Love both. Madness just.
[Music] The Specials or Madness
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Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,366
Not at the time they weren't, despite what their loveable wacky videos might suggest. They had a really vile skinhead following who invariably put a major damper on any gig. As the badge of the day put it 'Nazis Are No Fun'
Horses Arse
Well-known member
No competion surely. Madness were a 'created' band, Specials the real deal
Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 7,376
I don't know where you've got that from. Madness were 'The North London Invaders' for a few years before the name change and signing to 2 Tone for one single. They weren't at all 'created'. They were a bunch of friends. Far more than The Specials who were a group of disparate characters put together by Dammers.
KZNSeagull
Well-known member
Brighton Beach 1979
cheshunt seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 5, 2003
- 2,595
I saw them both on the Two-Tone tour in 79. The Specials were edgier but Madness were more entertaining.
METALMICKY
Well-known member
- Jan 30, 2004
- 6,844
That sums it up precisely. I don't need my music to preach or be overtly political so it's Madness for me.
As a 9 year old, Madness, baggy trousers, house of fun, then swiftly onto the Specials, so both, quite different bands really.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,366
Best 2 Tone single by a Black Country mile came from neither The Specials nor the toytown Madness . IMHO, like. Obviously.
Don't watch those, watch THESE
Don't watch those, watch THESE
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happypig
Staring at the rude boys
My memory might be playing tricks on me but I'm sure I saw Madness at the Art College in Grand Parade in around 1979/80 but there's no mention of it on their concert archives page (https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/madness?page=37#concert-table).
Anyone remember ?
Anyone remember ?
Horses Arse
Well-known member
Plucked out from a dark hole! I didn't like Madness, found it all so poppy and fabricated to be popular. No substance to the created comment.
Never heard anything about them playing there, that concert archive site isn’t spot on imo….I’ve looked at other bands on there and gigs are missing.
They also mention Madness playing in 1968
Madness did play the Brighton Centre in Dec 1980 and did a big tour that year, if they did play the Art College it was probably 79. But as mentioned on this thread they did the 2 Tone tour in 79.
Edit- You are correct, found a better site…..October 79 played at Brighton Polytechnic
Madness Concerts 1970s
The Invaders Mike Barson - Piano Chris Foreman - Guitar Lee Thompson - Sax John Hasler - Drums Carl Smyth - Bass Dikran Tulaine - Vocals 1977 June 30, 1977 8 Compton Terrace, London, ENG
(The Invaders play their first gig at a party in the back garden of friend Si Birdsall, directly opposite...
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Lenny Rider
Well-known member
- Sep 15, 2010
- 6,020
Specials were of their time, but Madness have stood the test of time, so it’s the Nutty Boys for me.
Skaville
Well-known member
You can’t compare House of Fun and Ghost Town. The Specials by a country mile.
@happypig I saw Madness play there (Poly) and it was full on skinhead wanker agro. I seem to recall Madness also at the Top rank. I saw the Specials 3 times in Brighton as far as I recall.Never heard anything about them playing there, that concert archive site isn’t spot on imo….I’ve looked at other bands on there and gigs are missing.
They also mention Madness playing in 1968
Madness did play the Brighton Centre in Dec 1980 and did a big tour that year, if they did play the Art College it was probably 79. But as mentioned on this thread they did the 2 Tone tour in 79.
Edit- You are correct, found a better site…..October 79 played at Brighton Polytechnic
Madness Concerts 1970s
The Invaders Mike Barson - Piano Chris Foreman - Guitar Lee Thompson - Sax John Hasler - Drums Carl Smyth - Bass Dikran Tulaine - Vocals 1977 June 30, 1977 8 Compton Terrace, London, ENG (The Invaders play their first gig at a party in the back garden of friend Si Birdsall, directly opposite...concerts.fandom.com
Derailing the thread....anyone see Daddy Yum Yum at the poly, late 70s? I still have my 'Daddy Yum Yum save my soul' pencil. Yesterday's wordle answer reminded me of that
Peacehaven Wild Kids
Well-known member
On that basis, Brighton are the three Times champions of Europe as we beat Man United last week
On the link it mentions Nazi skinheads turning up at the Poly gig.
You could easily replace Specials with Beatles, and Madness with the Legendary Pink Dots, if band longevity is your yardstick.
(As it happens I much prefer the dots
)
Knocky's Nose
Mon nez est retiré.
I was into both (at the time I was more a fan of Madness) but the Specials always seemed far cooler and more authentic, so now I'd say the Specials.
If anyone gets chance though, have a look on YouTube at 'The Prince' video. What I'd have given to be one of them at that time...
If anyone gets chance though, have a look on YouTube at 'The Prince' video. What I'd have given to be one of them at that time...