Editing Madness (band) (section)

=== 1976–1978: Formation ===
The core of the band formed as the North London Invaders in 1976, and included [[Mike Barson]] (Monsieur Barso) on keyboards and vocals, [[Chris Foreman]] (Chrissy Boy) on guitar and [[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Lee Thompson]] (Kix) on saxophone and vocals.<ref name="madness76">{{cite web |url=http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1976/text.htm |title=The Madness Timeline: 1976 |website=Madness.co.uk |access-date=5 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002914/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1976/text.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> They later recruited [[John Hasler]] on drums and [[Chas Smash|Cathal Smyth]] (better known as [[Chas Smash]]) on bass guitar. Later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist [[Dikran Tulaine]].<ref name="madness76" />

This six-piece line-up lasted until part-way through 1977, when Graham McPherson (better known as [[Suggs]]) took over the lead vocals after seeing the band perform in a friend's garden.<ref name="madness77">{{cite web |url=http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1977/text.htm |title=The Madness Timeline: 1977 |website=Madness.co.uk |access-date=5 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002935/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1977/text.htm|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> Tulaine went on to be an actor.<ref name="DT1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0876305/|title=Dikran Tulaine|publisher=IMDb|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> Smyth, who left after an argument with Barson, was replaced by Gavin Rodgers, Barson's girlfriend's brother.<ref name="madness77" /> McPherson was kicked out of the band for choosing too often to watch [[Chelsea FC|Chelsea]] instead of rehearsing.<ref name="madness78">{{cite web|url= http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1978/text.htm |title=The Madness Timeline: 1978 |website=Madness.co.uk |access-date=5 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002901/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1978/text.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> Thompson left the band after Barson criticised his saxophone playing.<ref name="madness78" />

By 1978, the band had allowed McPherson to return as a vocalist after he had filled in temporarily for Hasler (who had taken over vocals when McPherson was removed).<ref name="madness78" /> Thompson returned after patching things up with Barson. Drummer [[Dan Woodgate]] (Woody) and bassist [[Mark Bedford]] (Bedders) also joined the band, replacing Garry Dovey and Rodgers, respectively.<ref name="madness78" /> After briefly changing their name to Morris and the Minors,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reggae-steady-ska.com/the-lee-thompson-interview/ |title=The Lee Thompson Interview |publisher=Reggae Steady Ska |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=19 April 2014}}</ref> the band renamed itself as Madness in 1979, paying homage to one of their favourite songs by [[ska]] and reggae artist [[Prince Buster]].<ref name="madness79">{{cite web |url=http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1979/text.htm |title= The Madness Timeline: 1979 |website=Madness.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002827/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1979/text.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007}} Retrieved on 5 June 2007.</ref> The band remained a sextet until late 1979 when Chas Smash rejoined and officially became the seventh member of Madness as a backing vocalist and dancer.<ref name="madness79" />