Tony Hadley
‘School Run Porch Thoughts’
Humility seems to be a common trait among the biggest and best of the world’s musicians, and Tony Hadley is no exception. Receiving the highest of accolades for his contribution to world-class music of many genres, his considerable body of work with several charities and recent ‘Reformation’ and tour with iconic band Spandau Ballet, his life has been eventful and enriching.
Known for his contribution to the fabulous ‘Romantic 80’s’ music era, captured in the publication of his best-selling book To Cut A Long Story Short, Tony continues to write and record solo albums, perform tours across the world, and has a regular radio show broadcast from the United Kingdom.
If TV appearances, an award-winning brewing business and a career spanning several decades at the height of these ventures are not enough, then being ‘drop-off Dad’ at school for five children must earn him the highest award for multi-tasking.
Ahead of his Australian tour where he’ll be performing new songs and the hits of Spandau Ballet, accompanied by a Full Orchestra at the Palais Theatre, Tony was behind schedule on the Thursday school run, in his Buckinghamshire village in England’s south-east. ‘After the school bell rings’, Tony explained, “I’ll be in the recording studio for the next few days, completing the new album, due to be released early next year.”
You seem to be a master at balancing your family life and work. Where do you find time to think and perhaps just spend time with Tony Hadley?
My favourite place for thinking time or to get away from it all is while walking across the fields in my village. Then I go to the pub for a drink afterwards!
What do Australian audiences mean for you?
Spandau Ballet toured in Australia only once in the 80’s which is crazy, as we’d received such a great reception. Australian audiences have been very good to us, right from the beginning with our first song To Cut a Long Story Short.
You’ve been back to Australia several times as a solo artist, why will this show be special?
I’ll be performing with a wonderful orchestra and lush repertoire of music. The first half of the show will cover some of the new album, with songs I particularly love, and in the second half we’ll be taking the Spandau Ballet hits and arranging them into orchestrated songs.
What is your initial feeling about the upcoming album?
I’m really proud of what we have – a few people have heard the new album and their reaction is “Wow!” It’s going to be a very exciting tour.
The Spandau Ballet Reformation Tour was a welcome return to the magic of the Romantic music era of the 1980’s. To what do you attribute the era’s popularity among younger people today?
It’s strange, we were considered a bit alternative in our early career, but now ‘Romantic’ is ‘cool’ again. I do loads of festivals all over the world and so many young people come to our concerts knowing all the songs. I thought they’d just been listening to - or brainwashed by – their parents’ records, but kids do seem to appreciate good music from any era.
Why do you think that is?
I think many of them go back to the basics with great bands that I was listening to in my early years. It’s brilliant that they have access to such varied influences, and exposure to the different styles of music which have developed over recent generations.
Your upcoming shows range from large to smaller venues and you’ve performed on stages of many different types, from Wembley Stadium to entertaining troops on-field. Do you have a preference for any particular performance setting?
It’s much more about the event for me, really. I found Royal Albert Hall to be one of the loveliest performance venues, and Live Aid at Wembley Stadium was amazing, but I don’t really mind. I consider that regardless of the size of the venue or audience, I have a job to do and I’m a lucky boy with a ‘dream-come-true’ job!
Do you always prefer to work with big bands, particularly on tour?
I love working with big bands, and especially our fabulous orchestra, but one special event I’ll always remember was after the London Olympics where I was invited to sing at Team GB House. This was a much smaller room, with the Prime Minister, movie stars and members of the Royal Family in the audience, as I performed Gold to celebrate with the British medal-winners.
What circumstances led to the establishment of your own record label, Slipstream Records and your Radio DJ work?
I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it would provide greater independence as the music industry developed and changed. The big record companies still have enormous financial resources, but I was able to have more artistic control, and license the bigger companies to take care of the marketing and other business aspects of music production. I also love vinyl as a music medium, and really enjoy being a DJ.
The lyrics from your hugely popular song ‘True’ include: “Why do I find it hard to write the next line.” Have you ever struggled to complete a song or piece of music?
Oh God, yes - many times. As a songwriter I find coming up with a good idea and melody is not so hard, but coming up with a great one definitely can be. My writing can vary between conventional love songs, and at other times something very unique. If I find it’s not coming together as I’d like, I just put it aside and come back to it – there’s no rush to finish it, and good songs need to be carefully written.
Your entertainment career crosses many genres and varied roles across radio, TV, recording and stage performance. With so many opportunities, how do you decide which project has priority for you at any given time?
I ‘spin plates’ like most people do - family, recording, touring and business. I sometimes wish I could have a month off, but it’s the same for everybody. Life is crazier now that we have instant access to everything. It seems everyone wants things done immediately and our perception of time has accelerated since my early career. When I was here in Australia with Spandau Ballet in the 80’s, the thought of phoning home to the UK was almost impossible - and expensive! These days, I could be in Timbuktu and everyone knows where I am.
Your many music industry awards, accolades and active involvement with global charity organisations must give you enormous satisfaction, so what new challenge or project do you think you could possibly add to your long list of achievements?
Well, I really enjoyed playing the character of Billy Flynn in London's West End production of Chicago, and I’d love one day to be in a Hollywood movie blockbuster. I’ve never had the chance to be in a big film.
What is your Porch Thought For The Day?
“I think our message in Through the Barricades says it: ‘Believe you have the strength to overcome. Enjoy it, and try not to stress - life’s good when you do what you love.”