My Spandau Ballet days Diary
By
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 EPILOGUE
I was 13
years of age when a band from Islington, north London called Spandau Ballet
entered the top 30 (as it was then) with a song called ‘To cut a long story
short’ They did not immediately catch my attention it was a year later when
entering my friend Nikki’s bedroom that I saw a picture of a handsome young man
on her bedroom wall. I asked Nikki “who is that he is gorgeous”
“Oh that’s Martin Kemp of Spandau
Ballet”
“ Spandau Ballet? Who are they?”
“Here look and listen.” My friend said
pushing a poster in my hand and placing a cassette into her portable radio
cassette recorder. Music started to play and I looked at the poster in my
hands.
“Wow, they are brilliant!” I said
“Oh they’re ok” my friend replied, “I
like Gary myself” She told me pointing to one of the handsome young men on the
poster.
“Ooh, He is nice” I said not really
listening to her anymore as I was listening to the music. I was totally hooked
on it and the five lads that were on the poster I was holding. I didn’t get pocket
money so I could not buy the records I just had to hope their songs would be
played on the radio. Then the following year My sister bought the new out True
Album only to find that I kept borrowing it. In the end she gave it to me.
I have
been a fan of those handsome men ever since and have driven family and friends
round the bend with “Gary Kemp this” and “Tony Hadley that”. I have dragged
them to concerts to see Spandau perform live 4 times (I was only allowed to go
to one venue each tour). I also dragged them to the filming of 2 TV pop shows
that Spandau were performing on in Merseyside. When they broke up I was the
ripe old age of 23 and heartbroken.
So here are my memoirs of
SPANDAU MANIA
My Spandau Ballet days Diary
By
Part 1,
Part
2, Part 3,
Part
4, Part 5,
Part
6, Part 7
Early 1983
A newspaper announces that Spandau Ballet are to tour
the country. One of the venues they are to play is Liverpool Empire Theatre. I
also received a letter from the Spandau Ballet fan club announcing the tour.
I really wanted to go so I pleaded with my friend
Jane Harrison to come with me; after all I had just sacrificed a night all to
myself to go with her to see Duran Duran. As soon as she agreed I went to get
the tickets from the Liverpool Empire box office.
The concert is to be on April 16th 1983.
Just before the tour Spandau released their new LP True and had already had a
hit with Lifeline and had released the single TRUE which had gone to Number One
in the charts.
The night of the concert arrived and I was excited
even before we arrived at the Theatre. We got dropped off outside with strict
instructions of where we were to be picked up from and at what time. We passed
some men selling counterfeit goods outside the theatre and I felt the
excitement bubbling up inside me and couldn’t wait to get inside.
Once inside we bought some real merchandise in the
form of posters, badges and a souvenir brochure before making our way to our
seats on the balcony. The theatre was gradually filling up with excited
teenagers like myself, and young women. As 8pm approached my friend and I were
watching the audience who like us were becoming restless. You could just see
the roadies setting up the equipment on the stage and every so often a girl in
the front stalls would cheer thinking it was Spandau coming on stage.
Then at half past 8 the lights went down the whole
theatre was plunged into darkness and a voice from the darkness said “The
Liverpool Empire proudly welcomes on Stage SPANDAU BALLET”. The opening chords
of ‘FOUNDATION’ strike up and the stage light go on and there they are… Spandau
Ballet walk on stage. Tony makes his way to the centre and starts singing
Foundation above girls screaming for their favourite member. My friend and I
begin to dance, clap and sing along with every other girl in the Theatre. After
finishing the opening song Tony Hadley shouts “HELLO LIVERPOOL” everyone
screams again. Tony, Gary, Martin, Steve and John all look so handsome in their
suits and we all scream again as one of the others talk to us over the
microphone only to be drowned out by the screaming.
Song after song performed to perfection.
COMMUNICATION, PLEASURE, GOLD, LIFELINE, TRUE, PAINT ME DOWN, INSTINCTION,
HEAVEN IS A SECRET, CODE OF LOVE, THE FREEZE, MUSCLEBOUND, SHE LOVED LIKE
DIAMOND but not in that order. Between each song Gary or Tony would try to
speak but were always drowned out by the screams reverberating around the
theatre. Then they left the stage after saying goodnight. We all screamed we
want more and Spandau returned to the stage to sing two encores, which were
CHANT No 1, and TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT. And then they went off the stage
again and returned with flowers, Roses to be precise and began throwing them to
the screaming girls who by now were screaming louder than ever. I could just
hear Gary and Tony saying ‘Thank you Liverpool’ and ‘You’re the best, Cheers,
Liverpool’ and ‘Have a safe journey and goodnight’ before they left the stage
for the final time. We all screamed again ‘We want more’ but the lights came
back on to signal that the gig was over. Jane and I collected our things
together and made our way out of the Theatre. The exit we came out of was at
the other side of the theatre to where we were instructed to meet my father so
we had to walk around the back of the theatre and past the stage door.
‘Let’s
wait for them to come out’ I suggested.
‘OK’
my friend replied, so we waited amongst a crowd of 40 excited girls. Suddenly a
window above the stage door opened and there they were…. Spandau Ballet….
Hanging out of the window. We all started screaming for our favourite member
again and the band just laughed between them and waved to us all before
disappearing briefly. When they returned they began throwing roses and photo’s
out to us.
There was a wild scurry of young girls desperately
trying to grab Spandau’s offerings. I made to grab a rose but was pushed out of
the way by an overexcited young girl. Then I saw a photo falling through the
air towards me. I reached out to grab it but once more I was pushed out of the
way as if the girls life depended on getting that photo. Another was thrown and
another and another and with each one I was determined to catch one. I made a
grab for one that was falling towards me, my feet nearly left the ground in my
determination. Yes!!!! I got it…. I said to myself as I pulled it towards me
‘please let it be Gary or Martin, Please!’ Slowly I turned it over so I could
see who it was of…damn! It was Steve, oh well I thought I will just have to try
and catch another one but there were not as many being thrown out now and the
other girls were acting like wild animals.
‘Never mind’ my friend
shouted towards me ‘ look there’s another one…’ she continued before
disappearing under a mass of scavenging female bodies. A minute later she
reappeared at my side. ‘Look what I got’ she said showing me a crumpled signed
photo of Gary Kemp.
‘
You lucky thing’ I shouted to her before trying to catch another falling photo
but to no avail. Then Spandau Ballet disappeared from the window and the window
shut behind them. Downheartedly I looked hopefully on the floor for any missed
photos but there was nothing. Then the stage door opened and the five members
of Spandau ran out and got onto a waiting coach. We all rushed towards the
coach in the hope of just touching one of them and girls began to scream again
as they flocked around the coach.
‘ Martin, I love you!’ and
‘Tony, I’m True for You’ were things shouted by some girls standing by me.
Slowly the coach began to move off up the road with girls still chasing it,
screaming madly. Behind the darkened back window of the coach five shadowy
figures of Spandau Ballet can just be seen, waving to us all.
As my friend and I made our way towards my fathers
waiting car to go home Jane said to me ‘I tell you what.’
‘What?’
I asked
‘I’ll
do you a swap, you can have Gary Kemp and I will have Steve Norman.’
‘Are
you sure?’ I asked hesitantly.
‘Course
I’m sure.’ Jane replied.
‘Ok
it’s a deal.’ I said gratefully as we reached the car. Once we got in the car
the swap was made.
‘What
took you so long?’ My father greeted us with.
‘Nothing’
I said
‘Well
hurry up and get your seatbelt on I haven’t got all night.’ My father said
sharply.
‘Did you
have a nice time daughter dear?’ I said sarcastically ‘Yeah great!’ I replied,
looking back at my friend in the back seat. Who was smiling. ‘Did you enjoy it
Jane?’ I asked.
‘Yeah
it was brilliant.’ She replied
‘It
was wasn’t it.’? I said completely ignoring my father’s hostile attitude. We
dropped Jane off at the house before going home. When I got in Mum asked.
‘Did
you have a good time dear?’
‘Mum
it was brilliant!’ I said happily. ‘In fact next time they tour I’m going to go
and see them again.’
‘Oh!
That’s nice love’ Mum said absently as she saw the mood my father was in. I
left the room quickly to get ready for bed, as I had to revise the following
morning for my English exam.
During the spring on 1984 Granada TV announced a special pop show is to
be filmed at New Brighton’s Open Air baths. The show was to be called New
Brighton Rock and is to have big stars such as Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Eddie
Grant and Spandau Ballet. Tickets are free and can be collected from the baths
mid May. Filming will take place over two days at the beginning of June.
As soon as I read this I knew I had to go. So
on the morning the tickets were to be allocated as people were only allocated 2
tickets each, and my friend David had asked me to get 4 tickets for the show
with Frankie goes to Hollywood on I asked my mother and Grandmother to come
with me. When we got there the queue was already right round the side of the
baths and as we waited for the doors to open at 10am I was beginning to think
we may not get all of the tickets. We seemed to wait for ages but finally the
queue began to move. Everyone was a little excited at the prospect of seeing
his or her favourite band perform on the show. My mum and Nan were to get 2 Frankie
tickets each and I was to get the Spandau Tickets. As I got through the doors I
asked nervously (as I had convinced myself that all the Spandau tickets had
gone) ‘2 tickets for the Spandau night please’ behind me I heard my mum and Nan
ask for the Frankie tickets but I was already in a daze because the man was
giving ME tickets for the Spandau night. I kept thinking to myself “I’ve got
them! I’m going to see Spandau again”. I felt my mum guide me out of the doors
and into the street. Once outside my mum said ‘here’s 2 tickets for the Frankie
night, and here’s the other 2.’ Taking them from my Nan.
‘and here you are Lynn love’ my Nan said
handing my 2 more tickets. I looked at them in amazement. They were 2 tickets
for the Spandau Night. I had 4 tickets for the Spandau night, 4 tickets! “Now
who can I take???” I thought but the decision had already been made for me as I
heard mum say, ‘now Andrea and Diane (my two older sisters) can go with you’
‘But mum…’ I started to say
‘No arguments, they are going and that’s
that.’
The day arrived and before we were due to leave
Spandau Ballet’s new single ‘Only When You Leave’ was reviewed on Radio One. I
was beginning to feel a rush of adrenalin as the excitement started to bubble
inside me. Only a few more hours and I will see them again. I couldn’t wait. My
eldest sister Andrea drove myself my other sister and Andrea’s friend from
college (none of my friends could make it in the end) to the baths at New
Brighton. We were allowed to sit wherever we liked but my sister insisted we
sat pretty high up so we would be able to see. So we found seats to the left
hand side of the stage in the middle of the row. We had an excellent view. I
would have liked to be closer but elder sisters can be a pain and insist on
these things.
The show started with the bands
rehearsing the songs they were to do. Eddie Grant was first (a reggae artist).
There were 2 other acts (my memory is not that good as to remember who they
were so they were not that memorable). It started to get dark and the programme
organisers had already told us that they were not filming it until it was dark.
A voice on the tannoy speaks up. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys please
welcome SPANDAU BALLET’. A huge cheer ran around the baths. The makeshift stage
was over the shallow end of the pool. It had a short walkway leading to a small
platform area about 30 feet over to the middle of the pool. Back on the stage
John Keeble makes his way to his drums Steve Norman shout ‘alright’ and waves
before picking up his saxophone. Gary and Martin walk across the stage and pick
up their guitars and Tony strolls on stage says in the microphone ‘ Hello New
Brighton’. Then the music starts. I recognise the opening of ONLY WHEN YOU
LEAVE and say to my sister excitedly, ‘It’s their new single I heard it before’
When they finished rehearsing that Tony says That’s our new single and here’s a
song off our new album called PARADE, and this song is called HIGHLY STRUNG.
Another cheer goes round the baths. When they finished singing Tony said ‘we’ll
be back later’ and went off the stage. I had to endure the other artists again,
only this time it was being filmed. Then just before midnight the announcer
said on the tannoy SPANDAU BALLET and everyone began to cheer again as each member
of Spandau took up their positions on the stage. Behind them a big screen with
lights on it lit up to say SPANDAU BALLET and the roar from the crowd rose as
Spandau began to sing ‘ONLY WHEN YOU LEAVE’ again. Once again explaining that
‘it was their new single out next week and the next song is off their new album
PARADE and is called ‘HIGHLY STRUNG’.’ As Tony sings it this time though he
makes his way down the walkway to the small platform much to the delight of
everyone who is now standing up dancing and singing. He sings there for a
little while before making his way back up the walkway but as he does he slips.
The crowd gasped in horror as the thought of him going head first into the
water flashes through our brains. But no it’s all right he manages to stay
upright and walks slowly back to the stage. It was as the musical bit of the
song is playing and Tony looked visibly shaken as he climbs the steps back onto
the stage. I watch as Gary goes over and asks if he is OK and he nods before
carrying on with the song. I could see he was trying to make a joke of it with
the others. The song ends and so does the filming and the show. Gary, Tony,
Martin Steve and John all go off the stage shouting ‘see you all soon’ and
‘goodnight’. My sister nudges me to indicate that it is time to leave and we
make our way out of the baths and back to the car. As we are driving out of the
resort of New Brighton a Minibus pulls up beside us and being nosy I look in to
see 5 familiar faces talking with each other inside. ‘ Look! It’s Spandau!’ I
say excitedly as the minibus drives off. ‘Let’s follow it’ I suggest.
‘Don’t be silly’ came the reply from my
sisters.
‘You mean thing’ I said sulkily before
immediately cheering up again as I remember that with a new album coming out
soon it will mean another tour, yesss.
July 1984
A few days later I received a letter from the fan
club announcing the venues of the tour. I scour the list but cannot find
Liverpool on it. Disappointment hits me like a bucket of icy cold water. Why
aren’t they playing Liverpool? It’s not fair! Then as I read the list again I
notice something. Tickets for the Deeside Leisure Centre concert will go on
sale at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre box office and coaches will be laid on,
on the night of the concert from Liverpool and Birkenhead. Tickets go on sale
from Saturday 25th of August. Damn, I’m going to Anfield to the
match on that day. How will I be able to get the tickets for myself and my two
younger cousins now? Wait a minute! I could ask mum to go. So I wait for a good
moment and say to my mum ‘ Mum. you know I love you lots don’t you?’ mum looked
at me suspiciously and says.
‘What
are you after?’
‘Please
could you go and get the tickets for the Spandau Ballet gig at Deeside, I’ll
love you forever if you do? I have the money and you said you were paying for
Tina and Debbie, Please?’
‘When
and where do I have to go?’ Mum replied.
Yes! Mum has agreed to go on the Saturday with my Nan
to get the tickets and a picture disk single from Paul Young. I am going to
Deeside to see Spandau, Yes! Yes! Yes!
Saturday 25th August, I left the money
with Mum and Nan before setting off for the match. The excitement of the
Liverpool game was nothing compared to the nerves and excitement at the thought
of getting the Spandau tickets. But what if they couldn’t get them?, what if
they have sold out? Lord, please let them get the tickets and if you can help
Liverpool to win too that would be great.
Liverpool won! Hurray! It must be a good omen. All
the way home, my mind was running through every scenario. How will I be able to
get tickets to see them if Mum couldn’t get them? As the car pulled up outside
the house I quickly undid the seatbelt and ran into the house to see if mum and
Nan had got the tickets.
‘Did
you get them mum?’ I asked throwing my jacket on the settee.
‘Well’ mum said, ‘the thing
is love….’ She starts and my heart begins to sink as disappointment sets in,
“they haven’t got them” I think to myself. I hear my mum continue ‘As we were
handing the money over, this man reached over us from behind and stole the
money. The ticket office man and I ran after him but we lost him in St. John’s
Market’
‘Oh no!’ I was so shocked
and all my hopes were dashed. ‘He didn’t hurt you did he?’ I asked belatedly.
My mum replied that he didn’t hurt them and both mum and Nan went on to tell me
the full story, about being questioned by the police etc and ended the story by
saying,
‘and the manager of the
Royal Court was really good. He knew how disappointed you would be so he gave
us the tickets anyway.’
I couldn’t believe my ears. I’m still going to see
Spandau at Deeside. Oh Thank You God! The following week, I went to the Royal
Court Box Office and thanked them personally.
December 14th 1984
The day of the concert had arrived, it was time to
set off for the Royal Court, Liverpool, to catch one of the coaches put on to take
the Spandau fans to Queensferry, where the Deeside Leisure Centre is. My two
cousins are with me, Tina, 15 and Debbie, 12. when we arrived at the theatre we
had to wait for the coaches to turn up. When they did we were on coach no. 2
and settled down for the hour long journey. Time flew by as did the countryside
around us and we reached the car park for the Deeside Leisure Centre in no time
at all. We got off the coach and joined the queue of girls waiting to get in.
we were at the back of the queue, which was around the back of the building
already. We could hear music coming from inside, Spandau were rehearsing, we
tried to see in somewhere but all the windows had been blocked. We had to wait
30 minutes after the band had stopped rehearsing before the queue began to move
and it took another 15 minutes before we were in the building and entering the
covered Ice Rink where Spandau were performing.
We positioned ourselves about 20 feet from the stage
in the centre and waited patiently. The Centre soon filled up and we were
afraid of getting shoved out of our perfect position. I was particularly
worried about Debbie as she being the youngest, I wanted to protect her from
being pushed around too much.
Then the lights went down and the stage lights came
on. A voice was heard over the speakers saying ‘The Deeside Leisure Centre
Proudly Present, SPANDAU BALLET’ We all screamed and there they were. Tony,
Steve, Gary, Martin and John. They started to sing a song off their parade
album. Those in the audience who had the album sang along. They sang every
single off their previous albums and some other tracks too. The crowd sang
along with every song and we were all dancing.
It was an effort for me to keep my youngest cousin
from disappearing from view under the mass of dancing and screaming girls.
Somehow we found ourselves nearer to the stage. I could almost touch Gary Kemp
but not quite as I kept getting knocked away by some girls who did not care who
they hurt. Then after nearly two hours of performing their hit singles, Tony
started to say those dreaded words. ‘it’s time for us to go now. We hope you
have enjoyed it, you’ve been a fantastic audience Deeside, see you all soon’
The other band members were waving and saying goodbye. We all screamed in
unison ‘ More! We want more!’ Spandau came back on and sang WITH THE PRIDE,
GOLD and TRUE before finally leaving the stage. We shouted for ‘more’ again but
the lights came on and we all began to leave the Centre. We made our way back
to the coach park, found coach 2 and the journey home began.
We arrived back outside the Royal Court Theatre at
11.30pm and made our way to the station for the last part of the journey home.
I was looking forward to the future, hoping that it won’t be too long before
Spandau tour again. I didn’t realize then that it would not be for another two
years.
Within the two years that Spandau Ballet were touring
Europe, Steve Norman injured himself. They recorded the Band Aid single ‘Do
They Know It’s Christmas’ with Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and other stars from
the 1980’s. then they appeared for 10 – 15 minutes on the big concert of 1985
Live Aid. They started off singing GOLD then sang a brand new song called WE
ARE VIRGIN and finished their set with TRUE. The singles collection album was
released by Chrysalis Records.
1986
Granada TV have announced
that they are once again to put on a POP SPECTACULAR. This time it will be
called ‘Rock Around The Dock’ and will be held at Liverpool’s newest tourist
attraction, the renovated Albert Docks. It is to be filmed over 4 nights during
the Summer. Tickets are once again free. To apply for tickets you must send a
stamped addressed envelope to ******** **** stating how many tickets you
require and for which nights. Stars appearing on the show are: Five Star, The
Style Council, Status Quo, Chaka Khan, The Damned, Frankie Goes To Hollywood
and Spandau Ballet…plus many more
Yessss, Spandau are coming to Liverpool. Must get
tickets. I know I’ll apply for tickets and enter competitions in my sisters
addresses too that way I can get as many tickets as I can.
I have sent off for 3 tickets and entered 2
competitions to win tickets from the Liverpool Echo. Please Lord let me see
Spandau again.
Post has just arrived. Yes, I have my 3 tickets for
the Spandau Night and won 2 more tickets for the Spandau night and won tickets
under my cousins name for the 1st night, which is when Five Star and
Chaka Khan are on.
The first night of the Granada Special is here and my
cousin and I are going. I don’t really like Five Star but Chaka Khan is
alright. I doubt if we will enjoy ourselves.
Just back from the Albert Dock. It was really good, a
bit long winded with all of the rehearsing having to be done and they didn’t
film it properly until it was dark but it was surprising just how much both
Debbie and I enjoyed ourselves. Can’t wait for the Spandau night in two nights
time.
Yes! Tonight’s the night, I’m gonna see Spandau
again. My eldest sister, myself, my two cousins and my sisters boyfriends niece
are all going to the Albert Dock in Liverpool. I am so excited but my sister
keeps giving me a funny look. I am going to have to calm down and behave
myself. Sister’s they really are a pain at times, here am I all ready to have
some fun and I have to act sensibly because big sisters around. Ah sod it, why
shouldn’t I have some fun.
My sister drove us to the Albert Dock gates where we
queued and then went off to park the car somewhere. We were the first in the
queue too which means we get to sit wherever we like the best. My sister has
joined us now and I am beside myself with excitement but I am suppressing it
and not showing it outwardly. I am cool, calm and collected and a model of behaviour
to my younger cousins. Hello, there’s two limos with shaded windows just
pulling up waiting for the gates to open. OH MY GOD, THERE’S TONY HADLEY AND
MARTIN KEMP. Calm, calm, calm, breathe slowly and deeply. OH MY GOD! I nudge my
cousins and we wave to Tony and Martin. OH MY GOD! They’ve waved back at us.
Other girls in the queue have noticed the people in the car now and have
started to scream and shout. I think I am going to faint, my heart is thumping
erratically and I am dying to scream too but I am the model of sense behaviour.
I have to be as my sister has just given me that certain look that said “if you
make a fool of yourself and me I will hit you” it was that that bought me back
down to earth. After all I am 19 years of age and should know better than to go
all gooey over a pop group. The cars with Spandau in have gone now anyway. When
are they going to let us in?????
Yes the gates have been opened and we have all made
our way to the area where the show is being filmed. My cousins and I have
picked our spot perfectly. Right in the middle of the stage area on the 2nd
row (as the first row has got RESERVED on it, blast it) the stage was situated
on the water, attached to a tall ship. From the stage there was a walkway and a
small platform. The audience, (us) were seated along the edge of the dock. It
was safe and no one could fall into the water, nor could anyone get to the
artists performing.
The show started and just like the other day’s
filming, the bands come on twice, once to rehearse and the second for actual
filming. The first artists to come on was RUN DMC and they sang Walk This Way.
The lead singer was wearing this red codpiece and looked very silly. They sang
another song then went off. The second act was not that memorable. In fact I
have never heard of them before (and have never heard of them since. Lynn
2004)
Next to come on stage was Status Quo, who sang In The
Army Now and another of their songs which was really catchy. The five of us
were dancing away to their songs. Then finally on came Spandau Ballet. They
sang two songs from their latest album, THROUGH THE BARRICADES. The first song
was their new single they announced, it was called FIGHT FOR OURSELVES then
they sang their second song CROSS THE LINE.
Once it went dark, the bands came on again to film
their various songs. Status quo were just as good second time around and it got
me in the mood for Spandau. The second time Spandau came on stage it was just
before midnight and as Tony started singing behind the stage fireworks were lit
which spelled out SPANDAU BALLET. The band were singing Fight For Ourselves and
on the part of the song where cheers are heard, Tony came down the walkway to
the platform and the platform moved towards the audience. The crowd went wild
at this especially me. Then the platform went back into position and Tony
returned to the stage. He was half running to get back on stage before he had
to sing again and as he did he nearly slipped on the walkway. The crowd gasped,
especially as we knew the murky water in the dock was very deep. The thought of
what might have happened chilled me to the bone but fortunately Tony got back
to the stage safely but shaken. You could see by his face. He carried on and
went on to sing CROSS THE LINE perfectly.
Once again, all too soon, the show was over and
Spandau went off stage after saying their goodbyes until the next time. It was
time for us to leave the Albert Dock and make our way home. I was hoping that
it wont be too long before their next tour is announced and I get to see them
again.
A week later my fan club letter arrived in the post
announcing their tour. I scoured the list. Wembley, Birmingham, Edinburgh,
Ireland, Wales and Manchester GMex Centre on the 20th December. Damn
they are not playing Liverpool, I will have to go to Manchester to see them. It
said on the letter that I can book the tickets through the fan club as special
priority seats have been arranged for fan club members. So I have written to
the fan club sending the booking form asking for two tickets and a cheque to
pay for the tickets.
A few weeks later my tickets arrived we are sitting
in block P row 2 seats 1 & 2. Yes! I am going to see Spandau again. I can’t
wait for December.
20th December 1986
Well the night has arrived and my sister and her
boyfriend Steve have just driven my cousin Tina and I to the gig in Manchester.
My sister has left instructions that she and Steve will by in the pub opposite
the car park after the gig and we are to go in there to meet up.
My cousin and I have just said goodbye to them and
are now heading for the front of the G. Mex Centre. The doors are still closed
so we wait in the small queue to get in. I can’t wait! The excitement is
already building up inside of me.
20 min Later
The doors have just opened and we are in but before
we go to our seats we have to be searched by security. Thankfully they never
found my camera, I had it well hidden.
Now we are in the arena we have found Block P and
can’t believe our luck. It is the first block at the front. Brilliant! Now all
we have to do is wait patiently for the gig to start. The arena gradually fills
up and the time is nearing for the start. We are all getting excited now and we
all scream when the lights go down. The girls sat on the front row have got up
and run to the empty space in front of the stage so I said to Tina “come on!
And ran to the stage too. We are at the barrier that separates the screaming
girls from the stage.
Music begins but it is not a Spandau song, it’s
classical music that I have heard before but can never remember the name.
Slowly the stage is opening up. (The stage lights are on a mechanism where it
covered the stage so no one could see) dry ice appears from the rear of the
stage and then figures appear from the foggy mist.
It’s the band coming on stage, Tony’s enormous form
appears from the dry ice followed by Gary, them Martin, Steve and John gets
behind his drums. There is a keyboard player too and backing singers but they
are not important to all of us in the crowd who are now screaming at the top of
our voices for our favourite band member.
The opening chords of CROSS THE LINE are played and
the gig begins. After the song ends Tony says to the crowd “Hello Manchester!”
and we all scream louder. They go on to play all their album tracks from the
THROUGH THE BARRICADES ALBUM. They also sing the most popular singles and past
album tracks as we all sing along and dance. Tina and I are by this time
getting pushed against the barrier by the crazy girls behind us but we don’t
care. We are too happy enjoying ourselves.
Song line up was as follows : BARRICADES INTRO, CROSS
THE LINE, HIGHLY STRUNG, VIRGIN, HOW MANY LIES, WITH THE PRIDE, GOLD, LIFELINE,
I’LL FLY FOR YOU, ONLY WHEN YOU LEAVE, THROUGH THE BARRICADES, CHANT NO 1, TO CUT
A LONG STORY SHORT, TRUE, FIGHT FOR OURSELVES
Then Tony and Gary begin THROUGH THE BARRICADES and it sounded absolutely wonderful. The
encores started with, TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT & TRUE. The band went off
stage and we all cried for “more!” Spandau came back on stage and sang FIGHT
FOR OURSELVES and then once again they
were saying “goodbye” and leaving the stage. We cried again for “More!” but the
classical music began again and the arena lights came back on.
Tina and I let the arena battered and bruised from
the barrier but extremely happy. It had been a really good night. Walking away
from the arena we talked about the gig and wondered when we would see Spandau
again, hoping it would not be too long.
When we arrived at the pub the doors were locked and
they would not let us in. my sister realised this and eventually her and Steve came
out. We made our way back to my sisters car and drove home. All the way, I was
thinking ‘I wonder when they will tour again?’
Little did I know that I would have to wait four
years for Spandau Ballet to make a new album and tour. During the four years
rumours began that Gary and Martin were to star in a film about The Kray Twins.
Which they eventually did film. Spandau also split from the record company
Chrysalis. The legal case went on for ages then finally Spandau signed with CBS
Records. This meant they could record their next album called HEART LIKE A SKY.
The album was released in late 1989 and a tour was
announced through the fan club for January, February and March of 1990. They
were to do a gig at the LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE on 26th February,
1990.
Once again I got my tickets through the fan club.
When the tickets arrived I got that same rush of excitement that I always get,
even though I was now 24 years of age and “should know better” as my sister’s
look said.
A few weeks before the gig my friend Bev said that
she wouldn’t mind going so I went to the Empire and managed to get her a
ticket. She was to be on the rear circle, which was the back of the balcony.
But my cousin and I had a plan to smuggle her in downstairs with us.
26th February 1990
The day of the concert arrived. We met Bev earlier outside
the theatre and we are now inside the theatre. I have bought my souvenir brochure
and we are now making our way to the bar area to discuss our cunning plan to get
Bev in downstairs with us.
The plan worked and we entered the stalls bar shortly
afterwards. Bev was to stay in there until the band came on. When the lights went
down we all screamed and Bev appeared beside us and screamed too. The only thing
I was worried about was that our seats were at the back of the Front Stalls and
a member of staff might notice. Fortunately they didn’t and after Spandau came on
I didn’t particularly cared either.
The first thing I noticed was how different Gary and Marin
looked. They had just finished filming The Krays film a few months earlier. The
music started and Tony began singing in his own unique way. He really does have
a fantastic voice.
We all screamed, sang and danced to the songs, I knew
all the album track but my cousin and Bev didn’t and as I looked around I could
tell that most didn’t. They started the gig with RAW then went on to sing HIGHLY
STRUNG, ONLY WHEN YOU LEAVE. As they were singing this song I begun to get this
feeling that something was different. Spandau although they were belting out their
old and new songs with the usual gusto, they did not appear, in my eyes, to be enjoying
it.
They went on to sing BIG FEELING, A MATTER OF TIME,
CRASHED INTO LOVE, MOTIVATOR, WINDY TOWN, EMPTY SPACES and A HANDFUL OF DUST from
their album HEART LIKE A SKY. Then went
on to sing I’LL FLY FOR YOU, WITH THE PRIDE and GOLD, COMMUNICATION, LIFELINE, BE
FREE WITH YOUR LOVE followed by THROUGH THE BARRICADES.
The longer the gig went on the stronger the feeling became
and I felt desperate and saddened. I desperately wanted them to suddenly feel the
spark of enjoyment and have fun like they used to before. I felt saddened because
although you could tell they were trying their hardest they just could not enjoy
it.
They finished with an encore of TRUE, TO CUT A LONG STORY
SHORT and CHANT NO 1. As they finished saying their goodbyes and went off stage,
I got this feeling that I would never see Spandau play live again and I felt really
sad but I shook my head thinking I was being silly.
We left the theatre and went to the stage door. Tina and
Bev were all excited but I was feeling very subdued as I could not shake off the
feeling I had that it would be the last time I would see Spandau live. I tried
to reason the feeling away saying to myself that I was at last growing up but I
knew it wasn’t that.
I tried to summon up some hope within me but when
Spandau came out of the stage door and ran onto the waiting coach, with girls
screaming and grabbing at them, Tina and Bev being amongst the screaming mass of
hysterical girls/women. I didn’t
attempt to join them and watched. As I did all hope faded away. The looks on
the faces of Tony, Steve, Martin, John and Gary spoke volumes to me and I suddenly
felt grief overwhelming me. I was nearly suffocated in the grief I felt.
Around me girls and young women were screaming and
going crazy around the coach, running after it as it began to drive away and I
stood alone and watched as it took Spandau Ballet away from the theatre. As it
drove up the road, I said silently “Goodbye Spandau Ballet. I’ll miss you” and sadly
I said goodbye to the band who got me through so many bad times in my life. They
really were my heroes.
It wasn’t until a year later that the announcement of
the split came. It was no surprise to me. I had been waiting for it. All the wait
did was bring on false hope.
For years afterwards I would get this thrill of pleasure whenever I was in a shop and a Spandau Ballet song could be heard playing in the background. I would stop shopping and just stand there listening, remembering. Feeling happy for a few minutes and that was when I realised that Spandau Ballet will always be together in my heart and in my memories.
Even now, whenever I hear a Spandau Ballet song playing I feel uplifted
by it. In my mind I go back to my teenage years, to a place where I feel safe
and positive. Then I come back to today 14 years since I last saw Spandau
Ballet play live. I am no longer the silly young woman, who screamed after a
band of five handsome young men. A woman who had her whole life to look forward
to. I am now, scarily enough a silly middle aged woman, who now screams after
one still handsome Tony Hadley and John Keeble. A woman who still enjoys life
to the full and hopes for the best that everything around her will turn out
alright in the end. Who does her best to make people around her happy while wearing
the lines of sacrifice.
I have been to see Tony, Steve and John live since
and although it is not the same, it is enough to ‘keep the fires burning’ in my
memory of Spandau Ballet, five handsome, sexy men. All extremely talented in their
own way, all in careers that they enjoy.
Martin has beaten a terrifying illness and become one
of Britain’s best loved actors, Gary has stayed in the music industry and
acting too. Tony won the Reborn In The USA TV programme. Tours with Peter Cox
from Go West from time to time along with John on drums and has several solo albums
out. He and John still tour with Steve every so often. Tony has also done some
acting in DOWN TO EARTH and HUNTING
VENUS. They of course lost the court battle with Gary over royalties and there
is still bitterness on Tony’s part towards Gary. We ‘True’ Spandau Ballet fans
though are left with our memories.
Recent reports though from Gary Kemp’s website have
given fans some hope that maybe one day Spandau will reform. I don’t know how
true it is. We will all just have to wait and see.