Madness are one of the top 20 selling UK groups of all time, with seven top ten albums, 22 top 20 hits and over six million album sales to their name. Now the nutty boys have delivered us their incredible 12th studio album ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ and announced a string of Australian shows.
Recorded at the renowned Toe Rag Studios in East London with Clive Langer the band’s long term producer and the man who has helped mould some of their biggest moments, and Liam Watson, who in his own right is a Grammy Award Winner for his work on The White Stripes’ ‘Elephant’ and owner of Toe Rag Studios. Also joining the already stellar cast is Brit Award winner Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) on mixing and to top it off the entire album was recorded in under three weeks!
Tracks such as ‘Mr Apples’, ‘Mumbo Jumbo’, the Amy Winehouse referencing ‘Blackbird’ and the title track ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ capture the band’s inimitable combination of pop, reggae and soul influences. As on many of Madness’ greatest moments, the lyrics are gloriously observational and humorous, beautifully framing life in London. ‘Can’t Touch Us Now’ is the follow up to 2012’s Top 10 album ‘Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da’ which achieved certified gold status in the UK. Current single and the album title Can’t Touch Us Now is the 2nd single to be lifted from the album following on from foot tapping sing along record Mr Apples.
Lauded for their 2016 UK tour including performances at the Glastonbury, House of Fun Weekender and House of Common festivals, Madness will bring their classic, energy-packed shows to Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney this April, along with a set at Byron Bay Bluesfest showcasing tracks from Can’t Touch Us Now, as well as the hits and fan favourites since their 1979 debut.
Nothing quite compares to the six-piece, ska ensemble from London’s punk capital, Camden Town.
Madness seamlessly swing from one iconic hook to the next captivating melody, the kick drum vigorously chasing the darting brass section across their trailblazing catalogue of hits. Dawning from the age of the 2 Tone ska of the 70’s and early 80’s, Madness came out swinging with their 1979 album One Step Beyond. From there history was written with iconic hits such as ‘Our House’, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘It Must Be Love’, tallying 15 singles in the UK top ten including #1 hit ‘House of Fun’.
‘CAN’T TOUCH US NOW’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
APRIL 10 FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE FREMANTLE
APRIL 11 FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE FREMANTLE
APRIL 13 FESTIVAL HALL MELBOURNE
APRIL 15 HORDERN PAVILION SYDNEY
APRIL 16 BLUESFEST BYRON BAY
www.madness.co.uk & www.livenation.com.au
SUGGS: MY LIFE STORY
“I’d just turned 50, the kids had left home, and my cat had just died.”
In Suggs: My Life Story the Madness frontman takes to the stage in a hilarious, yet moving, one-man tour de force playing to rave reviews.
The death of Suggs’ beloved cat on his 50th birthday triggers a personal quest to discover what happened to the father he never knew. Stunned by what he learns, Suggs is taken back to his childhood on the tough streets of 1970s Soho and his first appearance on Top Of The Pops at the age of 18.
Is it a play? Is it stand up comedy? Is it Music Hall? Whatever it is, hold on to your seats as Suggs goes on to stumble and plummet through the trap door of failure, then trampoline back up to catch the passing trapeze of show business success!
Also touring Australia with Madness, Suggs: My Life Story will head to theatres in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne this April.
WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT AND UNCALLED FOR INTERJECTION
FROM DEANO HIS LOYAL MANSERVANT-CUM-PIANIST
SUGGS: MY LIFE STORY
ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY
THURSDAY APRIL 20 (all ages)
ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH
SATURDAY APRIL 22 (ages 18+)
COMEDY THEATRE, MELBOURNE
MONDAY APRIL 24 (all ages)
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
For complete tour and ticket information, visit:
www.livenation.com.au
