Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet - British Supergroup

Spandau Ballet were a fantastic British group of the 80s. Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran were Britain's two supergroups, although Spandau Ballet were not as successful overseas as they were in their homeland.

As a hot boy band they drove the girls crazy. The blue eyes and sexy smiles of Steve Norman (percussion & sax) and Martin Kemp (bass guitarist) were an important part of the group. Gary Kemp's (lead guitarist) music and lyrics kept Spandau Ballet's sound fresh. Tony Hadley added his distinctive voice to the fray and with John Keeble on the drums the band was complete.

Spandau Ballet Reunion

Fans have been waiting with trepidation for the announcement of Spandau Ballet's Reunion and on March 26th 2009 aboard the HMS Belfast the wait was over.

Spandau Ballet are reuniting for a World Tour starting on 13th October 2009 in Dublin. Depending how their greatest hits tour goes, they may get back into the studio and record some new material.

Dates have been released for the start of the tour and tickets can be brought at -

Spandauballet.com

The photo is courtesy of spandauballet.com and is part of their press release and don't they still look good (rumour has it that Tony has been dieting to get into shape!)

Pre-Spandau Days

An Early History

While still at school four friends decided to form a band. The four friends were Gary Kemp, Richard Miller, Steve Norman and John Keeble. Gary did not want to be the lead singer however and so Tony Hadley joined the group. This group was called The Makers.

The Makers lost their bass guitarist Richard Miller in 1978 and the band's manager Steve Digger recommended that Gary's younger brother Martin join the band.

Martin could not play the bass guitar, but he used to help as a roadie and with his dimpled chin, quick smile and blue eyes had his own little fan club.

Gary taught his younger brother Martin to play the bass in four weeks and then he was in the band which they renamed "Gentry."

The name Spandau Ballet was adopted by the band in 1979.

Spandau Ballet, the Journey to Glory

Beginning the Journey to Gold

November 17th 1979 Spandau Ballet gave their first live performance in a rehearsal studio in Islington. Spandau Ballet led the way for the New Romantic wave that was about to hit the 80s. They paid as much attention to visual aspect of the band as they did to the music.

Spandau Ballet were part of a group referred to as the Blitz Kids and they developed a cult following by performing invite only concerts. They also didn't invite the standard music press to their performances instead sending invites to the national press.

Spandau Ballet's strategy worked and they were courted by the likes of Melody Maker and The Face (music magazines). This led to them signing a record deal with Chrysalis in October 1980.

Their first single was"To Cut a Long Story Short".

To Cut A Long Story Short Music Video

Spandau Ballet's First Single

Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short (Dortmund 1984)

Runtime: 294
6038 views
11 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Spandau Ballet's debut album, Journeys To Glory was a success. The singles from the album were To Cut a Long Story Short , The Freeze & Musclebound.

Journeys to Glory

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Lising

1. To Cut A Long Story Short - 3:20
2. Reformation - 4:54
3. Mandolin - 4:07
4. Musclebound - 5:06
5. Age Of Blows - 4:09
6. The Freeze - 4:35
7. Confused - 4:38
8. Toys - 5:48

Avg. Customer Rating:

If all you know about Spandau Ballet are the songs True and Gold then you should listen to their cult hits To Cut a Long Story Short and Musclebound. These two singles were club hits when New Romanticism was beginning to sprout.

Spandau Ballet: To Cut A Long Story Short Lyrics

To Cut A Long Story Short was Spandau Ballet's debut single and reached number five in the UK when it was released in 1980. Their debut album Journeys to Glory was released in the spring of 1981.

Spandau Ballet: Musclebound Lyrics

Spandau Ballet were one of the founding groups of the New Romantic era of music. Some people refer to it as a rebellion against the punk music of the late 70s whereas others refer to it as a progression and glamorization of punk. Spandau Ballet sign...

Spandau Ballet are Diamond

Spandau Ballet's Second Album

Spandau Ballet's second album, Diamond was considered a bit too experimental for their record company and didn't do as well as expected. Chant No 1 was the first single released off of it.

Chant No 1

Diamond album

Chant No1 was the first single from their second album, Diamond

Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1 (Dortmund 1984)

Runtime: 349
4123 views
9 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Other singles off of their second album were Paint Me Down & She Loved Like Diamond.

Diamond

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Listing

Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) - 4:07
Instinction - 4:47
Paint Me Down - 3:45
Coffee Club - 5:32
She Loved Like Diamond - 2:56
Pharoah - 6:37
Innocence And Science - 4:27
Missionary - 7:00

Avg. Customer Rating:

Spandau Ballet: Chant No 1 Lyrics

Chant No 1 was the first single off of Spandau Ballet's second album - Diamond and shows a funkier side of the band. Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet's songwriter) said that Chant No 1 was, in part, a homage to the soul clubs that the band used to enjoy goi...

Spandau Ballet: Paint Me Down Lyrics

Spandau Ballet released the single Paint Me Down off of their experimental second album Diamond. The biggest attention the single got was from the picture (see opposite) that accompanied it and the video. The fans definately gave it the thumbs up fo...

Spandau Ballet: She Loved Like Diamond Lyrics

Listening to She Loved Like Diamond you can get a sense of what was to come with Spandau Ballet's next album. Tony Hadley's voice is getting stronger in this commercially disappointing single off of their second album, Diamond.

So, True?

Spandau Ballet's Third Album

Buy at AllPosters.com

Spandau Ballet's third album True had more of an 80s mainstream feel about it and the first singles Lifeline and Communication set up the first signs of the Spandaumania that was to start on May 5th 1983. That was the release date for this next song ............

True

An 80s Iconic Love Song

True was the third single off of their third album and became their greatest hit.

spandau ballet true

Runtime: 317
3278628 views
2697 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Spandau Ballet were on tour in the UK when True hit the number one spot and the tour turned to pandemonium with screaming girls hunkering for a bit of the boys! They celebrated True's success by partying aboard a boat on the Thames.

Spandau Ballet had made it.

They also released the club hit Gold from the same album and a single called Pleasure.

True

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Listing

Pleasure - 3:31
Communication - 3:41
Code Of Love - 5:11
Gold - 4:51
Lifeline - 3:36
Heaven Is A Secret - 4:27
Foundation - 4:08
True - 6:29

Avg. Customer Rating:

Spandau Ballet: Pleasure Lyrics

Spandau Ballet's single Pleasure was part of what was called the 'Pleasure Project.' Spandau Ballet went to the Bahamas to record a new album with new producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain (they were considered a pair of the 'hippest' producers at th...

Spandau Ballet: Communication Lyrics

According to an interview Gary Kemp claimed that he wrote this song around a swing time jazz style guitar part that was scrapped. Listening to the lyrics now is like opening a time capsule of communications for example telex, when was the last time y...

Spandau Ballet: Gold Lyrics

Following up Spandau Ballet's international number one True was the single Gold. Gold was Gary Kemp's attempt at a spoof of James Bond theme songs. Spandau Ballet's biggest rivals - Duran Duran - actually got to record a Bond theme song in 1985 with...

Spandau Ballet: True Lyrics

Spandau Ballet's third album True had more of a mainstream feel to it and the first singles off of it helped to boost Spandau Ballet further. No-one quite expected what was to unfold, however, as Spandau Ballet finally got their first number one hit...

Spandau Ballet: Lifeline Lyrics

Lifeline was released in September 1982 and was the first single off of their yet to be recorded True album. It was also the first single to be produced by Tony Swain & Steve Jolley. Lifeline was already climbing the chart as Spandau Ballet and their...

Spandau Ballet on Parade

Spandau Ballet's Fourth Album

Spandau Ballet's fourth album with Chrysalis was Parade and this album cemented the success of True, although it never produced a number one hit.

The first single off of the Parade album was Only When You Leave,

Spandau Ballet - Only When You Leave (Dortmund 1984)

Runtime: 319
16449 views
29 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

During Spandau Ballet's Parade World Tour Steve Norman badly injured his knee on stage which brought their US leg to a halt.

After Only When You Leave, they released the I'll fly for you single followed by Highly Strung and Round and Round.

Parade

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Listing

Only When You Leave - 5:12
Highly Strung - 4:11
I'll Fly For You - 5:37
Nature Of The Beast - 5:15
Revenge For Love - 4:23
Always In The Back Of My Mind - 4:30
With The Pride - 5:32
Round And Round - 5:30

Avg. Customer Rating:

Spandau Ballet: Highly Strung Lyrics

Spandau Ballet's single Highly Strung reached number 15 in the UK singles chart and was off of Spandau Ballet's album Parade. Following on from previous videos off of this album Spandau Ballet jetted off to another exotic location, this time Hong Ko...

Spandau Ballet: Round and Round Lyrics

Round and Round was the fifth single released off of Spandau Ballet's album Parade. It only reached number 19 in the UK charts and didn't make it into the US charts. Parade was the follow up album to Spandau Ballet's huge hit True and Spandau Ballet...

Spandau Ballet: Only When You Leave Lyrics

Spandau Ballet's success with their True album made them continue with the same producers for their fourth album Parade. Spandau Ballet, along with producers Tony Swain and Steve Jolley cemented their success with this album although it never produce...

Spandau Ballet: I'll Fly For You Lyrics

I'll Fly For You was the second single released off of Spandau Ballet's fourth album - Parade. Released in 1984 this was a time when bands were filming fantastic videos in exotic locations and Spandau Ballet were no exception. Spandau Ballet's music...

Spandau Ballet and their 12 Inches

Spandau Ballet went to court with Chrysalis after the Parade album was released claiming that Chrysalis had not done enough to promote them in the US market. While the legal battle was continuing Spandau Ballet spent some time in Ireland where Gary Kemp found more material for his songwriting.

Spandau Ballet were successful with the legal battle and Chrysalis quickly cashed in on their success to date by releasing the Singles Collection and the 12 Inches Collection. The band urged their fans to boycott these albums.....unfortunately most of their fans (including myself) could not stop themselves from buying the albums - we had to keep our collection intact, didn't we???

The Singles Collection

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

The Twelve Inch Mixes

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 12/26/2009)

Breaking Barricades

Spandau Ballet's Fifth Album

Spandau Ballet were not done yet and they released their Through the Barricades album. Their first single from the album was Fight for Ourselves, but their second Through the Barricades was a haunting melody that really touched audiences.

Runtime:
views
Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Their third single from this album was How Many Lies. I saw them live on their Through the Barricades tour and they were on top of their game. This album saw Italy catch Spandaumania in a big way and yet the group were still seen as approachable.

Live at the Nec
[Region 2]

This DVD was filmed during the Through the Barricade's Tour, but you can't see me as I was in Bournemouth whereas this concert was in Birmingham!!!

As well as the concert, this DVD has music videos for Fight For Ourselves, Through the Barricades, Raw, Be Free with your Love and Crashed Into Love. It also contains the making of Fight for Ourselves.

The DVD was only released in 2005 after the concert video was apparently 'discovered' in a cupboard! I was lucky enough to have my hubby purchase it for me and it took me right back to 1986.

Through the Barricades

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Listing

"Barricades -- Introduction" - 1:17
"Cross the Line" - 4:07
"Man in Chains" - 5:40
"How Many Lies?" - 5:21
"Virgin" - 4:23
"Fight for Ourselves" - 4:22
"Swept" - 4:53
"Snakes and Lovers" - 4:36
"Through the Barricades" - 5:58

Avg. Customer Rating:

Spandau Ballet: Through the Barricades Lyrics

Through the Barricades was the second single to be released off of the album of the same name. It was written while the band were in Ireland and as Gary Kemp (the songwriter and guitar player of Spandau Ballet) said at the time "....(whilst)...we don...

Spandau Ballet: Fight for Ourselves Lyrics

Spandau Ballet's fifth album was their first for their new record company CBS. The first single off of that album was Fight for Ourselves which reached number 15 in the UK charts. Gary Kemp wrote the whole Through the Barricades album while the band...

Spandau Ballet: How Many Lies Lyrics

How Many Lies was their third and last single off of the album Through the Barricades. Although the band didn't realise it at the time How Many Lies was to become their last Top 40 hit single. The entire Through the Barricades album was written whil...

The Heart Breaks

Spandau Ballet's Final Album

Spandau Ballet's next album was Heart Like a Sky and this was to be their last album together.

The first single to be released was Raw.

An interesting point about this Spandau Ballet album is that not all of the songs are written by Gary Kemp. Steve Norman wrote the track Motivator.

Runtime:
views
Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Spandau Ballet followed Raw up with the singles Be Free with Your Love, Empty Spaces & Crashed into Love.

Heart Like A Sky

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

Track Listing

"Be Free With Your Love" - 4:39
"Crashed into Love" - 4:43
"Big Feeling" - 3:47
"A Matter of Time" - 5:15
"Motivator" - 4:00
"Raw" - 3:46
"Empty Spaces" - 3:57
"Windy Town" - 4:22
"A Handful of Dust" - 4:54

Avg. Customer Rating:

The Sue Romantics

Spandau Ballet in Court

Buy at AllPosters.com

Although every member of Spandau Ballet had gone their own way after Heart Like a Sky was released they did not officially split up until Tony Hadley, Steve Norman and John Keeble took Gary Kemp to court.

Why did they go to court?

During Spandau Ballet's career Gary Kemp had been doing all of the songwriting (except for one song on their final album). In a classic he said they said case Tony, Steve and John claimed that Gary had agreed to share his songwriting royalties with them. Gary denied ever having agreed to that and with nothing in writing the Judge ruled in his favour.

Spandau Ballet Rocks

Why Spandau Ballet Were So Good

What made Spandau Ballet better than other groups?

Spandau Ballet never recycled hits, if you listen to their songs they are all different which is part of what makes them so fantastic.

Their live performances were always amazing, they really could play and sing and they were energetic on stage. I have never heard anyone say that they ever gave a bad concert unlike ............................well it would just be bad taste to finish that sentance!

Spandau Ballet Framed And Matted 8x10 B&W Photo

The Spandau Boys in the 80s with hardly anything on, need I say more!

Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 12/26/2009)

Spandau Ballet: Live From the National Exhibition Cen

This was filmed in 1986 and released in 2005 (apparently the footage was "discovered" in 2005) This was during their Through the Barricades tour and is a show they did in Birmingham. I saw their tour in Bournemouth that year and I have to say this dvd transported me right back. They were fantastic live performers.

This also contains some of their music videos which makes it a must for any "true" fan (sorry, couldn't resist that one).

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 12/26/2009)

They also appeared approachable, they were just some London Lads who hit the big time, they were never too "posh" to say hello to their fans and to sign autographs.

They always seemed to put as much effort into their videos as they did to writing their songs. They embraced the age of MTV that only began at that time and they excelled in it. As for looks ...... Martin Kemp's dimpled chin, who could resist??

Favorite Spandau Ballet Member

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Share this poll
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- Email

Want more on your favorite Spandau man?

John Keeble

According to his blog John Keeble came into this world at 8.20am on July 6th 1959. With the confidence of youth he decided that he only had three possible career moves. The three options were: 1. Play soccer for Arsenal 2. Keep wicket for England...

Martin Kemp

Whenever Martin Kemp is interviewed he comes across as a genuinely nice guy. After going through hell and back with his health he's not at all bitter, although he does admit to going through a black period. This black period resulted in Martin Kemp,...

Tony Hadley

Tony Hadley is fondly remembered as the lead singer for New Romantic pioneers Spandau Ballet. He owes this to a leather jacket!! Tony Hadley is still singing, although these days it is as a solo artist. He has starred in a couple of reality shows i...

Read All About It

Unfortunately the books on Spandau Ballet that I can find are unavailable at the moment, but here are a couple of autobiographies you can look at.

To Cut a Long Story Short: An Autobiography

by: Tony Hadley

Tony Hadley, lead singer, in his autobiography.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

True: Auto Of Martin Kemp

by: Martin Kemp

Autobiography of Martin Kemp, bass guitarist. It also tells of his battle with a brain tumour and his acting career.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)

Spandau Ballet Memories up for Auction

Buy Spandau Ballet Goodies

A mix of Spandau memories from around the globe brought especially to you from ebay!

Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by

Were You a Spandau Fan?

submit

Reply

marie kirkbride marie kirkbride Aug 30, 2009 @ 12:39 pm

steve norman is sexy

Show All

Share this Guestbook
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- RSS
- Email

For all the latest on your favorite celeb don't forget to check out - Celebhoo

More About Spandau Ballet

Vampire Weekend, Spandau Ballet Confirm Isle Of Wight: (RTTNews) - Vampire Weekend and the recently reformed '80s new wave act, Spandau Ballet, have been added to the ever-growing lineup for the 2010 Isle of ...
Vampire Weekend and Spandau Ballet for Isle Of Wight Festival: It's now been confirmed arch-hipsters Vampire Weekend and the newly-reunited New Romantics Spandau Ballet have been added to the bill. ...
Spandau Ballet to become first band in space: In a more unusual first, newly re-formed band '80s band Spandau Ballet is set to become the first rock group to perform in space. The rockers have signed on ...

Powered by Google

Blogging About Spandau Ballet

Vampire Weekend and Spandau Ballet for Isle Of Wight Festival ...: It's now been confirmed arch-hipsters Vampire Weekend and the newly-reunited New Romantics Spandau Ballet have been added to the bill. The New Yorkers will play the Saturday while the 80s hitmakers will grace the main stage the ...
Virgin Galactic signs Spandau Ballet to perform in space | Gadling.com: Sorry forgot the link...check out Spandau Ballet Gold here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019M06JI?ie=UTF8&tag=howdoyoustaas-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0019M06JI. vote up vote down Report 2 hearts ...
Spandau Ballet to play Isle of Wight Festival | News at Gear4Music.com: Electric guitar player Gary Kemp has revealed he is looking forward to Spandau Ballet's first ever outdoor festival dates. The reformed band have been invited to play at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2010, alongside acts such as The ...

Powered by Google

Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet - British Supergroup

Table of Contents

Spandau Ballet Reunion

Pre-Spandau Days

An Early History

Spandau Ballet, the Journey to Glory

Beginning the Journey to Gold

To Cut A Long Story Short Music Video

Spandau Ballet's First Single

Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short (Dortmund 1984)

Spandau Ballet are Diamond

Spandau Ballet's Second Album

Chant No 1

Diamond album

Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1 (Dortmund 1984)

So, True?

Spandau Ballet's Third Album

True

An 80s Iconic Love Song

spandau ballet true

Spandau Ballet on Parade

Spandau Ballet's Fourth Album

Spandau Ballet - Only When You Leave (Dortmund 1984)

Spandau Ballet and their 12 Inches

Breaking Barricades

Spandau Ballet's Fifth Album

The Heart Breaks

Spandau Ballet's Final Album

The Sue Romantics

Spandau Ballet in Court

Spandau Ballet Rocks

Why Spandau Ballet Were So Good

Favorite Spandau Ballet Member

Thanks for voting! Now invite your friends to vote.

Read All About It

Spandau Ballet Memories up for Auction

Buy Spandau Ballet Goodies

Were You a Spandau Fan?

More About Spandau Ballet

Blogging About Spandau Ballet

by lou16

Explore related pages

Related Topics

lou16 Recommends...

Gold Star

lou16 is in the Giant Squid 100 club

lou16 is a Giant Squid

About lou16

lou16's Pages

About Squidoo

Help & Feedback

Support Charity

Fancy meeting you here.

Loading Workshop

Report this Lens

Login

Join Squidoo for free!