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29 October 2014
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Madness
Welcome to the house of factual fun...


no 1DIKRON
Suggs Mike Barson, 'Chrissie Boy' Foreman and Lee 'Kix' Thompson formed the Invaders in 1976. There was no Suggs in those days. Instead, they employed the vocal talents of a young chap known only as Dikron. He didn't last very long and was soon replaced by the bowler-hatted Suggs that we all know and love. Changing their name to Madness in January 1979, they proceeded onward with their ska-derived sound.

Mike Barsonno 2WARNING - IT MUST BE LOVE
The band revive Labi Siffre's 1972 hit 'It Must Be Love', which goes straight in at No.4. Labi even made a cameo appearance in the video for the song. When showing the poolside promo on TOTP, a concerned Jimmy Savile warned the kids at home not to copy the soon-to-be-electrified group who had just jumped into a swimming pool clutching their electric guitars.

no 3SuggsGUEST HARMONICA
After 'What's That' becoming a legendary flop, October 1990 saw Suggs playing the harmonica and singing backing vocals for Morrissey's No.18 hit 'Piccadilly Palare'. At the same time Woody and Bedford continued to collaborate with Voice of the Beehive, Barson remained semi-retired with his wife in Holland and Bedders started to study graphic design.

Suggsno 4FOOTBALL FANATIC
It wasn't all plain sailing for frontman Suggs. For instance you might not have known that football was so important to Suggs that the rest of the crew nearly kicked him out. It wasn't uncommon for him to miss numerous Saturday rehearsals to catch the match. Luckily, Barson gave him a well delivered kick to the derriere which pushed the band to adopt the first skinhead movement in the UK. So much so that Dr Marten's issued a limited edition version of Madness DM's.

no 5Chrissie Boy ForemanHELL NO WE WON'T GO
The band split in 1986, but the public just wanted more. They reformed for a reunion concert in 1992, called Madstock! The event at London's Finsbury Park wasn't without its mishaps though. Local residents evacuated their buildings and reported an earthquake to the police. Turns out that the so-called tremor was nothing more than the crowd jumping up and down chanting "Madness".

The Gardener's Delight
Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your Top 5 grow ....
Fatboy Jims & Lardy Ladies
The singers who took their sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll with a slice of cake...
Britpop Busters
Five facts about the legendary Britpoppers...
Filmed In Technovision
Enter the world of experimental telly according to the Pet Shop Boys
Punk Pretenders?
Perfectly Punked? Nah, at heart they were all a bunch of old softies...
Front Bottom!
We name and shame the bands named after a lady's privates...
Bring Your Gran
Golden oldies who joined forces with youthful pop people...
2003's Demented Predictions
TOTP2's bonkers ball-gazer predicts this year's pop ups and downs...
The Erasure Story
Trip through the history of the UK'S top synth duo...
Rubbish Xmas Songs
What not to play at your Christmas party...
Bag Of Bones
Legends that should have eaten their greens. Bring out the lard...
Banned by the BBC
The songs that were just too hot to handle ...
Fortune Smiles Upon Them
Be they works of genius, accident or stealing, these songs are lucky to be alive.
Elton John
Drugs, Diana, dirty deeds. It's a wonder that he's still standing...
Inxs-ive Lifestyles
We examine Australia's biggest export since Fosters...
Poodle Rockers
Gravity-defying perms and spandex trousers, they're the Poodle Rockers...
Madness
Welcome to the house of factual fun...
Status Quo
We take a trip down memory lane with the mighty Quo...
Pop Activists
Top pop people who fight for the rights...
Singing Drummers
Drummers who got sick of looking at the lead singer's wiggling bum.
Rolling Stones
Headline-grabbing moments from Britain's lippiest band.
David Bowie
Follow Dave's top 5 looks through the years - including the mullet action!
Hot Chocolate
Indulge yourself in the pleasure that is Errol and the gang
"Secret" Drug Songs
"It was inspired by this crazy picture my son painted." Yeah, right...
Abba-nother Go
You were going to call it what? 5 working titles from the Super Swedes...
In & Out Of Bed With Madonna
Collaborations for the Queen of Pop that didn't end at 5.30...
Self-Love
Songs that gave a whole new meaning to 'Born To Hand Jive'...
Slade
For those that glam-rocked, we all salute you...
Supergrass
A trip through the lambchop elite's glory story...
'80s Revival Hell
Alas, some pop icons just wouldn't let that decade go.


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