Chris's Cupboard

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:

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

Cancel reply

would love a release of the boxset extra tracks from liberty and oui oui as they are abit expensive as part of the boxsets is there any chance ? cheers glenn

Dear Glenn
I am working on it. Slowly..thanks for the reminder.
CB

Sorry Chris, just seen no7 at the top! Silly Billy!

Thanks Billy
CB

Hi, my name is Dvir and i come from Israel
What are the chances that Madness will come to Israel?

Deleted by ™Timewaster [see top of page for further details]

Hi Chris
I’m trying to get hold of the album you guys did in 88 The Madness as it’s the only one I don’t have. The problem is that it’s only available for silly money. Do you know if there are any plans to re-issue it?
Thanks

Dear Billy
There are no plans to release “The Madness” at present, sorry.
CB

hi cb when do you hope to release the new lp

We have to select the songs and producer and studio etc. All going well, though. Some time this year!
thanks CB

Went to the L.TSO gig at the jazz café in jan, what a great night me and the wife had. Apart from the great music and atmosphere, we were treated to an appearance by Thommo himself at the Dublin Castle. Got a handshake off Bedders as he left the stage, and to top it off, bumped into Monsuier Barzo on the way out who very kindly signed a photo for us.. Anyway I heard thommo on the Johnnie Walker show and he mentioned something bout the ska orchestra supporting Madness at some shows this year. Can you shed anymore light on this?… Looking forward to a nutty 2016!

Dear MM
I don’t think this will happen, it’s the first I’ve heard of it.
CB

Hi Chris I’m aware of all the songs you’ve written Madness is all in the Mind is the one which turned out more or less as you envisaged it,but are there any songs which didn’t,for better or worse?
Thanx

Dear Chris
Well…”Uncle Sam”, for one.
Thanks CB

Hi chriss were do you guys get your retro black sunglasses from thanks pal

This question is answered above.

Hello CB. My friends and I do a zine about ska and skinheads. Can I take you a short interview for the magazine? Thx. Dmitry.

yeah sure, Dmitry do you want to send me some questions on here?

Hi Chris here Joe from Holland I ve got 2 questions why do you never perform Cardiac Arrest at gigs ? and why haven t you kept Listen to your father to yourselves great song ? I saw you lads twice once in The Hague (Madstock eve) and Esher (GREAT) greets Joe

Dear Joe
I have suggested playing “Cardiac Arrest” but we never get round to it. “Listen to Your Father’? Blimey – that was years ago.

Yo Chris! really last one.! i ordered a prop from the drip fed fred video but i’m not sure if it’s genuine…

it’s a manifesto that thommo threw into the air

😀

probably genuine, I hope you didn’t pay too much Louis. Sorry for the delay.
CB

Hi Chris,

I noticed that Bedders has been using a Jazz quite often, instead of a Precision. I’d be interested to know his thoughts on the Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass and also which strings he uses nowadays.

Many thanks for your valuable time.

Dear Ste
I’ll have to ask him. I think it depends on the type of song we are recording/playing.
CB

Ive just seen this picture over your official https://www.instagram.com/p/ZOtsioxL5E/
and wondered what did you guys tell each other while your encounter with Paul Mc . I guess it was a brief time?

Dear Domingo
He’s a good laugh, our Paul. I said nice to see he had a double breasted suit on like me,la.
CB

Hi Chris,
Well, we all hope about a new album next year, so here’s my question : do you think the new album will have its deluxe edtion available in the Madshop (like “The liberty…” and “Oui oui ….”)? I know, I know, you have to finish it before, but I’m so proud of my deluxe editions!!!
Wish you a Merry Christmas.
Big hug from a french fan.
Steve

Dear Steve
I hope to have a more conventional album this time, thanks for buying the boxed sets.
CB

hi cb want to wish you and your family a merry Christmas and happy new year ,,, and wish the band all the success in 2016

Thanks Lee
CB

Wishing you and all your family and friends a merry Xmas and a good 2016. See you in May

Rob, Emiek and Iris

Thanks Rob
CB

Hi Chris, long time no speak. We met when you played Liverpool Echo Arena a few years ago and you were well shocked that Barso had Guest Listed us? Do you recall?

My question is, are there any plans for Crunch! To play in Liverpool any time soon? Would be great seeing Crunch! Again. Saw you in ’92 at the Planet X in Hannover St.

I was shocked he put any guests on, more like. Ah Planet X great days. I don’t think we’ll be back but you never know..
CB

Alright Chrissy boy! I was born & bred in Highbury N.5….could you tell me if you and the lads ever frequented any of the pubs in the area? ( apart from the Hope & Anchor of course!)

Dear Brian
We all lived in Kentish or Camden Town, so didn’t get over to Highbury much.
thanks, CB

Hello CB,
I have always wondered about the video to Return of the Las Palmas 7. Who put all those short archive clips together? Did someone at Madness HQ create that?

It’s a piece of art! I love how it also bizarrely features in the original video of One Love by Bob Marley. Which I think you know about, right?

All the best. Merry Christmas,
Rich

Dear Rich
We didn’t really have many ideas for that single [video wise] and I don’t know who came up with the montage idea. We suggested a few of the images to use and when it was being edited, I suggested “more cuts than Friday the 13th”. So the speed of cutting between the clips gets faster and faster. Great video, quite ground breaking, as that technique was used in a lot of other films and videos.
CB

Hi Chris (really i’ll stop after this!) My stuff arrived the other day. quick question. there was Carl autograph on my signed pic. i thought he’d left

Dear Louis
Correctomundo. However, he does sign stuff.
CB

Evening CJ; for the past 2 years the headliner on the Saturday night at The Mouth of the Tyne festival in mid July has been The Specials this year and Paul Weller last year. It’s a gig held amongst the ruins of Tynemouth Priory and has a great vibe about the place. Anyways should the band be touring next summer (yes please) is there any way you could get your management to slot this gig into the tour schedule sir? Here’s hoping….
Respect and Seasons Greetings to you and the family,
Sean Kilminster

Dear Sean
If we get asked by the venue or a promoter, then we do stuff. We can’t ask venues.
all the best, CB

chris iam finding it impossible to get hold of a bottle of gladness but easy to get lovestruck and nightboat is gladness beer still available ?
happy Christmas and new year glenn

Dear Glenn
Try this:
https://www.madness.co.uk//2014/10/30/madness-brewing-company/
Happy hunting, CB

Hi
I want to be completely sure that I’ve got the lyrics of “One Step Beyond” lyrics right – could you possibly confirm the words of the long intro please? I’ve looked online but am not 100% convinced…

Hey you
Don’t watch that,
Watch this!
This is the heavy heavy monster sound
The nuttiest sound around
So if you’ve come in off the street
And you’re beginning to feel the heat
Well listen buster
You’d better to start to move your feet
To the rockin’est, rock-steady beat
Of Madness
One Step Beyond!

Hi Chris ( I’ll leave you alone after this one) what exactly are you sending me?

(thanks!)

I’m not exactly sure. The madness elves are sending something though, you’ll get it soon..

Thanks for such an awesome weekend. And I want to see all the pics you took with my lovely shirt. Next year I’ll have to make one about string guys because I have a dilemma between bass players and guitar players now.

xoxoxo

Dear Carolate
I am taking bass lessons, also singing ones.
thanks CB

Ok chris you’ve told me i’ve won. what do i do now?

Ok Louis. Try to relax and I’ll get our highly trained team to get in touch with your Mum and send you some Madness stuff as soon as possible, OK?
Chrissy Boy

Hi Chrissy Boy. Great to meet you again at The HOF. Shame to read some of the Friday negativity, and then Saturday negativity cos you didnt play the ‘Hit’ they wanted!! You cant please all the part time fans…!
Crunch was excellent, (barring Burtons antics obviously!)
One idea for next year though, howabout one of those ‘Spin the Wheel’ things up on stage or on screen? B/ sides, album tracks and new songs, spin the wheel and leave it to lady luck? Just a thought…
Thanks for the memories, cant wait for the new album( Mumbo Jumbo?)

Hi Wayner
What “hit” did they want? Blimey, we did the most popular ones we could think of, plus “Tomorrows Just Another Day”. You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time etc. Friday night has traditionally been something different and we’ve been writing all these new songs, so why not play them? As for Burton, I think his Father in law was egging him on, egging him on. I have suggested that the backstage “dancers” should start their own band/dance troupe for next year..
thanks CB

Hi Chris
Well done one and all for another excellent HOF, nice to chat to you a couple of times(on the stairs centre stage whilst you were texting), trouble with the amp on Saturday ?

Dear Dannyboy
I wasn’t texting, I was arranging immediate extraction from the area. I had a lot of trouble on Saturday, the amp started making all sorts of funny noises so Geoff [guitar tech] changed the head and we had the same thing. It turned out to be a plug that had come loose due to the stage vibrating so much. Stuff was bouncing all over the place. Well spotted. See you next time? Same place.
thanks CB

Hi Chris, I think it would be great if the rest of the Madness albums were released again in fully remastered sound quality (like O.S.B. 35)? The 30th anniversary releases are not from the original studio tapes and they have far too much dynamic range compression added. All the best, Ste C.

Dear Ste
Good for you. Sadly, the original tapes are long gone.
CB

Hi,
My son sent a message back in July, however the response does not appear on the ‘Ask Section’.
Both my boys are massive Madness fans and we came to see you in Newmarket on my son’s birthday in July, however he fell off the climbing frame in Newmarket and broke his arm, and he had to be taken to hospital, therefore we had to leave before you came on. My son Louis was extremely upset to have missed Madness and talks about it all the time.
He sent a message to ask if you are likely to be playing again in Newmarket in 2016 as he is desperate to see you live.
He keeps checking to see if there is a response.
Failing that, please could you confirm if the ‘Suggs Tickets’ for ‘My Life’ would be appropriate for an 11 year old and a 8 year old (boys) to attend?
Thanks you in advance for your help.
Regards,
Johanna

Dear Johanna
I think it’s ok, there may be quite a lot of swearing. He sings some songs and tells some funny stories. Can anyone confirm as to whether there is any profanities?
CB
PS This is not the “Ask” section. for some reason, my bit is under “News Blog”. It’s been bugging me, as I always had “Chris’s Cupboard” on the page for all to see. However I get a lot less questions now. I don’t do “next gig” ones though. Any new gigs will be on the live bit. However, just to contradict myself, I can tell you we will not be appearing at Newmarket next year

Evening CJ; have been playing the Elvis C version of “Tomorrow’s Just Another Day” a lot recently and was wondering whether it was you who arranged the music or was it a Mike/Lee arrangement ?
Kind regards and respect,
Sean Kilminster

Dear Sean
We all just sort of did it really.
CB

Chris- Hope the Nutty Boys are well & having a great 2015 season.Congrats on your Son’s wedding. Question: Is ‘Blue Skinned Beast’ about a particular person? I have my idea, but I’m from U.S. in Georgia. I always thought maybe Margaret Thatcher. Am I right? Love U’re work– Look fwd to new CD you talked about earlier!!

Dear Mike
It was something like that. The Falklands body bags, etc
many thanks, CB

OK now this is just nutty (no pun intended)

You’ve won Louis – I give up

Hello,

Hoping you can help, we are throwing a private party. 450 or so people and we need to feed them and water them!

Any ideas on what food and drink fits the theme of a madness party?

Thanks

Drink:
https://www.madness.co.uk//2014/10/30/madness-brewing-company/
Food er not sure. We don’t do food. Have fun
CB

Hello CB, hope all is well……well it’s that nearly time of year again the annual Nutty Boys outing to HOFW…….as ever really looking forward to it……very intrigued as to what the set lists is for the Fri and Sat night gigs, however I’m absolutely certain it will be as good as the previous 4 occasions….look forward to seeing you there and having a beer

Dear Pompey Pete
Well it certainly was! See you next year I hope..
thanks CB

chris i’m begging you to draw the winners

OK Louis you have won. Contact me asap..on here
CB

hi cb will the 7 of u be back together for the new album

Dear Paul
Not very likely.
CB

Hi Chris from all the gigs/venues you have played over the many years which was your favorite and which was your worst many thanks and long may madness remain cheers carl

Dear Carl
Best – Glasgow Apollo [RIP]
Worst – Hatfield Poly [excessive violence]
thanks CB

Evening Madness

Pull up a chair, crack open a Peroni and prepare yourselves for 15 Minutes on Earth?!

Thank you Madness, goodbye to you…

http://thejonesmodulation.bandcamp.com/album/15-minutes-on-earth

oh wow…Zzz
Thanks Chris

come on chris draw the winners!

Dear Louis – I said no way!

Will Madness visit Australia? There are many Madness fans down under! Madness was an integral part of my young adult years.

deleted by ®Timewaster

Hi Chris

Have the band released a cd that includes: “The last rag and bone man”? We heard them perform this fantastic song when we went to see them at the Brighton Center. x

Dear Sue
It was a free download, it might still be out there.
CB

Hi Chris been going to your concerts for years but I have never hered you play cardiac arrest just wondering why as it was one of your hits like driving in my car the last time I heard you play that was back in92 at madstock cheers Tony Harvey from Bristol

Dear Tony
One of these days we’ll get round to that.
thanks, CB

please draw the three words beyond

i’m the one that says where it began

Dear Louis
I am not getting involved in this!
CB

Hi Chris.just wondering if there’s any chance of you recording and making available sunshine voice, as I think it’s a great song and deserves to be heard. Cheers. Looking forward to hearing the next album. Crack on.

Dear Karl
Not that likely but thanks for the idea.
CB

Hi CB so looking forward to the HOFW but my question is hundreds if not thousands of us have been buying Madness poppy badges which are probably not official but still a class item. if this is the case could you please arrange a proper donation fund for everyone buying these badges included myself and her indoors at the HOFW as we have been using your label. Then it would be all proceeds to the British Legion courtesy of MADNESS. This make take some doing but if anyone can you can, cheers CB.

Dear Paul
This is a bit daft. I/we am not selling them, how can I “arrange” it? . Whoever is selling them should have sent the money to the British Legion. Ask them, not me.
CB

Dear Mr Foreman,

Is there a DVD release of Madstock ’92? If not, will there ever be?

Cheers,

Big Pete

You read our mind BP. It’s out now
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=madness+madstock+dvd&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=24542674254&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7582685777150373394&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9gm9kbm5e7_b
That link might work, or try this thing called “Google”, it’s great! You type in Madstock+Madness
CB

Hi CB,
Hope you are good and have had as good a summer as we have.
You lot were great….but my back has gone now !!
I need your help please – As its my 50th in May, and thinking about hiring a band, and having a theme party.
Can you suggest any rocking good enembles that (a can give us a good hour of rhythm, b) would add to the ska, twotone, and reggae theme, and c) be happy to come to lovely Notts for a Sat night ????
You and LT free in May ? now that would be splendid !
Any advice or ideas are cheers CB,
Tone

Dear Tone
You’d have to try a tribute band. I know Los Palmas 6.
CB

chris
virgin av sent me a new sim an its wipped half me numbers.can u text me or email yr number r kid?also walked for 5 mins last night with no sticks 4 the 1st tme in 14 months r kid.x

ok our Spotter

cb thanks for taking the time to get back to me ,,, yes u must have loads on ,,, that night no prop ,,, great gig at Blackheath ,, you guys get better and better ,, maybe some outher gig we could meet up ,,, cb all the best to you and your family ,, thanks lee

Thanks Lee I did have a lot on!