Suggs reveals the secret to Madness' longevity
The band have been together since the 70s
Madness singer Suggs joined Great Conversations with Jackie Brambles on Greatest Hits Radio, to talk about the band's upcoming tour, their success and the secret to their longevity.
The band behind hits such as 'Baggy Trousers' and 'Our House' have been together since 1976, with a short break in the late 80s. Despite launching their careers nearly 50 years ago, their success continues to this day, with their last album 'Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie' released in 2023, going to Number 1 in the UK.
Why the band stayed together
Speaking to Jackie, Suggs admitted that the break was needed, as they were all exhausted, however, when they returned they were surprised at how popular they became.
Explaining to Jackie, Suggs said: "I think there's a few things (why we stayed together). One was that we've been friends since pretty much we were at school, so there's a great deal of tolerance... We had to have tolerance, otherwise we would have killed each other."
He continued: "But secondly, we did have a bit of a break around the mid 80s. I think we took about six years off, which I think was very healthy for all concerned, not for bad reasons... We just felt like we needed a break.
"And we'd been sort of on a treadmill, a bit like the 1960s, you know, three singles, an album, a tour, three singles for about five years, but having that break with all the kids and sort of had a bit of a reflection on what normal life is."
Madness' return to music (1992)
Suggs went on to say how they felt refreshed when they returned to music: "(We had) a renewed vigor and attitude that we could do it as WE want to do it, not as we're being told to do it and that really kind of changed the...
"I mean, like this last few years, you know, we toured for a few weeks, we go to a few festivals in Europe, but don't really... we're not on any kind of treadmill."
He later admitted when the band had a break he thought that was it for them. "We were very tired," he admitted.
"I mean, and we kind of made the rod for our own backs, we were expected to be the life and soul, you know, and jollying up any situation and that gets a bit taxing.
"The funny thing was, you know, when I was an old man of 27, you know, I was retiring. And I sort of had enough of it."
Success second time around
Following their break, Madness performed at a huge concert called Madstock, which was the beginning of the band's revival, re-releasing 'It Must Be Love', along with 'Lovestruck', and albums such as 'The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1' (2005) and 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' (2008).
Suggs explained their approach to Madstock, saying: "We just thought, well, let's just play all the hits, which we sort of got a bit fed up of.
"And it was a revelation that, you know, we saw them (songs) through kind of new eyes. And because I wasn't touring for six to eight months a year, I did actually, I think, enjoy it a bit more.
"I mean not that you can replace being a teenager, but now when I do concerts, I actually look at the audience and I actually appreciate that they appreciate us. And they're not, you know, the enemy, that's a bit too exaggerated, but, you know, there was a sense of being totally self-absorbed when you're young."
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