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Chas Smash

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Chas Smash
Smash standing onstage, playing a trumpet
Smash performing live in 2009
Background information
Birth nameCathal Joseph Smyth
Born(1959-01-14)14 January 1959(age 65)
Fitzrovia,London,England[1]
Genres
2-tone
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • trumpet
  • bass
  • guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsRolled Gold

Cathal Joseph"Carl"Smyth(born 14 January 1959), also known asChas Smash,is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the secondary vocalist, trumpet player and dancer for the English bandMadnessfrom their inception in the late 1970s until 2014.[2]

In addition to trumpet, Smyth plays thebass guitar(having initially joined Madness as a bassist),acoustic guitarand variouspercussion instruments.He performs lead vocals on some Madness tracks, such as "Michael Caine","Wings of a Dove","One Step Beyond"and"Madness (Is All in the Mind)".Initially an occasionalsongwriter,he became a more frequent contributor and was credited as co-writer on the band's international hit "Our House".[3]

Early years[edit]

Cathal Joseph Smyth was born on 14 January 1959, inMiddlesex Hospital,Fitzrovia,London, England, and grew up inMarylebone.As a child he went by the name of Carl. His parents were Irish immigrants. His father worked in the oil business and moved the family from Ireland to England, then to the Middle East because of his work. Smyth has said he was bullied at school in both Northern Ireland and London.[4]The Smyths were competitive Irish dancers, and Cathal grew up around dance, but never took much of an interest until he began to dance as a performer.[5]

In 1976, theNorth London Invadersrecruited Smyth to play the bass guitar with them when he was 17, but he was replaced the following year by Gavin Rogers. During the late 1970s, he became friends with members of the band Madness, and performed as a dancer on stage at their concerts.

Music career[edit]

Main article:Madness (band)

In 1980, Smyth became the last of the seven original Madness members to join the band. He soon moved on to playing other instruments instead of bass.[5]After Madness broke up in 1986, he formed a new short-lived bandThe Madnessin 1988 along withSuggs,Lee ThompsonandChris Foreman.[6]

In 1990, Smyth became an executive forGo! Discs,where, at his suggestion, the label signedThe Stairs.He was also responsible for reforming Madness in 1992 forMadstock!,and left Go! Discs to reform the band.[7]In 1989/1990, he became friends with former Smiths singerMorrissey,who had once asked him to be hismanager.Smyth declined, claiming "I didn't fancy having to iron his socks."[8]Smyth introduced Morrissey toBoz Boorer,who went on to work with him from 1991 onwards.[9]Cathal is also the subject of the 1992 Morrissey single, "You're the One for Me, Fatty".[10]

He also provided backing vocals on Morrissey's version ofthe Jam's "That's Entertainment".[11]Cathal also had a small part in Suggs' solo career, co-writing the song "Green Eyes,"[12]and he also performed backing vocals onThe Lone Rangeralbum. In 1999, Smyth formed and fronted thefolk-influenced band The Velvet Ghost, which played at theFleadhfestival in 2000.

In 2002, Smyth started his ownrecord label,Rolled Gold Records (RGR Music), at an office inCamden Town.He released a debut single, "We're Coming Over", with The England Supporters Band (billed as Mr. Smash & Friends) and it reached number 67 in theUK Singles Charts.RGR released an album and three singles by London rapper,Just Jack.The label also released material by dance and rap artists Autamata and Border Crossing.[13]In 2004, after briefly moving his office toIslington,he closed RGR.

In 2009, Madness released their first album of new material in ten years,The Liberty of Norton Folgate.At the time, Smyth was rumoured to be working on several solo projects, including a dubstep album, according toMojo.In 2012 Madness followed up "Norton Folgate" withOui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da.

Smyth announced that he was leaving Madness in October 2014. His departure was characterized at the time as a break to concentrate on his solo career and not necessarily a permanent departure, but he has not rejoined the band.

Smyth's debut solo album,A Comfortable Man,was released in May 2015 and reached No. 68 in theUK Albums Chart.[14][15]In 2016, Madness releasedCan't Touch Us Now,the first Madness album sinceOne Step Beyond,to be recorded without Smyth being credited as a member of the band.

Personal life[edit]

Smyth became aFreemasonin 1994.[16]

After being a couple since their teen years, Smyth and his wife of 28 years, Joanna Brown, separated in 2005.[14]He has three grown-up children from the marriage: Caspar, Milo, andEloise.He appeared with Eloise at the 2012Q Awardsceremony.[17]

After his marriage ended, Smyth started to practisetranscendental meditation.[14]He also spent time in rehab in Arizona,[18]and moved to Ibiza in 2008.[6][14]

Solo discography[edit]

For Smash's albums and singles with Madness, The Madness and The Fink Brothers, seeMadness discography.

Studio albums

References[edit]

  1. ^"Results for England & Wales Births 1837–2006".search.findmypast.co.uk.2015.Retrieved2 June2015.
  2. ^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas."Biography: Madness".AllMusic.Retrieved27 May2010.
  3. ^Buskin, Richard (June 2006)."Classic Tracks: 'Our House' by Madness".Sound on Sound.Retrieved2 June2015.
  4. ^"Madness star Cathal Smyth's misery over childhood bullying in Coleraine".Belfasttelegraph.
  5. ^abAugustyn, Heather (2010).Ska: An Oral History.McFarland.ISBN9780786461974.
  6. ^abGarfield, Simon (17 May 2009)."Madness has released a new concept album about London and it may be their masterpiece".The Guardian.Retrieved2 June2015.
  7. ^"Cathal Smyth aka Chas from Madness".See Tickets.11 September 2014.Retrieved2 June2015.
  8. ^"Chas Smash".Camden Town, Home of Madness.Retrieved2 June2015.
  9. ^"Questions with answers from Morrissey".True To You.19 June 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 26 June 2010.Retrieved2 June2015.
  10. ^Goddard, Simon (6 September 2012).Mozipedia: The Encyclopedia of Morrissey and The Smiths.Ebury. p. 507.ISBN978-0-09-192710-3.Retrieved2 June2015.
  11. ^"Morrissey – Sing Your Life".discogs. 2015.Retrieved2 June2015.
  12. ^Cater, Evan."The Lone Ranger – Graham" Suggs "McPherson".AllMusic.Retrieved2 June2015.
  13. ^Reed, John (2014),House of Fun: The Story of Madness,Omnibus Press,ISBN9781783233342,retrieved12 September2015
  14. ^abcdDuerden, Nick (4 October 2014)."Chas Smash: After the madness, going solo".The Guardian.Retrieved24 October2014.
  15. ^"Listen to Cathal Smyth's A Comfortable Man – plus read his guide to the album".Q.6 May 2015.Retrieved12 September2015.
  16. ^"Carl Smyth of Madness Talks to ZANI".Zani.co.uk.Retrieved18 November2018.
  17. ^"Chas Smash from Madness with his daughter".Contactmusic. 22 October 2012.Retrieved2 June2015.
  18. ^"Ten minutes with… Cathal Smyth of Madness".The Irish Post.Retrieved20 May2020.

External links[edit]

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