Madness Sweeps the West End???Date: 9 October 2001 A musical portraying the rise of ska-pop band Madness is rumoured to be in production. It is also suggested that the band’s lead singer Suggs, and other group members, are acting in an advisory role for the producers. Casting could begin as early as next Spring, with a Summer opening in the pipeline. The band started life as The Invaders back in 1976, but renamed themselves after a Prince Buster song. Fusing ska rhythms and instrumentation with a canny pop sensibility, they enjoyed enormous critical and commercial success. Their breakthrough hit came with the mainly instrumental piece "One Step Beyond". This was followed by a stack of diverse hits including "Michael Caine", "On the Wings of a Dove", "My Girl" and "Night Boat to Cairo". Madness’ first Stateside breakthroughs came with the satirical numbers "Our House" and "House of Fun".
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