Lee Jay Thompson
Encyclopedia
Lee Jay Thompson nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English
musician
, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter
of the second wave ska band, Madness
.
Thompson started Madness with Mike Barson
and Chris Foreman
in 1976, and wrote the group's debut single, "The Prince
". Among the other songs, he wrote or co-wrote the singles "Embarrassment
", "House of Fun
" and "Uncle Sam
". His experiences of being a petty criminal and serving time in borstal
in his youth inspired his lyrics for "Land of Hope and Glory" and "One's Second Thoughtlessness", the latter an unusual diversion into synth pop for the group, and for both of which he performs lead vocals. He also sings the vocals on his own composition Razor Blade Alley which was a regular inclusion in early Madness shows.
According to Madness' drummer, Daniel Woodgate
,
After Madness disbanded in 1986, he formed a new band The Madness with Foreman, Suggs
and Chas Smash
, but they broke up after releasing one album in 1988.
Thompson then joined forces with Foreman, and the pair began to write songs. They soon recorded an album at Liquidator Studios with Thompson on vocals and saxophone
and Foreman playing the other instruments. This album included the song "Magic Carpet", which was co-written with Suggs
and originally intended to be included on a Madness album. When it came to promoting their debut album, they found they needed to form a group and also decide on a name. Due to an error at the printers, the band name and album title were accidentally switched, and they started off as The Nutty Boys. The album was re-released in 2002, and the mistake was rectified, with the group now known as Crunch!
Thompson reunited with all seven original Madness members in 1992, and still plays with them today. He can also be seen fronting and playing sax with a covers band called The Camden Cowboys.
Thompson founded The Dance Brigade
with Keith Finch in 2007, and they were soon joined by Jennie Matthias of The Belle-Stars
. The other musicians came from projects that they had all been involved in.
Lee Thompson is married to Debbie (née Fordham) and they have three children called Tuesday, Daley and Kye. He is also a grandfather to Sydney and Cade.
Thompson lives in Barnet
, North London
. He is currently recording a new album with Madness, and often performs shows with his new band, Lee Thompson's Ska Orchestra.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
of the second wave ska band, Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
.
Thompson started Madness with Mike Barson
Mike Barson
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
and Chris Foreman
Chris Foreman
Chris Foreman , nicknamed Chrissy Boy, is an English guitarist, best known as a member of a second wave ska band, Madness.Foreman started Madness with Mike Barson and Lee Thompson in 1976...
in 1976, and wrote the group's debut single, "The Prince
The Prince (song)
"The Prince" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts."The Prince" is a...
". Among the other songs, he wrote or co-wrote the singles "Embarrassment
Embarrassment (song)
"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska/pop band Madness, predominantly written by Lee Thompson, but partially credited to Mike Barson. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980, and it was featured on their second studio album, Absolutely.The song was released as a...
", "House of Fun
House of Fun
"House of Fun" is a song by British ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. It was released as a one-off single on April 30, 1982, and reached #1 in the UK charts, spending 9 weeks in the charts. The song was re-released in 1992, reaching #40...
" and "Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam (song)
"Uncle Sam" is a single by British band Madness from their 1985 album Mad Not Mad.The single spent 11 weeks in British charts peaking at number 21...
". His experiences of being a petty criminal and serving time in borstal
Borstal
A borstal was a type of youth prison in the United Kingdom, run by the Prison Service and intended to reform seriously delinquent young people. The word is sometimes used loosely to apply to other kinds of youth institution or reformatory, such as Approved Schools and Detention Centres. The court...
in his youth inspired his lyrics for "Land of Hope and Glory" and "One's Second Thoughtlessness", the latter an unusual diversion into synth pop for the group, and for both of which he performs lead vocals. He also sings the vocals on his own composition Razor Blade Alley which was a regular inclusion in early Madness shows.
According to Madness' drummer, Daniel Woodgate
Daniel Woodgate
Dan Woodgate is the drummer of the band, Madness. More commonly known by his nickname Woody, he joined the band after being introduced at a rehearsal by bass player Mark Bedford. Woodgate is one of the less regular songwriters in the group, but is credited as co-writer on the hits 'Return of The...
,
- "Lee is not bound by the English language, but he is a great songwriter. He writes from the heart and expresses himself in a way that other songwriters can't. He's a very poetic writer who ignores the rules."
After Madness disbanded in 1986, he formed a new band The Madness with Foreman, Suggs
Suggs (singer)
Graham McPherson , better known as Suggs, is an English singer, actor, former radio DJ, TV personality, and most famous as the frontman of the band Madness.-Early life:...
and Chas Smash
Chas Smash
Cathal Smyth, also known as Chas Smash is an English musician, best known as the backing singer and dancer in the ska/pop band Madness. He also plays trumpet, acoustic guitar and various percussion instruments...
, but they broke up after releasing one album in 1988.
Thompson then joined forces with Foreman, and the pair began to write songs. They soon recorded an album at Liquidator Studios with Thompson on vocals and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and Foreman playing the other instruments. This album included the song "Magic Carpet", which was co-written with Suggs
Suggs (singer)
Graham McPherson , better known as Suggs, is an English singer, actor, former radio DJ, TV personality, and most famous as the frontman of the band Madness.-Early life:...
and originally intended to be included on a Madness album. When it came to promoting their debut album, they found they needed to form a group and also decide on a name. Due to an error at the printers, the band name and album title were accidentally switched, and they started off as The Nutty Boys. The album was re-released in 2002, and the mistake was rectified, with the group now known as Crunch!
Thompson reunited with all seven original Madness members in 1992, and still plays with them today. He can also be seen fronting and playing sax with a covers band called The Camden Cowboys.
Thompson founded The Dance Brigade
The Dance Brigade
The Dance Brigade are a ska band from London. Founded by Keith Finch and Lee "Kix" Thompson in late summer 2007, they were soon joined by Jennie Matthias...
with Keith Finch in 2007, and they were soon joined by Jennie Matthias of The Belle-Stars
The Belle Stars
The Belle Stars were an all female British rock band, founded in London in 1980 by former members of the 2 Tone ska revival band, The Bodysnatchers.-Career:...
. The other musicians came from projects that they had all been involved in.
Lee Thompson is married to Debbie (née Fordham) and they have three children called Tuesday, Daley and Kye. He is also a grandfather to Sydney and Cade.
Thompson lives in Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. He is currently recording a new album with Madness, and often performs shows with his new band, Lee Thompson's Ska Orchestra.