Madness have revealed their first impressions of frontman Suggs after the singer auditioned for the band in 1977.
Weaving stories from their 40-year career together in a new ITV docuseries, Before We Was We: Madness by Madness, the band’s keyboardist Mike Barson revealed his first thought about Suggs was ‘he’s doing well’.
Graham McPherson, best known by his nickname Suggs, joined the band in 1977 after auditioning for See You Later Alligator.
Mike, better known as Barso, recalled the audition in a newly released trailer, explaining, “Somehow he fit.
“I mean, it wasn’t like, ‘Wow, you know, the voice or the old blue eyes are back.’ It’s kind of like, “Oh, he’s fine.” I mean, that’s what a lot of this looked like.”
Madness have revealed their first impressions of frontman Suggs were ‘he’s fine’ as ITV releases first look at new docuseries Before We Was We: Madness by Madness
Graham McPherson, best known by his nickname Suggs, joined the band in 1977 after auditioning for See You Later Alligator.
It was Suggs’ charisma and not his singing ability that won him a place in the band, as saxophonist Lee Thompson added, “I remember thinking this guy was quite charismatic.”
‘He has something of Ian Dury about him. I’m pretty sure we got the frontman we needed.”
Recalling how he felt the day he went to the audition, Suggs joked, “I remember being scared, so I brought Chalky, my best friend.
“I don’t know what I thought he was going to do, punch them if they didn’t like my singing or something.”
After joining the band, Madness enjoyed tremendous success. institution the record for the largest ever audience for the BBC’s Live New Year’s Eve Broadcast, which was also the most watched TV music event of 2018.
The group also performed at Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
The docuseries follows the band’s humble beginnings who went on to secure ten UK top ten albums, fifteen top ten singles and win a host of awards, including a prestigious Ivor Novello.
With three episodes of 60 minutes, the program e.gfeatures original footage and interviews with band members past and present, including Chris Foreman, Mike ‘Barso’ Barson, Lee ‘Thommo’ Thompson, Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson, Daniel ‘Woody’ Woodgate, Mark ‘Bedders’ Bedford and Carl ‘Chas Smash ‘Smyth.
Mike, better known as Barso, recalled the audition in a newly released trailer, explaining, “Somehow he fit. I mean, it wasn’t like, “Wow, you know, the voice or the old blue eyes are back.” It’s kind of like, “Oh, he’s fine.” I mean, that’s what a lot of this was like.”
It was Suggs’ charisma rather than his singing ability that secured him a place in the band, as saxophonist Lee Thompson added: “I remember thinking this guy was quite charismatic”
The docuseries follows the band’s humble beginnings who went on to secure 10 UK top ten albums, 15 top ten singles and win a host of awards, including a prestigious Ivor Novello
Recalling how he felt the day he went to the audition, Suggs joked, “I remember being scared, so I brought Chalky, my best friend.”
Set during a time of cultural and political turmoil, the docuseries offers a compelling insight into post-war Britain and the band’s inevitable rise to the top of the charts.
The program consists of three 60-minute episodes and contains original footage and interviews with band members past and present
Set during a time of cultural and political turmoil, the docuseries offers a compelling insight into post-war Britain and the band’s inevitable rise to the top of the charts, pop fame and fortune against the backdrop of ska, punk and new music. golf revolution.
In 2020, Suggs admitted that his role in Madness helped him through bad times in his life.
He explained: ‘Although Madness has always worked hard, we have never taken what we do too seriously.
‘But I’ve come to realize that music for me isn’t just tunes. It is an emotional tool that I have been able to use to get me through difficult times.
‘It was very difficult when my mother, Edwina, passed away in 2018. She was a club singer, but many at her funeral had never heard her perform.
‘So I found an old CD that she had recorded, with the song A Foggy Day (In London Town) on it, and played it at her funeral service. That was really something for me. It became a moment of shared reflection.’
He added: “Every day I meet someone who says, ‘Your songs have influenced my life.’ I know how they feel.
‘For me, music is a great way to lose yourself. When you listen to it, you’re not intellectualizing or overanalyzing your life.”
Before We Was We: Madness by Madness is now available to watch on ITVX.