Madness and 2-tone ska
June 21st 2006 10:48
Madness were also the most successful. They chose not to stay on the record label, that doubled as the name given to the period, 2-tone records. I would suggest this was significant as it allowed the band to move on as ska sort of lost the attention of the general public. I wonder whether young ska kids of the time felt Madness were selling out as they went in a pop direction, but today there are many fans today with fond memories of Madness as an entire package and not just a three year period of ska hits. Of course their sound was always quintessentially Madness and perhaps this is the key, that there was enough of the old sound to keep people sticking with them.
Today in the Internet age there are legions of fans seeking to recall the glory Madness has seen. No less than 7 Madness tribute bands play in the UK today, which some may consider strange seeing the original members are still together. In fact, they have announced a new tour for December this year. The majority of the boys also recorded the Dangermen Sessions album of covers.
The passion for Madness comes in more than the tribute band form. Each week you can get a thorough update about the bands goings on (as well as everything to do with their history and song catalogue) through the Madness Information Service Online. I also recall the time I received a random package from a Madness fan who had produced a document giving a summary of every single live gig Madness had ever played as well as all the press coverage that could be found.
Madness fans have a strange dedication, but I can see why they chose the band they did. I can also see why they have such a broad fan base. Skinheads early on, the boys dressed immaculately and still do. Their onstage performance was energetic and captivating and of course they played a style of music so accessible to a fan – great for dancing, but also many songs lyrically indepth with an obvious improvement in their musical abilities.
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