Star Q&A: Madness icon, Suggs

Ahead of Windsor Live, Madness frontman Suggs reflects on childhood memories of his jazz-singer mother, sneaking into Who concerts, losing his luggage in David Bowie’s driveway, the changing face of London’s music scene, and why Madness still attracts new generations of fans…

Hello Suggs! What’s your earliest memory of music, please?

“My mum used to sing in pubs. She was a jazz singer and back then loads of pubs had pianos. Someone would start playing and Mum would sing for hours. It’s great, looking back. But as a kid, it was deeply embarrassing and you knew you weren’t getting home any time soon.”

Who were your musical heroes growing up?

“The Who were massive for me. I bunked into a gig at Charlton football ground and years later I actually paid Roger Daltrey the two quid I owed him. He was all right about it. They had laser beams and all this incredible stuff going on. Hearing Baba O’Riley live was unbelievable. My favourite was Cockney Rebel; I loved Make Me Smile. You’d carry albums around school like badges, to look cool: Bowie, Bob Marley, Roxy Music. Pre-mobile phones this, and what you wore, showed people who you were.”

Have you ever been starstruck?

“David Bowie would be right up there. He came backstage once in New York, in the early 1980s – that was a bit of a shocker. He invited us to stay with him in Switzerland once. We drove up this mountain road to this amazing house cut into the hillside and there was Bowie himself waving us into a sort of Bond villain lair. But we forgot the suitcases were strapped to the roof of the car. All our T-shirts and underwear went flying down his driveway. Not very cool.”

What can we all expect from you at Windsor Live?

“Outdoor gigs are always brilliant if the weather’s good. The sun’s shining, everyone’s having a great time. Bringing a bit of joy. We’ve got festivals pretty much every weekend through summer now. We still really enjoy it.”

Do you miss the London Madness started out in?

“You’ve got to be careful of the grumpy old man thing, ‘shut up, Dad!’ But yes: London’s changed massively. Young people just can’t afford it now. Back then you could move there with nothing and somehow survive. There used to be railway arches, squats, empty buildings, pubs everywhere. Especially Camden. You could rehearse so cheaply and there were loads of little venues to play. Most of those are gone now and that’s a real tragedy for young bands.”

How do Madness keep going after all these years?

“We’re like a dysfunctional family. Of course we argue. But arguing’s healthy. I’ve seen bands who never argue and then suddenly hate each other. It’s remarkable we’re still alive really, given what we put ourselves through over the years, haha! We were meant to have a quieter year but people keep asking us back. I don’t know why.”

Do younger audiences still connect with Madness?

“That’s the amazing thing. We still get loads of young people coming to gigs. I think we appeal to young people because we’re all pretty stupid. But people still dig this stuff. It’s a miracle really and it’s a real privilege.”

You’re currently in Disneyland Paris – how’s that going?

“I’m absolutely boiling. It’s absolute hell. Whose bloody idea was this?! Just rammed with nerds and weirdos with backpacks on. I forgot how crappy it all is. You can’t even get a proper beer – if you can, it’s non-alcoholic. Thirty years ago it felt magical because the kids were little and I was younger, but it definitely hasn’t got better. The rides are rubbish. I remember Pirates of the Caribbean being this spectacular 3D experience and now it’s just old dummies wobbling around with swords.”

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