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.
The First Cut Is the Deepest
Tony Hadley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but there's someone who's torn it apart
and she's taking almost all that I've got
but if you want, I'll try to love again
baby I'll try to love again but I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
'Cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
but when it comes to being loved she's first
that's how I know
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
The lyrics of Tony Hadley's "The First Cut Is The Deepest" describe the pain and betrayal caused by a previous lover who left the singer broken-hearted. The singer admits that he would have given his heart to the new lover but he is hesitant as he fears a repeat of the pain inflicted by the previous lover. The singer tries to find the courage to love again but acknowledges that the first cut is the deepest, implying that the pain caused by the previous lover has left a deeper impact.
The repetition of the phrase "the first cut is the deepest" emphasizes the lasting trauma caused by the betrayal of the previous lover. The singer highlights the cursed luck of the previous lover when it comes to love, but also acknowledges that she was the first to be loved, adding to the complexity of the situation. Overall, the lyrics convey the internal struggle of the singer to trust and love again while carrying the scars of the first heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I would have given you all of my heart
I would have given you my love and commitment entirely
but there's someone who's torn it apart
But someone else has hurt me so badly that I can't give my heart away again
and she's taking almost all that I've got
The pain from that past experience still affects me deeply and leaves me with little emotional energy left to give
but if you want, I'll try to love again
However, if you're willing, I'm willing to try and open my heart to love once more
baby I'll try to love again but I know
But I can't ignore the fact that this will be a difficult journey due to the hurt I've experienced before
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The pain of being hurt so deeply the first time is almost impossible to forget or overcome
The first cut is the deepest
The initial wound of a broken heart is the most intense and hard to recover from
'cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
The person who hurt me seems to have terrible luck in life, especially when it comes to relationships
when it comes to lovin' me she's worst
Despite this, she seems to excel in causing me pain and heartbreak
but when it comes to being loved she's first
Oddly enough, she's still the one who has taken the biggest part of my heart and love
that's how I know
These mixed experiences have taught me that love and pain go hand in hand, and it's impossible to predict which will follow
I still want you by my side
Despite the fear and hesitation, I still have feelings for you and hope to have you close
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
Your presence and support will be a comforting handkerchief for my tears and sadness
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
I'm willing to give our relationship a chance and see where it goes
and if you want, I'll try to love again
I'm willing to take the risk of being hurt again if you're willing to try loving me back
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know
But I can't ignore the fact that this will be a daunting challenge that will test my strength and resilience
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
The memory of that past hurt and the fear of it happening again is overwhelming and a constant presence in my mind
The first cut is the deepest
The pain of a first love or a first heartbreak stays with you forever and makes you more cautious and mistrusting in future relationships
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind