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Tony Hadley talks to The Gazette about Spandau reform
NO one was prepared for the reuniting of 1980s legendary band Spandau Ballet, least of all its lead singer, Tony Hadley, who a decade ago was involved in a very public court battle with Gary Kemp over royalties.
Tony lost the case and a load of cash and went off to do his own stuff, which included album releases, tours, winning reality television show Reborn in The USA and successfully going into the brewery business and creating his own ale, Hadley's Golden Ale.
Next thing you know Tony and Gary have kissed and made up and given the world the news that Spandau Ballet have - like a long line of chart topping bands - reformed.
It was immense news for their fans. People bought up all the tickets for first London date, at the O2, in October, in 20 minutes.
The band are doing dates across England until the end of October, when they head out around the rest of Europe promoting their new album and single, Once More, which is out on October 19. And then next year in February they will be back on the road touring again.
It's not to say that Tony, who often visits his cousin, in Chesham, didn't have anything else, or better, to do. He continues to work on solo projects and he has a cosy personal life. In August this year he married to his partner of six years, Alison Evers, at Cliveden House, in Berkshire. And he is kept busy with his two-year-old daughter Zara, the latest addition to the family. - he also has three grown up children from his previous marriage.
So adding more to his plate was quite a decision for the star, in fact if it was left to him the return of Spandau might never had happened. He revealed to The Gazette the it's Shane Richie who we have to thank for that.
"It took a long time for me to soften after everything that happened. I turned down a couple of chances to reform the band early on, he said.
"It all changed when I was working at Virgin radio. We did an interview together (Shane's a good friend) and he kept on going 'come on Tony we want to see the band back together and the public do' so as a joke – and to shut him up – I said 'yes' we could do it for the 30th anniversary'. Shane got on the mic and said 'you heard it here first, exclusive to Virgin Radio Spandau Ballet are getting back together'. Next thing I knew it was on News At Ten and major news channels in Italy, Spain, Australia – everywhere. My office was inundated with calls from, not just promoters and agents, but also fans, all saying that it was a great idea. On hearing this my agent told me that there was a lot of support and a great feeling out there so it would be a good idea for the band to get back together."
So did Tony jump on the band wagon and ride the frenzied wave created by his radio joke? No, he toyed with the idea for six months.
"It took another year an a half for Gary and I to meet. We got together in a pub, had our say and agreed to draw a line under everything that happened in the past. After a couple of pints we started talking about the old days and exchanging funny anecdotes."
The band were on Jonathan Ross recently laughing and joking with the presenter, who cheekily made a few jibes about the court case. The atmosphere was carefree - something that would be hard to fake. The pains of old seem to be truly behind them. Tony felt closer to them following his meeting with Gary and then before he knew it, they were good friends.
"We got closer as time went on. We had to record all 13 tracks in six weeks, and that included the remastering and everything. We lived together at the studio It was hectic, to the point where I was married on the Friday, and back in the studio on the Monday – not much of a honeymoon. In fact I lived with the band while we were recording and it was fantastic, a really good laugh. We in a really remote place - Hookend Studios, in Henley-on-Thames. We went running in the mornings – not together that would have just been sad - and had lunch and dinner together, cracking jokes all the time."
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 24 May 2012
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