Mike Barson from Madness goes back to his parental home and tells about the first Madness-days. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo (Dutch Public TV) from 2014.
'One Step Beyond'....1979? Where was I living back then? Missouri I think. Yeah, your stuff made it all the way to the backwoods of Missouri. Be proud my son....
Got to be one if not the best British 80s Pop group. You know they caused a small earthquake at one of their concerts, fact. So many good tunes and memories.
He was entirely the driving force, Madness is 100% his band, most musicians just have fun playing in a band but there's always one member who wants to keep driving it to be a success and that was him
Night boat's my ringtone, now I know Mike did the writing cool. When I heard My girl, That's when I knew Madness had to be in my collection, Then SKA became a way of life.
Barso gets bad press from some Madness fans, because he appeared to bully other members of the band in the early days, but he was focused on the job and the driving force that got the others serious. He’s the reason they had the musicality and fame. Without Barso there would be no Madness, he may have been demanding, impatient and pig-headed but every successful band (from the days when talent mattered, of course) needs that kind of engine.
I honestly have never heard a Madness fan dislike Mike. Without his drive, the band not only doesn't churn out the amazing hits, it probably doesn't exist at all. He just wanted a bunch of non serious boys to take the band seriously, because at a certain point, when they started get a huge following at Dublin Castle, he knew they could make something of the group. They were a bunch of Nutty Boys. They needed some discipline. When you hear how their song writing became like a German football team, Mike was right all along. Anybody criticizing Mike, really doesn't get Madness, and are not smart enough to realize no strong Mike, no amazing music group that changed so many lives.
Spent some great times in that house with Mike's brother Ben also a keyboards wiz, working on songs for our band. I remember Mike there, taking it all in. Ben went on to play in Kate Bush's band.
He was the classic younger brother who admired his older brother and wanted to be just like him. Really nice kid and a good player though different in style. Had a lot of energy where Ben was more laid back. @@eightiesmusic1984
Wow, Park Avenue South? I've always loved madness and didn't realise they began in a road that I know well. That's Hornsey really, not crouch end. One of my best friends at Junior school in the 70's lived down there. Expensive houses down there, even in those days, would be a couple of million now.
Just read the autobiogrqohy. They all moved at least once so in Barso's case I reckon he was here first then moved to Crouch End after. On second thoughts that might be bollocks. Forget that then. :)
Madness is kinda like the Kinks of the second Ska era, coming up first with them Ska hits and then those time witness stuff like Our House and My Girl, every inch as meaningful as Dead End Street or Waterloo Sunset. Bring on that plaque !!
Sir Ray Davies was only knighted on the 50th anniversary of Waterloo Sunset being released. So Barso probably has to wait another 6 years before he gets his plaque and title.
It certainly doesn't seem like a very long time ago that Madness was popular, and of course I still picture all the members looking the way they did in their music videos...which obviously they do not.
Never a fan of the band but this was very interesting, Mike appears really down to earth and realistic, I did love the humor of the band though, they were unique
Nope! OSB was the 2nd single. First came The Prince and the 3rd was My Girl. Last single of the OSB album was Nightboat to Cairo, which was the leadtrack on the Work, Rest & Play EP.
Oh okay, so when a local act to my Hudson Valley roots titled Perfect Thyroid did their own take on the Hawaii 5-0 theme, they were really covering Madness?
cracking! Baron and his madcap buddies have been so Special (gedit?) to us - such a Beat (?) yeah? We Selected them and it wasn't such Bad Manners to find a way out of our punk nihilism.. all the way from Nieu Zeeland
You should know where to look. There has been a third Ska wave (second Ska revival) in the second half of the 80s with bands like Mr Review (Netherlands), the Trojans (UK), the Toasters (USA), el Bosso & die Ping-Pongs (Germany), and many, many, many, MANY more. Three of those four (not Mr Review) are still playing 30+ years on. All four have had an impact in some way, shape or form. In the first half of the 90s Skapunk kicked off commercially in the USA for a couple of years. Ever since the late 80s, Ska-bands are still around in vast numbers. In Germany alone there's like a small dozen Ska-festivals every year with line-ups varying from the foundation artists that were around during the first Ska wave in the 60s, up to the most recent bands. London has its own London International Ska Festival. Major (Reggae) festivals like Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (USA), Summerjam (Germany) and Reggae Geel (Belgium) include ska acts in their line-ups. If all you hear is hard pseudo rap music, you're in a bubble, and it's the wrong bubble. Every area has its own Ska scene nowadays, from Argentina to Japan.
'One Step Beyond'....1979? Where was I living back then? Missouri I think. Yeah, your stuff made it all the way to the backwoods of Missouri. Be proud my son....
Love these English bands of the 70s and 80s. Right off the street, the kids next door... humble and fun.
Fooled you too huh? Don't let the Mockney accent fool you mate it's all bollocks
@@callithowiseeit5806 wot
@@callithowiseeit5806 It is? wow, fooled me
Mike's hilarious grimaces and facial expressions made the Madness video's for me. Bloody genius.
Got to be one if not the best British 80s Pop group. You know they caused a small earthquake at one of their concerts, fact. So many good tunes and memories.
I WAS THERE!!!
Humble guy....he was a far more crucial part of Madness than he lets on .....
He was entirely the driving force, Madness is 100% his band, most musicians just have fun playing in a band but there's always one member who wants to keep driving it to be a success and that was him
This band is awesome, it's like 20 guys onstage and Suggs standing there looking cool AF. See them live if you can.
One Step Beyond was the first record I purchased aged 9 years old, great times:)
What an amazing little documentary. Loved it!!!
I first went to Egypt on a Night Boat (to Port Said) and that song kept running through my head. It was fantastic.
Night boat's my ringtone, now I know Mike did the writing cool. When I heard My girl, That's when I knew Madness had to be in my collection, Then SKA became a way of life.
Big part of my wonderful youth. Thanks very much, Madness = a PARTY Band (from the Netherlands)
Excellent stuff it was too.... Many thanks for the background tracks to some amazing adolescent memories. My girl, indeed...
Madness, one of my favorite groups ever. I bought all there albums, never did that with any other group :)
The mighty Mike Barson absolute legend and glue of the band
no joke, those kiddies were all pretty darn excellent musicians!
I bought my first record from that shop 1973 can't believe it's still there . we moved from crouch end to Kentish town haha brilliant .
Barso gets bad press from some Madness fans, because he appeared to bully other members of the band in the early days, but he was focused on the job and the driving force that got the others serious. He’s the reason they had the musicality and fame. Without Barso there would be no Madness, he may have been demanding, impatient and pig-headed but every successful band (from the days when talent mattered, of course) needs that kind of engine.
Tarantulas Fun Mike was the most competent of the musician s a great pianist, lovely band!
I honestly have never heard a Madness fan dislike Mike. Without his drive, the band not only doesn't churn out the amazing hits, it probably doesn't exist at all. He just wanted a bunch of non serious boys to take the band seriously, because at a certain point, when they started get a huge following at Dublin Castle, he knew they could make something of the group. They were a bunch of Nutty Boys. They needed some discipline. When you hear how their song writing became like a German football team, Mike was right all along. Anybody criticizing Mike, really doesn't get Madness, and are not smart enough to realize no strong Mike, no amazing music group that changed so many lives.
Same could be said of Jerry Dammers. Both knew what they wanted out of their bands, and both were clearly-focused and driven.
one of the best bands ever.
Love those kinds of stories..
One of the most underrated piano/keyboard players to ever exist, this man is the reason I wanted to learn the keys - legend.
Only found this channel yesterday and it's awesome!
Spent some great times in that house with Mike's brother Ben also a keyboards wiz, working on songs for our band. I remember Mike there, taking it all in.
Ben went on to play in Kate Bush's band.
What was Mike Barson like?
He was the classic younger brother who admired his older brother and wanted to be just like him. Really nice kid and a good player though different in style. Had a lot of energy where Ben was more laid back. @@eightiesmusic1984
Not just fun and honest music, but genius aswell. Best times ever.
Never a super-fan but we all loved the vids....cheered you right up.
Amazing band!
They had a great sound and it was really captured on the recordings.
That could have been an hour longer.
Definitely. I was just getting in to it.
Wow, Park Avenue South? I've always loved madness and didn't realise they began in a road that I know well. That's Hornsey really, not crouch end. One of my best friends at Junior school in the 70's lived down there. Expensive houses down there, even in those days, would be a couple of million now.
Just read the autobiogrqohy. They all moved at least once so in Barso's case I reckon he was here first then moved to Crouch End after.
On second thoughts that might be bollocks. Forget that then. :)
“It was a great time for music....”
Yups. Speaking of which, there’s a documentary on 2Tone, that someone uploaded to YT. Great stuff! Takes me back.
The 70’s music wasn’t bad, but bands like Madness MADE the 80’s !
Brilliant boys pure madness our house would be a perfect song for the lockdown wouldn't it?
That’s the level of competence I aspire to!
I wonder if that chap knew that Madness began their musical career in his house? He certainly does now.
Ah they would have pre arranged the visit, they just like to make out that they just rocked up to the front door and were let in.
I don't think he had a bloody clue who he was lol Its not like when Paul McCartney comes calling.
@@markfryer9880 Nah, it was spontaneous. Otherwise he would have brought his mom beforehand.
Madness is kinda like the Kinks of the second Ska era, coming up first with them Ska hits and then those time witness stuff like Our House and My Girl, every inch as meaningful as Dead End Street or Waterloo Sunset. Bring on that plaque !!
Sir Ray Davies was only knighted on the 50th anniversary of Waterloo Sunset being released. So Barso probably has to wait another 6 years before he gets his plaque and title.
Just about competent is good enough for me!
They were quite young
Madness, probably one of the most important bands of all time :)
Saw Mr Barson bounce a large pork pie off the head of someone in the front of the crowd at Bridlington Spa ! This was 1980 ish, great live band!
If I close my eyes I could swear it’s Sean Lock
Best one yet.
It certainly doesn't seem like a very long time ago that Madness was popular, and of course I still picture all the members looking the way they did in their music videos...which obviously they do not.
Absolutely Madness
First band I saw live. Christmas Eve at Hammersmith Odeon. 1979.
The support was a mime artist with balloons.
@StocktonNative 209
Brilliant.
Mine too but a year later on the 23rd followed by Orange Cardigans at the Rock Garden. I was 12 and danced for hours
Eran tan jóvenes ❤
Always had time for Barson, and Chas Smash 👍
Brilliant Brilliant band .....
Fascinating
The Specials had the edge .Madness were great at pop and pop covers.
Sky Channel video clips on the English tv.. the eighties, what a time!!!
Holy Moly ..I totally know Crouch End ..Forgot they were from North London
The Prince was their first single.
Fantastic
Find it amazing that he didn't know My Girl came after OSB. Especially as he wrote it! Was a while ago I guess.
Never a fan of the band but this was very interesting, Mike appears really down to earth and realistic, I did love the humor of the band though, they were unique
I want my MTV ! Our house was in rotation alot....
Nope! OSB was the 2nd single. First came The Prince and the 3rd was My Girl. Last single of the OSB album was Nightboat to Cairo, which was the leadtrack on the Work, Rest & Play EP.
What, no mention of Baggy Trousers!
Baggy Trousers isn't on OSB but the 2nd album Absolutely, that's why.
Is old Mike on the gear ?
I bought 'The Prince' on 2 Tone. Surely that was their first single
Big thanks to Dammers!
They are great. he should have signed the LPin the shop!
3:07 That poor woman is thinking 'Get the fuck out of my way !'
one of the 'nutty boys'
The guy that owns the house didnt seem impressed, did he know who madness were lol I'd have been over the moon
He's probably writing to the council asking for a blue plaque thinking that'll be another 50 grand on the value of his house.
1:38 One step beyond was not their first single?? The Prince was their first.
Madness is one of two groups to play on the top of Buckingham Palace
enjoyable and memorable, yeah?😉
A very middle class house, Barso
Blue plaque for Thurston Moore 5:48.... I wonder what it reads
Oh okay, so when a local act to my Hudson Valley roots titled Perfect Thyroid did their own take on the Hawaii 5-0 theme, they were really covering Madness?
nice
cracking! Baron and his madcap buddies have been so Special (gedit?) to us - such a Beat (?) yeah? We Selected them and it wasn't such Bad Manners to find a way out of our punk nihilism.. all the way from Nieu Zeeland
Still fit
79’ WTF !! lol damm getting old.
Baggy Trousers didn't even get a mention!
Ask to anyone what is the sound of the 80's ?. 9 Out of 10 times Madness will come out of it.
No doubt should do some I'd to see Gwen dance like that
I'm 53, and if Madness is played, I HAVE to dance!! I will nearly kill myself, but it's bloody worth it!
John Lennon said he loved Madness. Sadly he died too soon to hear their 80s stuff
Wrong. My girl was after one step.
Wish there was another ska revival, it was fun music and Madness were the zenith of that movement. Now all you get its try hard pseudo rap music.
Start one then.
Im a bit old for that sort of thing Im afraid. @@nasskhan4543
The Specials were the true pioneers of that genre, Madness followed them...
You should know where to look. There has been a third Ska wave (second Ska revival) in the second half of the 80s with bands like Mr Review (Netherlands), the Trojans (UK), the Toasters (USA), el Bosso & die Ping-Pongs (Germany), and many, many, many, MANY more. Three of those four (not Mr Review) are still playing 30+ years on. All four have had an impact in some way, shape or form. In the first half of the 90s Skapunk kicked off commercially in the USA for a couple of years. Ever since the late 80s, Ska-bands are still around in vast numbers. In Germany alone there's like a small dozen Ska-festivals every year with line-ups varying from the foundation artists that were around during the first Ska wave in the 60s, up to the most recent bands. London has its own London International Ska Festival. Major (Reggae) festivals like Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (USA), Summerjam (Germany) and Reggae Geel (Belgium) include ska acts in their line-ups.
If all you hear is hard pseudo rap music, you're in a bubble, and it's the wrong bubble. Every area has its own Ska scene nowadays, from Argentina to Japan.
@@nasskhan4543 I did try;
th-cam.com/video/IgGT6pmIWyo/w-d-xo.html
Yeh em...yeh.. em...er...yeh
MIKE...IS.....THE INSTIGATOR OF MADNESS.....
The instigator for now it seems
And oh, I get your meaning
Gekkigheid.
gay