Madness at the BBC
11:20 pm - 12:50 am, Saturday, December 20 on BBC Two Wales (2)
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About this Broadcast
Madness frontman Suggs and keyboardist Mike Barson take a trip down memory lane to explore some of the nutty boys' finest moments from the BBC's archives. Sharing the stories behind hits like Baggy Trousers, House of Fun and It Must Be Love, the friends chart Madness's beginnings as a promising seven-strong ska band, their rise to chart dominance in the 1980s, the tensions behind the break-up that followed and a comeback that saw them confirm their status as one of Britain's best-loved and most enduring bands
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Music/Ballet/Dance
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Did You Know..
Suggs
(Actor)
Born:
January 13, 1961
in
Hastings
Best Known For:
Being the lead singer of Madness.
Early-life:
Born Graham McPherson in 1961 - his nickname is a nod to jazz musician Pete Suggs. His parents split up when he was very young and he was raised by his mother, a former jazz singer. He moved around a lot as a child, living in Liverpool and Wales before returning to London at the age of 11. He worked for a butcher for eight months after leaving school. In 1977, he joined forces with the ska band that would evolve into Madness. It's been reported that he was briefly kicked out for going to football matches when he should have been in rehearsal, but he was eventually allowed to rejoin.
Career:
Madness released their debut single, The Prince, in 1979, and it went on to become the first in a string of hits, including One Step Beyond, My Girl, Baggy Trousers, Our House and the chart-topping House of Fun. The band split in 1986 citing musical differences, but reformed in 1992 for a reunion concert, entitled Madstock. Following its success, the group have continued to get back together to play live and record new material. Away from Madness, Suggs has enjoyed success as a solo artist, dabbled in acting, and carved out a second career as a respected radio and TV presenter.
Quote:
"Basically, I'm the sort of bloke who likes going down the pub, singing, and taking his kids to the seaside."
Trivia:
He won a Royal Television Society award for his documentary series Disappearing London.
Mike Barson
(Actor)
Simon Goretzki
(Series producer)
Liz Izod
(Producer)
