How Did They Get the Name Spandau Ballet?
Spandau Ballet is a British pop/new wave band that rose to fame in the early 1980s. Formed in London in 1979, the group’s stylish image and slick sound propelled them to success and they quickly became one of the most popular bands of the decade. But have you ever wondered where they got their unusual name?
The origins of Spandau Ballet are surprisingly tied to a historic prison. Located in Berlin, Germany, Spandau Prison was a World War II-era detention center for Nazi war criminals. The prison was notorious for its harsh conditions and for holding high-profile prisoners like Rudolf Hess, Albert Speer and Baldur von Schirach.
The name “Spandau Ballet” was inspired by an anecdote shared by band member Gary Kemp during one of their first rehearsals. He recalled seeing graffiti on a wall near Spandau Prison that read “Spandaus Ballet” (misspelling intended). The story struck a chord with his fellow bandmates and they decided to name their group after it.
The band later clarified that the graffiti was meant as an indictment of the prison’s harsh living conditions, saying: “It wasn’t romantic; it was about suffering – but we liked the way it sounded”.
The unusual choice proved to be quite successful for Spandau Ballet. The band released multiple studio albums throughout the 1980s and achieved several top-ten singles on both sides of the Atlantic. They even won two Brit Awards and were nominated for four Grammy Awards during their career.
Today, Spandau Ballet continues to perform sporadically despite having no new releases since 2002. Although not as popular as they once were, they are still remembered fondly by many fans around the world who appreciate their catchy tunes and unique name with historic roots.
Conclusion: The British pop/new wave band Spandau Ballet got its unusual name from an anecdote shared by one of its members about graffiti near Berlin’s notorious WWII-era prison called Spandau Prison which read “Spandaus Ballet”. This story spoke strongly to them and inspired them to adopt it as their own moniker, leading to international success throughout the 1980s as one of Britain’s most iconic bands of that era.