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Kyle O'Sullivan

Martin Kemp's feud with ex-bandmate Tony Hadley and why he won't pick up the phone

The Kemp brothers' feud with Tony Hadley still rumbles on to this day, years after Spandau Ballet's bitter second split.

The chart-topping boyband, which consisted of brothers Martin and Gary Kemp along with frontman Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble, had eight UK top 10 albums and ten UK top 10 hits.

They decided to take a break in March 1990 to pursue solo projects, but it turned into a full on break-up when Tony, John and Steve unsuccessfully trying to sue Gary in a High Court Battle in a row over loyalties.

Despite the bad blood, the band made a remarkable reunion in 2009 as they reformed for a world tour and released a new studio album, but the old rivalries soon flared up once again.

Tony dramatically quit the band for good in 2017 and has since claimed the rest of the band "made his life impossible".

Now it seems there is no chance of Spandau ever getting back together as the Kemp brothers won't even pick up the phone to Tony, but what happened to cause so much tension?

Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, John Keeble and Steve Norman were Spandau Ballet (Getty Images)

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Tony dramatically walked away from the band and posted in a cryptic statement on Twitter.

The short statement read: "Due to circumstances beyond my control, it is with deep regret that I am no longer a member of the band Spandau Ballet and as such I will not be performing with the band in the future."

Spandau replied with a statement of their own, which said: "Much to the frustration of the band, Tony had made it clear in September 2016 that he didn't want to work with the band anymore.

"This has not changed and 2015 was the last time we were able to perform or work with him. So we have now made the decision to move on as a band."

The band were reportedly offered a string of lucrative opportunities that Tony didn’t want to be involved with because he wanted to focus on his solo career.

A source old the Mirror: “Tony has been billed as being ‘formerly of’ Spandau Ballet on several tour posters. There had been tensions brewing between Tony and the rest of the group for almost two years, since he decided he did not want to perform with them.

“This was the final straw, and Tony had an ultimatum - take part in Spandau or quit entirely.

Shortly after Tony’s departure the band recruited Ross William Wild as their new frontman, but by 2019 he had quit and the band was no more.

They got back together in 2009 but old tensions emerged (PA)

On This Morning in 2019, Martin confirmed there were no further plans for Spandau to tour without original singer Hadley.

They may not be performing together, but the Kemp brothers and their former bandmate Tony can't stop speaking about each other.

In July 2020, the Kemps appeared on Jeremy Vine's Channel 5 show and were asked when one of them was going to pick up the phone to Tony.

There was an incredibly awkward silence where Martin went to speak but then very visibly shut his mouth.

Eventually he said: "Listen you know what it is...it's something I would love to do and I know Gary would love to do it. It's very difficult to get five adults to say 'yes' at the same time.

"Tony at the moment doesn't want to do it and I understand why. I understand his reasons for wanting to be on his own and be a solo singer.

"Being in a band is great as a kid, it's a journey, an adventure. When you're an adult you want to be in charge of your own life so I completely understand him wanting to be on his own."

That same month, the brothers mocked themselves in spoof BBC Two show Kemps: All True.

But they also seemingly took aim at their old bandmate as one scene included a painting of what was definitely meant to represent Tony with fangs, red eyes and horns.

In response, Tony stated that he would rather watch crime thriller Broadchurch than their documentary.

"I wasn’t approached and would not have anything to do with it. I’m done," he told The Sun.

"They want me back for good but it ain’t going to happen. I’d rather be happy on my own than be in that band again.

"If they want another lead singer, that’s their choice. But if you want to hear those songs sung by the original singer then you can only really see one bloke — and that’s me."

Tony then revealed he had taken great offence to a washing power advert in which the lyrics to their hit song Gold, which he sung back in the day, had been changed to 'Bold'.

"Gary wrote Gold. It’s anthemic. When I sing it live, the audience sing back," said Tony. "To change the title is just weird. I thought it was in bad taste."

Tony was replaced with Ross William Wild (centre) (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

It seems like Spandau will not reunite for a third time, as Gary stated he did not want them to in July last year.

Gary even claimed that he had never got on with Tony - even when the pair were at school together - so there was no need to 'repair' their relationship.

"Tony and I never hung out other than working together, even at school. Steve Norman and I were friends for sure, John Keeble and I were friends," he told the Daily Star.

"But there was nothing with Tony. It’s not like, 'Oh, I need to regain our friendship'. Mine and Tony’s relationship was a working relationship, always was."

Gary admitted they had struggled to get through their last tour and that another one would not be worth the effort.

He added: "I don’t ever want to get Spandau back together again. That’s not going to happen. I can’t bear another tour. The effort it takes to get to everyone in a room is so great.

"It’s not worth me doing it, of any of us trying to do it, at this stage in our lives. Those two tours we did were a struggle. It wasn’t the nicest place to be backstage."

Tony went solo (Get Reading)

On the Jonathan Ross show in April last year, Martin explained that he was the one acting as peacemaker in the band.

"I was the mediator, I tried to make sure that everybody was happy all the time. Sometimes I was the go-between," he explained.

"I didn’t mind that, that was my role, that’s what I played. Just a shame I didn’t get paid for it."

When asked if there would be another tour, Martin confessed he didn't think it would ever work again and that it's something he feels "really guilty" about for the fans.

The tit for tat continued in November last year when Tony delved further into why relations have hit and all time low.

"I think it’s sad we’re not going out as Spandau Ballet but I’ve never said what it is [why he quit] and I’m not going to repeat the usual diatribe," he said.

"But listen they know why I left the band. You don’t just leave a band like Spandau Ballet just because for the fun of it."

A reunion looks highly unlikely (Newcastle Journal)

He added: "It was a very difficult decision but they made my life pretty impossible. One day I wish they’d be honest and someone had asked they 'why did Tone leave?'"

Martin, who pursued an acting career and starred as Steve Owen on EastEnders, recently revealed how much the split hurt him.

"When Spandau Ballet split up, I had about eight years when I wouldn’t even buy a record because it made me feel physically sick," he told Radio Times in February

"Being in Spandau was just one argument after the other. We’d go from arguing to being best friends to arguing. It’s been a trial the past few years."

Martin has now joined forces with Lady Leshurr for BBC series Rock Till We Drop, where they are searching for incredible musicians over the age of 64 to form two rock'n'roll bands.

He added: "Rock Till We Drop made me remember how much fun the music business can be. It’s about achieving your dreams and having fun."

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