Leah Rix
Thank you! x

1.Out of the new songs, which do you like the best?
Doolally [written by myself and Thommo not played live yet]

2.What would you say is the highlight of your career?
There have been many highlights. One of the most exciting things was getting on top of The Pops the first time. By the 23rd time it was getting tedious.

3.Who would you consider to be your idol and have you ever met them?
Billy Idol ha ha [yeah I did meet him in LA a good few years ago]. Er…Alex Harvey met him for two seconds when bunking into the Finsbury Park Rainbow in the 70’s. Loads really I have met a few of them over the years. Generally if I really admire someone I will say hello. Which is a good thing to do, by the way. I get a few messages saying “I saw you in the street but I was to shy to say hello”. Ian Dury of course I loved him. I met him in the car park of the Tally Ho Kentish town in about 1972. Thommo and I used to go and see bands there. Once we‘d seen someone there and there was a poster saying “next week Kilburn and The High Roads” so we thought anyone with a name like that must be a laugh. We’d have to go and see them next week. So there I was in the Tally Ho car park a week later trying to work out how to bunk in for free and Ian walked by. I assumed he worked in the pub because he was sort of in a suit and a bow tie [I think]. I said “when’s the band on?” he gruffly replied “I don’t know mate”. Imagine my surprise when he appeared on stage with this totally nutty band. So Thommo and I were instantly hooked and Madness based a lot of our image and music on the “Kilburns”. I got to really properly meet him years later, in 1981 on a coach to Holland [Pink Pop festival] and he was threatening me with violence all the way ha ha what a geezer. So who would imagine I would end up carrying his coffin all those years later..Well that was quite a trip down memory lane..
PS “What a Waste” just came on the radio as I am writing this – is Mr. Dury looking down on me?

4.What’s been your favourite gig in the whole time of your career? (With Madness or or any side projects)
Very hard to answer. The first times we played at the Hope and Anchor and started to get a few followers.

5.Your (honest) opinions on your band mates? Thommo writes great lyrics great sax player, very talented. Drives me nuts. You could say the same about them all really – [please substitute instruments]

6.Given the chance, which year of your life would you relive?
1979. We started the year off playing to about 30 people and ended headlining the Lyceum.

7. In today’s music industry a lot of artists sound the same, what band/singer sticks out to you?
The Arctic Monkeys I think are very good.

8.In the past the band have described Madness as a family, So in your opinion, who in the band is which family member?
We are all like dysfunctional children without any parents.

9. How much longer do think you’ll be playing as a band?
I really don’t know. 5 years?

10.If you could be female, who would you be?
Lady Ga Ga

11.Who is your favourite maker of cakes? *cough cough*
Mr Kipling

all the best with the course CB