Welcome & thank you for popping in. Its nice when people visit and one does love a chat. The site is under construction and like most things I do in life I am taking my time about it. Its either the perfectionist in me or do I procrastinate? Let me think. Suffice to say that this year I have been occupied, in the main with all things Madness and as you probably are aware what a most magnificent and quite frankly incredible year we have had. What with appearing on Her Majesty's roof at Buckingham Palace to celebrate her Majesty's Jubilee and then taking part in the closing ceremony of the Olympics and performing Our House to almost a third of the population of the Planet. At times it has seemed to me almost as a dream, some splendid fantasy that we are caught in, some Christmas Special involving a Fairy Godmother and we have been to the ball. how did we get here, where are we going, should we take sandwiches? What privilege we are enjoying, what affection we have felt. I find it all so hard to express, to be able to give a clear idea of what a wonder its been. After all the years and all the time we have spent together I can only say what a fabulous journey we have had and continue to have. Its like a never ending story and I don't think we have got to the best bit yet. There have been so many memorable moments in Madness and amongst those that spring to mind as I write are, when outside Archway Underground Station in 1979 we held a copy of our first single The Prince in our hands and I recall John Hasler who literally jumped for joy. This was the real deal. I am smiling whilst thinking back to then and how thrilled we all were. Our gang, us. we had done this. We were part of  Two Tone at the time and it felt like we were part of a movement. A counter culture, a passionate tribe. expressing itself in sound, style & attitude. We had plenty of that. Soon after Jerry Dammers appeared on the cover of the first edition of The Face magazine and Gaz Mayall opened Gaz's Rockin Blues, the closet thing to a speakeasy, still going strong and the best and most perfect place in the world to listen too and dance to Ska. I remember getting a membership card back in the day, number 182. Cha!

In 1992 after incessant difficulties and against fearsome odds in Finsbury Park, North London, not far from the origins of the band on our home turf Madness reformed and played two shows over two day's an event which we called Madstock. after an absence of six years and with all the original seven on stage we had returned. On the first day, with the opening of One Step Beyond, thirty six thousand people danced in unison. the ground shook, One Step Beyond filled the air and at the seismic centre in Scotland they recorded a reading of 4.2 points on the Richter Scale. An earthquake had occurred. That Nutty Sound inspired the dance. was born in difficult times of dreams and hope, has weathered obstacles, learnt its craft, touched lives, brought joy to many, drank rather a lot of beer and really been quite driven over time in the pursuit of doing it our way. Some people some times call me mad and when they do I like to reply "I know, I'm in Madness, I do it for a living." We are all definitely mad in the most beautiful of ways. What a privilege to do what you love. Its hard to call this work. We are in the middle of choosing the tracks which will go on what will be our tenth album which will be released this year. The title has finally been decided. The interviews have begun and the photo sessions will be shot. Mr Blackburn & Mr Gadson, our most humble and omniscient management are concocting a strategy which will see us sailing our good ship to a myriad of shores. Where bounty and camaraderie abound. We are excited.
Mr Dave Watson Robinson a late comer tho not a stranger in our midst & a most worthy & salty dog has been encouraging the crew, with tales of this & that. Ms Ellis, our beloved Katy has starched our collars, tidied our thoughts and shown us the benefits of enthusiasm and good manners. She has all the boys to contend with yet is never harried. I am sharpening my wits for the impending action and as I write I can feel the ghost of Madness past at my back and here below decks it whispers, yes it whisper's and I hear it.......

Love & Strength

Chas

1st September 2012