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Tour Madness Hey You! From The Invaders To Norton Folgate. Over 30 Years of The Magnificent Seven
LATE 1976 - EARLY 1977: LONDON - Three friends based in North London (Chris Foreman, Lee Thompson and Mike Barson) leave their street gang days behind and form a band. They rehearse at the Crouch End Studios to songs like The Temptations' Just my Imagination and Fats Domino's I'm Walking (from a shoplifted album). Lee's impressive collection of ska/reggae - and Sixties soul singles contributes to the birth of the eventual Nutty Sound, and so does a shared passion for British groups like Roxy Music and Kilburn & The High Roads (precursor of Ian Dury & The Blockheads). Mike, a self educated pianist, teaches Chris to play guitar one string at a time. Lee practices on a saxophone he found after it fell off a truck. The varying degrees of talent often results in arguments between Mike and Lee, with the latter walking out and not coming back for weeks.
Rehearsals move to Mike's place early 1977; brother Ben (a member of Clive Langer's band) supervises. As sessions progress, the threesome are augmented by drummer John Hasler and bass player Carl Smyth (with whom Lee shares a day job as window cleaners). Although Carl did have experience of singing Status Quo covers in a school band, his talents leave a lot to be desired too. He plays a bass guitar that has stickers attached to the right notes. More practice and line up changes would loom in the future. But for now Ben has a surpise for the guys; they're granted access to his amplifier and his Morris 1000 van that becomes their trademark for the next two years.
June 30th 1977 - LONDON: SI Birdsall's Residence - The First Gig as The Pirates?
The Invaders 1977
November - LONDON: Rehearsal Rooms - Suggs Joins
Fall 77 - LONDON: Hampstead Trade Hall - First gig as The Invaders
The Invaders 1978
February - LONDON: City & East London College - Lucinda Garland on Sax
April 5th - LONDON: Nightingale Public House
April 22nd - LONDON: Gavin Rogers' Residence
Summer 78 - LONDON: Finchley Rd Rehearsal Basement
July 3rd - LONDON: William Ellis Secondary School
July 3rd - LONDON: Three C's Club
Fall 78 - LONDON: Blind Alley Shop Camden Lock
Fall 78 - LONDON: Rehearsal Rooms
November 10th - LONDON: Acklam Hall
November - MIDDLESEX: Polytechnic
The Invaders 1979
January 1st - LONDON: Film makers Co-op
January 7th - LONDON: Nashville Rooms
February 16th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
February 22nd - LONDON: Music Machine - Morris & The Minors become Madness
Tour Madness 1979
May 3rd - LONDON: The Hope and Anchor - 1st Gig Billed as Madness
May 4th - LONDON: The Nashville Rooms
May 7th - LONDON: Windsor Castle
June 1st - LONDON: Dublin Castle
June 8th - LONDON: Nashville Rooms
June 8th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
June 15th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
June 24th - LONDON: Hope and Anchor
June 28th - LONDON: Nashville Rooms
June 29th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
July 3rd - LONDON: Moonlight Club
July 6th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
July 8th - LONDON: Hope and Anchor
July 14th - LIVERPOOL: Eric's - 2 shows
July 21st - LONDON: Electric Ballroom
July 28th - LONDON: Archway Tavern
July 29th - LONDON: Lyceum Ballroom
July 30th - LONDON: The Pied Bull - Billed as Doll By Doll
July 31st - LONDON: Number 1 Club
August 4th - LONDON: Hope and Anchor
August 10th - LONDON: Dublin Castle
August 15th - LONDON: Rock Garden
August 17th - LONDON: Clarendon Ballroom
August 20th & 21st - LONDON: Hope and Anchor
August 24th - LIVERPOOL: Eric's
August 25th - CHELTENHAM: Whitcombe Lodge
August 26th - LONDON: Lyceum Ballroom
August 31st - LONDON: Nashville Rooms
September 1st - MANCHESTER: Factory Club
September 5th - LONDON: Dingwalls
September 8th - AYLESBURY: Friars
September 9th - LONDON: Nashville Rooms
Full TourOctober 2nd to October 13th - THE 1ST TOUR - UK
Full TourOctober 19th to November 14th - THE 2 TONE TOUR - UK
November 16th, 17th & 18th - LONDON: Electric Ballroom
Full TourNovember 21st to November 30th - ONE STEP BEYOND TOUR: Leg 1 - AMERICA
Full TourDecember 12th to December 31st - ONE STEP BEYOND TOUR: Leg 2 - UK
Tour Madness 1980
January - FRANCE: Chorus
Full TourJanuary 20th to February 16th ONE STEP BEYOND TOUR: Leg 3 - EUROPE
Full TourFebruary 21st to March 16th - ONE STEP BEYOND TOUR: Leg 4 - NORTH AMERICA & CANADA - including Nickelodeon TV
March 24th - SPAIN: Madrid
March 29th - FRANCE: La Pavilion Balrard The Europe 1 Festival
Full TourApril 21st to June 14th - UK 80 (NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO) TOUR - UK & EUROPE - includes Dance Craze gig
July 1st - PARIS: Pulsar Festival - TV highlights shown
July 12th - SWITZERLAND: - Montreux Festival
August 11th & 12th - NOTTINGHAM: Theatre Royal- Filmed for ATV: Rock Stage
Full Tour October 3rd to November 4th - MADNESS MONSTER TOUR - EUROPE Countdown Festival TV/Radio
November 7th & 8th - LONDON: Hope and Anchor - Invite only homeless charity gigs
Full TourDecember 8th to December 24th - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TOUR - UK 4th Hammersmith gig BBC Radio
December 27th - BIRMINGHAM: National Exhibition Centre
Tour Madness 1981
February 17th - POOLE: Arts Centre
February 18th - NOTTINGHAM: Rock City
February 19th - CAMBRIDGE: Corn Exchange
February 20th - NORWHICH: University of East Anglia
Full TourApril 22nd to May 11th - ABSOLUTELY ONE STEP BEYOND FAR EAST TOUR - AUSTRALASIA
Full TourMay 16th to May 23rd - NUTS IN MAY TOUR - AMERICA
June 8th - HOLLAND: Geleen Sport park - The Pink Pop Festival
June 13th - LONDON: Crystal Palace Bowl - Garden Party Festival
Full TourOctober 8th to November 19th - SEVEN TOUR - UK
November 27th - LONDON: Rainbow - Job Express charity with TV news coverage
November 29th - HAMBURG MARKTHALLE: Rockpalast
Tour Madness 1982
January 22nd - LONDON: Band HQ - Exclusive performance for a competition winner
Full Tour May 24th to May 31st - COMPLETE MADNESS TOUR: Leg 1 - JAPAN
July 20th - LONDON: Bull & Gate - Invite only show warm up for tomorrow
July 31st - IRELAND: Castlebar Festival
Full Tour October 14th to October 27th - COMPLETE MADNESS TOUR: Leg 2 - AUSTRALIA
Full Tour November 27th to December 5th - COMPLETE MADNESS TOUR: Leg 3 - EUROPE
Tour Madness 1983
Full TourFebruary 21st to March 9th - RISE AND FALL TOUR: Leg 1 - UK - Dominion shows on Radio
May 7th - LONDON: Brockwell Park - CND Rock Rally
Full TourAugust 17th to March 9th - RISE AND FALL TOUR: Leg 2 - AMERICA
December 21st - LONDON: Lyceum Ballroom - Madness Christmas Party - Mike leaves
Tour Madness 1984
January 3rd - WARSAW, POLAND: Victoria Intercontinental Banquet Room
Full TourFebruary 23rd to March 2nd - KEEP MOVING TOUR - AMERICA WEST COAST
March - LONDON: Dingwalls
July 7th - LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY: Miners Benefit
December 6th - LONDON: Wag club - Invite only for Ethiopian Famine Appeal
The Wayfinders 1985
January 28th - KENTISH TOWN BULL AND GATE: THE WAYFINDERS - A preview of new material
Tour Madness 1985
July - Rehearsal Rooms:
Full TourOctober 22nd to November 24th - MAD NOT MAD TOUR: Leg 1 - UK
December 6th - HELSINKI, FINLAND: MESSUKESKUS
December 21st - LONDON FINSBURY PARK: Party For The Unemployed
December 31st - LONDON HAMMERSMITH ODEON: MAD NOT MAD PARTY - on Whistle Test
Tour Madness 1986
January 27th - BIRMINGHAM ODEON: Red Wedge
January 28th - LEICESTER DEMONTFORT: Red Wedge - Highlights Video
Full TourApril 4th to April 8th - MAD NOT MAD TOUR: Leg 2 - EUROPE
Full TourApril 18th to May 11th - MAD NOT MAD TOUR: Leg 3 - AUSTRALIA
Full TourMay 15th to May 23rd - MAD NOT MAD TOUR: Leg 4 - AMERICA
June 17th - REYKJAVIK, ICELAND: Listapopp Festival
June 20th - LONDON: Brixton Academy - Artists Against Apartheid
June 22nd - GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
June 29th - THE HAGUE, HOLLAND: Zuiderpark Parkpop
July 4th - HARTLEPOOL, DOCKLANDS: Dock Rock
July 5th - ROSKILDE, DENMARK: Roskilde Festival - Last gig of the 80's
So far Madness have played over 300 shows since Si Birdsall's party in 1977 with the last 60+ representing the Mad not Mad era. The band take a few weeks off before commencing work on a follow up album but by September they had spilt up as Madness.
Thank you for reading Tour Madness. Much of the detail is still being built, below are added dates but only those in blue link yet to any entries. More updates coming soon here. For more information see the Forum room for planned site updates and sign up to the updates email list.
Tour Madstock 1992
A Divine return... Promotional work for the Virgin greatest hits album brings band members back into contact, the album and re-released singles brings them back into the UK Charts. After regourping for a Go TV pilot, rehearsals and warm ups begin, and Madstock see's them return to the live stage in a big way. Rejoice.
July 24th to August 5th - LONDON: - Reunion rehearsals take place
August 6th - HOLLAND THE HAGUE: Paard Van Troje - The warm up
August 8th & 9th - LONDON FINSBURY PARK: MADSTOCK - An Earthquake Erupts (TV,Video,Album)
Full TourDecember 15th - December 23rd - MADSTOCK ON CHRISTMAS TOUR - UK
Tour Madness 1993
July - BERN SWITZERLAND: GURTEN FESTIVAL
August 1st - TIPPERARY IRELAND SEMPLE STADIUM: FEILE FESTIVAL
Full TourDecember 18th to December 23rd - THE MAN IN THE MAD SUIT TOUR
Tour Madness 1994
August 6th - LONDON FINSBURY PARK: MADSTOCK II
Tour Madness 1995
Full Tour December 14th to December 23rd - MAD DOGS TOUR - Ireland & UK
Tour Madness 1996
June 21st - LONDON: - Rehearsals
June 22nd - LONDON FINSBURY PARK: MADSTOCK III
June 29th - MANCHESTER: OLD TRAFFORD STADIUM
Tour Madness 1998
Full TourApril 22nd to May 2nd - MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN TOUR - America
June 7th - LONDON FINSBURY PARK: MADSTOCK IV - DVD available
June 20th - LOS ANGELES, CA: IRVINE MEADOWS AMPHITHEATER - KROQ Weenie Roast Festival
Tour Madness 1999
Full TourApril 30th to May 2nd - UNIVERSAL MADNESS TOUR - America (Live album)
June 23rd - LONDON: Camden Lock Canal
July 23rd - BIRMINGHAM CANNON HILL PARK: Cash For Kids Concert
July 24th - BUDAPEST HUNGARY: Pepsi Sziget Festival
September 18th - TWICKENHAM: Rugby World Championship
September 30th - LONDON: Covent Garden - Dr Martin's Signing
September 30th - LONDON: Electric Ballroom
November 30th - LONDON: WALTHAMSTOW GREYHOUND STADIUM
Full TourDecember 15th to December 23rd - MADDEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR
Tour Madness 2000
June 16th - LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY: IAN DURY TRIBUTE CONCERT
July 9th - LONDON HYDE PARK: PARTY IN THE PARK
Tour Madness 2002
April 18th to the 20th - ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND, AHOY: HEINIKEN NIGHT LIVE -
June 14th - LONDON KINGS CROSS SCALA: OUR HOUSE MUSICAL - Press Launch gig
July 11th - SPAIN MARBELLA: BABILONIA - Private wedding party
August 10th - LONDON: Finchley - Theatre Protest (Unconfirmed)
October 7th - LONDON: CAMBRIDGE THEATRE - Musical Q & A
Full TourDecember 11th to 22nd - DON'T WATCH THAT WATCH THIS TOUR - UK
Tour Madness 2003
March 29th - LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL: TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
June 5th - LONDON: TOWER RECORDS - Our House Musical Signing
June 28th & 29th - ALTON TOWERS: British Telecom - Private employee only gigs
July 4th - BONN: MUSEUMSPLATZ
July 5th - GUILDFORD STOKE PARK: GUILFEST
September 7th - LONDON PALACE THEATRE: MASTERCARD PRICELESS EVENING
Full TourDecember 6th - December 18th WONDERFUL WORLD OF MADNESS TOUR - UK
Tour Madness 2004
? - BIRMINGHAM: Hotel - corporate gig
January 23rd - PARIS: Yohji Yamamoto's Fashion show
April 14th - HAMMERSMITH WORKING MEN'S CLUB - Ken Livingston fundraiser
June 19th - OXFORD BLENHEIM PALACE: VODAPHONE SUMMER BALL - Invite only show
July 8th - MANCHESTER OLD TRAFFORD: MOVE FESTIVAL
Tour Of The Dangermen 2004/05
Madness call themselves The Dangermen, after the theme-tune of the TV series Danger Man starring Patrick McGoohan, for a four-night stint at the Dublin Castle, during which they'll play songs that are intended for a covers-album. Gig's billed as The Dangermen then continue into the next year, alongside seperate billed gigs as Madness, until the new cover songs are merged slowly into the main set around the time of the album release. The idea of recording a covers-album first came to discussion in 1983 but fell through when UB40 successfully released 'Labour Of Love. For a long time the idea of Madness playing at the Dublin Castle again was dismissed as idle hope, so it doesn't come as a surprise that all tickets disappear despite them being billed under the new name. A bag-piper heralds the return of the band who last played the Dublin Castle in March 1981 during the making of 'Take It Or Leave It'. So begins a parallel chapter with a new band title. A period with a back to-basics aspect, for the love of covering old originals, perfect for the 25th anniversaries of Madness and the 2-Tone ska revival but not without it's own problems.
May 19th to May 22nd 2004 - LONDON: DUBLIN CASTLE
July 25th 2004 - LONDON: DUBLIN CASTLE
--------
June 28th 2005 - LONDON: KINGS CROSS SCALA
July 4 & 12th 2005 - LONDON: KINGS CROSS SCALA
July 18th 2005 - LONDON: ELECTRIC BALLROOM
July 19th 2005 - HOLLAND AMSTERDAM: MILKY WAY
Spetmber 2nd 2005 - GERMANY: KOLN - 02 E-Werk free gig
Full Tour September 18th - 24th THE WEST COAST USA TOUR
October 16th - BELGIUM: Brussels Circus Royal
October 17th - PARIS: Olympia Hall
October 18th - HOLLAND: Heineken Music Hall
Tour Madness 2005
Full Tour June 11th - June 25th - THE FOREST TOUR
September 17th LOS ANGELESE,CA: KROQ INLAND INVASION
November 18th WREXHAM: Party For Pudsey
December 4th LONDON: THE ASTORIA
December 5th NOTTINGHAM: ROCK CITY
December 12th LONDON: Arlington House
Tour Madness 2006
July 6th GERMANY: Munich
July 7th GERMANY: Bonn
July 14th GERMANY: Berlin - Zitadelle
July 15th GERMANY: Ahaus
July 16th GERMANY: Freiburg
July 22nd FRANCE: Vielles Charrues
July 23rd SPAIN: Benacasim
July 26th JAPAN: Osaka - Namba Hatch
July 27th JAPAN: Tokyo - AX Shibuya
July 28th JAPAN: Fuji Rock
August 5th PORTUGAL: Sudoeste
August 7th BELGIUM: Lokerse
August 9th MONACO: Sporting club
August 10th SPAIN: Marbella Puerto Banus Bull Ring
September 29th LONDON: Barbican - With Ska Cubano
November 17th ARGENTINA: Personal Fest
November 18th ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires - Madness with Dancing Mood
Full TourDecember 7th to December 20th - TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE AND BEYOND TOUR - UK
Tour Madness 2007
March 28th LONDON: The Old Clapham Grand
June 3rd ISLE OF MAN: Peel Bay Festival
June 16th ATHENS: Ejekt festival
June 23rd GLASTONBURY: Lost Vagueness Tent
June 24th LIVERPOOL: Knowsley Hall
July 5th IRELAND: Cork Marquee
July 6th BELGIUM: Zottegem
July 15th GUILFORD STOKE: Guilfest
July 20th NEWMARKET: Race Course
July 22nd NORWICH: Blickling Hall
August 11th ASCOT: Race Course
August 12th HUNGARY: Budapest Sziget
September 8th - ISLE OF WIGHT: BESTIVAL - Surprise Guests & Acoustic tent
October 26th - DUBAI: Media City Amphitheatre
November 10th - LONDON: Grosvenor Hall - children’s Leukaemia charity
Full TourDecember 3rd to December 14th - TRANSPORT FROM LONDON TOUR - UK
Tour Madness 2008
January 8th - BRIDGWATER PALACE NIGHTCLUB: Strummerville - (Andy Mackay Sax)
April 6th - AUSTRIA MAYRHOFEN: Snowbombing - TV Clips on Channle Four highlights
April 8th - LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL: TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
June 13th - AINTREE: Race Course
June 16th - LONDON THE BREWERY: MOJO Honours Awards - (Dave Robinson)
June 17th & 18th - DUBLIN: The Tripod
June 20th - BARCELONA: Sonar Festival
-------
June 23rd - LONDON HACKNEY EMPIRE: rehearsals
June 24th to 26th - LONDON HACKNEY EMPIRE: The Liberty of Norton Folgate
June 28th - DONCASTER: Race course
July 6th - SPAIN BILBAO: BBK Live Festival
July 8th - MONTREUX: Jazz Festival
August 7th - SANDOWN: Race course - (Mike is missing for 1st half)
August 8th - NEWMARKET RACE COURSE: Newmarket Nights
December 15th - BELGIUM: FOREST NATIONAL
December 18th - MANCHESTER: Central
December 19th - LONDON GREENWHICH: The 02 arena
Tour Madness 2009 & Beyond
Full Tour March 26th - April 5th - V FESTIVAL AND MORE - AUSTRALIA
Full Tour April 24th - LONDON: WORLD TOUR OF CAMDEN - Camden Crawl busk & bus gigs
May 19th - LONDON: HMV Oxford Street - Album signing and in store gig
May 21st - LONDON: NORTON FOLGATE: The Light Bar - Parliment in session
May 21st - LONDON: NORTON FOLGATE: The Light Bar - Album Launch Party
May 30th - NEWBURY: Racecourse
May 31st - HOLLAND MEGALAND: 40th PINKPOP FESTIVAL
June 5th - GERMANY, BERLIN: CITADEL MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 6th - GERMANY: ROCK AND PARK
June 7th - GERMANY: ROCK AND RING
June 9th - PORTUGAL: Lisbon Calling
June 11th - SPAIN: Madrid
June 13th - NORFOLK: Cotessey Showground
June 17th - FRANCE: Cineaqua Paris - Invite only with Radio Nostalgie
June 20th - LONDON: HMS BELFAST - Busking For Cancer Launch Party - Short acoustic set
June 26th - STROUD, MINCHINHAMPTON: Gatcombe Park
June 28th - GLASTONBURY: Festival
July 3rd - LONDON: Hilton Hotel - The Silver Clef Awards
July 4th - POLAND: Open Festival
July 5th - DENMARK: ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
July 10th - SWEDEN: HULTSFRED
July 12th - SERBIA: EXIT FESTIVAL
July 17th - MADSTOCK V - LONDON: Victoria Park
July 18th - ROMSEY: Broadlands Country Estate
July 19th - NOTTINGHAM: Woolaton park Splendour Festival
August 8th - RUSSIA: MOSCOW Afisha Picnic
August 14th - NORWAY: Oya Festival Oslo
August 28th - FRANCE PARIS: Rock en Seine
September 27th - LONDON: Regent Street Festival - On Absolute Radio
Full Tour December 1st - 29th - THE LIBERTY OF NORTON FOLGATE TOUR - Uk & Ireland
December 31st 2009 - January 1st 2010 - EDINBURGH - Hogmanay
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