Spandau Ballet are a popular British pop band most prominent during the 80s… Read Full Bio ↴Spandau Ballet are a popular British pop band most prominent during the 80s, at the beginning of which they were forerunners of the British new romantic movement. Its members are singer-songwriter Tony Hadley on vocals, brothers Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp on guitar and bass respectively, with Gary also supplying background vocals, Steve Norman on saxophone, and John Keeble on the drums. Gary Kemp also wrote or co-wrote most of the group's music and lyrics.
Initially formed in 1976 in London, England, they didn't reach a stable line-up or decide on the Spandau name until 1978. Their odd title allegedly came from a piece of bathroom graffiti observed during the members early days. Inspired by a mixture of avant-garde synth pop and slick funk. as typified by their early track "Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", also known by other titles such as "Chant # 1", the band commercially broke through with an artistic public image as remarked upon as their music. Said track reached the #2 spot in the U.K. and was notable for inclusion of the horn section from the group Beggar & Co, which proved a fruitful collaboration on record.
Spandau Ballet's first two albums, 1981's 'Journeys to Glory' and 1982's 'Diamond', found them also mining their art rock and glam rock roots as their fan-base expanded, the group looking to the works of David Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration. Both albums charted in the U.K. top 20 and were later certified gold by the RIAA. Additional popular songs from the band in this era include "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Freeze" (also known as "The Freeze". The group also notably picked up a semi-friendly rivalry with new wave contemporaries Duran Duran.
After four hits in the U.K. followed by a couple of less successful releases, however, Spandau Ballet's chart career appeared to be on the wane. Yet Instinction, re-ignited their fortunes and became the first of eleven consecutive singles to reach the Top 20
Immensely popular in the UK, the New Romantic group eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. As with Duran Duran they 'broke America', albeit briefly - the title track of their 3rd album True peaked in the Top 5 of the Singles charts. The song gained a new life in the 1990's and beyond by being sampled in the songs Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by PM Dawn and N Dey Say by Nelly.
After a split in 1990 and a court case almost ten years later involving Hadley, Keeble & Norman suing Gary Kemp over royalties, they announced in March 2009 a reformation.
Initially formed in 1976 in London, England, they didn't reach a stable line-up or decide on the Spandau name until 1978. Their odd title allegedly came from a piece of bathroom graffiti observed during the members early days. Inspired by a mixture of avant-garde synth pop and slick funk. as typified by their early track "Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", also known by other titles such as "Chant # 1", the band commercially broke through with an artistic public image as remarked upon as their music. Said track reached the #2 spot in the U.K. and was notable for inclusion of the horn section from the group Beggar & Co, which proved a fruitful collaboration on record.
Spandau Ballet's first two albums, 1981's 'Journeys to Glory' and 1982's 'Diamond', found them also mining their art rock and glam rock roots as their fan-base expanded, the group looking to the works of David Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration. Both albums charted in the U.K. top 20 and were later certified gold by the RIAA. Additional popular songs from the band in this era include "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Freeze" (also known as "The Freeze". The group also notably picked up a semi-friendly rivalry with new wave contemporaries Duran Duran.
After four hits in the U.K. followed by a couple of less successful releases, however, Spandau Ballet's chart career appeared to be on the wane. Yet Instinction, re-ignited their fortunes and became the first of eleven consecutive singles to reach the Top 20
Immensely popular in the UK, the New Romantic group eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. As with Duran Duran they 'broke America', albeit briefly - the title track of their 3rd album True peaked in the Top 5 of the Singles charts. The song gained a new life in the 1990's and beyond by being sampled in the songs Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by PM Dawn and N Dey Say by Nelly.
After a split in 1990 and a court case almost ten years later involving Hadley, Keeble & Norman suing Gary Kemp over royalties, they announced in March 2009 a reformation.
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The Albums 1980-84
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Always in the Back of My Mind Ooh, you're always in the back of my mind, ooh Nothing…
Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) I checked the time, it was almost time A curious smell,…
Code of Love He put so much into her life She took so much…
Coffee Club Matthew didn't stay home, he went abroad instead Journeys to…
Communication Communication always leaves me incomplete The grass is green…
Confused Ooh I don't get it, what the hell it is All…
Foundation Hello, this is me to you It's better now we're comin'…
Gold Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are…
Heaven Is a Secret She'll sing a West-Side song You could be the boy in…
Highly Strung This is the song of little Jo She's not the girl…
I'll Fly for You Passion take the wind And break me from this tie We're morta…
Innocence And Science Water from my mind Breaks the ropes and binds Water comes …
Instinction Cheap bed, in the red Sleep the words out of your…
Lifeline Changing her colours she's off to the shore She rides the…
Mandolin Oh, mandolin, oh, mandolin Waiting in the dark All centuries…
Missionary The bells ring out above my room And announcement of our…
Musclebound We're building fires that will burn until morning The smell …
Nature of the Beast It is the key to all the doors It is the…
Only When You Leave Layin' in the after glow I only wanna learn what…
Paint Me Down Paint me down Paint me down Paint me down Paint me down Pai…
Pharaoh Going alone, going alone, going alone Take that pharaoh Goin…
Pleasure Pleasure's in my car Even in the bar as I'm searching In…
Reformation Bleak and tired western skies Silence crashing with quiet li…
Revenge for Love Don't I need a savior Just to bail me out I'll hold…
Round And Round I don't have to be so wise You're just my fantasy And…
She Loved Like Diamond She ran the risk from unity Obsession dies alone with traged…
The Freeze Blue sing la lune sing lagoon Visions are making me stay The…
To Cut a Long Story Short Soldier is turning See him through white light Running from…
Toys We are the night We'll tempt you and turn you on Live…
True Huh huh huh hu-uh huh Huh huh huh hu-uh huh So true,…
With The Pride Just leave me with the pride that I worked for Now…