To cut a long story short…
words: jeremy taylor Spandau Ballet’s singer Tony Hadley is back on a solo tour, but fondly remembers the crazy clothes and synthesiser sounds of the 1980s BIG HAIR, OUTRAGEOUS make-up, outlandish clothes – and that was just the boys. The New Romantic pop groups of the early 1980s brought sparkle and glitz back into the [...]
words: jeremy taylor
Spandau Ballet’s singer Tony Hadley is back on a solo tour, but fondly remembers the crazy clothes and synthesiser sounds of the 1980s
BIG HAIR, OUTRAGEOUS make-up, outlandish clothes – and that was just the boys. The New Romantic pop groups of the early 1980s brought sparkle and glitz back into the music charts after the era of punk, and not merely with their lip gloss and stunning shock-frocks. Rather like Glam Rock in the early 1970s, the young were once again concerned more about appearance than the vinyl on their turntables.
Whether you called them New Romantic, Futurist or Blitz Kids, all three names covered a style that initially won fans in just a few London venues. The Blitz Club in Great Queen Street was a favourite, with a young Boy George – in his pre-Culture Club days – working as the cloakroom attendant.
Leading the new wave of electro-synthesiser music were bands such as Soft Cell, Human League, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Adam and the Ants. Critics claimed the movement had an “elitist” image, but the cult didn’t survive the forces of commercialism for long.
The fashion industry had already spotted huge potential in the billowing white shirts, ankle boots and ponchos. High street shops were flooded with extravagant clothes and shoes, just like the stars were wearing in their latest, expensive videos.
Chemist shops were selling out of black eye-liner (no longer just for girls) and there was a run on white face powder, essential for that stark look. Clothing was mismatched and mixed up: scarves, blankets, performances as Ronald and Reginald Kray respectively.
Hadley recalls: “We were inspired by a mix of funk and synthesiser music. The band was originally called The Makers but we changed our name after visiting the Spandau area in Berlin. One of our roadies saw it as graffiti sprayed on a wall.”
By 1979 the group had a strong following in London and was the house band at the Blitz Club. Incredibly, they turned down an offer to sign to Island Records and established a label called Reformation instead.
The band set their own New Romantic style and opted for wild clothing, slick haircuts and heavy make-up. Hadley, who had once appeared in a photo-love story for teenage girls’ magazine My Guy, had the looks and the voice to pull it off.
“It was a time when everybody was trying to be more outrageous than the next band. You just went for single To Cut A Long Story Short made Number 5 in the charts of December 1980. Then Chant (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) reached Number 3 the following year, but it wasn’t until 1983 that they hit the top spot.
“I was asleep in a hotel room in Sheffield during a tour. Suddenly the door burst open and the rest of the band poured in, spraying me and the room in champagne. True was Number 1 for four weeks and everybody wanted us.”
the most unusual look and then developed it further. The ponchos were fun – I’ve no idea where mine is now!” laughs the singer. After finallysigning a deal with Chrysalis Records, their debut
The ballad came off an album of the same name, which also topped the charts for a week and made the boys a major live attraction. They played London’s Royal Albert Hall and also visited America, where arch rivals Duran Duran and lead singer Simon Le Bon were already making it big.
“There was a lot of talk about Simon and I not getting on – it was all media hype. We’ve met up plenty of times since,” says Hadley, 46, who still lives in north London.
While Spandau Ballet’s songs mellowed, another track from the album True made Number
2. Gold was kept off Number 1 by KC & The Sunshine Band’s Give It Up, but was used in 1984 as the theme for BBC TV’s coverage of the Olympics.
More hits followed before the band fell out with Chrysalis, who they felt were not promoting them enough in America. “It was a big regret for all of us that we didn’t spend enough time in the States,” said Hadley.
Signed to CBS in 1987, the hits started to dry up. When album Heart Like A Sky flopped in 1989, Spandau Ballet split for good. An acrimonious court case over song-writing royalties followed.
“As things stand, I can’t really see how we could perform together again,” says Hadley. Too many things have happened and too many words were said.”
Hadley’s solo career in the 1990s (he signed to EMI Records) saw him touring Europe with the legendary Joe Cocker in 1996. Then the singer split from Leonie, his wife of 20 years, in 2003. The couple had three children, whom Hadley still sees on a regular basis. Around that time, Hadley won reality TV show Reborn in the USA. Ironically, the series focused on 10 former British pop acts transported to the USA, where they were practically unknown, to try and rekindle their careers.
“That was a fun programme to do but I’m concentrating on my music now. I’mcurrently touring with a full jazz-swing band and the reception from the fans has been amazing,” says Hadley, whose new album Passing Strangers has just been released. The star says he used to sing along to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as a child. His voice lends itself perfectly to the crooning style. “It’s a long way from the days of New Romantic but I’m loving it.”
The Big Band Tour plays North Wales Theatre, Llandudno on 1 December; Villa Marina in Douglas, Isle of Man on 8 December; Forum 28 in Barrow-in-Furness on 12 December; The Liverpool Philharmonic on 13 December.
| DURAN DURAN Simon Le Bon’s lead vocals sold the ‘Durannies’ more than 70 million records worldwide. The chart-topping group stormed America with hits including Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf and Bond theme A View To A Kill. A new album is due in 2007. |
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| HUMAN LEAGUE The Sheffield supergroup formed around vocalist Phil Oakey. Hits included Don’t You Want Me, Human and Mirror Man.The four are still touring sporadically. George Michael adapted one of their hits for his 2002 single Shoot the Dog. |
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| SOFT CELL The headband-wearing Marc Almond sang about the darker side of life and became a success with the Goth music scene too. Serious make-up didn’t stop the hits – who can forget the words to Tainted Love or Say Hello, Wave Goodbye? |
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| JAPAN Singer David Sylvian’s quiff defied gravity. Japan formed in the 1970s but survived the punk era to return as New Romantics. Must-have albums included Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Tin Drum and Oil On Canvas. A reunion in 1991 led nowhere. |
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| VISAGE Singer Steve Strange used to manage Spandau Ballet then set up on his own. Fade To Grey went to Number 1 in 21 countries but the band couldn’t repeat the success. Midge Ure was a one-time member. Visage have all but disappeared. |
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