It’s scarcely believable that one of this country’s top bands had their beginnings forty years ago. Back in 1976, the seeds of Madness were sown when The North London Invaders formed. A year later Graham McPherson aka Suggs joined and after a brief name change to Morris and the Minors, finally settled on calling the band Madness in 1979 – and the rest, as they say, is history.
One of the top ska bands in the land, the Nutty Boys landed in Edinburgh on Thursday evening and a sell-out crowd at the Corn Exchange lapped every single minute of their ninety-minute set.
Suggs and co belted out all the old favourites such as Embarrassment, One Step Beyond, My Girl, Our House, Baggy Trousers and lots more as well as some more recent numbers such as Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da. The finale included this reporter’s favourite, It Must Be Love, Bed & Breakfast Man and the sublime Night Boat to Cairo which thrilled the many Madness devotees who purchased a fez for the evening
It was a great night – a word, too about the support act The Computers, whose thirty-minute set was mightily impressive.
I last saw Madness in Glasgow at The Hydro and that was also a great night albeit we were seated. At Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, it was standing – and dancing – room only and this made for an absolutely fantastic gig.
Madness on tour – it will be difficult to find one better day….
Edinburgh Reporter Review: *****
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
