Beyond Spandau Ballet

In 1988 before the acrimonious split of Spandau Ballet

The 1980s were punctuated by the sounds of New Romantic music and one of those at the forefront was Tony Hadley and Spandau Ballet

The band formed late in the 1970s and stayed together until 1990.

But Tony has continued to have a successful solo career and has been described as a singer 'with depth and individual character to his voice'.

You can see Breakfast's interview with Tony Hadley by clicking on the link above

It was primary school where Tony first showed signs of being interested in biology, but things changed when his parents bought him a a tape recorder along with his first ever album: 'World of David Bowie'.

There was no looking back, Tony embarked on a career that was to gradually see his talents develop and pave the way for a career as a singer.

He sang Lady Madonna while on holiday as a teenager, but the story goes that he forgot his words in front of the crowd of 400 - they still managed to applaud him though.

Singing was taking over his life and in 1976 he joined his first band called The Roots - band members included John Keeble, Steve Norman, Gary Kemp and Michael Ellisson.

The group were, via a succession of other bands to lead to the formation of Spandau Ballet.

The guys played the pubs and clubs typically getting paid £25 and a pint of beer. Meanwhile the music was changing to a synthesiser sound which was dominating the scene.

Record deal

Spandau Ballet's hopes of getting signed came to fruition in October 1980 when they were signed to Chrysalis records - their first hit Cut a Long Story Short soon followed and reached number five in the UK charts.

Worldwide success for the band continued until 1990, but the band's split was acrimonious but Tony says that he remains proud of the Spandau's achievements.

Even today the band's most popular songs: True, Gold and Through the Barricades are still performed by Tony as solo numbers.

Solo career

Tony carried on performing and signed to EMI where he released his first album State of Play, and went on to form his own record label.

He's collaborated with Djs Tin Tin Out and Eddie Lock and played with Alice Cooper, Paul Young and Brian May.

Tour

Fans of Tony Hadley will no doubt be pleased to hear that he is to embark on a tour in 2004.

He's teamed up with Peter Cox - one half another hit 80s band Go West - and the pair will be singing together at 46 venues, starting on 15 January 2004.

The last concert will be at Hammersmith Apollo on the 31 March.

Both Tony and Peter appeared on ITV's Reborn in the USA, which Tony was to win.

The pair will sing their own hits as well as a few duets.

Despite the passing of more than a decade, there seems to be little chance of interest fading in the New Romantic music, and the sounds of the 80s.