 |
 Return to Homepage |
Type some text in the box below and let us find it for you ...
Madness Central Video Player
Official MadSpace: Latest Blogs
The below is a live RSS blog feed from the Official Madness profile on Myspace.To view any of the three latest blogs simply click on its title ...
Madness Central on The WebIn addition to this site we also have profiles on the below social networking sites.
Click on the required icon and feel free to send us a message and/or friend request.
Contact Madness Central ManagementAny queries, comments or suggestions relating to this site are always welcome and can be sent to the Madness Central management team using the form below.
Privacy Policy: Any data submitted via the above form will only be used for the purpose stated herein. In no situation will the senders name and/or email address be sold or distributed to third parties.
Navigation QuickLinks
| News Blog Interviews Lyrics Interactive Discography |
Downloads In Print Tour Madness Images MC Forum |
Return to HomepageReturn to Top of Page
Tour Madness October 19th to October 13th 1979 - THE FIRST TOUR UK
October 2nd, 1979 COVENTRY: Warwick University
With The Prince reaching Number 16 in the UK Top 40 and work on their debut album finished, Madness embark on a tour of the Midlands area. These shows are basically a warmup for the '2-Tone' tour that the band will take part in. The first show is scheduled for Coventry, hometown of The Specials and The Selecter, but Madness don't turn up.
October 4th, 1979: LEEDS: Brannigan's
October 4th, 1979: LEEDS: F Club
Support: News
October 5th, 1979: RETFORD: Porterhouse
This show takes place on Lee's 22nd birthday. The band have an afternoon meeting with Sammy Jackson, owner of the Porterhouse. Like Madness, Jackson is in for a bit of fun and stages a prank on Suggs and Carl. They have to blow two matches in a bucket of water to each other, but the barwoman drowns their heads by slapping them with a tea towel.
October 6th, 1979: HUDDERSFIELD: Polythecnic
Support: The Selecter
On this tour, Madness are joined by American video clip director Chuck Stadler. His van ends up trashed during riots caused by fans who are refused entry because of the 'no skinheads' policy that's been launched by many concert venues since the outbreak of crowd violence.
October 8th, 1979: OLDHAM: Civic Hall
At security-checks, a lot of weapons are confiscated.
October 9th, 1979: SHEFFIELD: Limit Club
October 10th, 1979: NOTTINGHAM: University
Line up: Madness, The Merton Perkas.
October 11th, 1979: HULL University
October 12th, 1979: LONDON: Electric Ballroom
Attendance: 1500 - sellout
Support: Bad Manners, Echo & The Bunnymen
After the Midlands dates, Madness play a homecoming show at the Electric Ballroom, which they headline for the first time. Purely because of their looks, the band have also drawn the attention of neo Nazis who support right wing organisations like the National Front and the British Movement, and take great delight in spoiling the evening by chanting "Sieg Heil!". Echo & The Bunnymen are booed off after only two songs. Suggs tries to calm down things, but the situation worsens to the extent that it affects Madness' set as well. Gill Pringle writes in her review for Record Mirror: 'Without being able to pin it down to anything, I thought that this was a bad night for them. They lacked their usual energy and there was an air of restraint. Okay, Chas Smash was there with the usual introduction, but even his dancing flagged half way through. The band themselves didn't seem to be having a good time. Nor did they pose as much. The air of lunacy was temporarily broken. And even the audience who obviously wanted to dance, were finding it difficult to move. I like Madness, and it must be hard to be funny all the time. The set opened with One Step Beyond and went on to include their version of Swan Lake, Tarzan's Nuts (with nuts thrown at the audience), the original Madness. and finishing up with The Prince to guarantee a couple of encores' .
October 13th, 1979: BRIGHTON: Polythecnic
Support: The Lambrettas
The pre-2-Tone' tour ends in Brighton where the Big Adventure with The Specials and The Selecter will start six days later. As in London the evening is spoiled by the attendance of neo-Nazis.
Return to Homepage | Return to Top of Page