The group disbanded in 1989, after their final studio album, Heart Like a Sky, failed to live up to the critical and commercial success of their earlier albums, such as True and Parade. As a matter of fact, Heart Like a Sky was not even released in the United States. In April 1999, Hadley along with fellow band members Steve Norman and John Keeble failed in their attempt to sue Gary Kemp for a share of his royalties, as the band's principal songwriter (recently, however, Norman is again on good terms with Gary and his brother, Martin Kemp, who used to play guitar in the band, which makes a possible reunion less difficult).
After Spandau Ballet disbanded, Hadley pursued a solo career, with considerably less success, signing to EMI and recording his first album, The State of Play, in 1992. After leaving EMI, Hadley formed his own record company, SlipStream Records, and his first release was to be the single "Build Me Up", from the film "When Saturday Comes". Shortly after that, in December 1996, Hadley embarked on an orchestral tour of Europe, along with Joe Cocker, Paul Michiels, Dani Klein and Guo Yue, playing to 500,000 people in six weeks.
On his return from that tour, Hadley signed a joint deal with PolyGram TV, and released his next eponymous solo album, Tony Hadley, in 1997, which included covers and songs that were chosen to match his voice. The album also featured some of his own self-penned songs, such as "She", the song that Hadley wrote for his daughter, Toni. He is the father of four children: Thomas, Toni, and Mackenzie by his wife, Leonie, and Zara (born 21 December 2006) by his current girlfriend, Alison Evers. Hadley split from Leonie in 2003, after twenty years of marriage.
To plug the gap between studio albums, Hadley also released a live album, in 1995, recorded, in just one night, at the club Ronnie Scott's, in Birmingham, called Obsession (later on re-released as Obsession Live).
He also collaborated, in the past and present, with various dance acts and DJs, such as Tin Tin Out, Eddie Lock, Marc et Claude, Regi Penxten (Milk Inc.) and the Disco Bros., and played alongside musicians such as Alice Cooper, Paul Young, Jon Anderson, and Brian May. Hadley's permanent band line up nowadays features John Keeble (drums), Phil Taylor (keyboards), Phil Williams (bass guitar), Richie Barrett (guitar), and Angie Grant on backing vocals. His early band, with whom he realized his debut album, included instead, besides he and Keeble, Spandau Ballet's regular keyboard player Toby Chapman, Jerry Stevenson (guitar), and Kevin Miller (bass guitar).
Hadley was also the subject of some newfound respect in the 2000s, rooted in an "ironic" appreciation for his old group Spandau Ballet; John Darnielle of the indie folk rock group The Mountain Goats wrote about his admiration for Hadley's vocal strengths. In 2000, his very first solo greatest hits album was issued, entitled Debut, made up of some early solo songs, performed live in Germany in 1992, as broadcast by German TV.
In 2003, Hadley was the winner of the ITV reality television series, "Reborn in the USA", appearing alongside other ex band singers, such as Elkie Brooks from Vinegar Joe, Peter Cox from Go West and Leee John from Imagination. Capitalizing on his victory of the American reality show, his Debut compilation was re-issued, and his second collection was also released in the same year, True Ballads, including some of his solo tracks, most of the cover songs which were already contained in his second studio album, and historical hits from the Spandau Ballet period.
Hadley recently had a busy performing schedule, and also recently toured with both Peter Cox from Go West and Martin Fry from the band ABC. He released a jazz-swing album 2006, entitled Passing Strangers, and travelled on a "by request" tour from March to May 2006. This was followed by a big band tour in late the same year.
In January 2007, Hadley performed in the West End musical "Chicago" as crooked lawyer Billy Flynn, at the Cambridge Theatre. Hadley took over from ex-Emmerdale actor Ian Kelsey, and featured from 29 January to 14 April 2007. He said: "Three months was long enough, I didn't want to out stay my welcome. I got a phone call offering me the part. I went to see the show, which I thought was great. While I was in it, I got great reviews. Chicago tied in with my swing album, Passing Strangers, so the whole thing worked well."
Hadley stated on the television show "Loose Women" (22 February 2007) that he is 6'4" and 17½ stone.[1]. He has a new role as radio presenter with Virgin Radio, taking over the "Friday Night Virgin Party Classics" show from Suggs (of the band Madness), in August 2007. In January 2008, Tony was given the "Saturday Night Virgin Party Classics" show as well.
Hadley performed a set with other 1980s acts, at "Retro Fest", on 1 September 2007, at Culzean Castle, in Ayrshire, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Martin Fry of ABC and Peter Cox of Go West. In February 2008, he took part to the Italian Sanremo Festival, where he dueted, either in English and Italian, with young contestant Paolo Meneguzzi, on a song by the latter called "Grande" (meaning 'great'), during the third day of the contest (where all contestants re-interpreted their songs with guest artists).
On February 22nd, 2008, he performed in show program on semi-final evening of Dora, Croatian national selection of the Croatian song for Eurovision Song Contest.
Tony has shot his scenes for the forthcoming UK movie 'Shoot The DJ' which is due for completion in December 2008. He plays Eddie Richards. The film features the acts Sonic Hub and The Long Firm and is being produced by Sonic-Hub Films, part of Sonic-Hub Records.
He also made an appearance, sung, and gave advice and words of wisdom in Pinoy Dream Academy (season 2),a singing reality show in the Philippines.
In 2009 he joined the rest of his former bandmates in reformation of Spandau Ballet.
Skin Deep
Tony Hadley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See magic in each others eyes
Years go by
But the magic still remains. mmmm
Rain or shine
Whatever's waiting down the line
You can count on me, I'm where I want to be
You won't catch me dreaming
Wishing on a star
'Cos to me you're perfect
Just the way you are
I just want to hold you
Watch you while you sleep
I can see your beauty's
More that just skin deep
More than just skin deep
You're the one
No matter what I've said or done
Right or wrong
You'll always stand by me. mmm
And you should know
Whatever way the wind may blow
You are not alone
I'm yours, flesh, blood and bone
And I'll always be...
You won't catch me dreaming
Wishing on a star
'Cos to me you're perfect
Just the way you are
I just want to hold you
Watch you as you sleep
I can see a beauty
More than just skin deep
And if the sun don't rise tomorrow
If the world should turn away
I've got all I'll ever need
If you're lying here with me
You won't catch me dreaming
Wishing on a star
'Cos to me you're perfect
Just the way you are
I just want to hold you
Watch you while you sleep
'Cos I can see a beauty
More than just skin deep
Tony Hadley's song Skin Deep is a romantic ballad that expresses the everlasting bond between two people who have nurtured and sustained their love over the years. The lyrics highlight the depth of their connection, describing it as an unbreakable bond that has weathered the storms of time. The opening lines, "You and I see magic in each other's eyes/Years go by but the magic still remains," communicate the powerful attraction between the two people.
Hadley goes on to say that this deep connection between them is unwavering, even in the face of adversity, "Whatever's waiting down the line/You can count on me, I'm where I want to be/That will never change." He assures his partner that he wouldn't want them any other way, "You won't catch me dreaming/Wishing on a star/'Cause to me you're perfect/Just the way you are." In the chorus, he highlights the beauty of their love, "I just want to hold you/Watch you while you sleep/I can see your beauty's more than just skin deep."
The final verse reinforces the strength of their bond, even in the face of uncertainty or hardship. The lines, "And if the sun don't rise tomorrow/If the world should turn away/I've got all I'll ever need/If you're lying here with me," emphasize that as long as they have each other, they can overcome anything. Overall, the lyrics of Skin Deep paint a vivid picture of a deep and abiding love, one that has grown stronger over time and is not dependent on external factors.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I
The singer is addressing his significant other
See magic in each others eyes
The singer and his significant other have a strong connection and are able to recognize the magic they share
Years go by
The singer and his significant other have a long-standing relationship that has endured over time
But the magic still remains. mmmm
Despite the passage of time, the connection between the artist and his significant other is still strong and magical
Rain or shine
Regardless of the circumstances or challenges they may face
Whatever's waiting down the line
No matter what the future may hold
You can count on me, I'm where I want to be
The singer is committed to being there for his significant other and is happy in their relationship
That will never change
The artist's commitment to his significant other is unwavering
You won't catch me dreaming
The artist is not looking for anything more than what he already has with his significant other
Wishing on a star
The artist does not have any unrealistic expectations or desires
'Cos to me you're perfect
The singer sees his significant other as perfect and does not want anything to change
Just the way you are
The artist loves and accepts his significant other for who they are, without any need for improvement
I just want to hold you
The singer just wants physical and emotional closeness with his significant other
Watch you while you sleep
The singer finds comfort and contentment in simply being with his significant other, even when they are sleeping
I can see your beauty's
The singer recognizes and appreciates the inner beauty of his significant other
More that just skin deep
The artist values his significant other for who they are as a person, not just their appearance
You're the one
The artist's significant other is the most important person in his life
No matter what I've said or done
The singer acknowledges that he has made mistakes in the past, but his significant other has always been there for him regardless
Right or wrong
Regardless of whether the singer is in the right or in the wrong
You'll always stand by me. mmm
The artist's significant other will always support him and be there for him
And you should know
The artist wants to communicate something important to his significant other
Whatever way the wind may blow
Regardless of what the future may hold or what may happen
You are not alone
The singer's significant other will always have him by their side
I'm yours, flesh, blood and bone
The artist is fully and completely committed to his significant other
And I'll always be...
The singer's commitment to his significant other is everlasting
And if the sun don't rise tomorrow
Even in the face of catastrophic events or challenges
If the world should turn away
Even if society or others reject or turn away from the singer and his significant other
I've got all I'll ever need
The artist's significant other is all he needs to be happy and fulfilled in life
If you're lying here with me
The artist is happiest when he is with his significant other, regardless of any external factors
I just want to hold you
Same as before - the singer desires physical and emotional closeness with his significant other
Watch you while you sleep
Same as before
'Cos I can see a beauty
Same as before
More than just skin deep
Same as before
Writer(s): PETER COX, TONY HADLEY, RICHARD DRUMMIE
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.