IF you recognise One Step Behind, kits not just because they are the UK’s Premier and longest surviving Madness tribute band.
It’s not just because they have enjoyed amazing success playing venues the length and breadth of Britain including the Marquee Club in London & the Venue in New Cross.
You probably also recognise the group from TV shows such as BBC Proms in the Park and the Ant and Dec Saturday morning ITV show.
Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate, former drummer with the real Madness, once joined the band on stage for One Step Beyond and told the boys he thought they were amazing.
“That’s exactly what we used to be like – you’ve got it to a tee!” he said.
And he could not believe the keyboard playing used no overdubs and was all being played live. Perhaps the greatest tribute came from Suggs himself.
At a gig at G-MEX in Manchester, he walked up to the microphone and said “By the way, we’re Madness not One Step Behind”.
One Step Behind have also appeared on television a number of times.
Singer Ian Soulsby made an appearance on Stars In Their Eyes in the 1990s while the whole band appeared on children’s Saturday morning show SMTV (with Ant & Dec!) in 1998 performing their version of Driving In My Car.
The lads also featured on the Tribute Band Night programme, filmed in Rotterdam and broadcast on Dutch TV in 2004.
Their most recent TV appearance was at the 2006 Proms party in Hyde Park, London. The band performed to around 50,000 people and a television audience in the millions.
Each member of One Step Behind grew up as a Madness fan and perfecting his portrayal of his original Madness counterpart has been a labour of love. They strive to match every detail of the original, both musically and in appearance.
Like Madness, One Step Behind is well known for their on-stage antics with which
they build up an authentic Madness atmosphere.