If you happened to glance through the gossip mags over the past few weeks, you’d have noticed two articles guaranteed to induce fond memories if you’re of a certain age. One was toasting the 35th anniversary of the television channel MTV, and the other was celebrating the return of 1980s heartthrobs. Lead singer Tony Hadley was a commanding presence in music videos with Spandau Ballet during that time and also featured in the second story (no blushing please).
Brit Award winners, Spandau Ballet, were one of the most successful New Romantic bands in the early 80s, along with Duran Duran and ABC. They released several LPs and a string of singles, from To Cut A Long Story Short to Chant No 1, the chart-topping True and no. 2 Gold, among others. They also featured on Band Aid charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? and shared the stage at Live Aid. After just over 10 years together, the band broke up due to disagreements over songwriting royalties. Despite an acrimonious court case, they reunited in 2009, and a sold-out world tour followed. In 2014, a documentary about the group was released, and they teamed up again last year for another blockbuster global tour.
[wpdevart_youtube]AR8D2yqgQ1U[/wpdevart_youtube]
Hadley, though, is no nostalgia act, and he certainly hasn’t let any moss grow under his feet since those heady days. Since the singer-songwriter/musician has been solo, he’s been working continuously and has released over a half-dozen albums, including two live efforts and a jazz/swing selection, Passing Strangers. The 56-year-old vocalist, who can croon in just about any style, is also a radio presenter, brewer and sometime actor, playing Billy Flynn in Chicago and even portraying the man upstairs in a radio production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Hadley’s got a nationwide tour up next, then a European one in November. He‘s also putting out another Christmas record which will include a duet with Kim Wilde and will be recording a new album backed by an orchestra next year.
The big guy with the big voice will be at our biggest fortress, the fitting Caerphilly Castle, backed by his band.
“I always think if you’ve got somewhere that’s a beautiful place, culturally fantastic, historical and you can put a concert slap-bang in the middle of it, why not?” he says when asked about playing Caerphilly Castle. “It’s got to be better than a normal concert hall. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be good fun!”
On working with an orchestra vs. a band: “When you’ve got a backing band, you’re limited in terms of instrumentation – though my band are cracking! When you’ve got an orchestra, you’ve got cellos, violins, flutes, horns, violas, timpani – you’ve got incredible subtlety. It enhances the song in so many ways. The combination of pop-rock and an orchestra works incredibly well together. From a singer’s point of view, it’s just beautiful. The one thing you have to be able to do though, you’ve got to be… Don’t come in at the wrong time [laughs] because the orchestra read the notes, and believe me, they don’t stop!”
On learning to sing and listening to various styles of music, including jazz and swing: “When I was 12, 13, 14, I was into Queen, Marc Bolan & T. Rex, David Bowie, Roxy, Be-Bop Deluxe, Rod Stewart, Elton John. All that stuff. I was very much into punk as well. When we formed Spandau Ballet, and my parents realised I was quite serious about being a singer, they said, ‘Look, you should really listen to these old crooners.’ In our house anyway, my mum and dad always played Sinatra, Bennett, Jack Jones, Johnny Mathis, Ella Fitz [Fitzgerald]. That was their music, so I grew up listening to that. Then I really started to listen to the way they sang and interpreted words and melody. So, despite loving the Clash and the Sex Pistols, I also really got into swing.
“The first time I took singing lessons was when I was 16. When I got signed, that’s when I took lots and lots of lessons to learn about the voice. I’m a much more able singer now then when I was 26, and I was still, I suppose, pretty good even then. You learn more as time goes on. I’ve studied with an opera singer for two years. You’ve got to learn how the voice works.”
words RHONDA LEE REALI
Tony Hadley, Caerphilly Castle, Sun 18 Sept. Tickets: £37.50. Info: your.caerphilly.gov.uk