Spandau Ballet

Jamie Irving

<img src='http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0036/3062/files/spandau-ballet_020341_1_MainPicture.jpg?1258987759' alt='Spandau Ballet' /> Spandau Ballet is an iconic British band! Known for their innovative take on funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They also moved towards rock with their album ‘Through the Barricades’ which was a big hit in Europe and across the world. They were one of the most successful bands ever, achieving 10 Top Ten singles and 5 Top Ten albums, with one current entry reaching no. 7, in the UK end of October this year. The band split in 1990 but it was announced in March 2009 that the 5 original members, Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman, were reforming complete with a tour that began in October 2009. On 27th March 2009 tickets went on general sale and the London O2 arena tickets sold out within 20 minutes and an extra two dates were added there because of demand, making a very impressive 60,000 tickets sold just for one arena! In March 2010 they embark on a full European tour including countries such as Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Serbia etc….and in June the Isle of Man!! On 20th November 2009 they appeared at peak time on ‘Children In Need’ singing an acoustic version of ‘True’. On 22nd November 2009 they received an award from The Showbiz Variety Club for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Popular Music’. The band originally called ‘The Cut’, comprised of Gary Kemp as singer/songwriter and Steve Norman on guitar, John Keeble, Michael Ellison. Tony Hadley, who knew Norman, then joined as lead singer. After a few months, Richard Miller replaced Michael Ellison on bass, before Kemp’s brother, Martin Kemp, finally took over the role, joining the band a couple of years later. By this time, the band had already gained some live experience. Steve Dagger, a friend of the band members, was then asked by Steve Norman and Gary Kemp to manage them. He was to be an integral part of the band’s initial and continuing success. The new Spandau Ballet, with Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley, began performing with this name and generating a positive buzz around London. Their music prior to then was in the style of the early Rolling Stones or The Kinks, but became more electronic as they began to hang out in clubs such as Sally’s and Blitz, where they would listen to bands like Kraftwerk and Telex. The Blitz was regarded as the birthplace of a new 1980s music and fashion phenomenon called New Romanticism. The album, ‘Diamond’, produced by Burgess, was released in 1982. This album was certified Gold by the BPI and featured the funk-flavoured single ‘Chant No. 1’. The band had Burgess remix every single from both albums for inclusion on each single’s B-side and for twelve-inch club releases. With a slicker, more soulful sound, the band released their third album ‘True’, produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley, in March 1983. It was at this point that Steve Norman began playing saxophone for the band. The album topped the charts all around the world, and launched several international hit singles, such as ‘Gold’ and the aforementioned title track which reached number 1 in several countries. P.M. Dawn sampled the song ‘True’ in ‘Set Adrift On Memory Bliss’, which also became a hit song. The follow-up album, ‘Parade’, was released later and its singles were again big successes in the charts in Europe, Australia and Canada. The album’s opening song, ‘Only When You Leave’, also became an American hit. At the end of 1984, the band performed on the Band Aid charity single and a year later they performed at Wembley Stadium as part of Live Aid. During this same year, Spandau Ballet achieved platinum status with the compilation, ‘The Singles Collection’, which kept the focus on the band between two studio albums and celebrated their five years of success. In 1986, Spandau Ballet signed to WEA/Universal and CBS Records and released ‘Through the Barricades’, which saw the band trying to move away from the pop and soul influences of ‘True’ and ‘Parade’ and more towards rock. The album, the title track and the single ‘Fight For Ourselves’ were big hits in Europe and Australia, but not in the United States. After a hiatus from recording during which the Kemps established themselves as credible actors in the gangster film ‘The Krays’. Afterwards, Spandau Ballet, from whom Gary Kemp was already feeling estranged, split up for good. Martin Kemp went on to land an acting role in the UK soap opera ‘EastEnders’, while Tony Hadley established a solo career. Gary Kemp did more acting, appearing in a supporting role in the Whitney Houston hit ‘The Bodyguard’, and in 1995 he released his first solo album, ‘Little Bruises’. After leaving ‘Eastenders’, Martin Kemp became the face of SCS sofa stores and continued acting. Gary Kemp wrote songs with Paul Stratham, who had previously written songs for Dido, continued acting on stage, in film and in television, and worked on the musicals ‘Begbug’ and ‘A Terrible Beauty’ with Guy Pratt. Steve Norman moved to Ibiza, where he formed a lounge band, ‘Cloudfish’, with Rafa Peletey and Shelley Preston in 2001. Tony Hadley released three studio albums, landed the lead role in the musical ‘Chicago’ and won the ITV reality show ‘Reborn in the USA’. In 1999, Hadley appeared as a guest vocalist on the Alan Parsons album ‘The Time Machine’, performing lead vocals on the song ‘Out Of The Blue’. In early 2009, there was much speculation that the band was set to reform later that year. Although the band did not initially comment on these reports, the official Spandau Ballet website encouraged fans to sign up “for an exciting announcement”, fuelling rumours that a reunion was imminent. Jonathan Ross also mentioned during his BBC Radio 2 programme on 21 March 2009 that he was aware that the band were re-forming and had been invited to the band’s reunion party. The band eventually confirmed the rumours at a press conference held on 25 March 2009 on board HMS Belfast in London (a return to the venue of one of their first ever gigs) to announce their comeback tour. The band began a world tour in October 2009, starting with eight dates across Ireland and the UK, the first of which was in Dublin on 13 October 2009. The tickets for the UK and Ireland shows went on general release on 27 March 2009. The London O2 arena tickets sold out within 20 minutes and an extra two dates were added there because of demand, making a very impressive 60,000 tickets sold just for one arena! The band also announced an extra date in Birmingham and added Liverpool to the tour. They gave their “first public performance and interview anywhere in the world for 19 years” on Jonathan Ross’s BBC television show ‘Friday Night with Jonathan Ross’ on 24 April 2009. The group released both their new album ‘Once More’, which featured reworked versions of their previous material, and the single of the same name in October 2009. It entered the album charts straight at no. 7! On 20th November 2009 they appeared at peak time on ‘Children In Need’ singing an acoustic version of ‘True’. On 22nd November 2009 they received an award from The Showbiz Variety Club for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Popular Music’. On 11th November 2009 Spandau Ballet took over TV screens in their beloved Italy. The band is amongst the chosen few to have been invited to mentor contestants to sing classic Spandau hits on the Italian X Factor. The guys also performed their new song ‘Once More’ to their enthusiastic Italian fans before Tony joined the judges to give his opinions on the hopefuls. Italian X Factor is one of the biggest TV shows in Europe and has recently seen Maria Carey and Natalie Imbruglia perform. The Manx Telecom Bay Festival are extremely pleased to be welcoming Spandau Ballet to headline Saturday 19th June 2010 which will see an absolute AWEsome night which includes the now legendary Calvin Harris, The Feeling, The Coronas, Diversity and the local winners of the Battle of the Bands. The night compliments itself so well offering everything from Rock, ‘Hard’ Indie, ‘Soft’ Indie, actual Dance, Dance music to the funk, jazz, soulful and synthpop! In fact something for EVERYONE! <div><object width="480" height="398"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8epp4&related=0&autostart=1 "></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8epp4&related=0 &autostart=1 " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="398" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8epp4_spandau-ballet-gold-live_music">Spandau Ballet : Gold live</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/tartenpion333">tartenpion333</a>. – <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/en/channel/music">Watch more music videos, in HD!</a></div> <div><object width="480" height="365"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x189qz&related=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x189qz&related=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="365" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x189qz_spandau-ballet-true_music">Spandau Ballet – True</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/trashfan">trashfan</a>. – <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/gb/channel/music">Watch more music videos, in HD!</a></div> <div><object width="480" height="365"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x1h1ls&related=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x1h1ls&related=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="365" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1h1ls_spandau-ballet-through-the-barricad_music">Spandau Ballet – Through The Barricades</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Yoda63">Yoda63</a>. – <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/gb/channel/music">Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.</a></div>

2009-11-24T10:38:49+00:00

spandau-ballet 3627442

2009-11-24T10:38:49+00:00

363062

Spandau Ballet 2009-12-16T13:04:29+00:00 <img src='http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0036/3062/files/spandau-ballet_020341_1_MainPicture.jpg?1258987759' alt='Spandau Ballet' /> *Spandau Ballet is an iconic British band! Known for their innovative take on funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They also moved towards rock with their album ‘Through the Barricades’ which was a big hit in Europe and across the world. They were one of the most successful bands ever, achieving 10 Top Ten singles and 5 Top Ten albums, with one current entry reaching no. 7, in the UK end of October this year. The band split in 1990 but it was announced in March 2009 that the 5 original members, Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman, were reforming complete with a tour that began in October 2009. On 27th March 2009 tickets went on general sale and the London O2 arena tickets sold out within 20 minutes and an extra two dates were added there because of demand, making a very impressive 60,000 tickets sold just for one arena! In March 2010 they embark on a full European tour including countries such as Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Serbia etc….and in June the Isle of Man!!* On 20th November 2009 they appeared at peak time on ‘Children In Need’ singing an acoustic version of ‘True’. On 22nd November 2009 they received an award from The Showbiz Variety Club for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Popular Music’. The band originally called 'The Cut', comprised of Gary Kemp as singer/songwriter and Steve Norman on guitar, John Keeble, Michael Ellison. Tony Hadley, who knew Norman, then joined as lead singer. After a few months, Richard Miller replaced Michael Ellison on bass, before Kemp's brother, Martin Kemp, finally took over the role, joining the band a couple of years later. By this time, the band had already gained some live experience. Steve Dagger, a friend of the band members, was then asked by Steve Norman and Gary Kemp to manage them. He was to be an integral part of the band's initial and continuing success. The new *Spandau Ballet*, with Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley, began performing with this name and generating a positive buzz around London. Their music prior to then was in the style of the early Rolling Stones or The Kinks, but became more electronic as they began to hang out in clubs such as Sally's and Blitz, where they would listen to bands like Kraftwerk and Telex. The Blitz was regarded as the birthplace of a new 1980s music and fashion phenomenon called New Romanticism. The album, ‘Diamond’, produced by Burgess, was released in 1982. This album was certified Gold by the BPI and featured the funk-flavoured single ‘Chant No. 1’. The band had Burgess remix every single from both albums for inclusion on each single's B-side and for twelve-inch club releases. With a slicker, more soulful sound, the band released their third album ‘True’, produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley, in March 1983. It was at this point that Steve Norman began playing saxophone for the band. The album topped the charts all around the world, and launched several international hit singles, such as ‘Gold’ and the aforementioned title track which reached number 1 in several countries. P.M. Dawn sampled the song ‘True’ in ‘Set Adrift On Memory Bliss’, which also became a hit song. The follow-up album, ‘Parade’, was released later and its singles were again big successes in the charts in Europe, Australia and Canada. The album's opening song, ‘Only When You Leave’, also became an American hit. At the end of 1984, the band performed on the Band Aid charity single and a year later they performed at Wembley Stadium as part of Live Aid. During this same year, *Spandau Ballet* achieved platinum status with the compilation, ‘The Singles Collection’, which kept the focus on the band between two studio albums and celebrated their five years of success. In 1986, *Spandau Ballet* signed to WEA/Universal and CBS Records and released ‘Through the Barricades’, which saw the band trying to move away from the pop and soul influences of ‘True’ and ‘Parade’ and more towards rock. The album, the title track and the single ‘Fight For Ourselves’ were big hits in Europe and Australia, but not in the United States. After a hiatus from recording during which the Kemps established themselves as credible actors in the gangster film ‘The Krays’. Afterwards, *Spandau Ballet*, from whom Gary Kemp was already feeling estranged, split up for good. Martin Kemp went on to land an acting role in the UK soap opera ‘EastEnders’, while Tony Hadley established a solo career. Gary Kemp did more acting, appearing in a supporting role in the Whitney Houston hit ‘The Bodyguard’, and in 1995 he released his first solo album, ‘Little Bruises’. After leaving ‘Eastenders’, Martin Kemp became the face of SCS sofa stores and continued acting. Gary Kemp wrote songs with Paul Stratham, who had previously written songs for Dido, continued acting on stage, in film and in television, and worked on the musicals ‘Begbug’ and ‘A Terrible Beauty’ with Guy Pratt. Steve Norman moved to Ibiza, where he formed a lounge band, ‘Cloudfish’, with Rafa Peletey and Shelley Preston in 2001. Tony Hadley released three studio albums, landed the lead role in the musical ‘Chicago’ and won the ITV reality show ‘Reborn in the USA’. In 1999, Hadley appeared as a guest vocalist on the Alan Parsons album ‘The Time Machine’, performing lead vocals on the song ‘Out Of The Blue’. In early 2009, there was much speculation that the band was set to reform later that year. Although the band did not initially comment on these reports, the official *Spandau Ballet* website encouraged fans to sign up "for an exciting announcement", fuelling rumours that a reunion was imminent. Jonathan Ross also mentioned during his BBC Radio 2 programme on 21 March 2009 that he was aware that the band were re-forming and had been invited to the band's reunion party. The band eventually confirmed the rumours at a press conference held on 25 March 2009 on board HMS Belfast in London (a return to the venue of one of their first ever gigs) to announce their comeback tour. The band began a world tour in October 2009, starting with eight dates across Ireland and the UK, the first of which was in Dublin on 13 October 2009. The tickets for the UK and Ireland shows went on general release on 27 March 2009. The London O2 arena tickets sold out within 20 minutes and an extra two dates were added there because of demand, making a very impressive 60,000 tickets sold just for one arena! The band also announced an extra date in Birmingham and added Liverpool to the tour. They gave their "first public performance and interview anywhere in the world for 19 years" on Jonathan Ross's BBC television show ‘Friday Night with Jonathan Ross’ on 24 April 2009. The group released both their new album ‘Once More’, which featured reworked versions of their previous material, and the single of the same name in October 2009. It entered the album charts straight at no. 7! On 20th November 2009 they appeared at peak time on ‘Children In Need’ singing an acoustic version of ‘True’. On 22nd November 2009 they received an award from The Showbiz Variety Club for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Popular Music’. On 11th November 2009 *Spandau Ballet* took over TV screens in their beloved Italy. The band is amongst the chosen few to have been invited to mentor contestants to sing classic Spandau hits on the Italian X Factor. The guys also performed their new song ‘Once More’ to their enthusiastic Italian fans before Tony joined the judges to give his opinions on the hopefuls. Italian X Factor is one of the biggest TV shows in Europe and has recently seen Maria Carey and Natalie Imbruglia perform. *The Manx Telecom Bay Festival are extremely pleased to be welcoming Spandau Ballet to headline Saturday 19th June 2010 which will see an absolute AWEsome night which includes the now legendary Calvin Harris, The Feeling, The Coronas, Diversity and the local winners of the Battle of the Bands. The night compliments itself so well offering everything from Rock, ‘Hard’ Indie, ‘Soft’ Indie, actual Dance, Dance music to the funk, jazz, soulful and synthpop! In fact something for EVERYONE!* <div><object width="480" height="398"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8epp4&related=0&autostart=1 "></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x8epp4&related=0 &autostart=1 " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="398" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8epp4_spandau-ballet-gold-live_music">Spandau Ballet : Gold live</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/tartenpion333">tartenpion333</a>. - <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/en/channel/music">Watch more music videos, in HD!</a></div> <div><object width="480" height="365"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x189qz&related=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x189qz&related=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="365" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x189qz_spandau-ballet-true_music">Spandau Ballet - True</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/trashfan">trashfan</a>. - <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/gb/channel/music">Watch more music videos, in HD!</a></div> <div><object width="480" height="365"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x1h1ls&related=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x1h1ls&related=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="365" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1h1ls_spandau-ballet-through-the-barricad_music">Spandau Ballet - Through The Barricades</a> Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Yoda63">Yoda63</a>. - <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/gb/channel/music">Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.</a></div>