Martin Kemp says Spandau Ballet is over until Tony Hadley returns

23 May 2019

Martin Kemp says Spandau Ballet is over until former lead singer Tony Hadley returns to the group.

Spandau Ballet

The New Romantic band were left without a frontman when Tony made the decision in 2017 to quit the group and after playing some shows with new singer, West End performer Ross William Wild, last summer the remaining members came to the decision that it didn't work without all five original members.

Bassist Martin is has announced that Spandau Ballet - also comprised of his brother Gary Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble - will remain on hiatus until Tony wants to come back.

Speaking on UK TV show 'This Morning' on Thursday (23.05.19) the 57-year-old musician said: "The band stopped playing and we thought it would be really cool if we took out Ross William Wild, he's a lovely man, lovely singer. We tried that for about six or seven shows through Europe and it was great fun. But what I kind of started to realise what people really want is the five of us together. And I think what we should to do to be fair to that is to put it into a box and let it sit there until that happens.

"And if one day the five of us can talk and get back together it would be wonderful."

When co-host Phillip Schofield asked him if the group had decided to end touring, he confirmed: "Until Tony comes back ... until the five of us come back. It's not just Tony, all five of us. Listen, my band is so volatile, one minute we are the best friends then we fall out, it has always been that way.

"I would love it to happen because it is part of me it is part of my soul. But it means all five of us saying yes at the same time."

The group reunited in 2015 for a world tour and have split up on-and-off over their career spanning more than three decades.

Tony was the lead vocalist throughout the 80s, but his relationships with his bandmates hadn't always been plain sailing.

In 1999, Tony, drummer John and sax player Steve were embroiled in a lawsuit over royalties with chief songwriter Gary, but they failed in their efforts.