Spandau Ballet is a British band that achieved great success in the 1980s. Founded in London in 1979 by vocalist Tony Hadley, guitarist Gary Kemp, bass player Martin Kemp, drummer John Keeble and keyboardist Steve Norman, their name has been a source of debate for many music fans and critics alike.
But where did Spandau Ballet get their name from?
The band’s name is derived from the Spandau Prison in West Berlin. The prison was built by the Prussians in 1876 and was used to house political prisoners during the Cold War.
The prison was notorious for its harsh conditions and the fact that inmates were not allowed any contact with the outside world. It has been suggested that Tony Hadley chose the name as a reference to these repressive conditions.
The story goes that when Steve Norman visited Berlin shortly after forming the band, he was fascinated by the Soviet era buildings and wanted to capture something of their atmosphere with a name for his new group. He eventually settled on ‘Spandau Ballet’, as it had an exotic ring to it.
The Name Becomes A Hit
Once they had chosen their name, Spandau Ballet quickly became popular on the London club scene. They soon released their debut album Journeys To Glory which featured singles such as ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’ and ‘Chant No 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)’.
The band went on to have huge success throughout Europe with albums such as True and Parade which spawned hits like ‘Gold’ and ‘True’ respectively. They also had success in America with tracks like ‘Only When You Leave’.
Conclusion
So there you have it – Spandau Ballet got their name from a notorious prison in West Berlin. While some may view this origin story with controversy, there’s no denying that Tony Hadley’s creative choice of words helped propel them to international stardom.
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Spandau Ballet is a British band that formed in London in the late 1970s. The band is best known for their hit single “True”, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1983. The group originally consisted of Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, John Keeble, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and Gary’s brother Martin Kemp.
Spandau Ballet is a British band that was popular in the 1980s. The band was formed in London in 1979 and consisted of Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, Martin Kemp, Tony Hadley and John Keeble. The group’s name was derived from the German city Spandau, where a Cold War-era prison was located.
Spandau Ballet is a British band that rose to fame in the 1980s. The band is best known for their hits such as “True” and “Gold”. They were part of the New Romantic movement and helped define the sound of the era.
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