Suggs

Born Graham McPherson on 13 January 1961 in Hastings, Sussex, England, Suggs McPherson fronted the massively popular UK pop outfit Madness before experimenting with several attempts to revive the group and eventually stepping out on his own in 1995. Public fondness for the charismatic frontman resurfaced after the group’s ‘Madstock’ performances at London’s Finsbury Park in 1993. Suggs later reflected on the timing of his departure by noting, “When I left Madness, I didn’t want to stay in the music industry as a performer.” In the interim he took on management duties for the Farm and co-produced their debut album while also presenting a short-lived programme for satellite broadcaster BSB. Songwriting resumed in 1991 alongside ex-Madness keyboardist Mike Barson. By 1994 he was ready to pursue a solo path and received crucial backing from Warner Music chairman Rob Dickins, the executive who had previously secured the band’s publishing deal and advanced the £200 needed to cut their debut single “The Prince.” Work on Suggs’ self-produced album stalled until Dickins proposed bringing in the reggae rhythm duo Sly and Robbie. Their involvement, together with contributions from Jamaican saxophonist Rico Rodriguez, bass virtuoso Jah Wobble and Aswad’s horn section, injected fresh momentum. The first single, the double A-side pairing “Off On Holiday” and “I’m Only Sleeping,” surfaced in August 1995, followed by “Camden Town,” whose quirky tribute to the fashionable north London neighbourhood struck fans as quintessentially Madness-like, prompting mixed critical reactions. The accompanying album The Lone Ranger debuted strongly yet slipped quickly down the charts amid largely subdued reviews. While most observers welcomed the re-emergence of one of Britain’s most approachable songwriters, excitement grew further with the announcement of December 1995 reunion shows fronted by Suggs. A second major success emerged from the record when “Cecilia,” the classic Simon and Garfunkel hit now a staple on “gold” radio playlists, climbed the charts. Follow-up collection The Three Pyramid Club did not sustain the momentum of those earlier releases. On screen Suggs also presents Channel 5’s gloriously over-the-top celebrity karaoke programme Night Fever.