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As front man of Madness, Suggs helped meld together Jamaican ska and British rock to send a generation of skinheads into pogo-ing mayhem with some of the biggest pop hits of the 1980s. The band split in 1986, but Suggs (nicknamed after jazz musician Peter Suggs) bounced back into the charts with his debut solo album The Lone Ranger (1995) and the Top 10 hits I'm Only Sleeping (originally by The Beatles) and Cecilia (originally by Simon and Garfunkel). A huge Chelsea Football Club fan, he recorded Blue Day as their official 1997 FA Cup song before collaborating with ragga star General Levy and trombonist Rico Rodriquez for second album The Three Pyramids Club (1998). Madness released their first album in 14 years in 1999 and Suggs went on to make a name as radio and television host, act in films and on stage and generally become regarded as a loveable cockney celebrity and all round British institution. Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
