I agree with you both. Spandau Ballet's music had a classy edge to it, don't you think? "True" will always remain my favorite song by the group. What are they up to now?
Originally posted by Trixter:
<STRONG>What are they up to now?</STRONG>
I'm not sure. I got Tony Hadley's solo album from a few years back. It included an interesting cover of Duran Duran's Save A Prayer. He also teamed up with Tin Tin Out for a dance single.
I absolutely love Spandau Ballet. My favorite songs from them are "True", "Round and Round" and "Through the Barricades".
Someone asked where they were now, well here's what I know:
Martin Kemp is on EastEnders as Steve Owen (or the last time I knew he wasn't I keep missing EastEnders on BBC America)
I know there's probably not going to be a Spandau Ballet reunion anytime soon, since they all sued each other for a reason I can't remember. I know Tony Hadley, John Keeble and I think Steve Norman are touring as a paired down version of Spandau Ballet, but it just isn't the same without the Kemp brothers.
Tony had more than one solo album. The State of play, his first solo album isn't easy to find, but it has some really nice songs on it, including one written by John Keeble.
His second one is the one you guys meantioned with the cover versions slave to love, Save a prayer or Free fallin'. To be honest, i didn't like it that much. I am just not a big fan of covers.
About 18 month ago another album called Lobsters and Limosines came out. It is a live album recorded 2 or 3 years ago in Birmingham in a club called Ronnie Scott's where Tony and John performed the last years. I've been there twice and have to say it is great. A big come together of fans in a cosy athmosphere.
Marting Kemp is not part of the EastEnders crew anymore as his character Steve Owen died a few weeks ago. Let's wait and see what he will be up to next.
Gary Kemp performed in London on stage last year, but i am not sure if it was a stage play or a musical.
John Keeble joins Tony on all his tours, Steve on the "Hadley, Norman, Keeble". BlueMolly is right, it isn't the same without the Kemps, but still, it is better than no concerts, I always enjoy listening to their old hits live.
__________________ I'm a-happy Xchanger (the only one left )
Making Prefab Sprouter even more cheerful by stalking him.
If Chasey moves even closer I can stalk him for real!
Ultravox Lovin' Sista of Torchwood Fan
All I have ever heard by them is "True", "Gold", and "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On). They are all great songs! Does anyone know if they have a greatest hits out?
__________________ I'm a-happy Xchanger (the only one left )
Making Prefab Sprouter even more cheerful by stalking him.
If Chasey moves even closer I can stalk him for real!
Ultravox Lovin' Sista of Torchwood Fan
Martin Kemp is not part of the EastEnders crew anymore as his character Steve Owen died a few weeks ago. Let's wait and see what he will be up to next.
Well, if British soaps are anything like American soaps, he can always turn up again on The EastEnders. It doesn't matter if he was stabbed, shot eight times, decapitated and thrown into a furnace, they can always find ways to resurrect a dead character! I've actually caught Martin on EastEnders a few times on BBC/America and must admit, he can act!
I remember when Spandau Ballet came out, no one cared for them. I mean, nobody in my class in school. That is the center of the Universe, isn't it? The fact that they dressed up nicely was a put off. But I loved "Gold" and years and years later I rediscovered "Only When You Leave" and "Chant No1". I agree, the latter is such an early 80s dance song! And the video-- too laugh about! Check out the clothes!
Here's a funny story: I never ever liked them. In the late 90s, I met a friend on the Internet who loved them. Next thing I knew, I was helping him make a website about them!
Man had always thought he was much more intelligent than dolphins because he had built so many things and accomplished so much while dolphins just spent all of their time playing and mucking about in the water. Ironically, dolphins thought they were more intelligent for exactly the same reasons.
-Douglas Adams, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Way back when, I liked True so much I bought "The Singles Collection" and I was not disappointed. My favorites are "True", "Gold", "Highly Strung" and the underrated "Musclebound".
__________________ STEVE Hangin' with my favorite DJs: DJDaffy & Prefab Sprouter!! Surfer Swooshing buddy to ImSoooSure, the penguin protector I found Harket! He's moved and looking for a new job. He may come back. I hope it's soon! Now listening to DJ LEX
Originally posted by sketcher
Here's a funny story: I never ever liked them. In the late 90s, I met a friend on the Internet who loved them. Next thing I knew, I was helping him make a website about them!
Incredible. And it didn't just stop there, you were forced to chat with that crazy bunch of Spandau fans as well and had to figure out they are actually really nice!
@ 80sTrivia
I haven't seen the last episode with him but i think he was in an exploding car. Well they could always explain that he made it out in time and lost his memory and ended up living 3 years in Greenock/Scotland meanwhile. But then again, British soaps are not as bad in bringing dead people back to live.
Originally posted by sketcher I remember when Spandau Ballet came out, no one cared for them.
That was more or less my own experience. I like some Spandau Ballet songs, but in the 80s they were everything but one of my favorites. I remember this group as something like "New Kids on the block" or "Boyzone": handsome guys with fashionable clothes... a product designed basically for teenager consumption. It was hard -in my case- to break this "commercial package" to listen to their music. Maybe due to all that I don't love -just like- songs like "Gold" or "True", too sweet for me. I prefer songs like "To cut a long story short" or "Chant No 1". Anyway, I have their "Greatest Hits" and it's a good compilation of songs: not my favorite, but a good one.
__________________
*** stalking the lovely and delicate Xistenza ***
*** stalking in the shadows a Mysterious woman... I miss you, guapísima ***
*** brother in arms to JavaJane ***
*** brother in arms to the brother in arms to my sister in arms, I mean 80sTrivia ***
*** If I were 20 years younger I would cross the seven seas to meet my sweetie & marvellous stalker: Christine ***
It is the same for me Gúancho, I rather listen to their older and newer stuff, than their biggest hits in 83 and 84. But then again, i am a total extreme under spandau fans, i am very much into their more experimental stuff, songs that never came close to the charts.
But i would not compare them to the New Kids, as after all Spandau wrote and played the music themselves, not like the dancing marionettes singing something they had no influence on.
__________________ I'm a-happy Xchanger (the only one left )
Making Prefab Sprouter even more cheerful by stalking him.
If Chasey moves even closer I can stalk him for real!
Ultravox Lovin' Sista of Torchwood Fan
Spandau Ballet
I'm a-happy Xchanger (the only one left 
)
I've actually caught Martin on EastEnders a few times on BBC/America and must admit, he can act!
The fact that they dressed up nicely was a put off. But I loved "Gold" and years and years later I rediscovered "Only When You Leave" and "Chant No1". I agree, the latter is such an early 80s dance song! And the video-- too laugh about! 
Dance banana dance!
STEVE 
Surfer Swooshing buddy to ImSoooSure, the penguin protector 
Now listening to DJ LEX
***
