Gary Kemp insists Spandau Ballet is over for good.
The musician starred as lead guitarist in the band, which shot to fame in 1980 and scored hits including To Cut a Long Story Short, True and Gold, but in a new interview he declared the group “history”.
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain:, Gary told host Adil Ray: “At the moment, I don’t think so. I think that’s history now..
“We’ve all moved on from that. When we have got back together it’s always been a bit tricky. We’re all getting on with our own work and getting on with our own thing.”
Spandau Ballet first split in 1990 but announced their reunion in March 2009, complete with a tour which began later that year. However, ongoing tensions within the group led to frontman Tony Hadley departing in 2017.
Explaining which aspects of the band’s reunion were “tricky”, Gary mused: “You know, we got together as friends when we were very young, we had a great time in our 20s.
“I think as you become men and build families and you build your own life outside of the band… you become different people.
“So it’s not always the same person that you remember,” he explained.
Following Tony’s exit, Spandau Ballet recruited singer and actor Ross William Wild as their new frontman for a series of European live dates and a one-off show at London’s Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith. However, he left just two years later.
Now, Gary is preparing to launch his first solo album in 25 years ‘INSOLO’, featuring lead track and current single Ahead of the Game.
Referencing his new single, Gary added: “I think, for me, to have the autonomy of working on my own has been much more exciting and fulfilling creatively.”
The album, released June 18, the star is joined by a heavyweight line-up of musicians on the album: the bass duties were handled by Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, David Gilmour), except Ahead of the Game and Too Much by Richard Jones of The Feeling, and Waiting for the Band by Gary’s brother, Martin Kemp.
Other appearances include Ged Lynch (Peter Gabriel, Electronic, Goldfrapp), Roger Taylor (Queen) and Ash Soan (Seal, Adele, Rod Stewart, Trevor Horn).
‘INSOLO’ is available to pre-order on CD and LP. Signed CDs are also available.
