Madness at the O2 Arena

21^st December 2025

Gem Hurley

Shot by Nick Bennett

Gem Hurley Shot by Nick Bennett

21 December 2025

Ska band Madness have been in the game for almost 50 years, since forming in 1976. A new greatest hits album, Hit Parade, has been released, with the accompanying UK arena tour drawing to a close tonight at The O2. Maybe it’s not their old stomping ground of Camden Town, but who cares when it’s this close to Christmas and there’s a promise of hits in the air?

With many a fez to be seen throughout the cavernous room, a warm welcome awaits the band as they walk onstage, including frontman Suggs, who begins to utter the immortal line: “Hey you! Don’t watch that, watch this!” Cue elated singing along with One Step Beyond’s saxophone courtesy of Lee Thompson, and ripples across the arena floor as pogoing ensues. We’re off.

It’s an incredibly solid set; from the joyfully jaunty NW5 to the buoyant Wings of a Dove, Madness give a masterclass on the three-minute pop song, with singing and clapping along regularly encouraged. Also worth mentioning are Mike Barson’s – or Monsieur Barso, if you prefer – comically tragic introduction to an otherwise swoonworthy My Girl, and a bit between Thompson dressed as a robber and the horn section clobbering him in copper outfits during Shut Up. Only Madness could do this, really.

The band as a whole is tight, still sounding as sharp as ever, with Suggs steering the ship and welcoming in the O2 audience like old friends. If not doling out multiple “thank yous” between songs, he’s giving funny anecdotes and quips (like warning not to fall for a lamppost before Lovestruck), remarking on the amount of young ones in the crowd and introducing various band members. A special shoutout goes to guitarist Kevin Burdette stepping in for Chris Foreman while the latter recovers from illness – he does a fantastic job in his absence.

Then, an announcement: “This is the part of the show we call… Showtime.” It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House and It Must Be Love, one anthem after another. The arena bellows along to every iconic chorus, with 20,000 pairs of lungs working at full capacity. What a way to close the main set.

But that’s not all; as it’s Christmas, the encore begins with a reggae-style cover of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday. And to close the night, the song that gave the band their name – Madness from Prince Buster – and the one that inspired the fezzes, Night Boat to Cairo. Says Suggs with one last flourish, “Thank you and goodnight.”

In a recent interview, Suggs spoke about what a privilege it is to still be performing after nearly 50 years, describing music as “transcendental”. Rather than a sense of going through the motions, the joy is still there for both the band and their fans. After all this time, it’s great to see the fun, cheeky spirit of Madness is alive and well.

Gem Hurley
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events, visit Madness’s website here.

Watch the video for Our House here: