Who Was the Lead Singer of Spandau Ballet?
The question of who was the lead singer of Spandau Ballet is one that has been asked by many music fans over the years. The band, which formed in 1979, had a number of hit singles and albums throughout the 1980s and early 1990s before disbanding in 1990. The lead singer of this successful British band was Tony Hadley.
Hadley joined Spandau Ballet in 1979, at the age of 18. He had already achieved some success as a solo artist, having released two singles on CBS Records in 1978 and 1979. However, it was when he joined up with Steve Norman (guitar/saxophone), Gary Kemp (guitar/keyboards), John Keeble (drums) and Martin Kemp (bass) that his career truly took off.
Spandau Ballet were renowned for their distinctive blend of new wave pop and soulful ballads, with Hadley’s powerful vocals taking centre stage. In 1981 they released their debut album Journeys to Glory which reached number four in the UK Album Chart and spawned two top-20 singles – “To Cut a Long Story Short” and “The Freeze” – both sung by Hadley. This was followed by their hugely successful second album Diamond which featured their international hit single “True” as well as other top-20 hits such as “Gold” and “Only When You Leave”.
Hadley continued to be the lead singer for Spandau Ballet until they disbanded in 1990 following creative differences between members of the group. He then embarked on a solo career which has seen him release six studio albums to date, as well as embarking on various tours around the world including stints with fellow 1980s stars such as Belinda Carlisle and Kim Wilde. He also returned briefly to Spandau Ballet for a reunion tour in 2009 after ending his bitter feud with Gary Kemp that had lasted for nearly two decades.
In conclusion, Tony Hadley was the lead singer of Spandau Ballet from 1979 until their split in 1990 when he embarked on a successful solo career spanning over 20 years so far. His distinctive voice helped propel them to international fame during the 1980s thanks to songs such as “True”, “Gold” and “Only When You Leave” which remain timeless classics today.