Hello, it’s Chrissy Boy here. Send me a question and I'll do my best to answer it.

Unless it contains any of the following:

  1. When/where is the next gig? - Please see the gig section above.
  2. Can I get your autographs?- This service is not available via the website, all applications must be made in person.
  3. Can I get backstage passes? - No.
  4. Will there ever be another 2Tone tour? - This is not very likely, is it?
  5. Where does Suggs get his sunglasses? – Persol.
  6. Where do you get your suits/hats/shoes? Gresham Blake, The Saturday Club, Hackett, Christies, Loake, Lock and Co, The British Boot Company.
  7. When is the “The Madness” album being re released? – I have still not got a clue.

[The questions above will be rinsed, filtered, processed and finally deleted by our new “Timewaster (tm)” interface, leaving me more time to answer the really important ones].

Thanks CB x

To see posts from the old version of Chris's Cupboard visit the archive Here

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hey mr c j foreman just a quick hello to your new look broom cupboard I must say its rather swanky also to say how gutted I was not to make it to the Newcastle racecourse gig as work kind of took over but hey ho maybe in another life who can say who can tell !!!!! i’m sure that was from a song any how take care and keep moving as the last night boat is about to set sail

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dear Carl
I’m sorry you couldn’t make it, I sung “Blaydon Races”, a top evening all round..
CB

School time

Dear Chrissy,
how was your school time? Do you look back with horror or confidence? What school did you attend and how were the teachers like? Did they have confidence in your future work as a musicians and did you take music lessons to learn the basics? Are you still in contact with old teenage friends of that time today? I wonder what music you were listening too at your teenage years and when did you realise that you are going to be a musician. By the way what are your hobbies apart from Madness? Maybe some traditional ones like gardening or rose breeding? (smile)

lots of regards Carla Cookie

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Dear Carla
Best times ever. Oh what fun I had as the song goes but at the time it…actually didn’t seem that bad. One big laugh. My music teacher was awful however and I never had much interest in the subject. I am still in touch with some of my old pals but not as much as I’d like to be. Teenage year was Roxy, Alice Cooper, Kilburns, Motown, Reggae, Hawkwind, Alex Harvey, the lot, really.I have been growing some vegetables but my wife does all the work really.

Dear Liam
I have loads of vinyl and a record deck. However, I rarely play them these days. If you mean Madness albums I have a lot of them in the loft.
thanks, CB

cheers for that chris just looking at my madness vinyl and found old gigs tickets finsbury park first one and only £20 what a time we had must of been good looking down at us my best gig ever ,getting back to vinyl do you no the most sort after madness record , and saw madness first time in brighton in 1982 all them skinheads what night for a 15 year old

Hello I have enjoyed last week very much the gig in Lyon, this was great as usual.
I was just a little embarrassed when you have played “la marseillaise”, there were some nazi skins which have not yet understood who you are and this has had an impact on their behaviour. This <as the 8th time I was to one of your gigs and the 7th in France, this is the first time you play this. WHy did you do so?

Thank you for your feedback.
All the best

François

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Dear François
It’s just something the brass guys do, related to the country we are in. It’s not a Nazi anthem – it’s your national anthem, so don’t let them spoil your enjoyment!
CB

My wife and i are having our first baby girl on Oct 9th calling her Sophia. So a new maddie to add to the many fans out there. I just hope(lol) your still doing gigs in 10 years. So i can bring her and show her some of my mad pass and great music i was into. Sadly i cant make any of you gigs this year or even next as the new maddie has to come first. But loved it at the O2 last exmas with the wife. First time she has seen you live, and could not stop dancing all the way home. She is from Belarus :)) Be good, keep writhing, playing, and good health to all old bean x

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hi. I have a scooter club do in October all money raised will go to Wiltshire air ambulance . I was wondering if you could donate a t shirt or signed cd for the raffle ??? regards Chris McBride. Devizes sweet sensation sc

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dear Chris
I have asked “the team” and they should get in touch with you asap.
all the best, CB

How do I go about asking madness if they will do something very special for my autistic son joe Frazier who will be 18 on the 25thaugust joe absolutely adores madness he has limited speech but can sing whole madness songs joe has had such a struggle through his life no muscles Not walking till he was five after extensive physio double incontinence which has come through it all still needs one to one as no awareness of dangers please please can you help xx

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dear Mandy
The poor lad. I have sent this on to our backroom boys, so hopefully you will hear something soon.
love CB

I saw you on monday 8th of july in argeles sur mer (southe of france)
Congrats for the show it was fantastic…
My question is did you enjoy playing in Argeles and how do you found the public ? (be carefull in the answer you’ll give 😉 )
and can yous give me the phone number of Chas… he was just in front of me during the gig :))) and we communicate without words during the show !!! lol

kisses from south of France

Agnes

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Dear Agnes
It was great, a really good festival, a great audience. I cannot divulge Chas’ number, sorry.
CB

Thanks for your answer Liza Minelli 🙂

For the phone number of Chas, there is no problem.. so give me Suggs’ number !!!!!!

Merci beaucoup !!!!

Bisous.

Agnès B

liza minelli of course…. for New York New York !!! 🙂
perhaps you have the same legs :))))))
kisses xxxx

Agnes

hello I brought my husband (tim) a ticket to see you at Newmarket races for his 45th birthday back in may. he is a huge fan and has all your on music on vinyl
and cds the has also seen you before is there any chance could meet you it would the best late birthday surprise for ever for him .

many thanks vickie

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Dear Gavin
It all depends if someone has any words. We haven’t recorded an instrumental for ages. So there are plenty of lyrics around, I deduce
thanks, CB

Dear CBF,

Were the songs such as “obsession” included on the deluxe version of Oui, Oui… recorded after the songs on the main album or at a similar time ? Also Obsession has this interesting structure- two different chorus as well as a bridge ? How did that happen or was it just by chance ?

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Dear Lord
They were recorded at the same time and then finished off and mixed much later. My Obsession I don’t know, that’s just the way it came out.
thanks, CB

Where can I buy your albums in cassette tape format?
I have every single, picture disk and album in vinyl but no cassette type.
Kind regards, Ian

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Hi Chris, what’s your favourite bit of guitar you have played in a Madness song? I love the intro to Hunchback of Torriano and the end of Driving In My Car, which you have to listen to very carefully to hear.

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Dear Richard
That Hunchback riff is good, I loved doing that. I don’t know what else it’s all a blurrrrr.
thanks, CB

Will there be a North American tour? Friends and I have seen The Specials, Bad Manners, The English Beat, and soon The Selecter. We’re all waiting for Madness to come to Toronto!

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Chepstow racecourse gig was THE highlight of my holiday. The Brits know how to have a good time. I’m glad I paid the tenner for covered seating though. Took me an hour to warm up from those welsh winds. Keep on doing live gigs as my next holiday will definitely be a ‘Madness Gig Stalking Tour’.

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Dear Barb
Did we meet you once in a hotel? Or I have answered some questions from you before? Thanks for braving the elements.
CB

At the house of fun weekend at Butlins, do you stay on site or somewhere away that’s nice ??P.S is there any signing sessions ?? ;-))

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Dear Crazytattooman
I stay on site in a luxury chalet, with hot and cold running room service. The rest of the band are at a hotel somewhere nearby.
CB

Hi !!!

I was at the gig in Lyon last night at the “Nuits de Fourvière” with my 13 old daughter. Actually it was her first big gig! And thanks to you, it has been such a magical night! Waouh !!!

– “But, they arent’t old!” That was her first reaction… nice and tender to hear that, isn’t it? I told her that you were playing for more than 40 years.
– The second one was “I’m no longer your daughter if you start dancing like this! (we were in the stairs, people were just starting to move and dance).

So, first, thanks for this wonderfull show… I guess it’s the nicest gig I ever saw in my life… so festif, cool, punchy, groovy, etc… as if you were driving a kind of deluxe and nutty and joyful berline.

Could you please provide me a setlist of the show? Not the whole titles – excepted if you get it soon ready. I know almost all the tracks… but I miss some of them… for instance the name of the cover of Max Romeo you played? I recognized also 3 ou 4 tracks of your last album.

It’s not of capital importance, maybe by surfing the net I will get this pieces of information.

Nevertheless, thanks again for this great pleasure last night, I never saw my daughter so enthousiastic and happy… poor little girl, now she will think that every gig is like that, and I’m afraid she will be disapointed. Sometimes it’s so boring to have the impression to wait for a poor expected hit ! 😉

All the best !

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Hello, Chris,
As a madness vinyl collector (not a completionist) I have bought mostly everything madness related that I had the chance to.
But there’s is one that I am still wondering when will it come true.
Wonderful, has ever had a vinyl release?
If not, can you consider it?

Thanks!

Nutty regards.

Mr Paul 75

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were was you chris? carlise saturday. are you still running to catch up just like the donkeys we put bets on.x missed your show time.suggs said you have hurt your knee,was you drunk!Get well soonxxx It wasnt the same without you

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Dear Di
I was in Prague on a Stag Do. I couldn’t avoid going, it was arranged well before the gig and is my fourth wedding, so I had to go really..
thanks, CB

Dear Andy
We don’t request it. Bring one anyway. As long as it’s not a long lens professional one.
CB

Hi Chris, loving the new website. Do you think you’ll still be sat in your cupboard in 20 years time? Just how long do you think you guys can keep going? Love every album you’ve done, do you think there will be any more? Keep up the inspiring good work. Cheers Craig

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Dear Craig,
I’m glad you like it. I will not be in here in ten years time, I hope.It is a lot better now though. Easier interface.Same with the albums. We have a few more left in us, I think.
CB

Hi Crissy Boy – Lucky enough to have tickets for Friday at Henley…can you share the list of songs you will be performing…Cant wait…will be fantastic..good luck

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Sorry Mark, I was away and had no time to answer this and in any case the set list is a closely guarded secret. I trust it met with your approval?
CB

Hi Chris, I wrote on the old version and I had no answer, now I understand. Nice new website.
I wanted to know if you could do “pig pag” and “NW5” for the Montauban concert as my little 5 years old daughter will be there for his first concert, and this 2 songs mean for us (I sang NW5 to her before she wasn’t born yet all the time). Then I’m trying to have an interview for the French Mis in Montauban but have no answer from your manager.
Last question: perhaps for my 40th birthsday on november I will go to the house of fun weekender (even if I normally live in the caribean french island of Guadeloupe) and it would be great to have a special unplugged show or with only B side as we all are real fans. Hope to see you in Montauban

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Sorry Cedric
I was away and I only just got this. Also I am a bit slow. I hope she enjoyed the show anyway, despite us not playing “Pigbag”. The Butlins selist I suggest that idea every year and we never have time to rehearse the old songs..
merci, CB

This may have already been thought of, but surely Madness the musical would be a hit in the UK? Similar format to the Mama Mia venture for Abba. I think it would be awesome?

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Hello CB,
Have you got a spare F*ck Art Lets Dance mug in your house anywhere? My Mrs broke mine and I’m not talking to her currently. Can you send me it if you have?
Thanks AH

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Dear Andy
Dammit! I knew I should have added this as a category.I haven’t got any of those mugs, either. Look online?
CB

Dear Chrissy,

Can you tell me who I need to talk to about obtaining a licence to use one of your tracks in a film I have been commissioned to produce.

Kind regards
Richard

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Dear Richard
Try EMI publishing for the publishing aspect and Pete Gardiner at Union Square Music for the physical masters. Any problems, let me know.
CB

Nice new look, CB. Loving the expanded list of taboo questions. Are you not adding “When is Bedders/Lee/whatever name is appropriate coming back?”
Looking forward to Haydock very much…seen you so many times we’ve lost count but this is half a mile from our gaff and will be our first night out as a couple since the birth of our daughter. All the best!
Ian

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Dear Ian
Is that big E? Congratulations on the daughter, I hope you enjoy the show. I was never asked that much about Bedders. At the moment we have the full set of 7, so hopefully no more absconders. I will miss a couple of shows this summer. One is in France.
CB

It is indeed Big E, Chris. The interview you kindly did via email has just reached print in my Mad Not Mad zine. Care for a peruse? I’ll gladly send a copy…

Hello Chrissy,
first of all I´d like to tell you how great the new homepage is so many different sections it´s amazing thanks a real blessing for every madness fan. Then I would like to say how fantastically the album “Keep moving” is it is lovely arranged and one of my fave of Madness. I love March of the Gherkins, Samantha and One Better day as well as Samantha. Is Samantha really existing as a person? The song is really fantastic. And also about the song time for tea- it is great with Willy who comes not home for tea a sad song too. By the way how do you remember the producing of Keep moving in the studio? I also love the sporty cover …where did you made the cover on which sports ground? I am also a big Morrissey fan and would like to ask if the band is planning to work with Moz again in the future? Suggs sung backing vocals on Piccadilly Palare and I love it so much also Bedders worked with him. Are you as a group still in contact with Moz?
Thanks for your time to answer all my question…
your dear fan Cat
“

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Dear Cat
I have always hated that cover. However your comments are very kind, I’m glad you like it. I used to be in touch with Morrisey via mutual correspondence and he used to come and see my other band The Nutty Boys. I liked him then musically and socially and I still admire him from afar. I have not heard from the great man since the time he didn’t turn up for the second Madstock [August 1992], which was a shame. Blimey, that’s 21 years ago…
all the best, CB

thanks for answering Chrissy….anyway I hope the band will once refresh the contact with Moz for some further work that would be very very fertile…I suppose some combinations in life just produce masterpieces !!!!!!

I took my son Markus (16) to see you guys last year ar Nokia Live in Los Angeles. He really loves you guys. He is starting his own ska band and I would really be honored if you sent him an email to inspire his musical quest.

Thanks, Tom (Markus’ dad)

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Hello CB, is the band gonna play in Belgium on the Brussels Summer Festival on August 11 ?
It’s not on the gig list, but you’re actually top of the bill on that day . Anyway cheers mate !

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Dear Tiann
Did you read the intro to my page? I assume we are, in fact you know more than me.
CB

With numerous awards, albums, tours, made a couple of films, Our House the musical, Olympics, Palce etc….so much you have all achieved….where do you go from here…any other adventures you believe could be possible?
All the best.
Jim

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Hi Mr CJ Foreman. Top of the morning to ya!!! What about ye? Liking the bright new shiny site. Glad they’ve found a little corner for your cupboard in your new “home”. A cosy fit indeed! Anyway, hello from us, and much luck in the 2nd half of 2013.

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Chris, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed you show at Chepstow recently. on stage you all seemed to be enjoying the show as much as we were enjoying watching you (especially your rendition of singing in the rain) Did you really get on the wrong train?

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Dear Moggs
Yes, I did. We were at Paddington. Barso was late, as he thought we had to meet at Kings Cross. He was directing his cab there till they realised. Thommo was missing too. I looked at the departure board and knowing our train was at 3.15, I went to platform 4. I got on the 3.15 train to Penzance. Bedders rang me and I got off just in time…I didn’t know they had three trains departing at 3.15…
thanks,CB

I’ll have my Fez on my big Dutch Barge, moored behind the floating stage at Henley next Friday. Pop over for some hospitality ! Capt. Slick.

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You weren’t joking when you said the site is going to have a major overhaul, WOW ! please take note I have used punctuation marks this time ?!£$%^&*()!!

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Hello Chrissy Boy
Could I get 🙂 an autograph on a backstage pass of the next very secret gig at the Saturday Club (i can’t see it in the section), please? You will recognize me, I have the sunglasses that Suggs left on the 2 Tone tour some years ago.
Thanks
In wonder being a Good Boy
Fredd

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Hi There,
I was wondering who to contact. I run an internet TV show in the Netherlands and would like to interview the band before or after they perform on the 14th of September in the Netherlands.

Regards Arjan Boes – Netherlands

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Dear Arjan
You need to contact our management via this site Let me know how you get on.
all the best, CB

Hiya Chrissy Boy did you ever think that when you first started the group you would have as many follower’s and that Madness would be loved as much as it is xx

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HI, I have just purchased some of the 30th year commemorative CDs. To which I have a question- which album is No.7?
1- One Step Beyond.
2- Absolutely.
3- 7.
4- Rise & Fall.
5- Keep Moving
6- Mad Not Mad
8- Wonderful.

Which one is number 7 as I cannot seem to find it here, or Amazon etc…
Thanks, Gareth

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