Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet Artistfacts

  • 1979-1990, 2009-
    Tony Hadley Vocals, synthesizers1979-2017
    Gary KempGuitar, keyboards
    Martin KempBass
    Steve NormanGuitar, saxophone
    John KeebleDrums
    Ross William WildVocals2018-
  • Spandau Ballet's debut album, Journeys To Glory, was characterized by chanted vocals, a garish snare drum sound, strongly rhythmic guitar parts and a lack of guitar solos. This sound would come to be known as the New Romantic sound - the sound of the '80s.
  • Spandau Ballet sued Chrysalis Records in 1985, claiming that they were not providing enough promotional support, and therefore were harming their career. The lawsuit was settled in 1986, and Spandau Ballet left Chrysalis and signed on with CBS/Columbia.
  • Martin and Gary Kemp, co-founders of Spandau Ballet, pursued acting careers. They started their acting career playing gangsters in the 1990 film The Krays. Martin later landed a role in the British soap opera Eastenders and Gary played a supporting role in The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston.
  • After performing under several different names such as The Cut, The Makers and Gentry, they eventually came up with their current moniker after friend of the band, journalist and DJ Robert Elms, saw the phrase Spandau Ballet written on the wall of a night club lavatory during a visit to Berlin.
  • Spandau Ballet's first ever gig was at the The Blitz Club in London on December 5, 1979.
  • Before finding his calling in music, Tony Hadley's childhood ambition was to become an orthopedic surgeon. "I realized I was never going to be an orthopedic surgeon - just wasn't clever enough," he told Lorraine Kelly. Hadley noted with some pride, however, that he can watch open-heart valve surgery on television without flinching.
  • Tony Hadley discovered his singing voice at around age 14, when he performed on stage at a Pontin's holiday camp for the first time. He had been singing in school choirs, including a special choir at Dame Alice Owen's School in London, which performed at the Guildhall, but it was at Pontin's that he got his first taste of performing for a public audience. A few people in the crowd told him he "sounded all right," and he went on to win holiday competitions for his family by entering the camp's singing contests.

Comments: 3

  • Craig from West AustraliaHadleys powerful voice made it all work.
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesTheir latest songs Steal and Soul Boy are soo wonderful to listen to! Takes me back to the 80's! Tony's voice NEVER changed!
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesHonestly I'm a fan of them because of only one song - Through the Barricades. I am in love with the overall message, the poetical composition of it, the melody progression, the shifts in tone, the enunciation of Tony Hadley (e.g. sacrifice, another borderline case, wasteland, hearts go to their graves, the instrumentals... it makes me very glad I got to listen to this song and fell in love with it in first listening! Everytime I listen to it, I fall in love with it over and over and over again. I love them for making this song and sharing it with all of us! God bless them!
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