Interview with Tony Hadley

Tony Hadley is probably best known as the former singer of Spandau Ballet. Born in Islington, London in 1960, he is married and is father of five children.

1. “My first encounter with singing was at my primary school where I regularly sang hymns.”

Initially he wanted to become a doctor perhaps because he had a bone marrow infection at the age of 10. But then he discovered music.

1. “My mum and dad bought me a tape recorder and my first album, The World of David Bowie.”

When on holiday at the age of 13, Tony sang in front of 400 people.

1. “But I forgot some of the words halfway through which was embarrassing. I did the same thing again a couple of weeks ago. I was singing Rio by Duran Duran and forgot the second verse but the audience didn’t mind.”

In 1976, Tony joined his first band whilst he was at school in Potters Bar. Then called The Roots they became The Cut, The Gentry, The Makers and finally Spandau Ballet. Its other members included: John Keeble; Steve Norman; Gary Kemp; and Michael Ellisson. When the group became The Gentry in 1978, Martin Kemp joined, playing bass guitar. Doesn’t it seem a life-time ago? We have since seen him on our screens sitting on a sofa in a DFS commercial, acting in a period drama and as a radio DJ.

Spandau Ballet got a record contract with Chrysalis Records in 1980.

1. “Our first hit was To Cut A Long Story Short which went to no.5 in the U.K. charts.”

They had worldwide success with fantastic hits such as Gold and continued recording until 1990.

1. “Probably my favourite song from the Spandau Ballet days was Through the Barricades which I still sing along with Gold and True. After Spandau Ballet disbanded, I embarked on a solo career signing to EMI and recording my first album, The State of Play. After leaving EMI, I formed my own record company, Slipstream Records and my first release was the single, Build Me Up from the film, When Saturday Comes.”

Tony admits to being more confident now.

1. “In the early days, I was insecure. I now find sport and the gym take my mind off work. I also play for the Arsenal celeb team.”

Not just that though, Tony regularly takes part in charity work. Earlier on this year he trekked through Venezuela helping to raise funds for Action Medical Research.

In 1996 Tony embarked on an orchestral tour of Europe along with Joe Cocker, playing to 500,000 people in six weeks. He then signed a joint deal with Polygram TV and released his next solo album. He has collaborated with various dance acts and DJs such as Tin Tin Out.

It’s already been a busy year. He has been performing in Europe, Australia, America and in South America.

1. “My wife and my mum worry about me and that I’m doing too much, but I’m used to the lifestyle. I love working. I’ve never been a druggie, but I do like a drink.”

His jazz-swing album is called Passing Strangers, after the song by Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughn. The songs are from the swing era made famous by Jack Jones, Sammy Davis Jnr and Frank Sinatra.

1. “Amongst others, I sing an old Frankie Vaughn number, There Must Be A Way. I’ve wanted to make this album for a long time and I’ve finally done it. My mum likes it. I played some of it to friends and they said it still sounds like bloody Hadley!”

Not one to relax, he will be in the US in August in the Lost 80s Live Tour.