Racism

Hi Chris,

we’ve been talking in the office about attending your gigs in Manchester and Blackpool, one of my colleagues {and his wife}, who are huge music buffs have refused to join in because of some implied racist accusation from back in the day.I’ve always felt that you lads were absolutely not racist and whilst embracing elements of skinhead culture {as I do too}have never believed in racism or supported it in any way. I’m a loyal fan of many gigs and would love to just show them that a} you cared enough to respond and b} that i’m absolutely right in my belief that my band can be loved for their music and not shunned for a load of utter bullshit from back in the day.

Yours Si

Dear Si
Oh dear, I thought that was all in the past. How old are your colleagues? Are they referring to an article in the NME many years ago, in which Woody stated quite categorically that none of the band was racist? I have re – read that article, it was quite innocent but somehow we got painted with the old racist brush. The mind boggles. We did have a black drummer at one point but he preferred soul music to the load of weird reggae n’ rock ‘n roll we were perfecting. Oh if only we had a black member everything would have been all right-wouldn’t it? Cobblers! We aren’t racist – we never have been. Our music is founded on black music, for a start. I told some crappy jokes when younger that were of dubious racial content I didn’t know any better, I had black friends who laughed along but you have to grow up eventually and change.
CB

4 thoughts on “Racism”

    HI SIMON,
    I FIRST SAW MADNESS ON THE 8.12.1980 AT GLASGOW APPOLLO WHEN I WAS A 15 YEAR OLD LAD I’VE SAW THEM COUNTLESS TIMES OVER THE YEARS I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANY HASSLE OR BOTHER AT A MADNESS GIG I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE I SAW THEM LAST YEAR AT GLASGOW & THEY JUST BLEW ME AWAY THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ELECTRIC I HAVE TO RATE IT MY FAVOURITE GIG OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS EVEN CHRISSSY BOY VOTED IT THE BEST OF THE WHOLE TOUR.YOUR SO CALLED WORKMATES DONT DESERVE TO ATTEND A MADNESS GIG THEY ARE THE PIG HEADED RACISTS IN MY OPINION.I’M OFF TO SEE MADNESS AGAIN THIS YEAR AT GLASGOW CANT WAIT.ENJOY THE BLACKPOOL & MANCHESTER GIGS I KNOW I WILL ENJOY GLASGOW AS I ALWAYS DO MADNESS FANS ARE THE MOST FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.
    ALL THE BEST
    ANDY

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    Don’t worry Andy mate I will, I’m a veteran of many Madness gigs, I ran up against this issue when trying to share the experience of a top live band with my so called work mates!

    I’m going to Blackpool and Manchester this year whatever they decide.

    Kind regards Si

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    YOU SAY YOUR WORK COLLEAGUES ARE MUSIC BUFFS.??
    WELL THEY NEED TO DO THEIR MUSIC HOMEWORK.
    THESE DIMWITS WOULD REALISE THAT MADNESS’ FIRST SINGLE WAS ABOUT THE GREAT “PRINCE BUSTER” WHO WAS FROM JAMAICA.IF MADNESS WERE RACICIST IN ANYWAY WHY WOULD THEY HAVE PAID HOMAGE TO HIM.
    I HAVE BEEN A MADNESS FAN FOR 31 YEARS I HATE RACISM & THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT RACISM “MADNESS ARE NOT RACIST”. SI IGNORE YOUR SO CALLED WORKMATES JUST GO ALONG TO THE CONCERT YOU ARE IN FOR A GREAT NIGHT MADNESS ARE A GREAT BAND & ANYONE ELSE WHO TELLS YOU DIFFERENTLY ARE TALKING TOTAL BULLSHIT.

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