LIVE REVIEW: Madness end their Hits Parade tour at The O2, London

Photos and Review by Damien Harvey

Madness arrived at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night for the final date of their Hit Parade Tour, a celebratory run marking the release of their latest album and showcasing an astonishing 45 songs from 45 years of music. With 13 dates spread across December, this closing night felt less like an ending and more like a shared celebration between band and fans.

From the moment they took to the stage, Madness brought an energy that has long been their trademark. They launched straight into a trio of absolute bangers, One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince, instantly igniting the arena and setting the tone for the night. It was a powerful reminder of just how deep and influential their catalogue is.

Looking around the O2, I was struck by the multi-generational crowd. Fezzes were everywhere, and fans of all ages sang along from start to finish, proving the enduring appeal of these songs. Suggs, as charismatic as ever, introduced the band before announcing what he described as “the part of the show we like to call Showtime” 

Everyone was already on their feet as the band tore through a run of their biggest hits. House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and Our House turned the O2 into one huge sing-along before the main set closed with It Must Be Love. As confetti rained down across the arena, it felt like a full-blown party, and it was clear these songs remain the crown jewels of an enormous back catalogue.

The encore leaned heavily into festive and fan-favourite territory, with I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Madness and, inevitably, Night Boat to Cairo, which brought the night to a euphoric, chaotic close.

Almost five decades after they first formed, Madness may be older and a little less physically flamboyant than in their early years, but they still know exactly how to command a crowd. What they lack in youthful abandon, they make up for with experience, charm and solid musicianship. That cheeky Madness spirit is still very much alive, even if the onstage antics are now a touch more measured than they were in the previous years.

In the end, Madness delivered exactly what I, and everyone else in the arena, came for: an evening of nostalgic fun packed with crowd pleasers. It may not have been a groundbreaking or theatrical spectacle, but it was undeniably a great night out. Forty-nine years on, Madness remain as entertaining and as loved as ever, and I left the O2 buzzing after an unforgettable finale.

Setlist:

• One Step Beyond
• Embarrassment
• The Prince
• NW5
• My Girl
• Cardiac Arrest
• Tomorrow’s (Just Another Day)
• The Sun and the Rain
• Return of the Los Palmas 7
• Wings of a Dove
• Lovestruck
• Grey Day
• Bed and Breakfast Man
• Shut Up
• One Better Day
• Mr Apples
• House of Fun
• Baggy Trousers
• Our House
• It Must Be Love

Encore

• I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
• Madness
• Night Boat to Cairo