Is it Madness or just craziness?
May 3rd 2006 13:01
Right across the music world you get bands reforming or returning for another tour, trying new material on old and new fans who just want to hear the classics. You get one member reforming a band with the old name, playing the old songs, but presenting an act with little resemblance to the band that saw success. Then you throw tribute bands and cover bands into the mix.
In reggae it is no different. One major example is the current Wailers. The bloke up front’s job is to attempt to mimic Bob Marley joined by only one or two original members in the band. The Skatalites just played here and although the band was awesome, many of the original members have either passed on or were not part of the line-up that came to Australia.
Neville Staple from The Specials just returned to Australia, making it twice in 2 years, using the Specials name to draw a crowd and present his own material to a larger audience than he may receive without using the Specials name. Although the shows were good both years, the experience was very different from the original Specials line-up, particularly because his original role in the band was quite limited.
The other big name from the same era as The Specials - Madness, has also seen it all. Though they won’t play without their original line-up under the name Madness, there have been many incarnations of the band under different names. Should they be giving it up? – Probably not by the quality of their latest album offerings, but the tribute bands that litter the UK probably should. Night after night seven guys will still get together to pretend to be Madness for a case of beer and forty minute high.
I find it difficult to answer my own question. In one respect we don’t get enough good bands coming to Australia so I enjoy a good act even if it is only the shell of the original band, but perhaps promoters would be more likely to risk money on new acts if old hacks didn’t play it for all it is worth.
In reggae it is no different. One major example is the current Wailers. The bloke up front’s job is to attempt to mimic Bob Marley joined by only one or two original members in the band. The Skatalites just played here and although the band was awesome, many of the original members have either passed on or were not part of the line-up that came to Australia.
Neville Staple from The Specials just returned to Australia, making it twice in 2 years, using the Specials name to draw a crowd and present his own material to a larger audience than he may receive without using the Specials name. Although the shows were good both years, the experience was very different from the original Specials line-up, particularly because his original role in the band was quite limited.
One of the many Madness tribute acts
I find it difficult to answer my own question. In one respect we don’t get enough good bands coming to Australia so I enjoy a good act even if it is only the shell of the original band, but perhaps promoters would be more likely to risk money on new acts if old hacks didn’t play it for all it is worth.
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