Spandau Ballet - The Most Fascinating Facts Anywhere

Spandau Ballet

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1. The band originally called themselves Roots

Spandau Ballet began in 1976 under the name Roots, formed by school friends Gary Kemp and Steve Norman. The group developed through London's musical underground before adopting the name Spandau Ballet in 1979. Their early history therefore predates the New Romantic explosion that would later make them famous.

2. A Sex Pistols gig helped inspire the band

Gary Kemp and Steve Norman have been linked to the story of seeing the Sex Pistols perform and being inspired to form a band. The punk movement showed young London musicians that they did not need virtuoso technique or establishment approval to start making music. Spandau Ballet eventually developed a sound very different from punk, but its formation belonged to the same restless musical moment.

3. The Blitz Club helped shape their identity

The Blitz club in Covent Garden became one of the central meeting places of the New Romantic movement. Spandau Ballet were closely associated with the scene, whose members combined music, fashion, makeup and theatrical self-presentation. The band's look and early electronic sound reflected a culture in which a live performance was also a visual statement.

4. Their first single was a Top Five hit

“To Cut a Long Story Short”, released in 1980, reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. Its driving electronic rhythm and Tony Hadley's dramatic vocal announced a band quite different from the guitar-led punk acts that had dominated the previous few years. The single quickly established Spandau Ballet as one of the leading groups emerging from the New Romantic scene.

5. Their debut album was called Journeys to Glory

Released in 1981, Journeys to Glory captured the band's early, rhythmically driven electronic style. It reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and included “To Cut a Long Story Short” and “The Freeze”. The record is a useful snapshot of the group's first phase, before the more expansive soul-influenced sound of their later hits.

6. Diamond marked a change in musical direction

Their second album, Diamond, appeared in 1982 and reached number 15 in the UK. The record experimented with different production approaches and included “Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)”. The album's mix of electronic pop, funk and brass helped bridge their early New Romantic sound and the more accessible pop that followed.

7. “Chant No. 1” was influenced by funk and club music

Released in 1981, “Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)” reached number three in the UK. Its prominent bass, percussion and saxophone gave the band a more dance-oriented sound than their debut single. The track also reflected the influence of funk and the club culture that was developing alongside the New Romantic scene.

8. The classic lineup had five members

The best-known lineup consisted of Tony Hadley on vocals, Gary Kemp on guitar and songwriting, Martin Kemp on bass, Steve Norman on saxophone and other instruments, and John Keeble on drums. The combination of saxophone, keyboards, guitar and a strong rhythm section helped distinguish the band from synth-pop groups built around electronic instruments alone.

9. Gary Kemp wrote their signature songs

Gary Kemp was the band's principal songwriter and wrote many of their best-known tracks, including “True” and “Gold”. His songwriting helped Spandau Ballet move from the angular electronic sound of their early records towards melodic pop and soul-influenced arrangements. This gave the band a consistent musical identity even as its production and image evolved.

10. True became their first UK number one single

Released in 1983, “True” spent four weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The song's relaxed rhythm, layered arrangement and romantic lyric represented a substantial change from the urgency of “To Cut a Long Story Short”. It became the group's defining international hit and the title track of their third album.

11. The album True topped the UK chart too

The album True, released in 1983, reached number one in the UK. It also included “Gold”, “Lifeline” and “Communication”, making it more than a vehicle for the title single. The album marked the point at which Spandau Ballet became one of Britain's most successful mainstream pop groups.

12. “Gold” reached number two, not number one

“Gold” is often remembered as one of Spandau Ballet's defining songs, but its original UK chart peak was number two. It was held off the top by KC and the Sunshine Band's “Give It Up”. The song's bold chorus and celebratory arrangement nevertheless made it an enduring favourite and one of the band's most recognisable recordings.

13. “True” became associated with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

The song was used by the BBC during its coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, helping associate it with a major sporting event. That exposure added another layer to its British cultural life beyond the original chart run. It subsequently became a familiar choice at parties, celebrations and sporting occasions.

14. The band played Live Aid in 1985

Spandau Ballet performed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1985. The concert brought together major artists for a global fundraising event supporting famine relief in Ethiopia. Their appearance placed the band among the leading British acts of the decade during one of the most widely watched live music events of the era.

15. Parade continued their chart success

Released in 1984, Parade reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. It included “Only When You Leave”, “I'll Fly for You” and “Round and Round”. The album maintained the band's polished pop and soul direction, with detailed arrangements and a more expansive studio sound than their earliest records.

16. “Only When You Leave” was a major US single

“Only When You Leave” became one of Spandau Ballet's most successful American singles, reaching the US Top 40. The track's atmospheric keyboards, prominent bass and melodic chorus reflected the band's growing confidence with sophisticated pop production. It also helped extend their American audience beyond the breakthrough success of “True”.

17. Through the Barricades explored a more serious subject

The title track from the 1986 album Through the Barricades was inspired by the conflict in Northern Ireland. Gary Kemp wrote the song as a story of love against a backdrop of division and violence. Its more solemn tone distinguished it from the band's celebratory hits and showed a different side of his songwriting.

18. Their original run ended with Heart Like a Sky

Heart Like a Sky, released in 1989, was the band's final studio album before their initial breakup. It reached number 31 in the UK, a marked change from the chart positions of True and Parade. The band split in 1990, and its members pursued different careers in music, acting and other fields.

19. The Kemp brothers took different paths after the split

Gary Kemp continued songwriting and pursued acting, while Martin Kemp became widely known for his acting career, including his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders. Their separate careers kept the brothers in public view even while Spandau Ballet were inactive. Both later returned to the group's story through reunions and retrospectives.

20. Once More brought the band back to the UK Top Ten

Spandau Ballet reunited in 2009 and released Once More, an album featuring new arrangements of songs from their catalogue alongside new material. It reached number seven on the UK Albums Chart. The reunion gave longtime fans another chance to hear the group together and introduced their songs to listeners who had discovered the band through later compilations and cultural references.