Dig if you will the picture.
Just weeks after a chance encounter in Chelsea with an architecture student called Chris Lowe, Neil Tennant’s first appearance in the long lamented Smash Hits magazine would appear to be in the Bitz news column of issue 74 (dated 1-14 October 1981), a sort of op-ed plugging Madness’ Take It Or Leave It, his nascent book based around the Nutty Boys’ film of the same name.
A semi-autobiographical comicumentary, Take It Or Leave It follows their rise to fame from humble pub-band origins via a blue-collar man’s struggle with keeping his head above water as he juggles life’s curveballs. It was something of a hit, too, and in retrospect, with its focus on the act’s first two albums, covers, and a preview of the third, seemed to be a tacit influence on Pet Shop Boys’ own feature film, 1998’s It Couldn’t Happen Here.
Alas, that very same autumn week, the Camden combo would have to make do with No. 7 in the the singles charts with the comedy crim caper Shut Up, while fellow North Londoners Adam And The Ants were sitting handsome and dandy at the top for a whole month with another fairytale folly, Prince Charming.
On the occasion of the Barson birthday, the future PSB man’s piece is below the titles.
Swingorilliant.
THE MADNESS MOVIE REVIEWED. TAKE IT, SAYS NEIL TENNANT
Caption: Suggs and Lee Thompson working as decorators during the early years. Interior decor’s loss was our gain
Autumn finds Madness at their most “multi-media”. The Album, The Film, The Book and The Tour. Phew! The album’s called “7”, officially available on October 2. Both the book and the film are titled “Take It Or Leave It” and will be launched on October 14.
The film is very much “for real”. From the title sequence of Madness departing from Heathrow Airport for foreign parts, it leaps back in black-and-white to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson nicking a Fats Domino disc from a shop in Camden Town, circa ’76. Barso, Kix and Chrissie Boy try to get a band together, The North London Invaders — Barso very much The Boss — and we whim through the personnel changes.
John Hasler becomes drummer. Chas has a spell on bass, Suggs becomes vocalist and gets chucked out for preferring football matches to rehearsals. Gary Dovey comes in on drums, Hasler takes over the vocals, Suggs returns, Hasler takes over as manager. Gary’s mate, Mark Bedford, becomes bass player after Chas gets fed up with Barson and, when Gary leaves, Bedders brings in his mate Woody as drummer. Still with me?
One night, The North London Invaders change their name and Madness are born. Clive Langer sees the band at the “Dublin Castle” pub, records “The Prince” and Madness enter the charts at Number 16. In short, the birth of a great pop group. And the going is fast! Fast through black-and-white, then suddenly into colour.
Fast through problems, parties, rehearsals, gigs and a night on the town, while the music gets better ’til finally that nutty sound erupts onto the screen. And humour! Kix is the natural comedian. Making excuses, getting sacked, smashing up a lorry without even noticing! Or Suggs and Lee plastering a wall (“D’yer think we should’ve taken the wallpaper oil first?”) The music is just about non-stop throughout, varying between live stuff and hit singles at appropriate points.
The contrast between the two cleverly highlights the differences and similarities between the early days and the present. One final scene: Clive Langer getting Warners Brothers Music to fork out some cash to pay for recording time. Publisher: “What’s the band called then?” Langer: “Madness.” Publisher: “Madness? A right bunch of nutters, eh?” Well, that much hasn’t changed!
“Take It Or Leave It” will be showing nationwide shortly after its London premier (October 14). See it. This is no “Breaking Glass” — it’s how things actually happen. And it’s much more fun.
© Neil Tennant, 1982
Edited by Steve Pafford
Upwards and onwards: The time Smash Hits’ Neil Tennant asked Suggs and Carl from Madness what they wear in bed is here
Adam Ant and Madness: The time Smash Hits’ Neil Tennant was Driving In My Car with the Nutty Boys is here
Perfect 10: Absolute Madness is here
