Spandau Ballet: Difference between revisions

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| genre = {{hlist|[[New wave music|New wave]]<ref>{{cite news|first= Neela |last= Debnath |title= Spandau Ballet to release first studio album since 1989 |date= 3 August 2014 |newspaper= [[The Independent]] |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/spandau-ballet-to-release-first-album-since-1989-9644856.html |access-date= 27 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.npr.org/2015/08/22/433540080/spandau-ballet-on-its-reunion-and-looking-outrageous | title= Spandau Ballet On Its Reunion And 'Looking Outrageous' | work=[[NPR]] | date=22 August 2015 | access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>|[[new pop]]<ref>{{cite web|website=[[The Quietus]]|title=David Stubbs Explores The Battle Between Thatcherite Pop And Marxist Funk|author=[[David Stubbs]]|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/01376-david-stubbs-explores-the-battle-between-thatcherpop-and-marxist-funk|date=27 March 2009|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref>|[[synth-pop]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Simon |last= Reynolds |author-link= Simon Reynolds |title= [[Rip It Up and Start Again|Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984]] |year= 2006 |publisher= [[Penguin Books]] |chapter= Chapter 18: Electric Dreams: Synthpop", "Chapter 22: Raiding the Twentieth Century: ZTT, the Art of Noise, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood |isbn= 1-4295-2667-X}}</ref>|[[sophisti-pop]]<ref>{{cite web |first= Andrew W. |last= Griffin |title= FILM REVIEW: "Soul Boys of the Western World" |website= Red Dirt Report |date= 6 June 2015 |access-date= 27 December 2018 |url= https://www.reddirtreport.com/rustys-film/film-review-soul-boys-western-world |archive-date= 7 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190407204002/https://www.reddirtreport.com/rustys-film/film-review-soul-boys-western-world |url-status= dead }}</ref>|[[blue-eyed soul]]<ref>{{cite web|first= Paul |last= Lester |author-link= Paul Lester |title= Spandau Ballet Once More Review |year= 2009 |publisher= [[BBC Music]] |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8fwx |access-date= 27 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/01/spandau-ballet-albert-hall-soul-boys-of-the-western-world | title= Spandau Ballet review – return of the shoulder-heaving soul boys | work=[[The Guardian]] | first=Ian | last=Gittins | date=1 October 2014 | access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>}}

'''Spandau Ballet''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|p|æ|n|d|aʊ|_|ˈ|b|æ|l|eɪ}} {{respell|SPAN|dow|_|BAL|ay}}) were an English [[New wavepop music|new wavepop]] band formed in Islington, London, in 1979. Inspired by the capital's [[post-punk]] underground dance scene, they emerged at the start of the 1980s as the house band for the [[Blitz Kids]], playing "European Dance Music" as "The Applause" for this new club culture's audience.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/11476894/Spandau-Ballet-O2-Arena-review-celebratory.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/11476894/Spandau-Ballet-O2-Arena-review-celebratory.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spandau Ballet, O2 Arena, review: 'celebratory'|last=McCormick|first=Neil|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2015-03-18 March 2015|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/oct/04/spandau-ballet-new-romantics|title=Spandau Ballet, The Blitz Kids and the birth of the New Romantics|last=Johnson|first=David|date=3 October 2009-10-03|work=The Observer|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Pop Stars In My Pantry|last=Simper|first=Paul|publisher=Unbound|year=2017|isbn=978-1-78352-388-7|location= London|pages=15}}</ref> They became one of the most successful groups of the [[New Romantic]] era of [[British pop music|British pop]]<ref>{{cite web|website=ministryofrock.co.uk|title=New Romantics|last=Nickson|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Nickson|url=https://www.ministryofrock.co.uk/NewRomantics.html|date=25 September 2012}}</ref> and were part of the [[Second British Invasion]] of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Top 40]] in the 1980s, selling 25 million albums and having 23 hit singles worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/193332-spandau-ballet-finds-redemption-after-years-apart-2495532712.html|title=Spandau Ballet Finds Redemption and Reformation After Years Apart|date=5 June 2015-06-05|website=PopMatters|language=en|access-date=25 March 2019-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/5054105/Spandau-Ballet-interview.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/5054105/Spandau-Ballet-interview.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Spandau Ballet interview|last=Singh|first=Anita|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2009-03-26 March 2009|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://mdtheatreguide.com/2015/05/concert-review-spandau-ballet-at-930-club-in-washington-d-c/|title=Concert Review: Spandau Ballet at 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.|last=Menefee|first=Lynne|date=2 May 2015-05-02|website=Maryland Theatre Guide|language=en-US|access-date=26 March 2019-03-26}}</ref> The band have had eight UK top 10 albums, including three greatest hits compilations and an album of re-recorded material.&nbsp;Their musical influences ranged from [[punk rock]] and [[soul music]] to the American crooners [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Tony Bennett]].<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/soul-boys-of-the-western-world-review-harmony-restored-as-spandau-ballet-remember-roots-9763424.html | title= Spandau Ballet's Soul Boys Of The Western World, film review: Band remember roots |work=The Independent|first=Geoffrey|last=Macnab|date=30 September 2014|access-date=28 October 2018}}</ref>

The band's classic lineup featured [[Gary Kemp]] on guitar, synthesiser and backing vocals,; his brother, [[Martin Kemp]], on bass,; vocalist [[Tony Hadley]],; saxophonist [[Steve Norman]]; and drummer [[John Keeble]]. Gary Kemp was also the band's songwriter. Their debut single "[[To Cut a Long Story Short]]" reached No. 5 in the UK in 1980 and was the first of ten UK top-10 singles. The band peaked in popularity in 1983 with the album ''[[True (Spandau Ballet album)|True]]'', as its [[True (Spandau Ballet song)|title track]] reached No. 1 in the UK and the top 5 in the US. In 2011, it received a [[BMI Awards|BMI]] award as one of the most-played songs in US history with four million airplays.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-15184645/spandau-ballet-s-true-wins-bmi-award-for-most-played-song|title=Spandau Ballet's True wins award|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref> In 1984, they received a [[Brit Awards|Brit Award]] for technical excellence and were the first act to be approached by [[Bob Geldof]] to join the original [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] lineup.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho to Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|location=London|pages=211–213}}</ref> In 1985, they performed at the [[Live Aid]] benefit concert at Wembley Stadium.

In 1990, the band played their last live show before a 19-year absence. In 1999, Hadley, Norman and Keeble launched an unsuccessful case in the High Court against Gary Kemp and his Reformation Publishing Company for a share of the band's songwriting royalties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/332115.stm|title=Spandau court bid fails|work=BBC News|date=30 April 1999|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019}}</ref> Spandau Ballet reformed in 2009 for The Reformation Tour, a sell-out "greatest hits" world tour. In 2014, their archive-only feature-length documentary biopic, ''Soul Boys of the Western World'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/spandau-ballet-add-second-o2-arena-date/|title=Spandau Ballet Add Second O2 Arena Date|website=Smooth|language=en|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019}}</ref> was world-premiered at [[South by Southwest|SXSW]] Film Festival in Austin, Texas. It was officially screened at the Rome, Ghent (Belgium) and NYC Doc film festivals and received its European premiere at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London.

In 2017, Hadley left Spandau Ballet.<ref name="auto">{{cite tweet|number=881833491318673409|user=TheTonyHadley|title=A statement from Tony Hadley :- I am...|access-date=1 February 2018|date=3 July 2017}}</ref> A year later, singer and actor Ross William Wild became their new frontman for a series of European live dates and a one-off show at Eventim's [[Hammersmith Apollo]].<ref>[http://www.spandauballet.com/news/press-release-band-return-with-ross-william-wild-hammersmith-show-on-sale-t "Band Return With Ross William Wild"]. ''spandauballet.com press release'', 7 June 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/2018/06/07/2018-%e2%9e%a4-dad-band-spandau-preen-with-pride-for-ross-their-newly-adopted-son/ | work=Shapersofthe80s | date=7 June 2018-06-07 | title=Dad band Spandau preen with pride for Ross their newly adopted son |access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, Wild tweeted that he had quit the band "to pursue my own music with my band Mercutio",<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1131549159922782209|user= RossWilliamWild|title=I have formally quit the band @SpandauBallet... |date=23 May 2019|access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> while Spandau bass player Martin Kemp confirmed there were no further plans for Spandau to tour without original singer Hadley.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.itv.com/hub/this-morning/2a6292a0102| work=ITV’s This Morning | date=23 May 2019| first=Martin | last=Kemp | title= Martin Kemp talking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>

The band changed their name to Thethe Cut when Michael Ellison left, with Steve Norman filling in on bass.<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=16}}</ref> In 1977 another Alice Owen pupil, Richard Miller, took over on bass guitar and the band changed their name to Thethe Makers, playing [[power- pop]] compositions by Gary Kemp or Steve Norman, with titles like "Fantasy Girl" and "Pin-Ups", inspired by mid-sixties bands like the [[Small Faces]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=82}}</ref> They received a number of positive gig reviews from the British music press in ''Sounds'' and the ''New Musical Express''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=22–23}}</ref> The band changed personnel and name once more when their manager, friend and fellow Dame Alice Owen's schoolmate Steve Dagger suggested Martin Kemp be brought in as their bass player after seeing how much attention he got from Thethe Makers' female fans when he was their roadie.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho to Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=84–85}}</ref> The band was now called Gentry and Martin played his first gig on 1 July 1978 at the Middlesex Polytechnic in Cockfosters.<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570-917-2-6|pages=26}}</ref>

Inspired by London's new underground nightclub scene, which began in Autumn 1978 with a weekly Tuesday night hosted by [[Steve Strange]] and DJ [[Rusty Egan]] at [[Gargoyle Club|Billy's]] in Soho,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/13/steve-strange-a-beautiful-maverick-who-understood-the-power-of-myth|title=Steve Strange: a beautiful maverick who understood the power of myth|last=Kemp|first=Gary|date=2015-02-13 February 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the band switched musical direction to embrace the new electronic music. Friend and writer [[Robert Elms]] suggested they change their name to [[Spandau#Overview|Spandau]] Ballet, a phrase which he told them he had seen written on a wall on a weekend trip to Berlin: “[[Rudolf Hess]], all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet”.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Way We Wore A Life In Threads|last=Elms|first=Robert|publisher=Picador|year=2005|isbn=0-330-42032-1|pages=196–197}}</ref> Their first performance was an invitation-only showcase on the morning of Saturday 17 November 1979, at Halligan's Band Centre rehearsal studio, 103 Holloway Road,<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=97}}</ref> to test the reaction of the key influencers of the new scene. Having passed that 'audition', the band's first gig as Spandau Ballet was at the [[Blitz (nightclub)|Blitz]]'s Christmas party on 5 December 1979.<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=99}}</ref>

A series of exclusive 'secret' gigs in 1980 at unique non-rock venues like the Scala cinema<ref>{{cite web| url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/revolution/1980-who-was-who-in-spandaus-break-out-year| title=1980, Who was who in Spandau's break-out year| publisher=Shapersofthe80s.com |date=5 June 2018-06-05| access-date=2019-03-27 March 2019}}</ref> and the cruiser [[HMS Belfast (C35)|HMS ''Belfast'']], advertised only by word-of-mouth, created the hype for a major record companies bidding war.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAj5D2s9uB8C&q=spandau+ballet+bidding+war+to+sign&pg=PT5 |title=Arctic Monkeys – Uncensored on the Record|publisher=Coda Books |isbn=9781781580158|access-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> After the band signed with [[Chrysalis Records]], they released "To Cut a Long Story Short", produced by [[Landscape (band)|Landscape]]’s [[Richard James Burgess]]. It became a Toptop Fivefive hit inon the UK charts in late 1980, as well as reaching the Toptop 20 in Australia, Ireland and Spain. Their second single, "[[The Freeze (song)|The Freeze]]", was another Toptop 20 hit in the UK, Ireland and Spain, followed by the double A-side "Musclebound/Glow" and the Goldgold-certified debut album ''[[Journeys to Glory]]'' in early 1981.

The band played their first US showcase in May 1981 at New York's Underground Club, on 17th and Broadway, with a fashion show by Axiom, a co-operative of the London club scene's new clothes designers including [[Sade (singer)|Sade Adu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/revolution/1981-first-blitz-invasion-of-the-us/|title=1981, First Blitz invasion of the US|date=2010-01-22 January 2010|website=Shapersofthe80s.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref> Spandau were the first UK pop band to perform live at the world-famous [[Privilege Ibiza|Ku Club]] in Ibiza.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seeibiza.com/news/spandau-ballet-back-in-ibiza-688162|title=Spandau Ballet Back in Ibiza|website=SeeIbiza.com|date=18 August 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref>

Reflecting the rapidly evolving club scene and Soho's hippest new nightspot, Le Beat Route on Greek Street, the band changed musical directions again,<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=147–150}}</ref> releasing the [[funk]] single "[[Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)|Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)]]", which was a No. 3 hit in the UK chartswhile and reachedreaching No. 17 in the US on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's [[Dance Club Songs|Disco Top 100]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|publisher=Record Research|year=2004|page=242|author-link=Joel Whitburn}}</ref> The song was championed by DJ [[Frankie Crocker]] on [[WBLS]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho to Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|location=London|page=151}}</ref>

The follow-up album, ''[[Diamond (Spandau Ballet album)|Diamond]],'' also produced by Burgess, was released in 1982. This album was certified Goldgold by the BPI. The band had Burgess remix every single from both albums for inclusion on each single's B-side and for 12-inch club releases. These mixes were later released as a boxed set. However, the second single from ''Diamond'' was "[[Paint Me Down]]", which broke their run of top 20 hits by stalling at No. 30. The third single, "[[She Loved Like Diamond]]", failed to make the UK Toptop 40 at all.

[[Trevor Horn]] remixed the track "Instinction", which was released as the fourth single from the album. Backed with a special dance remix of "Chant No.&nbsp;1" on the 12-inch single version, the release was very well received. It returned the band to the UK Toptop 10 after the poor chart performance of their previous two singles.

The band released their third album, ''[[True (Spandau Ballet album)|True]]'', in March 1983. Produced by [[Jolley & Swain|Tony Swain and Steve Jolley]], the album featured a slicker pop sound and was recorded at [[Compass Point Studios|Compass Point]] in [[the Bahamas]]. It was at this point that Steve Norman began playing saxophone for the band.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=2021-06-20 June 2021 |title=To the 1980s New Romantic and back: interview with Spandau Ballet's Steve Norman |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/steve-norman-spandau-ballet-interview/ |access-date=2021-11-12 November 2021 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> The [[True (Spandau Ballet song)|title track]] gave the band their first UK No. 1 single. It was a multi-format hit in the US, reaching No. 1 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart, No. 4 on the [[''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and US [[List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1983|''Cash Box'']] and also entering the US R&B charts. The band played four sell-out shows at The Wilton and The Palace, Los Angeles, in December 1983.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=202}}</ref> The song was also a No. 1 in Ireland and Canada and Toptop 5 in the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. It won a [[BMI Awards|BMI]] award as one of the most played songs in history when it passed four million airplays in the United States, the equivalent of 22 years' continuous play.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-15184645/spandau-ballet-s-true-wins-bmi-award-for-most-played-song|title=Spandau Ballet's True wins award|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-25 March 2019}}</ref>

The follow-up single, "Gold", reached No. 2 in the UK and Topthe top 5 in Belgium, Ireland and Spain. The album topped the charts internationally, spent 64 consecutive weeks in the Toptop 100 albums chart<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=205}}</ref> and reached No. 19 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. The singles "Gold" and "[[Communication (Spandau Ballet song)|Communication]]" peaked at No.numbers 29 and No.59 inrespectively on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. On their UK tour they were the first rock band to play [[Sadler's Wells]] and the [[Royal Festival Hall]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00732330-2|pages=192}}</ref>

The follow-up album, ''[[Parade (Spandau Ballet album)|Parade]]'', was released in June 1984, and its singles were again big successes in the charts in Europe, Oceania and Canada. The album's opening song, "[[Only When You Leave]]", became the band's last American hit. The band's first Toptop 10 single in Italy was "[[I'll Fly for You|I'll Fly For You]]", a success they repeated later with the singles "[[Fight Forfor Ourselves]]" and "[[Through the Barricades (song)|Through the Barricades]]." At the end of 1984, the band performed on the [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] charity single alongside chart rivals [[Duran Duran]], [[Culture Club]] and [[Wham!]], and in 1985 performed at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] as part of [[Live Aid]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/band-aid-30-years-on-4606099 |title=Band Aid 30 years on: Where are the original stars three decades after the 1984 song was released?|author=Watts, Halina|date=11 November 2014|newspaper=Daily Mirror|access-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> to a global audience estimated at 1.9 billion. The "Spandau Ballet World Parade 84–85" was the group's biggest tour to date, spanning Europe, America, the Far East and, for the first time, Australia and New Zealand. Their UK tour ended with six record-breaking nights at Wembley Arena. During the second show at LA's Universal Amphitheatre, Steve Norman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and the rest of the tour was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=224–225}}</ref> This also resulted in the cancellation of a proposed summer tour of Spain and Italy and a planned six-week tour of the United States supporting [[The Power Station (band)|Thethe Power Station.]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=215}}</ref>

During this same year, Spandau Ballet achieved platinum status with the compilation ''[[The Singles Collection (Spandau Ballet album)|The Singles Collection]]'', which kept the focus on the band between studio albums and celebrated its five years of success. However, theThe album was released by [[Chrysalis Records]] without the band's approval and the band instigated legal action against the label.

After a bitter court case with Chrysalis, Spandau Ballet signed to [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]] for £1.5 million in 1986 and released their fifth studio album, ''Through the Barricades''. With producer [[Gary Langan]], the band moved away from their pop and soul influences to create a stadium rock sound. A dispute between [[Our Price Records]] and Sony over trading arrangements resulted in the Our Price chain and its chart return shops refusing to stock any CBS singles, which affected the record sales of their first single release, "[[Fight for Ourselves]]".<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Romantics Who Never Were The Untold Story of Spandau Ballet|last=Barrat|first=David|publisher=Orsam Books|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9570917-2-6|pages=217}}</ref> Though it peaked at 15 in the UK, it was a Toptop 10 hit in Italy and the Netherlands. The title track, a personal favourite of Kemp and Hadley and inspired by the killing of a friend, Thomas "Kidso" Reilly, in [[Belfast]] by [[Private (rank)|Private]] Ian Thain,<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=235–237}}</ref> reached the Toptop 10 in the UK and in Europe, as did the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/through-the-barricades-mw0000191791|title=Spandau Ballet: Through the Barricades|author=Leroy, Dan|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=6 November 2015}}</ref>

This was followed in 1986/87 by the band's largest European concert tour to date, "Through the Barricades – Across Thethe Borders", with six record-breaking nights at the [[Rotterdam Ahoy|Ahoy]] Stadium in Rotterdam, another six nights at London's Wembley Arena, 80,000 at [[Casa de Campo]] in Madrid and 50,000 at an open-air concert in Treviso.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=250–251}}</ref> Tony Hadley and Gary Kemp performed "Through the Barricades" for the Prince's Trust at Wembley Arena with the 'house band' of [[Eric Clapton]], [[Midge Ure]] and [[Phil Collins]], and "[[With a Little Help from My Friends|With A Little Help From My Friends]]" with [[George Harrison]] and [[Ringo Starr]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=254}}</ref> In 1988, the band played for the King of Spain in front of the Royal Palace in Barcelona, on the same bill as [[Freddie Mercury]] and [[Montserrat Caballé]], to launch the campaign for the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympics]].

After a hiatus from recording, the band released their next album, ''Heart Like a Sky'', initially titled ''Home'', in September 1989. For the first time, new working methods were employed, as Gary Kemp demoed his new songs programming the drums, keyboards and bass on a porta-studio with Toby Chapman, Spandau's session keyboard player, rather than rehearsing with the band.<ref>{{Cite book|title=I Know This Much From Soho To Spandau|last=Kemp|first=Gary|publisher=Fourth Estate|year=2009|isbn=978-0-00-732330-2|pages=256–257}}</ref> The album and its singles were not successful in the UK<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18710/spandau-ballet/|title = Spandau Ballet &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website = [[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]]}}</ref> and the album was not released in the United States. Nevertheless, the band continued to have success in Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, where the singles "[[Raw (song)|Raw]]" and "[[Be Free with Your Love]]" entered the Toptop 40.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Spandau+Ballet&titel=Raw&cat=s|title=Spandau Ballet – Raw|author=Steffen Hung|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> The album included "Motivator", the first song written by Steve Norman for the band since The Makers.

Gary and Martin Kemp took the leading roles as notorious East End gangster twins [[Ronald and Reginald Kray]] in [[The Krays (film)|''The Krays'']]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/22/martin-gary-kemp-danny-dyer|title=Kemp brothers to reunite on the big screen 22 years on from The Krays|author=Child, Ben|date=22 August 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> which premiered in London in April 1990. The film won two [[Evening Standard British Film Awards]] for Best Film and Most Promising Newcomer (writer [[Philip Ridley]]). Tony Hadley recorded his first solo album in Los Angeles produced by [[Ron Nevison]]. Steve Norman moved to Ibiza to collaborate on chilled out Balearic records with local producers. John Keeble continued as drummer with Tony Hadley and formed his own band, 69 Daze, with former [[Sigue Sigue Sputnik]] guitarist Neal X, followed by 99 shows across Europe with The Herbs and Pacific with guitarist [[John McGeoch]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premier-percussion.com/artists/john-keeble|title=Artists – John Keeble|website=Premier-percussion.com|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref>

Gary Kemp wrote songs with Paul Stratham, who had written songs for [[Dido (singer)|Dido]], continued acting on stage, in film and in television, and wrote music and additional lyrics with [[Guy Pratt]] for ''Bedbug'' at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] in 2004 and ''A Terrible Beauty'', with Guy Pratt and [[Shane Connaughton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connections.nationaltheatre.org.uk/plays/bedbug|title=Bedbug|publisher=National Theatre|access-date=6 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022002942/http://connections.nationaltheatre.org.uk/plays/bedbug|archive-date=22 October 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/shows/gangs-of-britain/articles/gary-kemp|title=Gangs of Britain|publisher=National Theatre|access-date=6 November 2015}}</ref> He continued acting on stage, in film and on television. He played Serge in the West End production of ''Art'' in 2001. Films included ''Dog Eat Dog'' and ''American Daylight'' and TV shows ''[[Murder in Mind (TV series)|Murder in Mind]]'' and [[Casualty (TV series)|''Casualty''.]]

In 2014, all five played live again with an anthology world tour to promote a critically acclaimed feature-length archive-only documentary of the band's story and the pop cultural history of the Eighties, ''Soul Boys of the Western World.''<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3636326| title=Soul Boys of the Western World| publisher=iMDB | date=2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/spandau-ballet-add-second-o2-arena-date/|title=Spandau Ballet Add Second O2 Arena Date|website=Smooth|language=en|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref> It world premiered at South By Southwest with Spandau also playing as part of the music festival,<ref name="auto3"/> their first public appearance in North America since 1985. The band played five numbers for the film's European premiere at the Royal Albert Hall. There were gala screenings in Sydney, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Auckland and Hamburg. The film had a UK cinema release. It was directed by George Hencken, produced by Steve Dagger and Scott Milaney with archive producer Kate Griffiths and included never-before-seen footage of the band playing and being interviewed at NYC's Underground club in March 1981.

It was confirmed on 31 July 2014, that Spandau Ballet were working on new material in the studio with [[Trevor Horn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spandauballet.com/news/confirmed-spandau-ballet-working-on-new-material-with-trevor-horn/ |title=Confirmed: Spandau Ballet working on NEW MATERIAL with Trevor Horn|publisher=Spandauballet.com|access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/spandau-ballet/78928 |title=Spandau Ballet confirm first album since 1989 |work=NME |access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6206107/spandau-ballet-recording-first-new-album-in-25-years |title=Spandau Ballet Recording First New Studio Album in 25 Years |magazine=Billboard |date=2 August 2014 |access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/02/spandau-ballet-are-back-80s-heart-throbs-recording-first-new-album-in-25-years-4819317/ |title=Spandau Ballet are back! 80s heart-throbs recording first new album in 25 years |work=Metro |access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref> In the UK, the band appeared in an ITV show, ''Spandau Ballet – True Gold'', in which they performed several hits and were interviewed by [[Christine Lampard|Christine Bleakley]] in front of a studio audience. The band performed their 1980s hit single "[[True (Spandau Ballet song)|True]]" and a new song called "This is the Love" on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]'' on 11 November 2014. It was their US late-night TV debut and their first US TV appearance since 1985 when they played on ''[[Soul Train]]''. They were there to promote their new greatest hits collection called ''The Story – The Very Best of Spandau Ballet'', which also contained three new songs. The album reached the UK Toptop 10. Both "Steal" and "This Is The Love" appeared on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

On 3 July 2017, Tony Hadley left the band due to, as he stated on [[Twitter]], circumstances beyond his control.<ref name="auto"/> The rest of the band released their own statement explaining that Hadley had made it clear to them in September 2016 that he did not want to work with the band any more and that they had now reached the decision "to move on as a band."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/frustrated-spandau-ballet-respond-tony-hadleys-departure-2098310|title='Frustrated' Spandau Ballet respond to Tony Hadley's departure|last=Andrew Trendell|date=4 July 2017-07-04|website=NME|language=en-US|access-date=26 March 2019-03-26}}</ref>

On 6 June 2018, after a lengthy audition process Spandau Ballet revealed their new lead singer, Ross William Wild, who had previously performed with Martin Kemp in the West End musical ''[[Million Dollar Quartet (musical)|Million Dollar Quartet]]''. The band played live at Subterania Club in West London, a venue they had last played 40 years earlier in 1978 as Gentry when it was called Acklam Hall.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8459930/spandau-ballet-new-singer-london-interview|title=Spandau Ballet Debuts New Singer In London: 'This Is a Rebirth of the Band'|magazine=Billboard|date=7 June 2018|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref> Their first song as the new line-up was "Through the Barricades".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/spandau-ballet-review-subterania-veteran-band-energised-new/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/spandau-ballet-review-subterania-veteran-band-energised-new/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| work=Daily Telegraph| date=7 June 2018| first=Neil| last=McCormick| title=A veteran band energised by their new frontman|access-date=9 June 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/evfwhn/live/c5n6v2| work=BBC Events| date=7 June 2018| first=Kev| last=Geoghegan| title=New Spandau Ballet unveil new singer Ross at London gig|access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/2018/06/07/2018-%e2%9e%a4-dad-band-spandau-preen-with-pride-for-ross-their-newly-adopted-son| title=Dad band Spandau preen with pride for Ross their newly adopted son| publisher=Shapersofthe80s| date=7 June 2018| access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/reviews/spandau-ballet-verdict-on-the-new-frontman-ross-william-wild/| work=Superdeluxeedition| date=7 June 2018| first=Paul| last=Sinclair| title=Verdict on the new frontman, Ross William Wild|access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> Wild said: "If it wasn't for Spandau so much stuff wouldn't have happened. They are pioneers."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/music/spandau-ballet-introduce-new-singer-at-london-show/|title=Aberdeen singer Ross William Wild introduced as new Spandau Ballet frontman at London show|agency=Press Association|date=6 June 2018-06-06|website=Evening Express|language=en-US|access-date=26 March 2019-03-26}}</ref>

The next day Spandau thanked Wild via Twitter for "his brilliant performances with them last year and wish him every success with his band, Mercutio".<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1131899226919755776 |user=SpandauBallet|title=Spandau Ballet would like to thank Ross William Wild...|date=24 May 2019|access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> Within the next few days Wild explained further: "I'd put my whole life on hold and was sick of waiting around for them to make up their minds. I told the boys I was quitting and then never heard back from them." The band's sax player Steve Norman also said: "I was neither involved in nor informed of any discussions or decision-making regarding the future of my band, least of all Ross's position in it."<ref>{{cite web| url=https://shapersofthe80s.com/2019/05/25/2019-%e2%9e%a4-another-spandau-bombshell-kemp-brothers-drive-out-ross-their-perfect-new-singer| title=Another Spandau bombshell – Kemp Brothers drive out Ross their 'perfect' new singer| publisher=Shapersofthe80s| date=25 May 2019| access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> Wild was subsequently arrested in March 2021 and charged (under his real name, Ross Davidson) with a series of sex offences dating back to 2013. He was convicted in 2024 of voyeurism, raping a woman and sexually assaulting two others.<ref name=gecsoyler>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/25/sadistic-and-manipulative-ex-spandau-ballet-singer-guilty-of|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=‘Sadistic and manipulative’ ex-Spandau Ballet singer guilty of rape|first=Sammy|last=Gecsoyler|date=25 July 2024|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref>

"To Cut Aa Long Story Short" was sampled by [[Shakka (singer)|Shakka]] on his 2015 single, "[[Say Nada]]".

DJ Paul Oakenfold, a close friend of the band, created a special 12-inch remix of "Gold" for the 2012 Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.urbanjunkies.com/london/ibiza/spandau-ballet/|title=SPANDAU BALLET|publisher=Urban Junkies|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-26 March 2019}}</ref>

* [[Gary Kemp]] – lead guitarguitars, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, backing vocals <small>(1979–1990, 2009–2019)</small>

* Ross William Wild – lead vocals <small>(2018–20192017–2019)</small><ref name=gecsoyler/>