Mark Bedford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Bedford in "Our House" video
Mark Bedford in "Our House" video

Mark William Bedford (born August 24, 1961 in London, England), nicknamed 'Bedders', is a bass guitarist and youngest member of the British second wave ska band Madness.

Bedford attended William Ellis School in Kentish Town and met with members of the North London Invaders when they played a gig there. He was asked along to a band rehearsal and found that the older lads could play. Bedford was friends with Gary Dovey who was playing drums with the band, but after a scuffle with sax player Lee Thompson Dovey left the band. Bedford knew a drummer and Daniel Woodgate (or 'Woody') was introduced as the final member of the six-piece strong band.

After Madness split up for the first time in 1986, Bedford played bass (with Woody on the drums) with the Voice of the Beehive.

He later teamed up with ex Higsons brass supremo Terry Edwards, and they formed BUtterfield 8 along with various strong members of the jazz scene at the time. They released a single "Watermelon Man" and an album called Blow!

Bedford is now a graphic designer and has his own print shop/design business in Camden Town. Although he had a break from playing with the band between 1993-95, he is now back with the band and has also played on the new albums "Wonderful" (1999) and The Dangermen Sessions (2005).