The 66-year-old singer rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of the new wave band, performing on a string of UK Top 10 hits, including True and Gold, as well as on the 1984 Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas?
asserted
It → rise → single
After the band split in 1990, he pursued a career as a solo artist and has since released several of his own studio albums.
asserted
he → split → albums
Although Hadley rejoined the band in 2009, he announced his departure in 2017, saying at the time it was due to “circumstances beyond my control”.
asserted
it → rejoin → control
He told the Press Association: “Unfortunately, the wheels came off, and we went through some pretty horrid times together.
asserted
we → tell → times
I saw Steve Norman at a festival in Germany recently, but I haven’t seen the rest of the guys in 11 years.
“Which is sad, but that’s life.
asserted
that → see → years
You know, bands fall out with each other.
asserted
bands → know → other
It’s just the way it is sometimes.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Despite the falling out, Hadley said he could still look back at his time in the band with fondness.
uncertain
he → say → fondness
He added: “I think it’s important.
asserted
it → add → ?
I mean, it would be really sad if what happened in recent years muddied the water in terms of what it felt in times like when True went to number one for instance and was then in the Top 5 in America for four weeks.
asserted
True → mean → weeks
“I can still sing those songs and not with any kind of angst or bad feeling.
asserted
I → sing → angst
I just sing them because they’re great songs.
asserted
they → sing → them
They’re part of my life.
asserted
They → ’re → life
They’re part of the audience’s life, and it’s important to realise that.”
asserted
it → ’re → that
After striking out on his own, Hadley admitted he found the experience “bloody terrifying at first”.
asserted
experience → strike → own
Read More
He said: “It’s the scariest thing because you’ve got to remember that we were a school band and then all of a sudden you find yourself as a solo artist.
asserted
you → read → artist
It was kind of daunting, but I got used to it.”
asserted
I → get → it
Years later, Hadley is now celebrating five decades in the music industry, which he said was a hard-fought achievement.
asserted
he → celebrate → industry
Hadley added: “When you sign your first record deal, you want it so much and desperately want it to last for as long as possible.
asserted
it → add → it
But we all know the music business is pretty fickle and not everybody survives or lasts the course.
asserted
everybody → know → course
“But through sheer determination and hard work, I’ll always get back up no matter how many times you hit me down.
asserted
you → get → me
“I’ve managed to still be doing what I love 50 years on.
asserted
I → manage → what
It’s a pretty tough business, but you’ve got to roll with the punches, and I’m loving it at the moment.
asserted
I → ’ → moment
So, I am a lucky man to still do what I love.”
asserted
I → do → what
The singer, who has won a Brit Award and was made an MBE, is also marking his 50 years in the industry with The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026, which will see him perform 19 shows across the UK this winter.
asserted
him → win → UK
The shows will see him perform timeless big band standards, swing favourites and 80s anthems including songs by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Elvis Presley, while being joined by the Fabulous TH Band and full brass section.
asserted
him → see → Band
He also promised fans he would perform some of Spandau Ballet’s best-known songs.
asserted
he → promise → songs
“It’s musical suicide not to sing your hit songs,” He said.
asserted
He → ’ → songs
“If you’re a new band that no-one’s ever heard of and you do a 40-minute set, then of course you’re playing new songs.
asserted
you → ’re → songs
But if you have all these fantastic songs like True, Gold and Through The Barricades and don’t perform them, the audience will just walk out.
asserted
audience → have → them
“They want to hear those songs, and I think you’d be really selfish not to perform them.”
asserted
you → want → them
During his time back with Spandau Ballet, Hadley also took part in the 2015 season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! – in which he finished sixth.
asserted
he → take → which
Although he said it “served a great purpose” at the time, he has no desire to do another reality show.
asserted
he → say → show
Hadley explained: “There’s so many reality shows now, I enjoyed that one because it was in the jungle, and I’ve done various charity jungle treks.
asserted
I → explain → treks
“So I actually love being in the jungle, but to be honest they are trying to invent celebrity this and celebrity that all over the place, and I’m kind of bored with it.
asserted
I → love → it
“I think I did it at the right time, but I’m not interested in anything else now.
asserted
I → think → anything
But when asked if he had any other projects to tick off the bucket list, he revealed there was a contemporary album in the works that he was hoping to release next year, while another goal was to perform with a big band in Las Vegas.
asserted
goal → ask → Vegas
The Aporia
