In the case of British ska band Madness, they wrote a song about it: their 1980 hit single, Baggy Trousers, is about them growing up in the late 1960s/early '70s and the mischief they got up to!
Photo Credit: livepict.com
Band formation
Madness was one of the most popular bands that appeared on the Brit scene in the late 1970s, in what was a golden era for music following the punk explosion.
Originally called The North London Invaders, the group formed in 1976 - they changed their name to Madness by the time they signed for 2 Tone Records in 1979, appearing on Top of the Pops performing The Prince, which peaked at number 16 in the UK chart - dedicated to Jamaican singer Prince Buster.
A seven-piece ska band formed in Camden Town, featuring Graham McPherson (aka Suggs) on lead vocals, saxophonist Lee Thompson, backing vocalist Chas Smash, bass guitarist Mark "Bedders" Bedford, drummer Daniel "Woody" Woodgate, keyboard player Mike Barson and guitarist Chris Foreman.
Nutty sound
Their upbeat music was fondly referred to as the "nutty sound" and the group was renowned for its live performances, when all the band members would be dancing on the stage, having fun and encouraging the audience to do the same.
Their second single, One Step Beyond, released later in 1979, reached number seven in the UK chart and was a number one hit in France. It also charted in the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland. Their 1979 debut album of the same name was certified platinum in the UK and broke them into the US market too.
Known for their fast-paced and zany videos, their most famous hits include Baggy Trousers, their 1981 follow-up, It Must Be Love and their 1982 singles, Driving in My Car and House of Fun - all have videos that attract millions of hits on YouTube. The official video for Baggy Trousers alone has received 6.8 million views.
School days nostalgia
Written by Foreman and Suggs, Baggy Trousers is from their 1980 album, Absolutely. It's all about nostalgic memories of school day mischief!
Co-writer Suggs revealed he wrote the song based on his own schooldays. While Pink Floyd released Another Brick in the Wall, based on the public school system, Suggs wrote Baggy Trousers based on his own working class childhood in London. He had written it as a constant stream of phrases, in tribute to the style of vocalist Ian Dury.
While the Pink Floyd song reflected the failings of the public school system, Suggs said it didn't connect with him on any level, as he had been to an ordinary comprehensive school, where he had never suffered any bullying. The discipline there hadn't been strictly enforced and the pupils were always up to mischief - although they weren't bad kids deep down.
Lyrics meaning
Suggs said the song's title was typical of the type of trousers the boys often wore for school in his day, which were always baggy. The late 1960s and 1970s were a totally different era when it came to the education system.
He describes all the teachers going to the pub at lunchtime, rolling their own cigarettes with packs of tobacco and "trying not to think of when the lunch-time bell will ring again." It conjures up an almost St Trinian's-style image of stressed-out staff, wondering what the pupils will have in store for them later!
Suggs describes how the pupils would "fight with next door's school" and how they were always "smashing up the woodwork tools." Reflecting on how his life has gone, he asks, "Did it really turn out bad?" - as he had learned how to bend the rules, rather than completely rebelling and being a rule-breaker!
The video was shot in Islip Street School, with the exterior shots (including Thompson flying through the air playing his saxophone) being filmed in the park in Kentish Town - Thompson was attached by wires to a giant crane to create the famous flying scene.
Madness today
Despite splitting in 1986, Madness reunited in 1993 and to date they have released an amazing 42 hit singles, as well as a host of studio and live albums - retaining their position as the kings of the nutty sound! They have been together now since 1993, with pretty much the original line-up, except for Chas Smash, who left in 2016 to pursue a solo career.
They have won many awards, including the 2000 Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection and the 2005 Mojo Hall of Fame Award. Madness will be playing live at a special House of Fun Weekender at Butlins, Minehead, on 30th November, followed by a UK tour in December, kicking off at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 6th December.
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