ cost £30,000, but it hasn’t been a success and the band have hardly made a penny our of it. In their record company’s basement there’s a dusty and depressing pile of copies of the movie.
The film traced the history of Madness from their early days and although it was a commercial failure, Suggs says it was an artistic success.
“If anything it probably came out at the wrong time,” he says. “We had problems with the distributer and because there was so much other Madness material around at the time, I don’t think a lot of kids could afford to see it.
“Yes it’s cost us, but I’d rather do something I felt had artistic merit than sell my story to the ‘News of The World’ for £500. We tried to be truthful in the film. We told the story of a new band in a different way from the standard rock ‘n’ roll film like ‘Stardust’ which gives a false impression of what it’s all about. We might be able to sell the film to television and make some money that way.”
Madness might have got their fingers burned over the film, but it seems unlikely they’ll go under. Cleverly they’ve invested money in their work rather than blowing their cash on fast cars, faster women and expensive houses.
They have their own company which employs a permanent staff of eight people and they have their own office. Soon they want to buy a recording studio and encourage younger bands.
Is Madness all in the mind as a song on their new album ‘The Rise and Fall’ says?
“When we started we were the Jack the Lad ska boys going around with our thumbs in our braces,” says Carl. “We used to get around a bit but we’re past that now. Nowadays we’re kind of looking at the band as being a long term investment, something to give people opportunities and not just a hit machine. We want to give opportunities to ourselves and the people who work with us.”
THE YOUNGEST person to benefit from the Madness Corporation is six year old Karen Allen, who’s done the cover art for their latest single ‘Our House’. Madness rang up a local primary school and asked the teacher to send some of their children’s artwork to them and Karen’s was the best.
‘Our House’ is featured on the new album and it seems to be quite a turning point in the band’s career. Wacky numbers get mixed with some very serious thinking on the state of the world.
It’s a big change after ‘Driving In My Car’ eh what, lads? Wouldn’t you agree that was an awful single?
“We wanted it to be a bit more surreal,” says Carl. “I think it needed more work on it. For ‘Our House’ we all set ourselves a little project to write things about home.
“You see, one of our problems before has been that we’ve had to do things too quickly. We’ve just changed our management and the idea is that we’re not going back to the old routine of following every album and single with a tour.”
But Madness should be out on the road again in January, this time with a string and brass section. There’ll also be some surprises which they’re keeping under wraps. The band have just returned from an Australian tour, the latest in a series of worldwide conquests. The only country that doesn’t seem to be succumbing to their magic is America.
“We have a cult following over there, but nothing too big,” says Suggs. “It doesn’t worry us. A lot of groups get carried away with the place, have one hit and then fade. It’s the kind of place where it’s here today gone tomorrow.”
The band’s latest visit to Australia was more pleasant than their last tour. When they were down under before there was a general strike and they were faced with a 2,000 mile journey between gigs in a bus.
“In Japan I’m a giant,” says Suggs. “I feel like Gulliver in Lilliput, Japanese people only come up to my chest. But it’s a whole different culture over there, they only seem to appreciate us on a superficial level and the place is so crowded I find it difficult to breathe after a week or so.”
WHILE IN Japan, Madness signed up to do some motorbike ads. On British television we might also soon see them advertising the delights of Smiths Crisps.
“We’ve also been approached to do some ads for Weetaflakes. A lot of the band are into them,” says Carl.
It’s always strange when meeting Madness to discover what down to earth people they truly are.
“I think people might think we’re freaks all the time,” says Suggs. “It’s a bit like being a well known comedian who is always expected to be funny to order.
“It’s like you’re sitting down somewhere and somebody comes over and expects you to stand on your head or something.
“At the BBC they think we’re going to start running wild. They say ‘no you can’t go into that cupboard’ and the security men think we’re odd. It only makes us worse when we go into the studio, it all really comes out then.”
Since the Jam and Squeeze have split up there have been rumours floating around that Madness might be doing the same, but they say that the thought hasn’t crossed their minds.
“Weller said that the Jam had gone as far as they could go, but we still haven’t climbed all the peaks,” says Suggs.
“There’s seven people in this band so it’s still stimulating,” says Carl. “It’s like a race to see who can come up with the best ideas.
“It’s funny but I suppose we’re quite old men now,” says Suggs. “I suppose we’re not the young upstarts we used to be. There’s a lot of newer stuff. But I still reckon that Duran Duran are a poor imitation of the Original Mirrors.
“I think Adam Ant tried to be a second David Bowie but he’s gone for it too fast. I also think we’ve kept Bad Manners from having the success they deserve. I’m probably being big headed by saying that, but I believe it’s true.”
Suggs has become interested in politics and he’s even toyed with the idea of standing for Parliament!
“The way I see it is that Maggie Thatcher is running this country for businessmen,” he says. “That doesn’t mean a thing to an unemployed kid. I’d like to see a lot of things done. I’d like to see a better education system where kids are encouraged to learn.”
But for the time being Suggs is content to return home to his wife and baby and Carl is busy supervising building work at his house.
“I’m like everybody else, I go home, kiss the baby and sit on the settee and have a cuddle with my wife,” says Suggs.
“The best thing is when you’ve done a video and you can go home and watch it,” says Carl. “Seeing ourselves in action is a big thrill.”
- Contributed by Fred Boeuf
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