Gold! ... Spandau Ballet have put fights and lawsuits behind them to reform. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia
REUNITED UK band Spandau Ballet have revealed the reformation of pop rivals Duran Duran helped prompt their own comeback.
Spandau songwriter Gary Kemp said watching Duran Duran reform their original line up in 2003 started his journey to heal the rift between his own former band mates.
“It did spur me on,” Kemp said. “I was at the Duran comeback gig with my wife and I was sitting there miserable. At that time Spandau weren’t even talking. We needed closure on it. It had been hell for so long. It wasn’t long after I saw Duran Duran I flew down to Spain and met (sax player) Steve (Norman) for the first time. It took about five years of work before we were all sat in a room together.”
Spandau Ballet’s highs and lows are captured in a revealing new documentary Soul Boys of the Western World.
The movie follows the band through their early ‘80s electro/soul incarnation that spawned hits To Cut a Long Story Short, Chant No.1 and Communication, then the slick sounds of True, Gold and Only When You Leave that soundtracked their world domination.
Highs and lows ... Spandau Ballet have opened up for the cameras in a new documentary. Source: Supplied
After the band disintegrated in 1989 relations hit a low when three members — singer Tony Hadley, Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble took sole songwriter Kemp to court seeking their share of royalties a decade later.
A comeback tour in 2009 repaired the damage, while the elephant in the room is discussed in the movie as the band talk about their anger towards Kemp and his increased fortune from writing all the band’s hits.
“You wanted to disappear in your seat when we were watching it together for the first time,” Norman said. “None of us knew what the other had said when we filmed our interviews so it was interesting to watch it together.”
“But that’s what makes the movie work so well, its honesty,” bassist Martin Kemp says. “In any film or documentary, as soon as you sniff a lie it ruins the whole one and a half hours.”
Spandau have also recorded three new songs for a new compilation, The Story, released as a companion piece to the film. The band are attending screenings of the film in Melbourne and Sydney this week, conducting a short performance and Q&A session.
A deluxe DVD version of the film is released shortly.
Spandau Ballet will return for a full Australian tour next May, following on from sell out shows here in 2010.
Back together ... Spandau Ballet worked the marquees at the Melbourne Cup, with singer Tony Hadley tipping a winner. Source: Supplied
“We’ve got a past, we’ve got a history, we’ve got a future and our songs relate to people,” Hadley said. “There’s True, Gold, Through the Barricades, Only When You Leave and everything else. It’d be nice to explore some album tracks this time. Toys from Journeys to Glory would be great, and there’s obviously the new songs we want to play. We don’t want to leave it too long before we record a whole new album.”
A quick trip to the Melbourne Cup was profitable for Hadley and Gary Kemp, after a well-placed tip from a friend saw them back winner Protectionist.
“It was quite a nice return,” Hadley said.
Spandau also found themselves at the same Melbourne hotel as The Rolling Stones, but couldn’t attend their Melbourne show due to their movie screening clashing with the rock giants.
“Melbourne double booked us,” Gary Kemp said.
“We’ve got the Rolling Stones in the same hotel,” Keeble said. “It’s just a shame they’re not drinking anymore, that would be fun.”
Spandau Ballet play Brisbane Entertainment Centre May 13, Sydney’s Qantas Credit Union Arena May 15, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne May 19 and Perth Arena May 22.
Tickets, priced between $49.90 and $99.90, go on sale 10am next Wednesday from Ticketek.
