Celebrity Inter view 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 fi ve children. “My fi rst 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. “My mum and dad bought me a tape recorder and my fi rst album, The World of David Bowie.” When on holiday at the age of 13, Tony sang in front of 400 people. “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 fi rst band whilst he was at school in Potters Bar. Then called The Roots they became The Cut, The Gentry, The Makers and fi nally 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 or as a radio DJ.
Spandau Ballet got a record contract with Chrysalis Records in 1980. “Our fi rst 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. “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 fi rst album, The State of Play. After leaving EMI, I formed my own record company, Slipstream Records and
42
my fi rst release was the single, Build Me Up from the fi lm, When Saturday Comes.”
Tony admits to being more confi dent now. “In the early days,
I was insecure. I now fi nd 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. “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. “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 fi nally 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.
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e. fi
ona@thewireweb.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
