22 March 2016 Last updated at 18:45 GMT
Repairs to the Victorian structure have taken two years, following a major fire which severely damaged the 140-year-old structure in 2010.
More than 50 miles of new planking and more than 500,000 fixings have been used in the Â£15m renovation.
The Madness star, who was born in Hastings as Graham McPherson, said: "Going on the pier was always a really happy time... It's a privilege to be involved.  I can't really say I had a hand in building it but at least I can say I was involved."
The pier is expected to be fully operational by mid-April.

The report was commissioned by Stormont's Department for Social Development (DSD) and the Department of the Environment (DoE).
DSD had proposed an "affordable housing contribution" would apply to all developments of five homes or more.
Similar schemes operate in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The departments commissioned the research from Heriot Watt University and Three Dragons Consultancy.
It concluded that introducing a scheme "with a single percentage of affordable housing across Northern Ireland will not work given current market conditions".
It added that a scheme could be considered for greater Belfast but that "timing, percentage target and form of provision is best left to local decision makers".
That suggests that it would be decision for councils on whether to implement a scheme.
Social Development Minister Lord Morrow said: "This research report will make a valuable contribution to our evidence base on this issue.
"My department, along with the Department of the Environment, will now reflect on the findings and recommendations detailed in the report."
The final piece of decking on the newly-restored Hastings Pier has been screwed into place by Madness lead singer Suggs.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A scheme to compel private developers to contribute towards building social housing is "not realistic" for most of Northern Ireland, a report has found.