The Madness Story 1984

Originally broadcast on MTV. Taken from a VHS video tape from 1984, the quality is a bit dodgy but that's to be expected.
I am making no profit from this video, it's just for love of the band.

[@djtigerstripes]

How a bunch of guys from working class backgrounds, somewhat troubled youth, some w criminal records banded together to make such utterly ambitious music with complex arrangements and poignant lyrics and do so for so long and have so many hit records is really one for the history books and is a testament to their hard work, vision and creativity. Pure class.

[@user-eo2oz2tf4q]

And it all started with the A.G.B. from kentish town, highgate road.N.W.5

[@user-eo2oz2tf4q]

Spot on mate... Me kix.. Mr B.. Chrisy boy fighting hells angels at the age of 17...than on to the old Bailey..

[@thomasdupont7186]

To be fair, the so called"working class" has been inventing most of the musical genres for the last century...

[@wilk027]

Bedders is such a great bass player. It always seems to go unnoticed.

[@dudeatx]

And his basslines are really fun to play too - I learned bass copying him and Bruce Foxton.

[@sirfizz6518]

One of the main factors in why Madness is so great.

[@fugazi_]

They're all genius in their particular way, every member has contributed quite a lot. Barson incredibly gifted one and the driving force of the early days. But Bedders and Woody joining the Invaders was what made them take off after all. Love them as the collective that they are, but if I had to pick my favorite musician, it'd be Bedders as well!

[@gargantuk]

​@dudeatx Foxton - another underrated bass man. The Jam were great in part down to their fantastic, tight rhythm section

[@andrewmoylan2077]

Always have been and always will be my favourite band

[@ryanruiz9958]

Just saw the boys live for the 1st time since 1998. Such an amazing show!

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

I love it when Madness are more experimental on stage ( like this footage) rather than doing yet another greatest hits set.

[@Sol-Cutta]

The most beautiful British band ever to surface.....

[@djh29971]

You can see how Carl is the de facto leader here as Barson's impending departure was just around the corner...

[@lynnisstrange]

I’ve only watched this about 10 times...

[@Thenorthsace]

I think most british 80s youth grew up to madness, i was one of them youths, i am in my 30s now and still they’re one of my favourite bands ever.

[@pauldunneska]

In your 30s that means you were a child in the 80s. A teenager is really what you call a youth,so you should be in your 50s now.

[@Thenorthsace]

So what i’m in my 30s, it doesn’t change the fact i still grew up listening to them and my family that got me into them still do as well...

[@pauldunneska]

@@Thenorthsace But you weren't a youth in the 80s you were a child. But I agree Madness are great.

[@marzipanmelusine4321]

Thanks for putting up this great memory from my youth. Stayed up late to watch this on MTV. My family didn't have a video recorder, so I did an audio recording of it on a cassette tape. Still have it to this day!

[@dereklaidlaw6445]

Still got all ma vinals from the nutty boys

[@michaeljohnson5061]

Driving in my car, was the first record I bought in Littlewoods Liverpool- 12 inch version 🎸

[@ZeldaFitz]

The quality of this is exceptional. You must have the best preserved VHS tapes in the world. Good effort.

[@skelkankaos]

Amazing video. Thank you for taking the time to share your recording with us. Only wish Barso was still in the band during this era, I would have loved to see him in interviews

[@ZeldaFitz]

He was, Mike didn’t leave until the beginning of 1984.

[@speakertreatz]

This is a period of the band I know the least about, and I'm really impressed with the live performance and how the songs and sound were expanding in so many interesting directions. Having said that, the adrenalin rush when One Step Beyond kicks off in the early footage is incredible. Thanks very much for uploading.

[@bluntlaser]

This is so good! They should really put out the whole concert, assuming all the tapes still exist.

[@markrobinson6129]

Oh PLEASE can we crowdfund the live footage off Dave Robinson and release it. Oh, go on!

[@ZeldaFitz]

Dave Robinson I'll definitely put in for that.

[@andrewmoylan2077]

If I could go every gig I would

[@xb.taylorx6030]

Ok nobody will see this comment but my grandad use to do record selling with these guys 🥺 and many other famous singers . Kinda cool🤔

[@pauldunneska]

What was grandda's name?

[@xb.taylorx6030]

@@pauldunneskahis name is John grey . If you are You gotta look for articles ... if you can let me know if you find one :)

[@xb.taylorx6030]

@@pauldunneska just one a side note it was pretty back in the day when Chas was probably not even in the band probably more when he was just starting up. I would contact my grandad if I could but he's a busy ass man 😅

[@pauldunneska]

@@xb.taylorx6030 When Madness were called the 'North London Invaders'.

[@Gillmeister2465]

Beth I'm 100% with your grandad and you I'm in my early 60's myself I completely understand what your grandad did, made things cheaper for us X

[@IamSam1989]

I started listening to madness as a kid born in 89 and from parents in the 60's onwards. My twin sons born in 2015 now listen to them and absolutely love the energy and soul of the music and dance around the car whilst reciting the lyrics. Their teachers at school are lost between the skar music and game shooting we do of a weekend

[@busterabcat]

Wow - what great footage of the Rise & Fall era...and what a surprise to see Suggs actually on percussion duties as well during Mrs Hutchinson.... never expected that at all!

[@StrawberrySoju_1]

I taped this off of MTV onto VHS in 1985 or so and watched it over and over. I got rid of the tape when VHS became a dead format. Thank you for allowing me to relive my high school years as a Madness fan.

[@Gamefeedvids]

Blue skinned beast meant a lot to me, ex squaddie in the 80's. Meant so much that the guys basically acknowledged the falklands and our armed forces :) Unfortunately Status Quo still remain one of the only pop bands who made the efforst of getting to know the boys/girls :(

[@stevemorgan6366]

HEROES. Thanks to B.A.F.

[@Madhatska7]

This is brilliant. Thanks for posting. At their absolute peak on stage here (in my humble view)

[@texluh]

This was filmed around spring 1983. The end credits say 1983.

[@ZeldaFitz]

It's amazing to think that within less than a year of this being made (1983) it was all but over for them commercially. They soldiered on until 86 but it was never the same.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Ooh bit harsh. Still plenty of hits to come. Wings Of A Dove, Yesterday's Men, Uncle Sam, One Better Day, The Sweetest Girl, Waiting For The Ghost Train...course I'm an Absolutely man BUT I think The Sweetest Girl is wonderful. My favourite Madness 12" mix.

[@adybullock6862]

Zelda Fitzgerald once Barson left they lost their way, he was the kingpin of the band.

[@danielfisch389]

@@davidsanderson5918 The Sweetest Girl is actually a cover version. Originally released by Scritti Politti in 1981

[@ZeldaFitz]

@@danielfisch389 for the life of me I have no idea why they released Sweetest Girl as a single, it’s a filler album track at best.

[@ZeldaFitz]

@@davidsanderson5918 I’m referring more to the post Keep Moving era releases. 1984 was when the band should have drawn a line under things. To have gone out on a high note with One Better Day or the edited down version of Victoria Gardens would have been a nice full stop for the band.

[@andrewmoylan2077]

Every video is legendary

[@knightgary3139]

Absolutely brilliant, thanks for sharing 👌✌️👌

[@cathalapatricia7030]

Merci ❤

[@Pau1Ru55311]

Thanks for uploading. Brilliant profile at an interesting period.

[@lisaexploradora826]

thanks for share this. i love madness with all my soul

[@robertmullan177]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing this.

[@nuttyboyscott]

WOW thanks so much. Best Vid of the boys I've seen on KZbin. The rare footage, just wow!

[@marilyncarnes8580]

Love, love, loved it! Brilliant!

[@h4huggy]

Thanks a million for this . I loved them then and i love them still.

[@stevemorgan6366]

MADNESS = a God send.

[@jeankavanagh1485]

A grand bunch of lads.

[@jamesguy1030]

Ian Stuart & Suggs were the best of Mates .

[@ZeldaFitz]

1982/83 was their imperial period.

[@user-dn5tk3gg9g]

Thank you so much for this Upload! MADNESS, the "Sad Clowns" of British Underground-Music!😎 What Buster Keaton for Film are MADNESS for Music.

[@carmelrea352]

I think this is my favourite song.

[@dskywalker3397]

I feel that Madness (and others) benefited from the brief (and enduring) popularity of The Sex Pistols.

[@melgrant7404]

Love gorgeous suggs xx

[@Sol-Cutta]

Our house has to be one of the very best..

[@ianmangham4570]

I was young once

[@davidsanderson5918]

Saw them on this tour at Newcastle City Hall. Amazing to see footage of it. Remember it well. Unfortunately not a happy year for me so Rise And Fall is no longer in my record collection!

[@ZeldaFitz]

Some great footage here of the unreleased video of the Brighton 1983 gig. To me this tour was when they were at their peak musically, tight as you like. It's a shame the full video of this gig was never released as planned. I think it's all tied up in performing & licensing issues,so will probably never see the light of day. The drum solo on Mrs Hutchinson is fantastic.

[@markrobinson6129]

Yup. The timing of the video was probably a victim of the label swap. Stiff own the video footage, but since Dave Robinson sold the band's songs to Virgin, they own the songs (ie the soundtrack) so it would need a deal between the two for Madness to issue the concert on their Lucky 7 label - assuming they'd be happy to release an archive concert that might outsell their recent output, with all the awkwardness that would cause. Also, by the time everybody got their cut, there wouldn't be much left for the band, so it's probably not worth it. Christ! Hadn't Monsieur Barso decided to leave by then? Nevertheless it would have been a great souvenir.

[@ZeldaFitz]

Mark Robinson Yes, mike left in early 84 once all the keep moving singles were out of the way. Also releasing a live video from 1983 would highlight how bad they are live now, I say that with no pleasure as a life long madness fan. This is probably the best documentary ever done about the band.

[@ZeldaFitz]

When I say bad I don’t mean awful, just tired and going through the motions, they play a lot slower now and Suggs literally talks the songs as opposed to singing them.

[@juliofc56]

Just think these guys are what punk music tried to create! Originality and enjoyment!

[@Thenorthsace]

Never thought i’d see madness be compared to punk... they couldn’t stand punks 😂

[@MUSIC4TRUTH....]

They became a very different band at this time, the 80's music scene changed very very quickly and you either changed with it or got left behind.

[@user-eo2oz2tf4q]

Ur right.

[@ianblack7006]

Bella Pardede1445 it’s madness is all in the mind on the b side of Tomorrow just another day

[@ZeldaFitz]

Yes it is, it was released as a double A side

[@lifestyleschannel8508]

Mike Barson’s to leave the band in 1983 was really the decline in the band’s mainstream popularity as he was the mainstay of the band and his non appearance in the band’s last top ten hit my name is Michael Caine, although the band did sign off with the hit Ghost Train in 1986 they never managed to return to the top with music industry moving on

[@TrishaBertrand]

Seek madness 7 times met them on blondie beach look out of place shorts n docs any therep😅 look well out 😊of place sadly Karl wasnt there

[@ZeldaFitz]

Back when Suggs could sing in tune and remember the lyrics for the songs.

[@coventryscheekiestcharmer3985]

He still can

[@adybullock6862]

Zelda Fitzgerald and before the jazz hands lol

[@ZeldaFitz]

@@coventryscheekiestcharmer3985 so why does he need an autocue for most of the songs?

[@haunteddeandollsuk]

madness live today are crap compared to the 80s they sang the songs faster tighter and danced about the stage compare that to today’s madness they just seem like they going through the motions to get a pay check lol

[@Thenorthsace]

@@haunteddeandollsuk it’s called getting old 🙄 where’s your loyalty man 😅

[@Sandwich13455]

There was 7 "the return of the Los Palma's 7"!who was he,I heard of a lady who joined many years later.

[@MicroJow]

I have a recording from March 7th,1984 with an advertisement for this special, if that helps any. anniemous, was there any more to this recording (videos, VJs, commercials, etc that were recorded after the program ended?) Thanks for uploading this!!

[@anniemous]

I used to cut out the commercials, sitting right next to the vcr and scrambling to hit the button. But I did date the tape case, with 3/31/84 for this program. I also have the Madness appearance on Saturday Night Live from 4/14/84 that I haven't gotten around to pulling and posting yet. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for the input, much appreciated!

[@al5556]

Primrose hill awesome

[@herbs4135]

@@anniemous Hey, could you get around to it please?

[@pauldunneska]

@@anniemous Could you upload The Saturday Night appearance from 1984 please. I'm waiting 7 years now.

[@anniemous]

@@pauldunneska yikes, I'm sorry! moving currently and my plan is to dive back into the tapes when we're settled. that will be the first I look for.

[@tarantulagirl]

Barso - absolutely stunning. His eyes, lips and cute dimples, 6ft 2” and expert fingers. Still would!

[@stevemorgan6366]

and the bands bully.

[@tarantulagirl]

Steve Morgan He was a total bully, but most band has a driving force. He was just passionate definitely but yes a little ott at times!

[@eyebrowes1886]

@@stevemorgan6366 Not a bully at all. He pushed the band along especially in their early days without his drive there would have been no Madness.

[@pauldunneska]

@@tarantulagirl Somebody has to do the heavy lifting to push things forward. Call it bullying but if it's done for the common good,so be it.

[@ohdear2001]

@@stevemorgan6366 Be more wrong.

[@samwisternoff1602]

Does anyone know if the full live gig footage from this is available anywhere?

[@ZeldaFitz]

SJ Esau It will be stored away in a vault somewhere I'd guess. It's all tied up in performing rights and publishing issues I'm afraid. A real shame as this was madness at their peak live (83). Great sound and very tight on this tour.

[@ludofuzz3012]

I think they had better idea in doing madstock and the guided tour of madness. Why paying Rights when you can do better by yourself. They keep control of their own works that way. They are Madness

[@Apollo17-yz2sh]

Those four look like they dominated…a bit of an in club. Woody and Bedders didn’t seem part of the gang

[@michaelq.4942]

Somewhere in Nevada

[@stevemorgan6366]

North London Invaders.

[@ianblack7006]

Saxonan its Mrs Hutchison

[@thebarbaryghostsf]

Hmmm I always assumed Our House was inspired by the Crosby Stills and Nash song, it even has some of the same lyrics.

[@ZeldaFitz]

Carl who wrote the song was a big fan of the CSN song, so he stole the title from them.

[@Tomversal]

Where are these live recordings they show of TRAF songs

[@ZeldaFitz]

Brighton Centre March 1983

[@Tomversal]

​@@ZeldaFitz Thank you!!

[@boupap]

10:48 why does he give him the mic?

[@madmaniac2552]

Suggs makes some noises during the song

[@Thenorthsace]

Yes he goes a long with woodies hihat

[@blapar9765]

What the song in 15:40 ??

[@Tomversal]

Madness Is All In The Mind kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqSZhoelaaydZ5I

[@RealSaxoman]

Song from the minute 11:34?? pls

[@MrNuttylee7]

Mrs.Hutchinson.

[@NoirL.A.]

anybody know who the interviewer is?

[@Bipbop66]

Paul Gambacinni

[@sila.m444]

Song? 11:38

[@blapar9765]

11.35 what song was it

[@brianoreilly2016]

Mrs Hutchinson

[@woody5831]

Their always known as a ska band but tbey didn't actually play anything ska related for long

[@ZeldaFitz]

They were retrospectively called a ska band from the 90s onwards, they never were a ska band.

[@nuttyboyscott]

Seems like 1983 to me

[@anniemous]

it was probably made in 1983, it aired on MTV early in 1984.

[@stevemorgan6366]

Wish.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Definitely 1983. Saw them February 83 and they looked like that...them and the show as well.

[@caesarorzell600]

Was this from a tape or film? Still looks great in my opinion!

[@pauldunneska]

Vhs tape. Read the description.

[@grayday14]

Monty python pop band

[@colton_5690]

Suggs is such an awkward little guy

[@melgrant7404]

Why .he's great.

[@silversteel6312]

Madness suffer from the common infliction of overuse of the sax because they have a sax player in the band.

[@Thenorthsace]

And lol

[@HVDonkeyPark]

I think you mean affliction (infliction means they, Madness, are suffering from having a sax player inflict the pain on them... haha, suppose in some circumstances, bands do have members that cause that kind of pain). Curious what songs you think the sax is overdone? I can't think of any, but it might just be my taste. Regardless, starting as a Ska band and then evolving into their own sound, they wouldn't be the same--they wouldn't be Madness--without the sax. That's like criticizing a rock band for having lead guitar in every song or a chamber orchestra for having a violin in every song.

[@melgrant7404]

​@@HVDonkeyParkagree 👍

[@briandavis8939]

I’ll tell you why yous were successful it’s because yous were f*#king Brilliant band and I wonder if people new about all of your music and songs

[@stuartwray6175]

You wonder if people knew?