Got up late due to many wines and ciders at the DC. Too excited to be hung-over though! We had a few minor glitches trying to find the right train to get to Bethnell Green, including being told the wrong line, and then missing our stop and having to back-track. Three London fans got off train with us, nice blokes, so walked and chatted with them. One was called Tom and I swear I know him from somewhere.
A fair hike to Vic Park, and none of us knew where we were going. Soooo bloody great to see heaps of people along the way dressed as Madness fans, in black and white and wearing a fez, pork pie, or pith helmet. Like a bloody dream world to me! Unreal!
Eventually made it. Was told at the gate that if I videoed I'd have the camera confiscated! Bit wierd as we'd al received emails from Madness asking us to film everything and then submit it for editing in to the official Madstock DVD!
Stopped in the middle of the ground to talk to Chigs and Kitty, and that's where we stayed. Over the next 3 hours various fans came and went, Graham, LouB40, Jon, Heather, Looby,Patrick, oh God, I could go on!
Two Geordie blokes dressed as the chemists from House of Fun video, with facemasks and pork pie hats! Wanted to have a drink to calm the old nerves but didn't want to have lots of liquid due to severe lack of public toilets right at front of stage, so got a cup of wine with a double shot of vodka. Then got another one. Job done.
Jon said that Jerry Dammers was crap, so we didn't head over to the main stage (it was a festival with 3 stages) until about 6. To secure a good spot at the front ready for Madness at 9.
Found Jade and Jenny straight away, so struggled in next to them. Right in front of where Chrissy Boy and Lee were going to be on stage. Adam Nicholls, Mad Julie and TMS were with us too. Sean Gaskin was a bit over from Kellie.
Absolutely pissed down for about 3 hours, but me and Kellie had red disposable waterproof ponchos on, so stayed dry.
The Blockheads were brilliant. Minus Ian Dury of course, as he's dead. Really really enjoyed them. Realised how fantastic it would have been to see the great Fancy Pants himself sing with them. Suggs was watching from the side of the stageright in front of us, for the whole set. Swoon!
Then the Pogues. Should have seen kellie's face when Shane McGowan staggered on stage with a tall glass of vodka in one hand, fag in the other, and a pirate's eye patch! Brilliant! Their set was fantastic, even though I didn't know any of their songs. Really good.
Then there was a bit of music through the speakers for half an hour, Bad Manners, the Specials, Selector, The Beat, stc. All of us (20,000 I think it was) had a right old sing along. It was great and really got you in the mood. By now my adrenaline rush was constant!
Then finally my life-long idols appeared. Ooh, my heart's racing just remembering it! Haha. Would you believe as soon as they came on the bloody rain stopped! Amazing! Unfortunately Louise and then Gav got dragged out by security straight away. It was just too rough where they were, and the paramedics told Gav he was in shock.
Me and kellie had tied my big Aussie flag to the front barrier where we were squashed up in true Madness gig fashion, and we kept waving it now and again. I wanted the band to know that some of us love em so much we've come all this way, and I wanted to let Chrissy Boy know who I was. He did notice me waving it and winked at me. Made my night.
Their set was brilliant of course. The videos from Chris' "Axe Cam" (small vid camera on Chris' guitar) on YouTube are so bloody funny! Jerry Dammers (Two-Tone founder and general Legend) joined them on stage for Night Boat to Cairo during the encore. Not something you see every day. We were honoured to witness that!
At the end, Graham found us and said a few were going to DC for a drink. Then we lost him and his phone was turned off. Can't believe I didn't go! Aargh!
Rushed down the very long street to tube, along with a few thousand other fans, and eventually fell into bed at about 1.30.
What a bloody brilliant 30 hours!
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