Mike Barson
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British
musician
, best known as a founding member and keyboardist
of the second wave ska band
, Madness
.
, Scotland
, Barson grew up in North London
with his 2 brothers Dan and Ben. He is often known by the nickname
s 'Monsieur Barso or Barzo'.
Barson co-founded a band called "The Invaders" in 1976. Soon, they changed their name to Madness after the song by Prince Buster
and became one of the popular bands in Two Tone, and of the 1980s. In 1984 after the recording of the album Keep Moving
and appearing in the promo clips for the two singles from that album - "Michael Caine" and "One Better Day", Barson, who was one of the main songwriters and effectively the musical director, left the band to spend more time with his now ex wife Sandra in Amsterdam. Two years later Madness disbanded, but Barson did join them for the recording of their final single - "Waiting For The Ghost Train".
They reunited in their original line-up in 1992, and he still plays with them. In 1995, he co-wrote and produced
a number of song
s 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.
Both Barson and his bandmate, Suggs, have contributed to the Audio Bully's album, Higher Than The Eiffel. They both appear on the tracks Twist Me Up and Goodbye.
He has three sons. Jamie, Timothy and Joey. Timothy is the only one to follow his Dad's lead into music and like his father is a keyboard player, but of the electronica style.
Mike Barson is currently recording a new album with Madness.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as a founding member and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
of the second wave ska band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
.
Biography
Born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Barson grew up in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
with his 2 brothers Dan and Ben. He is often known by the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s 'Monsieur Barso or Barzo'.
Barson co-founded a band called "The Invaders" in 1976. Soon, they changed their name to Madness after the song by Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
and became one of the popular bands in Two Tone, and of the 1980s. In 1984 after the recording of the album Keep Moving
Keep Moving
Keep Moving is the fifth album by the British ska band Madness from 1984. It was the last Madness album prior to their 1999 comeback album Wonderful to feature Mike Barson....
and appearing in the promo clips for the two singles from that album - "Michael Caine" and "One Better Day", Barson, who was one of the main songwriters and effectively the musical director, left the band to spend more time with his now ex wife Sandra in Amsterdam. Two years later Madness disbanded, but Barson did join them for the recording of their final single - "Waiting For The Ghost Train".
They reunited in their original line-up in 1992, and he still plays with them. In 1995, he co-wrote and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
a number of song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s for Suggs' first solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album The Lone Ranger. When No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
were recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
songs for their fifth studio album Rock Steady, Barson was asked to play piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on the London version of the song "Everything in Time". Barson obliged and the track was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Madness producers Clive Langer
Clive Langer
Clive Langer is a British record producer active from the mid 1970s onwards. He usually works with Alan Winstanley. He composed the music for the films Still Crazy and Brothers of the Head. Prior to his record producing career he was a guitarist with the British cult band Deaf SchoolLanger...
and Alan Winstanley
Alan Winstanley
Alan Kenneth Winstanley is a British record producer active from the mid-1970s onwards. He usually works with Clive Langer.-Notable studio albums produced by Alan Winstanley and Clive Langer:* One Step Beyond... – Madness...
. The track never made it on to the album, but was released a year later in 2003 on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
B-sides, Remixes and Rarities.
Both Barson and his bandmate, Suggs, have contributed to the Audio Bully's album, Higher Than The Eiffel. They both appear on the tracks Twist Me Up and Goodbye.
He has three sons. Jamie, Timothy and Joey. Timothy is the only one to follow his Dad's lead into music and like his father is a keyboard player, but of the electronica style.
Mike Barson is currently recording a new album with Madness.