madonnalicious visitor Colin managed to take some great pictures at Slane Castle on Sunday - to see larger versions of all 15 pictures visit the tour gallery.

In these pictures Colin has managed to capture the various costume alterations that were required for a cold, damp Irish evening - note the leg and arm warmers for Nobody Knows Me, the suit jacket and umbrella for Nothing Fails and Don't Tell Me. Madonna also donned a black jacket for Into The Groove and of course wore her Irish Do It Better t-shirt for the Papa Don't Preach / Crazy For You segment of the show.

 

 

 

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Colin was lucky enough to attend Madonna's first show in Ireland at Slane Castle on Sunday - he managed to take some pictures of the crowd waiting to see the Queen Of Pop perform.

 

You can now download a video clip of Madonna wearing her Irish Do It Better t-shirt at Slane Castle last night while singing Papa Don't Preach at www.madonna-tv.com

Madonna played her first ever concert on Irish soil at Slane Castle infront of 80,000 estatic fans last night. Even the cold and rain could not stop Madonna's Re-Invention of Ireland! Here are some fan highlights from last night - to read the full reports visit the fan reviews section:

From Trina:
Well, we waited and waited patiently in Ireland for Madonna to grace our shores and she did not disappoint. It was interesting to see how she would deal with no walkway but every song was pitch perfect, the crowed reaction was amazing....imagine being one of 80,000 singing Like A Prayer.
She was about 45 minutes late on stage as it kept raining and they had to wipe down the stage....once she came on it was all systems go. She even wore an 'Irish Do It Better' t-shirt which was a really nice touch.

From Greg And Emma:
It was hard to believe the queen of pop was going to be walking on the cat walk all around us! When she came on the stage is was just incredible! She was only 10 feet away and walked less than 5 feet away as she walked on the cat walk. She looked at us right in the eyes and smiled and pointed at us several times.
Madonna put on a superb performance despite rain early in the show trying to spoil things. She said in a funny voice 'rain, rain go away!'.

From Mario:
She had a different corset to the other UK dates (it was the same gold one she had worn for all the US dates) and wore a body-stocking during the opening numbers. Then she wore a black sporty jacket for 'Deeper and Deeper' saying 'It's to cold up here' and when Siedah Garrett noticed the jacket, they both grinned at each other.

From Matthew:
This show was 10 times better than when I saw her in LA. The wait was terrible, 3 to 4 hours before she came on. The weather was bad throughout the day as well, but when she came on it made things all worthwhile. I haven’t danced, sang or pointed so hard in all my life.

From Eamon:
When she got the crowd to sing Material Girl with her she told us afterwards 'That was excellent', naturally the crowd went crazy then!

When she came out for Nothing Fails she was wearing an extra jacket as she was so cold and a crew member had to hold an umbrella over her which she seemed to find rather amusing!

She commented on how she finally got here with 'Jesus Christ, what took me so long?' To a massive roar.

The biggest roar of the night though must have been after she took some water and shouted 'Cheers! I'll see you all down the pub afterwards!'

During Don't Tell Me when she sings 'Tell the sun not to shine' she followed it with 'well maybe today'.

After Papa Don't Preach when she was spinning around she then shouted out 'I am just trying to get warm'.

Overall the outdoor venue didn't affect the show at all, it seemed to go very smoothly and the effect was superb - I did wonder if the show would work outdoors and boy did it. At the end of the show she thanked us and said 'Ireland, you're the best!'

From Peter:
At the end of Holiday the screens didn't close around her and the dancers, instead an Irish flag appeared on the screens and Madonna claimed 'Ireland, you're the best!' while being lowered beneath the stage.

Madonna performed infront of 80,000 fans last night at Slane Castle in Ireland - here are the first press pictures from the show. Due to the cold and rain, Madonna herself wore a body-stocking - which can be seen underneath the original costume.

Thousands of fans went wild as Madonna erupted through the stage floor to take her throne at Slane Castle.
The Queen of Pop wowed a sell-out 80,000-strong crowd of festival-goers with her dramatic 45 minute late entrance for her first-ever Irish concert.
Fans who have waited 20-odd years were not left disappointed by the technical onslaught as images moved across the stage screens as the heavily-jewelled star spoke a passage called The Beast Within.
The atmosphere was electric as the first female to headline the County Meath Festival confidently began her hit parade with Vogue.
There were no pointed bras in sight but the 46-year-old mother-of-two still lived up to her sensational image as she donned a slightly camp outfit of a sparkling silver corset, thigh-high boots and black hot pants.
Madonna's filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie watched her perform from a viewpoint close to the stage and their two children Lourdes and Rocco were also at the event.
Other celebrities greeted by the castle owner Lord Henry Mount Charles included former Labour politician Mo Mowlam, some members of rock band U2, Coronation Street star Keith Duffy and his wife Lisa, Westlife singer Kian Egan and his girlfriend Jodi Albert, from Hollyoaks.
Madonna's Reinvention tour is a mix of her hits which have spanned three decades, including songs from her Like A Virgin album to American Life.
The wizardry erupted behind as the 12-strong dancing troupe swung down from the ceiling to perform acrobatic feats including trapeze tricks and tap dancing.
Aileen Barnes, 40, from Walkinstown in Dublin, said: 'I've been a fan of hers since the early 1980s. As a young girl I always wanted to see her. She never came so I never got a chance.'

madonnalicious visitor Hannah took some super pictures of Madonna at the second show at Wembley Arena on 23 August. To view larger versions of all 9 pictures visit the tour gallery and scroll down the the 23 August dates.

 

 

madonnalicious visitors Darren, Sarah and Wayne took this great picture of Madonna getting Into The Groove at the 23 August show at Wembley Arena.

madonnalicious visitor Rachael managed to take some pictures at the 22 August show at Wembley Arena. To view larger versions of all 24 pictures visit the tour gallery and scroll down the the 22 August dates.

Rachael also managed to capture the moment in the show where Madonna made a mistake and threw herself to the ground and just giggled with laughter!

   

   

   

madonnalicious visitor Amar took some pictures at Madonna's first night at Wembley Arena on 22 August. To view larger versions of all 16 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down the the 22 August dates.

   

   

The new issue (out on 11 September) of French magazine Stars Ambition is a Madonna tour special - for more information visit www.starsambition.com

Today Madonna plays her first ever concert in Ireland at Slane Castle in County Meath - she will be the first ever female artist to headline at this venue!

madonnalicious asks any fans who see the show to submit fan pictures/reports and reviews to the site by emailing webmaster@madonnalicious.com

Madonna's documentary crew filmed her yesterday as she cycled to the Kabbalah Centre in London's West End.

The latest issue of Portugese magazine Cabo (September 2004 issue) features Madonna on the cover and a two-page article inside.

madonnalicious visitor Mark had the great opportunity to meet Madonna when she visited The Hospital For Sick Children at Great Ormond Street this week with daughter Lourdes for a book reading. When he met Madonna and her manager Caresse Henry they offered him pit tickets for the last night at Wembley Arena - here is his story:

I work at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, on Tuesday we were told Madonna was going to visit us as you can imagine there was a real buzz in the hospital. Madonna arrived at 3.00pm with Lourdes and went to the activity centre where Lourdes read from Madonna's children's books.
Madonna then stayed for a while and chatted to everyone. At around 4.15pm Madonna arrived at my department and spoke to all the children and gave them all one copy of each of her books. She looked amazing her hairstyle was straight and her skin looked flawless she wore a stylish sweater and skirt. Lourdes stood by her looking beautiful and angelic.
Just then I saw Caresse come to stand by me I went over and introduced myself and said that myself and my friend had been to the Wembley show the night before. Caresse was very friendly shook my hand and asked me what I thought of the show of course I said it was amazing. Madonna then came over and said hello.
I told Madonna that I had been to the show and told her I loved it to which she replied wow and said you are a fan. Caresse then asked if we would like to go to Thursday's show in the Pits, we couldn't believe it! Caresse asked me to give her my details so I gave her my mobile number and email address she said someone would contact us with the details.
Sure enough Madonna's people contacted me and sent me an email with all the details of how to get into the Pits. My friend Jo and I were so excited we couldn't believe this was happening to us. Having been to Earls Court opening night and Monday's Wembley show we had seen the Pits but were not prepared for them when we were taken to them.
It was incredible when Madonna came on we were so close to her she looked and sounded amazing we saw lots of things you wouldn't normally see if you were in the seats like costume changes and Madonna disappearing under the stage after she finished a song.
My favourite parts were Vogue, American Life, Don't Tell Me and Into The Groove. Everyone I met in the Pit was great. Having experienced the show from the Pits I could see close up how much effort and thought had gone into the show. Madonna simply blows the competition away there is no other performer like her she is very talented and has an incredible energy.
It has been an amazing week meeting Madonna, going to two shows and being in the Pits. Madonna gets a lot of negative press but I have experienced none of this I still can't believe I got Pit tickets! I also noticed that there were no empty seats at the shows despite the press stating there were lots of top-priced seats unsold it just goes to show that you should never believe what you read in the press.
I would like to thank Madonna and Caresse for an amazing week, Madonna you truly are the best!

Many madonnalicious visitor's tour reports from the 23 August Wembley Arena show commented that it seemed like Madonna was grabbed and nearly pulled into the audience when she leaned forward to hold a fan's hand during Like A Prayer, here is the full story from Manreet, the girl who held Madonna's hand:

I just wanted to reply to some fan reviews posted for Monday night's performance at Wembley (23/08). I was the one who grabbed Madonna's hand during Like A Prayer when she was crouched down in front of us in the front row!
Madonna was crouching down in front of us singing and smiling then she held her hand out, she reached out to my friend next to me who she had been smiling at then another guy next to me grabbed her hand! I was trying but am too short! She noticed this and pointed directly at me straight in the eyes and lent forward so I could grab her hand. She really made an effort and I am so touched and on cloud nine that I got to shake hands with my idol!
And boy what a strong hand it is! She did jerk forward but she could see that I had to jump to get her hand! So smiled at me as if to say it's OK! Hope that clears up what people have said!

madonnalicious visitor Scott took some pictures at Madonna's emotional show last night at London's Wembley Arena. To view larger versions of all 6 pictures visit the tour gallery.

The latest issue of Portugese magazine Sabado (27 August-02 September issue) to hit the newstands is a Madonna special - not only does it feature Madonna on the cover, it also devotes 12 pages to the Queen Of Pop, looking at her recent Manchester concert and her whole career.

Madonna played her sixth and final show in London last night at Wembley Arena. It was an emotional and exhausting last night in London for both Madonna and her fans.

madonnalicious says hello to everyone in the right dance pit last night - I think you would agree it was an amazing experience - and thanks to Madonna, her dancers, band and crew as well for giving London their best!

Here are some fan highlights from last night - to read the full reports visit the fan reviews section:

From Erin And Simone:
That was the best concert I have ever been to by far. She was awesome. She even shed a tear last night as she was so overwhelmed by the two weeks she had had in London, she said they had been amazing. She had to wipe her tears on her kilt! I would definitely go and see her again and anybody that has tickets for her concerts that are coming up, you won't be disappointed!

From Jason:
The show was as amazing as all the others, but Madonna was moved to tears at the end of 'Papa Don't Preach' when she thanked us for the love we'd given her during her London shows. She then started the intro to 'American Life' but had to stop, telling us: 'I can't sing when I'm crying,' before starting it again! Luckily she managed to compose herself for 'Crazy For You', which she sang beautifully.

From Awneyx:
Not one person wasn't singing along to the 'oldies but goodies' as she called them and my partner, a stern hater of Madonna left in absolute awe.
The shivers are still sent down my spine, I still cry when she walks on stage and the hairs on the back of my neck hurt from standing so long! So can Madonna get any better? You bet your ass she can!

From James And Richard:
The last night in the UK was always going to be an emotional show for the fans but on this occasion Madaonna herself could not hold back the tears. The show was paused when Madonna told the crowd 'I can't sing when I am crying'....Madonna attempted to sing but had to stop when emotions got the better of her and said 'I told you' while wiping tears from her eyes. The crowd went mad and eventually Madonna composed herself and set about singing a highly emotional version of Crazy For You.

From Scott:
What can I say about Madonna's final night at Wembley? Everything has already been said, she is number one. A little way before 'Crazy for You' last night, she thanked the audience for a 'hectic' few weeks, and said that she was suprised. 'Thankyou, I feel you' she told the crowd.

From Hannah:
Last night was again incredible and I totally agree with a fan review about releasing an album of this concert - how fantastic would that be?! We were sitting in Block 14 and simply loved it when she sang 'Crazy for you' directly opposite us!

From Alun:
The whole show was great, highlights were when she was on the catwalk thing and was closer to me than the fans in the pits and I could really see her fairly close up.
The Papa Don’t Preach and Crazy For You bit where she cried on stage was emotional for not just M but also the whole crowd including me.

From Clare:
Madonna missed the start of Papa Don't Preach as her bootlaces came loose - ever the professional she just got on with doing them up and then rejoined the Donna and Siedah in the dance routine.

madonnalicious visitor Daniel took some pictures at London's Earls Court on 19 August. His picture below shows Madonna giving it her all during Crazy For You. To view larger versions of all 3 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down to the 19 August dates.

 

madonnalicious visitor Simon managed to grab some pictures from the 5th row at Wembley Arena on Monday 23 August. To view larger versions of all 5 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

madonnalicious visitor Emma took some pictures at Madonna's first London show from the 19th row on 18 August at Earls Court. To view larger versions of all 4 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down to the 18 August dates.

 

The world-famous London auctioneers Christies will be holding a Pop Memorabilia auction on 29 September at 2pm at their South Kensington showroom.
Madonna auction highlights include:

A black crucifix pendant worn by Madonna circa 1985. Photographs taken by Herb Ritts and features in the Virgin Tour brochure, 1985 show her wearing the pendant. Madonna gave it to her Choreographer, Brad Jeffries after the tour.
Estimate : £2,500-4,000

A black leather one-piece outfit worn by Madonna in photo sessions for her Sex Book (features in the book on page 9) Estimate: £4,000-6,000

Also included are various lots of autographed CDs and photographs.

In celebration of Madonna's forthcoming Paris concerts at the beginning of September, the French edition of Rolling Stone features Madonna on the cover and a four-page article inside. Click the images to read the article.

     

     

Madison Square Garden and RCE have placed a full-page advert in the new issue of Billboard magazine thanking Madonna for her 6 night sell-out run at New York City's Madison Square Garden in June.

madonnalicious visitor Ant took some great tour pictures at last night's show at London's Wembley Arena. If you look really carefully at the fifth picture you can even see the hole in her stockings which caused Madonna so much amusement!
To view larger versions of all 12 pictures visit the tour gallery.

   

   

Madonna played her third show at London's Wembley Arena last night. The crowd seemed a little slow to get into the show but once Don't Tell Me started the crowd were on their feet pretty much for the rest of the night!

Here are some highlights from last night:

During Hanky Panky there was a moment when Madonna appeared to forget a line and just giggled as she sat on the podium.

Later on during the Hanky Panky/Deeper and Deeper segment of the show - Madonna pointed out a hole in her fishnet stocking to Donna and Siedah, just shrugged her shoulders and laughed!

Madonna likes to tease the pit babies when she takes off her headband at the end of Deeper and Deeper - she waves it above their heads making them think she is going to drop it in the pit and usually wags her finger at them as she drops it on stage instead....this time they wagged their fingers back at her and it made her laugh!

Instead of Madonna's usual speech before Imagine, she said that This is a song about unity, and it's great to feel unity with other people! the crowd roared with approval.

Her post-Papa Don't Preach speech went like this: There's no place like home! I don't wear these t-shirts (Brits Do It Better) for every country I go to you know. First it was Italians Do It Better, because I'm Italian you know. But I thought I should pay props to the United Kingdom....and I'm not kissing your ass!

During Holiday Madonna just held the mic out to the crowd to sing the song, she did this for most of the song. The London audiences have also got their own thing going with the introduction to Holiday - while Madonna and her dancers are sitting on the conveyor belt, the audience will chant woop-woop in time with the music - this is getting louder and louder with each show, and Madonna seems to love it!

Last night madonnalicious also got a chance to look at all the backstage action, both before and during the show. From backstage you get to see what an enormous production this show is and how many people are actually required to get this show on the road.
There are so many people wandering around backstage before the show, from Madonna's manager Caresse Henry, to band members Stuart Price and Steve Sidelnyk. Dancers in various states of dress were running from one area of backstage to another, racks of costumes being wheeled from one area to another, and stage props such as wigs being carried about. Various technicians are sorting out the lighting rigs or making sure the stage is ready to go. On top of all this there are Madonna's documentary crew following both the backstage and front of stage action.
During the show Guy Ritchie appeared to watch Mrs Ritchie's performance of Nothing Fails from backstage, and he stayed for Don't Tell Me and Like A Prayer - later on he returned to watch the last few songs.

The new issue of UK magazine Hello! (31 August - issue no. 831) features Madonna and Guy on the cover and a four-page article inside about her 46th birthday celebrations in London last Monday.

 

 

The new issue of UK magazine OK! (31 August - issue no. 433) features three-pages of Madonna and Guy celebrating her birthday in Clerkenwell, London last Monday in their supplement magazine hot stars.

   

madonnalicious visitor Material Cowboy has sent in some more great tour pictures, this time these pictures were taken at Madonna's first show at Wembley Arena on 22 August. To view larger versions of all 6 pictures visit the tour gallery and scroll down the the 14 August dates.

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Damian took these pictures at Madonna's first UK concert at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester on 14 August. To view larger versions of all 8 pictures visit the tour gallery and scroll down the the 14 August dates.

 

 

German fans can catch a one hour Madonna videography on German TV channel VIVA starting at 18:30 today.

Mem Mehmet's new book Madonna In Art was reviewed in this week's issue of UK entertainment magazine heat.
The reviewer gave the book 4 out of 5 stars and said: It is a thoroughly entertaining, very readable, beautiful coffee-table book any fan of Madonna would want to own.

Regular visitors to madonnalicious will have noticed that we have been previewing pictures from the book in the Portrait Of The Week section.

To read the full review click on the image.

This afternoon Madonna and Lourdes paid a visit to the Hospital For Sick Children, Great Ormond Street in London's West End.
During the visit Lourdes read aloud from Yakov and the Seven Thieves to the gathered children - Madonna herself said she was saving her voice for the tour.
Later on copies of the book were handed out to the patients.

You can download the London Tonight news report of Madonna's visit which has just aired on local TV - note the sound sync maybe slighty off in the video file:

Madonna played her second show at Wembley Arena, London last night, and seemed to be having a great time again, many times when the lights went down you could see a big satisfied smile on her face.

Madonna gave another funny speech last night after singing Papa Don't Preach:
When you are young you think that all grown-ups should 'fuck-off' but then you find you are grown up too, but you still want them to 'fuck-off'....that's my public service announcement! Sorry but in this part of the show I am oxygen deprived and I ramble on....I sound like a drunk in a pub!

Here are some tour report highlights from madonnalicious visitors - to read the full reviews and many more please visit the fan reviews section:

From Clare:
During Music she forgot her lines singing....'think of yesterday....oh fuck it!' but she just laughed it off, recomposed herself and got on with the song.

From Amar:
I want to 'big up' and give credit to the dancers which no one seems to have done....they are amazing. All really pretty and good looking and seem to be having a blast.

From Tim:
One (of the many) highlights was when she was singing 'Nothing Fails'....I was part of the crowd that was right in front of her, singing along and all pointing at her when she was singing 'Feel my heart beating....you're the one!' right back at her....I saw her smile at that point and I just hoped she felt the love coming from us all!

From Debbie-Ann:
My favourite part was when she sang Burning Up. An all time favourite of mine....it has totally prompted me to learn how to play more Madonna songs on my guitar! Madonna, you are my homegirl!

From Volkan D:
When you consider she was doing the same show over 40th time, she still had lots of energy and smiles! It was obvious she was really enjoying it and this time everything went perfect. She didn't forget the words to Material girl or didn't feel dizzy after Papa Don't Preach. I was at 4th row and so close to her, I still feel like it was all a dream which ended to soon.

From Rob:
Not sure if anyone noticed but during Like A Prayer last night, Madonna was crouched in front of the front row and a member of the audience grabbed her hand and tried to pull her in. She stood up immediately and proceeded to point at the guilty party as if to have them removed, didn't see if this happened or not.

madonnalicious visitor Steven took these great pictures at the first Wembley Arena show in London on Sunday 22 August.
To view larger versions of all 9 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down the the 18 August dates.

   

   

madonnalicious was very lucky to catch Madonna's Brits Do It Better tshirt at Sunday night's show at Wembley Arena....good throw M!

Madonna played her first show at London's Wembley Arena last night, and again she was much more talkative and in a funnier mood last night.
Here are some tour report highlights from madonnalicious visitors - to read the full reviews and many more please visit the fan reviews section:

From George:
At the end of Papa Dont Preach, she started to sing 'Do I have to change my name' when she stopped to say 'Don't call me Esther!'. As she went to continue singing she made a mistake, at which she then layed on the floor laughing to herself. The crowd went wild at this, she then got up and said 'I can't believe I fucked that up!' and then started over before going on to sing Crazy For You.

From Steve:
The Madonna energy ball struck Wembley Arena with such force it was like a small atom bomb going off, her effect was devastating. From the opening images of the red dress and wolves I knew this was nothing like we had ever seen. If you thought The Drowned World tour was good, then this is just gonna blow you away. This is image overload, you just don’t know where to look, and it hardly registers before the little goddess is raised from the floor.

From Suneil:
She messed up during the little American Life bit after Papa don't Preach and threw herself down on the stage laughing, she looked real cute! She also vowed never to sing Material Girl again!

From Chris:
After Papa Don't Preach she fucked up (her words) and fell to the floor laughing. Then when she continued she forgot her words until an audience member in the front row shouted them out to her.

From Jeyan:
After Papa Don't Preach, she asked audience whether Brits do it better or not? There was a deafening scream from the crowd saying YEEEEES. She said 'Brits are number one at making the best cup of tea, but what else? Help me my memory is not good.'

From Flavio:
She said as well that Earls Court was bigger than Wembley, but said after: 'But who said that the size matters?'....Ahhhhhhhhhhh she is definitely AMAZING....

madonnalicious visitor Freddie managed to grab some pictures at the first London show at Earls Court.
To view larger versions of all 5 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down the the 18 August dates.

   

German newspaper Bild published a picture of Madonna out shopping in London on 19 August wearing some 'Alien'-like clothes.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Another picture of Madonna leaving London restaurant Sketch on her birthday appeared in yesterday's NY Post with the caption:

High Priced Bag Lady: A buff, blown out Madonna slipped out the back door of Sketch, a hip London restaurant with husband Guy Ritchie and a pricey purse on Monday.
England has been good to Madonna; she looks far more fit and stylish at 46 than she did at 26.

Click on the image to enlarge....and the pricey purse is a Christian Dior Gambler handbag!

Madonna fan's in the West Hollywood area, can visit Gameboi a weekly Friday night video dance club for the 18 and over crowds in Los Angeles. This Friday they are holding a special Madonna night:

We're celebrating Madonna's birthday month with a special live performance by Niki Haris. She will be singing her own dance hits with the group Snap!
In addition, we will be play lots of rare and exclusive Madonna remixed and megamixed videos for the dancing pleasure of Madonna fans.
Come watch the never-released x-rated (not the MTV/commercial) version of her Erotica video, remixed videos of 'Nobody Knows Me', 'Love Profusion', 'Don't Tell Me', 'Music' and more!

For more information click on the flyer.

Australian visitors can catch a Madonna documentary on Wednesday 25 August, at 11.00pm on ABC TV Sydney.

The show, Madonna's Millions takes a look at the ultimate icon and media manipulator. The singer, style-setter, mother, Madonna is always one step ahead of the pack and her determination has resulted in an incredible fortune. This show explores the Material Girl's truly material world.

madonnalicious managed to grab some small video clips at the 19 August show at Earls Court, London. Songs included are Deeper And Deeper, Die Another Day, Lament, Nothing Fails, Don't Tell Me, Like A Prayer, Into The Groove, Crazy For You, Music and Holiday. Also included is part of Madonna's speech about all things British!

Thanks to madonnalicious visitor Chris for sharing this video clip of the end part of Don't Tell Me filmed at the second London concert at Earls Court on 19 August.

madonnalicious visitor Material Cowboy took these great pictures at the M.E.N Arena, Manchester on the 14 and 15 August.
To view larger versions of all 5 pictures visit the tour gallery - scroll down the the Manchester dates.

 

 

Pop legend Madonna's father Silvio Ciccone is proud that his daughter has changed her ways and settled down with a family.
But Ciccone still finds it hard to believe the middle-aged mother-of-two is the same girl that he raised in Michigan.
Ciccone says, 'It's true, she's a good wife. When I see her with Guy, I can't get it in my head that she's the same girl I raised. She was hell on wheels when she was younger. Now she's got this marriage and I'm proud that she's been able to keep it going this long.'

madonnalicious visitor Simon took these pictures from the at Earls Court at the 19 August show. To view larger versions of all 4 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

madonnalicious visitor Richard took these pictures from the 2nd row at the 18 August show at Earls Court. To view larger versions of the pictures visit the tour gallery.

Two UK magazines feature Madonna this week. Now magazine (25 August issue) features a one-page article on Madonna's first UK date in Manchester, and star magazine (23 August issue) features a one-page article on Madonna and Guy taking time-out from the tour at Ashcombe House. Click on the articles to enlarge.

   

madonnalicious visitor Jonathan took these great pictures from Block 2 at the show last night at Earls Court.
To view larger versions of all 19 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Jody took these great pictures at Earls Court last night.
To view larger versions of all 5 pictures visit the tour gallery.

   

What do you do if you are Madonna's tour costumer and Madonna suddenly decides she wants to change the Kabbalists Do It Better t-shirt for a Brits Do It Better t-shirt for the UK shows?
Simply pop down to Oxford Street's Top Shop and grab a load of black t-shirts in their buy 3 for £12 offer and quickly whip up a batch of Brits Do It Better t-shirts!
If you catch the t-shirt check the label....it isn't the usual Madonna Re-Invention tag but a Top Shop tag!

Fan's at last night's London concert were treated to a long speech just before Crazy For You on how Madonna's hate for Britain turned to love:

Cheers!(as she takes a sip of water and holds her bottle up to the audience)
God Save The Queen....you never know she may be here. I actually wrote a letter to the Queen and asked her to come to my show. I never heard back from her. She doesn't know what she is missing!
Actually it has been a long time since I first came to the UK, it has been over 20 years. When I first came here I'm telling you I hated this place....I didn't get it, the sun never shone, I didn't understand the humour, I didn't understand the food, I just couldn't stand coming here.... and now 20 years later I'm living here, I am married to a Brit and I'm even wearing a fucking kilt....okay? And my entire band is British!

Madonna played her second night in London last night at Earls Court, she was much more talkative last night than on the first night giving us a long speech before Crazy For You.
Here are some tour report highlights from madonnalicious visitors - to read the full reviews and many more please visit the fan reviews section:

From Paul:
Madonna reigns supreme, the dancers were fantastic and the crowd wild from The Beast Within, through to the close with Holiday. Technically, it was just sensory overload I just did not know where to look next!

From Aman:
I loved it when Madonna said at the end of 'Don't Tell Me' (Don't tell me to stop you m****r f****r's) pointing out to all her critics, you go girl.

From Brian:
There were some wonderful references to M having invited The Queen to the show! How fab - The Queen of Pop invites The Queen of England! M's humour is becoming decidedly British!
So, the musical highlights of Re-Invention for me are the awesome arrangement and staging of 'Into The Groove' (I just love it when Missy Elliot appears on the video screens, tartan-clad and rapping), and the brilliant way 'Don't Tell Me' samples The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony'. I've never cared for 'Don't Tell Me' at all - M truly has ReInvented it to make it a highlight for me.

From Monika:
Last night I went to my second RIT concert. WOW. I was still jetlagged from flying over here from Australia (I only arrived on the 16th) and I wondered how the hell I was going to stay awake. All that faded when the lights were down. Suddenly, I was full of energy. Jetlag....what jetlag?

From Darrell:
What can I say, every inch the icon and show-woman....a true pro who has never sounded better...nice to hear American Life material....Nothing Fails made the hair on my neck stand up! Far more personal than Drowned World....worth every penny.

From Colin And Hylton:
I think what we realised last night was the impact one person can have on so many souls and how people are changed forever by this. Just looking over the crowd seeing faces from all different backgrounds, places and age groups, and we were all there only for one reason, MADONNA! MADONNA! MADONNA!

There are lots more fan reports from the first night at Earls Court which have now also been put online - so please check out the reports marked *NEW*

Visit www.whatsonwembley.com and register and answer some easy questions for the chance to win pit tickets to Madonna's Wembley Arena concerts.

madonnalicious visitor Jonathan took these great pictures at Earls Court on Wednesday night's show from the 10th row. To view larger versions of all 7 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Rachael took some pictures at London's Earls Court on the 18 August. To view larger versions of all 16 pictures visit the tour gallery.

   

   

madonnalicious visitor Paul took some pictures at Madonna's first London show at Earls Court. To view larger versions of all 5 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

madonnalicious visitor took pictures at the 18 August show at Earls Court and although his camera gave the shots a blur but it really seems to capture the movement in Madonna's performance of Nobody Knows Me.

One particular picture in the Re-Invention tourbook keeps being digitally altered.
Fans noticed that one of the original Steven Klein shot pictures which featured Madonna in a black wig on the VIP Platinum ticket holders posters appeared in the tourbook with the blond Marie Antoinette head instead. Now that the tour has hit the UK her head has changed again! And she has a gold jacket on as well! Whatever next!

Thanks to madonnalicious visitor MadManc for sharing this small video clip of Madonna having Happy Birthday sang to her by the crew and crowd at the M.E.N Arena, Manchester on 15 August.

Madonna was photographed yesterday as she shopped for designer clothing - to view the pictures click here, here and here.

Also featured in the pictures is Madonna's new $400,000 Maybach car - a tour gift from Clear Channel to Madonna!

Portugal's state rail operator CP said it would operate a special train to take Madonna fans from northern second city Oporto to Lisbon for the pop superstar's first-ever concert in the country on September 13.
Return tickets will cost 21 euros (26 dollars), the company said in a statement. The company does not have plans to operate a similar service on the following day when the top-selling singer will close her 'Re-Invention' world tour with a second performance in the Portuguese capital.
Only one Lisbon date was originally planned, but a second was quickly added in response to big public demand for tickets.
The self-proclaimed Material Girl kicked off the European leg of her tour, which began in Los Angeles in May, on Saturday with the first of two concerts in Manchester, northern England.
After Manchester the 45-year-old singer is to perform in her adopted hometown of London, followed by appearances in Dublin, Paris, Arnhem in the Netherlands, and finally Lisbon.

Thanks to madonnalicious visitor Sharon for sharing this small video clip of Madonna's performance of Imagine filmed at the first London concert last night at Earls Court.

Tonight's edition of London newspaper the Evening Standard features another full page article on Madonna's first night in London at Earls Court.

The article is a great look at the show from a fan who has grown up over the years with Madonna.

Click on the image to enlarge.

madonnalicious visitor Sharon took these great pictures last night at Madonna's first London show at Earls Court. To view larger versions of the pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

 

Madonna and the Earls Court crowd rocked the arena last night at her first London show - here are some tour report highlights from madonnalicious visitors - to read the full reviews and many more please visit the fan reviews section:

madonnalicious sends out greetings to all the Left Pit fans last night, you were a great group....we had the time of our lives, cherish it!

From Clare:
The best moment was when she turned to the band and mouthed the word 'WOW' and then turned back to address the audience and said 'You are the best crowd ever!' - it looked like she really meant it.
She also got really dizzy again after Papa Don't Preach and started to giggle as she composed herself.

From Colin:
I was a first timer and I was amazed. She had Earls Court rockin and she sounded fantastic.

From Monty:
Despite avidly reading all I could about the shows in North America I was still amazed at how many surprises there were, in the staging and, especially, the songs. Madonna has managed some really interesting re-works of some of her classic hits. Burning Up really blew me away. Re-release it!

From Fiona:
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! Brits Do It Better! Madonna said, 'It’s great to be home!' The crowd went wild. 'You are the best crowd ever! and I’m not just saying that.' See Fiona's picture below taken during Crazy For You.

From Gray:
Starting off with the power-number 'Vogue' got everyone's attention - hearts were pumping and butts were up throughout the whole show. The first concert that I’ve been to were everyone dances and stands up in the seated areas throughout the show.

madonnalicious visitor Alejandro took these fantastic pictures at the 15 August show at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester. To view larger versions of the pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

 

Madonna is on the cover of a new Dutch women´s magazine called Esta.

The article inside looks at her career and of course her upcoming sold out concerts in Arnhem, Holland.

Madonna begins her six night London residency by playing Earls Court tonight and tomorrow, followed by four dates at Wembley Arena.

madonnalicious asks any visitors who attend any of the London shows to submit pictures, reports and reviews to webmaster@madonnalicious.com

madonnalicious visitor Martyn managed to capture the moment Madonna was surprised onstage with a rendition of Happy Birthday sang to her by dancers, band and fans at the 15 August show in Manchester.

To view all 4 of Martyn's pictures from that night visit the tour gallery.

madonnalicious visitor Paul took some great pictures from the front row at the 14 August show at the M.E.N Arena - below is one of Madonna and Monte Pittman.
To view all 6 of Paul's pictures visit the tour gallery.

madonnalicious visitor Stuart took these pictures from the 13th row at the 14 August show in Manchester. To view larger versions of all 10 pictures visit the tour gallery.

Here are some more great pictures taken by madonnalicious visitor Jason at the M.E.N Arena on 14 August. To view larger versions of all the pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

Madonna celebrated her 46th birthday last night with Guy in London at the Mayfair restaurant Sketch - tonight's edition of the Evening Standard published this picture of them at the restaurant.

Today's edition of UK newspaper the Metro featured a new picture of Madonna and Guy in London - the accompanying article discusses Coronation Street Chic and says that by wearing flat-caps Madonna and Guy are following the trend!

madonnalicious visitors Darren and Sarah took these pictures last night in Manchester at the M.E.N Arena. To view larger versions of all the pictures visit the tour gallery.

   

Here are some highlights from madonnalicious visitor's tour reports of the second night at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England.

To read these reports in full visit the fan reviews section:

From Paul M:
That was amazing! Easily my favourite of her tours, from the minute the screens came on flashing those images to the point where the confetti rained down and almost completely obscured my view the time simply flew.

From Peter:
Before Imagine Madonna commented that the song was wrote by 'A man that comes from a town not far from here' and before 'Crazy For You' Madonna dedicated the song to 'Everyone that made me feel loved. I am truly one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have always felt that I have had an angel over my shoulder, looking out for me....I'm a perfect example that you can achieve anything you want to. Dream the impossible dream'.

From Wayne:
Following Papa Don't Preach, the 7th row held up cards spelling out 'Happy Birthday' and 14,000 people sang for her while she hugged the dancers on stage.

From Michael:
Also I loved when we sang Happy Birthday to Madonna, after 'Papa Don’t Preach'. Madonna’s backing singer came on and said 'Stop the music, Madonna don’t look at me like that. Right Manchester you all know what day it is tomorrow, so you know what you’ve got to do!'

From Steve:
My friend and I were at both shows....all I can say is BRILLIANT. For the second night I managed to get PIT PASSES, and it was like seeing the show from a whole new point of view. We got great eye contact from Madonna and Donna smiled and waved at me a number of times! The crowd for both nights were LOUD.

From Stuart:
Before Don't Tell Me she said 'I see a few of you have cowboy hats so you may want to get them ready for this next song'
At the end of Don't Tell Me she kept repeating the line 'Don't ever tell me to stop' and said 'I can take my time as its nearly my birthday' then she carried on saying it and finally said 'don't ever tell me to stop mother f*ckers!'

Madonna was snapped by the paparazzi during her tour break in London on Wednesday 04 August as she watched Guy supervising Rocco on his bike.

This picture appeared in the French magazine Public.

You can now view raw footage from Reuters of Manchester fans as they waited for the concert and footage of Vogue and Frozen in the new-style corset - click here.

Launch Music on Yahoo! have announced one more competition for UK and Ireland fans to win dance pit tickets - to enter click here.

More reviews of Madonna's first night in the UK appeared in some daily newspapers today - featured below are the Evening Standard and the Metro - click on the images to read the articles.

You can read more UK press reports in the press reviews section.

Her Madgesty turns 46 today and naturally she'll be treating her closest girl friends like royalty as she celebrates her birthday. Some stars would just get drunk, but super-fit Madonna is planning to spend £3,000 on a day of health treatments. We hear Madonna has booked some of her favourite London spas before she begins her highly-anticipated concert dates in the capital at the weekend.
Our source says: 'She is really generous and just figured that as she has been on tour she fancied a relaxing birthday. And what better way to do that than to have a real Sex And The City-style day out with her best friends. She has insisted she is paying for everything and that all the massages and facials will be her treat.'
'It's her way of thanking them for being the most important women in her life and for always being there for her. She's booked up lots of treatments at a few discreet places. Obviously she wants to relax in peace, so they have booked different spas so that she isn't snapped in her towelling robe and slippers.'
There is also an amethyst crystal steamroom, vitality pools and a zen relaxation area for Madge's friends to chill out in before heading back to her house in nearby Marble Arch. The Mandarin Oriental spa is favoured by her pal Britney Spears, who has been pampered there. Kate Moss celebrated her 30th birthday there earlier this year with friends.
Also in Knightsbridge, Britney recommended the Berkeley Hotel spa to Madonna. This is just a (hot) stone's throw from Linda Meredith's beauty clinic, where Madonna has ordered crystal clear oxygen facials. And while we're on parties, Madge took her son Rocco to the safari park at Longleat stately home in Wiltshire for his fourth birthday last Wednesday. Our source adds: 'Rocco may be the son of a superstar, but he's just like any little boy and was excited to see the animals.'
Madonna's spa day will be a welcome break from her gruelling European Re-Invention tour. But she showed no signs of slowing down when she kicked off the UK leg in Manchester's MEN Arena on Saturday with the hottest show we've seen in years. Showing off a body someone half her age would be proud of, she performed 23 of her hits including Express Yourself, Hanky Panky and Vogue.

madonnalicious and it's visitors wish Madonna a very happy 46th birthday today :)

Thanks to madonnalicious visitors Matt and Rich for sharing this small video clip of the Holiday catwalk segment of the show filmed last night in at the M.E.N Arena.

Matt and Rich also took some pictures of the show:

   

madonnalicious visitor Jason took these fantastic pictures from the 4th row at the M.E.N Arena last night.
To view larger versions of all the pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

 

 

Here's a reminder to all London fans of the Somethings Coming Over The Night Before party in London on 17 August with an updated press release on what's on offer and a special discount for madonnalicious visitors!

The Bloomsbury Theatre Education Programme is one of the most successful education programmes of its kind, having been accessed by over 130,000 young people since its launch four years’ ago. The aim of the Programme is to help under-represented groups such as young people with disabilities, mature students and those from ethnic minorities. Receiving no outside grants or subsidy, the Programme relies solely on generous sponsorship and charitable donations, which is why, on August 17, they are raising funds with a special Madonna Night entitled Something’s Coming Over The Night Before.
The two-hour long extravaganza will look back over Madonna’s distinguished career, showing highlights from her greatest live performances from her sex vixen days of Like A Virgin to her politically charged American Life, along with rare footage from her earlier live performances.
For all true fanatics there’ll also be a Madonna look alike competition with great pries from Warner Music whilst the theatre bar will be pumping out Madonna Remixed and Revisited tunes from her career which has spanned two decades, reworked with fabulous Madonna Cocktails especially concocted on the night.

Also on the night Mem Memet the author of ‘Madonna In Art’ will be there, doing a book signing. Madonna In Art is a celebration of the Pop Goddess at every stage of her career. A testament to her unique global impact, it features work by over a hundred artists, including Andrew Logan, Sebastian Kruger, Tarantola, Antonio de Felipe, Dona Lief and Peter Howson. These images range across every role Madonna has played on the world stage, from erotic dancer to the dignified figure of Eva Peron in Evita.

Mem Mehmet lives in London and is a dedicated follower of the arts. He has been an avid follower of Madonna’s career for over twenty years. Madonna In Art represents the culmination of many years spent searching out images of Madonna and is Mem’s personal tribute to this unique artist. ‘Madonna In Art’ will be on sale on the night for a special price.

The Material Girl will be the tribute performer on the night. The Material Girl is recreated by Alison, a professionally trained singer, dancer and choreographer, with performances at prestigious venues such as; 'The Royal Festival Hall', 'The Royal Albert Hall', 'Privilege' (Ibiza) and various 'Civic Halls'.

madonnalicious visitors that come on the night and mention 'Abeby Baby' at the box office can get the advance sale price of £8.00 instead of £10.

Something’s Coming Over The Night Before
August 17 at 8pm
Bloomsbury Theatre
15 Gordon Street
London
WC1H 0AH
£8 in advance or £10 on the door, which includes a free Virgin cocktail on arrival.
Box Office: 020 7388 8822

madonnalicious visitor Jon also took these pictures last night at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester. To view larger versions of all 6 pictures visit the tour gallery.

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Phill took these pictures last night in Manchester. To view larger versions of all 11 pictures visit the tour gallery.

   

   

Please be aware that security was very tight last night, with guards stopping people taking pictures by destroying films or removing people from the arena while they deleted pictures from their cameras.

Here are some highlights from madonnalicious visitor's tour reports of the first night of the European leg of the Re-Invention tour at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England.

To read these reports in full visit the fan reviews section:

From Phill:
With regards to her first night in the UK there were a few changes. I noticed that her first costume was different than in the US. Rather than the gold corset, she wore a blue one with red beading.

From Lee:
She rolled through the first part of the set without much audience interaction, but exclaimed 'Fuck it's hot in here' (it was). At one point she said 'Our first UK show and we decided to come to Manchester first'.

From Lisa:
Madonna put on her 'Brits Do It Better' tshirt and said 'Hey I should know', referring to the Brits doin it better and her hubby Guy. Then she kinda went all shy after saying it.

From Tony B:
I was sat 5 rows from the front and what a view it was awesome and from the moment it started everyone was was up off there chairs singing and dancing well everyone at the front was, Madge didn't complain about anyone sitting.

From S. Sutcliffe:
AWESOME! This is without doubt the best concert I have been to for all round entertainment. The t-shirts with the slogan 'Brits Do It Better' should have read 'Madonna Does It Better'.

From Billy:
What can I say what hasn't been said before, breathtaking! I travelled all the way from London to witness the best show ever! I managed to get front row tickets from the presale on Icon and they were worth every penny and more. Everything was just brilliant, I danced, jumped, clapped and sung my heart out.

Last night's show in Manchester was featured in many of today's UK newspapers, featured below are reviews from the Sunday Mirror, The People and the Sunday Express - click on the images to enlarge to read the articles.

 

 

A different design of tour advert appeared today in the UK press advertising extra production seats that have just been released.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Last night Madonna wowed the UK with her first show of the European leg of the Re-Invention tour - she also surprised the fans with a different opening number outfit - the gold corset is now a silverish-lilac colour!

Tonight Madonna plays her first UK concert at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester. This is the first time since 1987 that her tour has stopped outside London in the UK!

madonnalicious asks any visitors who attend the shows tonight or tomorrow to submit pictures, reports and reviews to webmaster@madonnalicious.com

BBC Online journalist and Madonna fan John Hand has written a great article taking a look back at Madonna's US shows and forward to the UK shows and how as fans we can justify seeing Madonna numerous times.

madonnalicious visitors also get a mention in this piece saying that '....she feels (referring to the webmaster) she already knows the show intimately, thanks to the hundreds of dispatches from US fans who have emailed personal reviews to the Madonnalicious site.'

BBC News Online's John Hand - a Madonna fan for two decades - explores why some fans will pay any price to see their pop idol.
It has become something of a mantra during this long, occasionally hot summer.
My response to the many disbelieving questions: I am going to see Madonna's current tour eight times, I flew out to see her perform in Las Vegas and Chicago, I have spent far too much money - but I have not taken leave of my senses.
After 20 years as a fan, and the fear that a 'greatest hits tour' also signals her final foray on the road, it seemed appropriate to see Madonna perform in the land of her birth. So an equally inspired friend and I flew to Las Vegas in May for the second stop on what is Madonna's sixth major tour.

To read the rest of this article click here.

Madonna arrived in Manchester this afternoon to prepare for her first European show tomorrow at the M.E.N Arena. Footage of the arena and the technical crew getting the venue ready have been airing on BBC and ITV1 news channels - here are some screen captures of the arena.

Manchester Online journalist Kevin Bourke spoke to Chris Lamb, the Re-Invention tour director in a preview to tomorrow night's concert in Manchester:

Chris Lamb, the Tour Director for the eagerly-awaited Madonna: The Re-Invention Tour, has worked for the superstar for nearly twenty years, virtually since she burst onto the worldwide scene with Holiday. He believes that the current show is 'probably her best ever. It's a genuinely amazing show.'
Chris, who also works with Rod Stewart, The Eagles and Roger Waters on their tours, remembers that he began working on this with Madonna, her manager and tour director, Jamie King back in January.
'Madonna herself and the tour director come up with the concept and the ideas. My job is to figure out how to do it! We're doing things that people have never done before with this show.'
'It's a show,' he emphasises, 'people aren't coming here to a rock concert. This is more like a theatre show, with different acts to it. You don't even have to be a Madonna fan to enjoy this show.'
'There's a whole world happening, with hundreds of elements,' he says of the over two-hour performance, in which the world's biggest-selling female solo artist ever will be performing over twenty of her greatest hits, including Vogue, Into The Groove, Holiday, Like A Prayer, Material Girl, Music, Express Yourself and Papa Don't Preach.
It's so fantastically eleborate that Chris and his crew began setting up on Wednesday for the shows. Nonetheless, despite the fact that almost all of the show's staging, including state-of-the-art video technology, has been custom-built at a cost which, Chris hints, runs into the millions, it will never be seen again after the last European date in Lisbon on September 14.
'Madonna's probably the most tirelessly inventive person I've ever known, and she has absolutely no interest in repeating herself. I suspect you might be seeing some parts of our show in other people's shows for a while, though,' chuckles Chris, who has worked in the rock world for more than thirty years, since starting out with Leon Russell 'back in the days when things were really wild.'
The show, which now involves 110 people travelling on the road including 12 dancers, 5 musicians, 2 backing singers, a bagpipe player, a skateboarder, and Cirque du Soleil swingers, was rehearsed for six weeks solidly before the public was allowed to see it.
The stage itself, weighing 40 tons on its own, can revolve in all sorts of directions (at up to sixteen miles an hour, which would surely test the balance of the most skilled dancers!) and there are all manner of high-tech contraptions which can raise - or even spring! - performers into the air.
'Madonna is on stage the whole time, this is not one of those shows where the performer vanishes all the time to change their costume. If you can't actually see her, she's quick-changing for a different scene,' he discloses.
'It's a very artistic show. If you asked me to pick a favourite of all her tours, and I've worked on pretty much all of them, I`d say this one for sure. The other show which I personally thought was the only one which came close to this one is the Blonde Ambition tour.'
'People keep saying that she's re-inventing herself, but she also re-invents the show. She shows people things they've never seen before and it's been that way over the years, that's why people are fascinated and excited by what she does. Every one of her shows really has been a kind of reflection of her, it's pretty much where she is in her life.'
But can she keep on topping the last tour, as she apparently does with this show, certainly if the preparations I saw are anything to go by?
'I don't know,' Chris admits. 'She's so creative and she's such a perfectionist that she always comes up with something fresh and different.'
'When she's on that stage, even though there's a hundred things happening, she'll know just what a dancer has been doing, which is amazing.'
'She's a hard-working lady who has astounding powers of concentration and puts herself heart and soul into whatever she's doing.'

Now that Madonna's Re-Invention tour is about to hit Europe, Madonna is receiving a lot of press.
The August/September issue of Holland's gay glossy magazine Squeeze features Madonna on the cover and an article inside with tour pictures.

For any more information please email jeremyheshof@hotmail.com

Irish magazine Hotpress (vol. 28, no. 16, dated 25th August 2004) features Madonna on the cover in a preview of her forthcoming Slane Castle concert on 28 August.

Members of Madonna's official fanclub ICON should be receiving issue 41 very soon.

The new issue takes a close-up look at all of Madonna's tours.

Thanks to madonnalicious visitor Jeyan for sharing these excellent video clips from the American Airline Arena in Miami on the last night of the US leg of the tour on 02 August - clips featured include Vogue, Frozen, Deeper And Deeper, Die Another Day, Imagine, Papa Don't Preach, Into The Groove and Holiday.

PLEASE NOTE: These are the only clips I have - the full show is not available.

madonnalicious visitor Shanti took these great pictures at Madison Square Garden on the 23 June. To view larger versions of all 32 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 23 June to find the pictures).

   

   

   

   

Madonna and her family are now relaxing at their West Country estate before the tour re-starts on Saturday night in Manchester.

Madonna and Guy were snapped jogging around the country estate - to see the pictures click here, here and here.

London newspaper the Evening Standard previewed Madonna's upcoming dates in London in their free Hot Tickets magazine.

Click on the image to read the preview.

Madonna's Re-Invention tour yet tops the Billboard Boxscores charts again - her shows are featured five times in the top six and the Madison Square Garden shows top the chart.

Madison Square Garden, NYC - $12,674,925 Total Attendance 88,625 (6 shows)
American Airlines Arena, Miami - $4,145,760 Total Attendance 30,580 (2 shows)
Office Depot Center, Ft. Lauderdale - $3,834,522 Total Attendance 28,208 (2 shows)
MCI Center, Washington DC - $3,486,684 Total Attendance 26,788 (2 shows)
Philips Arena, Atlanta - $3,450,874 Total Attendance 25,627 (2 shows)

In a preview to Madonna's Re-Invention tour hitting Manchester this weekend journalist Simon Donohue takes a look back at Madonna's first appearence in Manchester in 1984:

It was the legendary day when a self-confident songstress named Madonna made her British debut, at Manchester's equally legendary Hacienda nightclub - and one she now coolly claims not to remember.
Flanked by two Lycra-clad male dancers, the disco diva from Detroit gyrated her way through the vibrant strains of Holiday, a future summer anthem which would herald her first chart success on both sides of the Atlantic.
And, unlike this weekend's live shows in Manchester - where tickets sold for up to &#pound;150 - admission to the Hacienda showcase on January 27, 1984, was granted free to people holding special invitations.
Madonna made her British bow at the club as part of a one-off, live Channel 4 broadcast by The Tube, a cult music programme presented by Jools Holland and Paula Yates. It was Tube creator Malcolm Gerrie, now a high-powered television executive, who asked Madonna's record company to organise her appearance at a venue which was still to win its reputation as one of the world's best.
Gerrie tells friends that The Tube eventually funded the visit itself, because Warner Brothers did not see Madonna as 'a priority artist'.
Hillegonda 'Gonnie' Rietveld, who was there that day and went on to research the 1992 book, The Hacienda Must Be Built, says: 'Madonna did a TV PA, miming with two male dancers in a club act formation. They performed on the dance floor, rather than on the stage, surrounded by lights, cameras and a curious crowd.'
'The Hacienda was crammed, because the Tube was a respected TV programme for young music fans that dared to risk bringing new talent to a national audience.'
'Daylight was coming in from the glass panels in the industrial ceiling, and I remember the light blue walls framing the audience. Madonna was wearing one of those belly-revealing tank tops.'
Another person who was there on the night clearly failed to share Gerrie's affections for Madonna. 'It was, as I recall, hilarious,' insists the punter, who asked not to be named. 'Most people in the Hacienda treated her performance as a bit of a joke.'
Also on the bill that night were the Factory Allstars - musicians assembled from the bands signed to Factory Records, including the Hacienda's owners, New Order.
Rob Gretton and Peter Hook, respectively New Order's manager and bass player, went to Madonna's dressing room after the television performance and offered her £50 to play again when the cameras had been switched off.
Factory boss Wilson says that the show has her slipped his mind. 'I don't recall that much about Madonna's Hacienda appearance,' he says. 'I remember watching her from the balcony and her dancing on the floor. Years later, I think she's a wonderful artist and I love the way she's so rude to people.'
Having been fortunate (or unfortunate?) enough to share a dinner table with the star some years after the Hacienda performance, Wilson speaks from bitter experience.
'I eventually plucked up the courage to look across the table to Madonna and ask, 'Are you aware that the first place you appeared outside of New York was our club in Manchester?'
'She gave me an ice-cold stare and said, 'My memory seems to have wiped that.'

madonnalicious visitor Felix took these pictures from at the 17 June show in NYC's Madison Square Garden.

   

   

   

To view larger versions of all 24 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 18 June to find the pictures).

A media blitz has been spotted around Dublin in preparation for Madonna's historic visit to Slane at the end of this month.

Re-Invention tour posters have been spotted all over town on various billboards and even on a double-decker bus!

In a celebration of Madonna's birthday and, of course the start of the UK leg of the tour Brighton's monthly 80's night Babycham is Madonna themed!.

The party is on Saturday 14 August and is at Club Envy, opposite Brighton Pier, above Charles St - for more information visit www.djaaronpaul.com

Click on the flyer for more information - and more importantly fans can print off the flyer and bring it along to get discounted entry.

madonnalicious visitor Adi has sent in some more absolutely fantastic pictures from the 20 June show at Madison Square Garden. We will be bringing some more of her pictures from the 21 June show later this week.

To view larger versions of all 15 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 20 June to find the pictures).

 

 

 

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Rod travelled across the US from Seattle to see Madonna at Madison Square Garden, New York City on 21 June. Here are some of his pictures:

   

     

To view larger versions of all 13 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 21 June to find the pictures).

Pop queen Madonna's latest fad is downing pints of Guinness before her live Re-Invention concerts.
The Material Girl has embraced many aspects of British and Irish culture since moving to England with husband Guy Ritchie and has developed a penchant for the dark stout.
A close source says, 'She finds it perks her up for a live performance and gives her an extra edge.'
'She has to have it in a proper pint glass and chilled to exactly the right temperature before she will drink it.'
'She's even got some of her crew on the same ritual. They all swear by it.'
The Kabbalah-loving megastar also insists on praying for 30 minutes to aid her performance.

Madonna ended the U.S. leg of her Re-Invention Tour with a private dinner party for 35 revelers at South Beach's tony Delano hotel (owned by the singer's pal Ian Schrager). As a DJ played in the hotel's candle-lit suite called the Apartment, guests dined from a raw bar and buffet of sushi, tuna and ceviche, washed down with mojitos, cosmopolitans and Guinness (for Madonna's husband, Guy Ritchie).
The gathering, which wound down at 2 a.m., was too late for kids Lourdes and Rocco, who were in Miami but didn't join the festivities that night. The Re-Invention tour next moves to the U.K., with shows beginning Aug. 14.

madonnalicious visitor Christian flew all the way from the Dominican Republic to New York City to see Madonna at Madison Square Garden on 17 June and he sent in these great pictures which show how fantastic the lighting design is for the Re-Invention tour.

To view larger versions of all 12 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 17 June to find the pictures).

Pop's original material girl, Madonna, is expected in Israel next month to pursue her burgeoning interest in Kabbalah, a spiritual movement rooted in Jewish mysticism, reports here said.
While she was raised as a Catholic, the 45-year-old diva has been studying Kabbalah with an American rabbi and wants to meet with rabbis in Israel during celebrations marking the Jewish new year.
She has recently taken the Hebrew name Esther and begun wearing Kabballah's trademark red string bracelet.
Madonna last came to Israel back in 1993 as part of a world tour but she is not expected to perform on this visit.
She is currently in the middle of a new tour called Reinvention but scrapped plans to play concerts in Israel over security fears.

A picture of Madonna jogging in London's Hyde Park last week was featured in yesterday's New York Post:

Yoga enthusiast and Kabbalah follower Madonna goes out for a jog in London's Hyde Park on Tuesday. London has been a good influence; she looks as if she is dressed for a civilized game of lawn tennis.

Click on the image to enlarge.

This week during the break in the tour madonnalicious will take a look back at the US leg of the tour with fan pictures we didn't have time to publish before.

SupmanNY sent in these fantastic pictures from the 21 June at MSG, New York City.

To view larger versions of all 48 pictures visit the tour gallery (scroll down to the 21 June to find the pictures).

   

   

   

   

London newspaper the Evening Standard featured an interview by Marianne Macdonald with movie producer/director Matthew Vaughn who with Guy made Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, he also produced Swept Away. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

The pair (Matthew Vaughn and Guy Ritchie) crashed and burned with their third movie, Swept Away. Starring Madonna, it went straight to video in Britain.
The two reportedly fell out over Ritchie's decision to cast his wife - Vaughn wanted Penelope Cruz. 'Well, that's not true,' he says. 'Listen, after Lock, Stock and Snatch who am I to question Guy? I choose my battles wisely and, believe me, I'm not going to have a battle with a man who's a friend over whether he should cast his wife or not!'
'All that stuff saying that Guy and I have fallen out and that it's Layer Cake (Vaughn's new film) versus Revolver (Guy's new film) - it's like 'Get a life!' We're friends. But he lives in LA, and I live in London, so we don't see each other as much as we used to. Who knows, in a years time we might say, 'Lets do another film.''
But when I ask if he found Madonna easy to work with, there is a definite pause. 'For me or for Guy? he asks. Either I say. 'For Guy you'd have to ask him,' he says. 'For me, it was challenging. It's very difficult when you're trying to make a decision and the actress is also the husband' - a blush creeps up on his cheeks - 'I mean, the wife of the director. It just meant that the boundaries were....a lot more sensitive, shall we say.'

Even though Madonna's Re-Invention tour doesn't hit London until the 18 August the outside of Earls Court has had all the promotional tour posters up since the beginning of last week....they even call it a World Tour!

 

An unconfirmed tracklisting has been released of the forthcoming Live Aid DVD which is due for release worldwide on 01 November.

Madonna performed three songs at the Philadelphia show, Holiday, Into The Groove and Love Makes The World Go Round. However the tracklisting only has Madonna listed for Holiday and Into The Groove.

A rigger who was working as part of Madonna's production crew has been injured in an accident during preparations for her latest tour.
The man suffered a broken arm and leg in the accident at Earl's Court.
The London Ambulance Service said the rigger was flown by air ambulance to hospital after falling 30ft.
Madonna begins her UK tour in Manchester on 14 August and is scheduled to play Earl's Court on 18 and 19 August.
An ambulance spokesman said: 'We received a call from Earl's Court at 1pm to say that a man had fallen approximately 30ft.'
'An ambulance and air ambulance were called and crews were on the scene for around two hours because there were difficulties moving the patient. His main injuries appeared to be to his shoulder and arm.'
Madonna's manager Caresse Henry said: 'The entire crew, performers and staff, especially Madonna, were very saddened to hear about the accident but are hopeful that he will make a full recovery.'

More tickets for the shows in Arnhem and Lisbon have been released:

Check www.ticketmaster.nl for tickets to Arnhem, and www.ticketline.pt for tickets for the 13 September date in Lisbon.

UK newspaper the Daily Mirror featured a full page feature on Madonna and Guy drinking in a London pub!

Madonna and Guy Ritchie happily wait for their lift after a night at a good, old-fashioned English boozer.
The couple had clearly enjoyed their night after popping into the Punchbowl in London's trendy Mayfair. They had perched on bar stools at the cosy pub, built in the 1730s, while watching boxing on the TV in the corner.
And regulars say Madonna and her film director husband are often in for a drink or two.
One customer said: 'They are a lovely couple but no one really bothers them. We are used to seeing them when they come in.'

80 pictures have been uploaded to the Galleries you can view these pictures here.

Madonna and Guy celebrated the final night of the US leg of the Re-Invention tour on Monday 02 August by dining out at Delano in Miami.

Following on from the last night of the US leg of her tour on Monday night, Madonna and her family flew back into London yesterday.

Madonna was snapped today jogging around Hyde Park and enjoying the great weather - click to see Picture 1, Picture 2 and Picture 3.

madonnalicious visitor Leciccone has again sent in some great photographs from Miami, here are some pictures from the second and last night at the American Airline Arena. To view larger versions of all 32 pictures visit the tour gallery

 

 

 

 

Here are some highlights from madonnalicious visitor's tour reports of the second and last night in Miami at the American Airlines Arena. Madonna was wearing both the Italians Do It Better and Vote Or Die! t-shirts in the show.

Madonna has now finished the North American leg of her tour and now makes her way to Europe....a big thank you to all the fans who have submitted tour pictures, reports and videos. You have helped madonnalicious bring the tour to all the fans who will not see the show, they really appreciate it and so do I!

To read these reports in full and for more fan reports visit the fan reviews section:

From David:
'Thank you for making it so memorable....' those words, uttered by Madonna during her last appearance in the US, are reciprocal for the incredible spectacle that was last nights show.

From Martin:
Missy was not only on the M-I-C last night, she was in the house. Madonna thanked her for being a part of her show, and then urged us once again - cue the 'Vote or Die!' T-shirt - to 'get up and fucking vote....[to not] leave the decision-making in this country to the wrong people, [and] take some responsibility!' Miami went mad in agreement.

From Paulo:
I witnessed Madonna's Re-Invention when it opened at the Los Angeles Forum and I was BLOWN AWAAAYYY by the differences from LA and Miami. LA was merely a warm-up, and the fact that she was sick didn't help matters much. Gone is the impersonal, going-through-the-motions, robotic moving, bandaged knees and elbows, quick-bang-for-the-buck performance. Miami brought me a flirtatious, cursing, screaming, interactive, energetic Madonna, unlike I'd ever experienced before.
The fact that so many things were added - from the 'Bitter Sweet Symphony,' to the hot guys....and girls (grin) ripping their shirts off on 'Holiday,' - goes to show that M is open for improvement.

From Jeyan:
After Papa Dont Preach, she told the crowd that it would be good to stick around for a week more, or at least stay up there all night long to have an all night long party so that she can sing all her songs. The response from the audience was loud....18,000 people shouting YEAAHH....

From TRADINGTRADESA:
I was in the VIP section last night and I can assure you not one person was sitting down. She was also cursing like a sailor saying to us during Material Girl 'O.K. motherfuckers you better help me sing this song cause I forget the words O.K.'

From Pricanboy:
I was one of the lucky ones to be on the pit. I have to say that last night croud has been the best so far....everybody was screaming and dancing, I could see her say 'WOW' to one of the guys of the band, after she sang Like a Prayer, because everybody was singing....she even lost the voice for some seconds.

MTV UK will be producing their own series of the hit show Wannabe and are on the look out for somebody who would love to be Madonna for the day:

You could be living like a pop star sooner than you think....
Do you ooze X factor? Think you could fill Rachel Stevens' boob tube? Could you take the wind out of Justin Hawkins with your very own air guitar solo or go the eighth mile as Eminem? Then MTV want to hear from you.
We're taking Fanatic to a new extreme: we want you to imitate your pop idol in front of millions of people.
And we're not talking shoddy wigs, orange make-up and a grin for Matthew Kelly. No. We want you to become your idol as the ultimate wannabe.
This is your chance to battle it out against rival fans and show the world your dedication for your favourite pop star! Just tell us who you want to be and why in no more than 30 words....

Click here to enter - auditions will take place in the UK and Ireland.

Here are some highlights of madonnalicious visitor's tour reports from Madonna's first night in Miami at the American Airlines Arena.

Madonna debuted a new tshirt last night saying Vote or Die and encouraged US fans to vote in the upcoming elections. Thanks to Leciccone for the picture below of Madonna in the t-shirt during the Holiday finale.

From Jeyan:
Her performance was flawless, unlike previous concerts - she did not drop the stick during Into The Groove, or did not claim she was dizzy at the end of Papa Dont Preach.

madonnalicious visitor Leciccone sent these pictures in from the first night at the American Airline Arena in Miami.
To view larger versions of all 16 pictures visit the tour gallery

   

   

As madonnalicious reported on Saturday, MTV have now launched their competition today to win pit tickets to all Madonna's UK and Slane shows - to enter click here.

French magazine Public (01 August issue) takes a look at Madonna before and after she started to study Kabbalah.

Tickets sold out so fast for Madonna's one-night show in Lisbon that organizers hastily arranged a second performance. By Saturday, that was nearly sold out, too.
Concert promoter Musica no Coracao announced on Wednesday that Madonna would perform on Sept. 13. The approximately 16,000 tickets priced between the equivalent of about $100 Cdn and $240 Cdn sold out in 10 hours.
On Friday, a second show was added for Sept. 14. A day later, most of those tickets also were sold, the FNAC ticket office said.

Madonna's unreleased songs now have their own section in an online encyclopedia.

Check out the page here - and by having visitors to the site amending or adding to the page this can become a definative guide to Madonna's unreleased songs.

Wikipedia.com is a submission based online encyclopedia. Anyone can make submissions and corrections/changes. The site is policed by monitors to prevent vandalism. They screen each update. The changes are immediate. Inaccurate information is usually promptly removed/corrected by fellow participants. The system is self-correcting through participation.

UK fans should be able to pick up a copy of the August issue of French Vogue which features Madonna on the cover and a 14 page article inside.

The magazine was spotted in London in large branches of WHSmiths and Borders and in large department stores and specialist magazine shops. The magazine should now be available in other large cities in the UK.

UK newspaper The Observer features an article by Barbara Ellen on Madonna's 20 years as the First Lady of Pop - to read the full article click here.

After twenty years of tireless invention, Madonna is not only still at the top but has emerged as a happily married yoga-enthusiast and mother of two - a disappointment for her critics who feel by now she should have been punished for her sins. On the eve of her UK tour we celebrate the First Lady of Pop.

 

Here is a look at the poster advertising the first Lisbon tour date at the Atlantic Pavilion and a look inside the venue itself - click on the images to enlarge.

   

UK newspaper The Sunday Mail featured a five-page article on Madonna featuring illustrations from the forthcoming book Madonna In Art which madonnalicious and fellow fansite MadonnaTribe have been previewing pictures from each week over the past couple of months. For more information on the book click here.