| Sky Interview |
| In 1979 a group of lads spring a brand new look and cutting edge sound on the World on their own recording label, Reformation. Now hailed as one of the main era-defining bands of the eighties, Spandau Ballet are releasing a 3 CD box set anthology. We met songwriter Gary Kemp. WHY RELEASE REFORMATION? We’re doing a TV documentary, which looks back over our early days, so I thought it would be a good idea. TELL US ABOUT THE ALBUM It concentrates on our journey from being a cult Soho band to international band. It’s a real collectors piece. It takes in some early demos and ends with live tracks from Wembley 1986 on CD 1 CD2 is our live show at Sadlers Wells Theatre when True was at No 1. CD 3 is a collection of our original 12inch dances mixes like To Cut A Long Story Short. DOES IT FEEL GOOD BEING IN AN ERA-DEFINING BAND? Yes I’m very proud. The 80s got a lot of bad press, but in retrospect people look back on it and love it. ARE YOU MATEY WITH ANY OTHER 80S BANDS? Some. I went to Nick Rhodes birthday party a while back. WHICH SB SONGS ARE SPECIAL TO YOU? To Cut A Long Story Short defined the time of electronic dance music and Chant Number One epitomises the scene. And then there is True. I can’t get away from True. It’s been played 3 million times on American radio. DO YOU CRINGE WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT YOUR IMAGE? We wore what kids wore from Soho to Basildon. Fashion was outrageous and the New Romantics were the next big thing. The 80s were a time when British bands were being looked at as culturally relevant by America. DOES THE 2002 POP SCENE OFFEND YOU? I think that Will Young is this generation’s Des O’ Connor or Max Bygraves. Where is the sex, drama and outrage in music anymore? WHAT NEW ACTS ARE YOU WRITING FOR? A new exciting rock act called Red Lemon. WHERE DO YOU WRITE YOUR SONGS? I have never had a formula. I wrote Through The Barricades at 3am on my own in Dublin. It took me 20 minutes. I wrote True whilst sitting on my bed at my Mum and Dad’s house when I was still living at home. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? Live Aid. I spoke to Paul McCartney about it and he was rampant with anecdotes about that day. It was the stuff of legend. DID YOU AND MARTIN ARGUE IN THE SPANDAU BALLET DAYS? Yes, but never for very long. We both really respected each other. He is a great actor and I am very proud of him. WHICH ACTING ROLES ARE YOU PROUD OF? The Krays as it was an iconic British movie. I shudder to think now that I played those characters, but it was exciting to work with Martin. DOES MONEY EQUAL SUCCESS? Money is important, as I want to give my child a good home. The biggest thrill in my life is being a parent. WHAT IS THE SECRET OF SPANDAU BALLET’S LONGEVITY? We achieved something way and beyond anything imaginable. It was incredible that working-class boys from London ended up travelling the World. But to be honest splitting up 12 years ago was a bit like an actor dying young. We never aged publicly so to some degree we quite while we were ahead. |
| 2nd September 2002 |
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