MY VIDEO RESPONSE TO THE PEOPLE KNOCKING BARSO ON THE KORG SV-1 VIDEO.

[butterfingersbeck]

Good on you for sticking up for Mike! The man is a genius.

Simon "Butterfingers" Beck

Organ, Wurlitzer piano and Stylophone,

The Skanx

[pobhockle]

Bah, they're artistic snobs. Arrogant and downright social filth. *spit* *spit*

[edalst67]

spot on ! Barso = legend !

[MrNuttylee7]

@edalst67 Cheers.

Yep,he is a legend!!

[seagulleater]

Well said Lee, nothing wrong with mr Barso's playing, and nothing wrong with your's either, just one request, can you please do swan lake on the vox, with your backing track, love the old sound, Cheers Lee, Prince Rudy aka Pete :)

[MrNuttylee7]

@seagulleater Cheers Prince Rudy

I havent done a backing track for Swan Lake yet. I will do one for you in the near future.

[MrSwanlake7]

well done Mr Nuttylee7 you could not have put it any better.

[MrNuttylee7]

@MrSwanlake7 Thanks.

[dreamcastII]

This is a good point made directly on a topic that Mr Nutty Lee knows a lot about, indeed. I would take notice.

[MrNuttylee7]

@dreamcastII Excellent comment sir.

You know my background & my passion for this music.

[ImaniHekima]

Nice one, Nutty Lee. I liked the video with Mike playing unaccompanied but I do take your points on board as well. Speaking of 1983, I can remember seeing a Madness performance on The Tube that year and I was especially taken with Barso's playing. People completely miss the point when they go on about "technique". I'd rather hear memorable melodies than all the chops in the world. 'Keyboard warriors' in every sense of the word!

[MrNuttylee7]

@ImaniHekima Thankyou.

Well said.

Yeah Mike hits the keys hard to produce a very crisp,sharp,& hard sound.

They even put thumb tacks on the hammers of his piano during the recording of the One Step Beyond album.

A very unique style & a very talented pianist & songwriter.

[ImaniHekima]

@MrNuttylee7 I'd read that he'd done a few classical lessons but really went his own way. His playing and writing has character and instantly recogniseable. Which is why he was so missed when he left the band.

[MrNuttylee7]

@ImaniHekima Yeah,you are dead right.

Meaning no disrespect to the other 6 band members,Mikes playing,arranging & songwriting abilities all contributed such a huge part to the Madness sound,& him leaving was the worst thing that could happen to them.

Suggs did say they should have all packed it in when Mike left, such was his status as the Madness foundation stone!!!

I was absolutely over the moon when he returned in 1992.

Nobody inspires me as much as Mike!!!

[ImaniHekima]

@MrNuttylee7 Suggs described Mike as 'the heart of the band'. As well as being their leader/main writer & arranger, it probably has a lot to do with him, Chris and Lee being friends since childhood, having similar tastes but Barso had the ability to make the ideas gel. So it took more than just getting another good keyboardist, his personality & rapport would have been missed. Of the two albums they did after he left, Keep Moving is definitely the better, funnily enough, he plays on that one.

[dreamcastII]

@MrNuttylee7 This is interesting about Suggs saying they should have packed it in when Mike left. If they did then Mike may have nothing to return to, as there maybe no group structure to come back to ...Or if it had disbanded then the other members may have been embedded in other bands / projects and not willing or able to come out of those. (Yesterdays men was a good track, done after Mike left).

[dominickearney]

Spot on. I play the piano myself, and Mike Barson's arrangements are some of the hardest I've tried to play.

[MrNuttylee7]

@dominickearney Thankyou mate. Glad you agree.

[Triplesod]

What's up with the vid? Why's it stopping?? I get to the bit about being uncomfortable.

Anyway, are you trying to say that people suggest that Mike isn't a good keyboardist/pianist, Lee??

Nah! No fucking way could anyone who knows anything about music or the band ever even consider that!! It's fucking ridiculous! He's amazing! Imagine a Madness without Mike? Can't imagine something that can't exist! I had a couple of piano lessons when a kid. I only ever wanted to be taught his music!

[MrNuttylee7]

@Triplesod Yeah,same here. I only wanted to learn his music.

Unfortunately we had a Madness without Mike from 84 to the split in 86.

There would be no Madness without Mike.

[TheZxc22]

LOVE THE RESPECT SHOWN HERE - MIKE BARSON IS A LEGEND, LISTEN TO THE PIANO & ORGAN ON MADNESS TRACKS FROM DAYS OF OLD PRE PRO TOOLS. NO COPY & PASTE NO EDITS. THE MAN IS FLAWLESS , UNIQUE, AWESOME. I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO SEE THEM LIVE BACK IN 83. PERFECTION .

[MrNuttylee7]

@TheZxc22 Your comments are perfection!!

Cheers mate.

Would have loved to have seen them in 83.

[Ponymusicgroup]

i could`nt have put it better myself ..mike is the best

[PenrhynRailway]

I really don't think you need to defend Mike Barson.... the man is a legend.

Don't forget that Mike wrote songs such as House of Fun, Sun And The Rain and the brilliant My Girl..... enough said!

[CampbellTrain]

I fully agree with your point. Some people are way too occupied with perfectionism to the point that they're smug and pretentious. I have never seen Mike as a very showy-kind of person, rather shy and introverted, and I've seen that video as well as many other articles and interviews with the keyboard player that show his unwillingness to broadly open up and/or show off.

The man is a legend and a real influence, and anyone who hasn't watched or appreciated his real skills shouldn't criticize.

[MrNuttylee7]

@CampbellTrain You are absolutely spot on.Couldnt have put it any better myself.

Mike never shows off,& certainly doesnt need to!!

You have only got to try to play like him to get an appreciation of his talent.

His longevity in the music business speaks volumes.

He is the strong but silent type who likes to stay in the background,& that is one of the things that I really admire about him.

Extremely underrated.

His style has inspired me to be able to play extremely complicated parts.

[TheMackbaz]

I think I have every right to comment on his playing ability in that particular video. Its very subpar and unimpressive. Jordan Rudess or Eldar never need a defense video posted. They're cleary good everytime I see them perform. I'm not discrediting his style, just that I believe their are much better piano players. There's a difference between skill and musicianship. I can't comment on him as a musician as this is the only video I have seen of him.

[MrNuttylee7]

@TheMackbaz You are entitled to your opinion,but like I said I would like for you to have a go at what he is playing(especially towards the end when he gets into his stride).You would then fully appreciate his skill.

He is not classically trained & I believe he is very uncomfortable doing this video.

Youve already contradicted yourself by saying you cant comment on him as a muscian?

Look at his performances & what fellow muscians say about him.

Can you play by the way?

[MsMoneyback]

well said lee ! I clicked on your link and looked at the comments so annoying you know what you are talking about , barso is a legend !!

[MrNuttylee7]

@MsMoneyback Cheers.Yeah ive got to try to explain to these people that in this video,I believe,Mike is very uncomfortable.Youve only got to look at the way its edited.He doesnt really have a lot that he wants to say.

[traciee100]

Here here, bloody well said Lee!! Those that criticise are just jealous. Mike is where he is through great skill and dedication, whereas his critics are still struggling with the computer keyboard! If I could play an ounce as well as Mike I'd be proud.

[MrNuttylee7]

@traciee100 Thanks,its just frustrating trying to explain to people that this video isnt a fair representation of what he can do.Although I would love to see them have a go at trying to play,especially My Girl near the end when he seems to be in his stride a bit more.

Mike is where he is today because he is extremely good at what he does.

Of course there are better pianists out there.

Korg wouldnt have asked him in the first place if he wasnt all that!!!

[madamebarso7]

Totally agreed Lee, Mike does not deserve that flack that certain people are giving him he would get my vote anytime x

[MrNuttylee7]

@madamebarso7 Cheers Saz. These people obviously need to have these things pointed out to them.

[privatehelluk]

Well said mate, agree with you all the way.

[MrNuttylee7]

@privatehelluk Cheers mate.Something had to be said!!! Great to hear from ya again!!

[MADNESSRULE2K8]

Lee ! Well Said, Bloody Right 100% ....Im Out For Blood Of Theese People ! . People Don't Yi Know Understand "Its The Way He Plays,,

[MrNuttylee7]

@MADNESSRULE2K8 Cheers mate. Great to have your support

[deluxe853]

Here here!!

I've seen the video of Barso playing the Korg SV1 & for a start, he dos'nt look very interested at all! It looks asthough he's been caught mid sound check & asked to do a

promotional video for the keyboard. I'm sure he had other things on his mind at the time

Mike has nothing to prove as he proved it all many years ago. I play in a Madness tribute & we have had many keys players over the years that have struggled with the piano work on the Madness tracks! Mike gets my vote!!

[MrNuttylee7]

@deluxe853 Cheers mate.Glad you see it the same way as me.