Madness return to Ireland with a new album and a tour.
At the Opera House in Cork, Marty Whelan chats to Suggs (Graham McPherson) and Cathal 'Carl' Smyth (also known as Chas Smash) from Madness about their return to the stage after a period of turmoil for the band. Madness are back with a new album ‘Mad Not Mad and are on the road for a tour.
Madness have had a record 20 hits in the relatively short period of just four or five years. Suggs and Carl talk about starting out in north London in 1978 at the same time as bands like The Specials. Suggs puts a degree of their success down to luck and timing. He also pays credit to 2 Tone Records and Stiff Records who helped them to realise that you did not need a huge record company behind you to be a success.
We had a very prolific period.
While Madness record all their own music, one of their biggest hits was a cover of 'It Must Be Love' written by Labi Siffre who featured in the video for the song.
This episode of ‘Video File’ was broadcast on 15 October 1986. The presenter is Marty Whelan.
This interview was recorded during the band’s ‘Mad Not Mad’ tour on 22 October 1985. Madness played a six date Irish tour taking in City Hall in Cork, Leisureland in Galway, Maysfield in Belfast (2 nights), and the SFX in Dublin (2 nights).
