Mike Barson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mike Barson | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Barson |
| Born | 21 May 1958 North London, England |
| Genre(s) | 2 Tone, Ska, Pop, New Wave |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboard, piano |
| Years active | 1976 – 1984, 1992 - present |
| Label(s) | 2 Tone, Stiff, Virgin, V2 |
| Associated acts | Madness, Suggs |
| Website | Madness.co.uk |
Mike Barson (born Michael Barson, 21 May 1958, North London, England), sometimes nicknamed Monsieur Barso, is an English musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.
Barson co-founded a band called The Invaders (sometimes known as "the North London Invaders") in 1976. [1] Soon, they changed their name to Madness after the song by Prince Buster [2] and became one of the most popular bands in Two Tone, and of the 80s. In 1984 after the recording of the album Keep Moving, Barson, who was one of the two main songwriters (The other being Lee Thompson) left the band. Two years later, Madness disbanded.
They reunited in their original lineup in 1992 [1] and he still plays with them. In 1995, he co-wrote and produced a number of songs for Suggs' first solo album The Lone Ranger. When No Doubt were recording songs for their fifth studio album Rock Steady, Barson was asked to play piano on the London version of the song "Everything in Time". Barson obliged and the track was produced by Madness producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. The track never made it on to the album, but was released a year later in 2003 on the compilation album B-sides, Remixes and Rarities.
Barson is currently recording with Madness on their ninth studio album.
[edit] References
- ^ a b BBC Top of the Pops 2 Top 5, accessed 12 August 2006 [1]
- ^ BBC Top of the Pops 2 Muze Biography, accessed 12 August 2006 [2]
[edit] External links
- The Madness Information Service Online
- Madness Chapter 5: Prospects
- Madness Official MadSpace
- Mike Barson's Official MySpace
- The nutty forum
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