![\"MARGATE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_276876456-3ee7.jpg\")
\n\t\tTony Hadley shares his views on apolitical music, his next tour, and Traitors (Picture: Lorne Thomson\/Redferns)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tTony Hadley shares his views on apolitical music, his next tour, and Traitors (Picture: Lorne Thomson\/Redferns)<\/p>\n
Spandau Ballet<\/a>\u2019s place at the forefront of the New Romantic movement has long shaped public perception of politically vocal Tony Hadley.<\/p>\n As the genre\u2019s early gender-bending looks gave way to sharp suits, Spandau\u2019s sound became strongly associated with Thatcherism.<\/p>\n Over the years, frontman Tony has gained a reputation as a right-wing rock star for the rich \u2013 but he\u2019s not so sure.<\/p>\n \u2018Right-wing\u2019s a bit of a weird one, isn\u2019t it?\u2019 he told Metro when we asked about the label. \u2018It\u2019s like right-wing, left-wing, middle. I\u2019ve always said I\u2019m a conservative communist.\u2019<\/p>\n For the Gold singer, that means \u2018everybody\u2019s equal\u2019 and should be treated as such, \u2018no matter what your job is\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018But then I don\u2019t have a problem making money,\u2019 he added after pausing to consider his surprisingly socialist declaration.<\/p>\n \t\t Tony reasoned: \u2018We need to be kinder to each other. We need to treat people equally, but also we need people to invest in our country.<\/p>\n \u2018Everybody needs to make money in one form or another. Making money shouldn\u2019t be a bad thing.\u2019<\/p>\n Despite his \u2018very strong views\u2019, Tony doesn\u2019t believe that artists should be too vocal when it comes to political issues.<\/p>\n \u2018If you want to be a politician, go into politics,\u2019 he quipped, having reportedly considered running for Parliament way back in 2008.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve all got views on the world and politics,\u2019 the former I\u2019m A Celeb<\/a> star continued. \u2018My view is that I love my country absolutely to bits, but it has not been run properly for a number of years.<\/p>\n He suggested that we should pick the \u2018cleverest businessman on the planet\u2019, pay them a hefty \u00a35million salary and let them run the place. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Or her\u2019, Tony corrects himself, jokingly suggesting a Dragon\u2019s Den star should take the role. Metro offered that Deborah Meaden<\/a> could be the woman for the job, which he agreed. <\/p>\n \u2018I just want someone to grab it by the coat and just shake it up a bit and do what\u2019s right for everybody,\u2019 the True singer added with a hint of frustration.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been 50 years since Tony and Spandau\u2019s breakthrough, and Thatcherism criticism or not, the music has undeniably stuck around.<\/p>\n True remains a classic after it saw four weeks at number one in the UK and cracked the top five in the US. Meanwhile, Gold has transformed into a football anthem.<\/p>\n Tony\u2019s heading out on The Christmas<\/a> Big Band Tour 2026 to celebrate, with19 shows lined up boasting a set list that will span crooner classics, festive tracks, and a sprinkling of Spandau.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Spandau Ballet numbers have been reimagined with the Big Band, which Tony has toured with on and off over several years.<\/p>\n Despite parting ways with the rest of the band rather unceremoniously in 2017, Tony has never got tired of those chart-topping numbers.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t have a problem with singing them,\u2019 he reflected. \u2018They\u2019re part of my life and part of everybody else\u2019s life.\u2019<\/p>\n He\u2019s not spoken to former bandmates Martin Kemp<\/a>, Gary Kemp, and John Keeble in over a decade but did catch up with Steve Norman recently for a \u2018nice drink\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t have any angst,\u2019 he said with a sigh. \u2018Times a healer in a way, but I don\u2019t have I don\u2019t have any problems with the rest of the guys. <\/p>\n \u2018They get on with their lives. I get on with mine.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t As for a potential reunion, Tony believes it would \u2018take an awful lot\u2019 for him to return, even if next year marks 10 years since he left.<\/p>\n He explained that after 50 years of making music, and over 10 years solo, he\u2019s still \u2018hypercritical\u2019 of everything he does. <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t rest on my laurels,\u2019 the singer shared. \u2018I\u2019m still learning. I\u2019m still criticising myself, still beat myself up. I want to be better all the time.\u2019<\/p>\n Tony has almost finished his next album \u2013 between endless touring and buying a pub with some 200 other locals \u2013 and has a clear plan for the one after that.<\/p>\n \u2018I want to be better, to write better songs,\u2019 he shared. \u2018I said to my band, I want us to just get in a room and I want us to thrash it. Let\u2019s just get 10 songs. Everybody throw their ideas into the pot. <\/p>\n \u2018[Then] just record it live in a studio somewhere to get back to that kind of almost 60s vibe where the Beatles and the Stones just got in a room and made it together, and I\u2019ve never really done that.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tTony Hadley’s The Christmas Big Band Tour dates\t\t\t<\/p>\n Tickets are on sale now via\u00a0www.myticket.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n November 2026 <\/p>\n Saturday 7 \u2013 Plymouth December 2026<\/p>\n Thursday 3 \u2013 Bristol Beacon After 50 years in the business, Tony\u2019s much more focused on his music than before and stated he\u2019s largely \u2018done\u2019 with the whole being famous part of his life.<\/p>\n \u2018I think [the celebrity thing] has kind of had its day,\u2019 he said when asked if he\u2019d dive into another reality show after his memorable turn on I\u2019m A Celebrity.<\/p>\n \u2018I mean, we all love traitors,\u2019 Tony added. \u2018The whole country is gripped and my kids say, \u201cOh, come on, Dad, go on the traitors.\u201d No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I\u2019ve done my bit.\u2019<\/p>\n He might pop up on a cookery show or do a quick chat for the news but as for what he called the \u2018let\u2019s wheel them out and see what they can do\u2019 shows, \u2018it\u2019s not for [him] anymore\u2019.<\/p>\n That being said, Tony would love to be a traitor should Claudia Winkleman<\/a> and the producers ever come knocking.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018The only trouble is I can\u2019t lie,\u2019 he confessed with a chuckle. \u2018I would try and fabricate something and just start laughing, but then they probably wouldn\u2019t know whether I was telling the truth or not. So who knows?\u2019<\/p>\n Perhaps an Alan Carr-style victory is still in the cards for Tony, but it sounds like a Richard E. Grant-esque exit is more likely.<\/p>\n Until then, the former frontman will be on tour with his Big Band as well as a cruise with Marti Pellow and numerous festivals.<\/p>\n Time in a Scottish castle would probably be quite relaxing when your schedule is this packed, even if you might get murdered.<\/p>\n Tickets for Tony Hadley\u2019s The Christmas Big Band Tour are on sale now.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"English](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_213424352-02cb.jpg\")
\n\t\tSpandau Ballet were branded \u2018Thatcherism on vinyl\u2019 (Picture: Dave Hogan\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Undated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314026243-bd12-e1791543967962.jpg\")
\n\t\tTony said he\u2019s a \u2018conservative communist\u2019 (Picture: Craig Fordham\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_276884642-b949.jpg\")
\n\t\tHe hasn\u2019t spoken to his former bandmates in over a decade (Picture: Tristan Fewings\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"LISBON,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_130131593-39af-e1791544302230.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe original lineup was John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Tony Hadley, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman (Picture: Mike Prior\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nSunday 8 \u2013 Hastings
\nMonday 9 \u2013 Southend-on-Sea
\nThursday 12 \u2013 Oxford
\nFriday 13 \u2013 Cambridge
\nSunday 15 \u2013 Ipswich
\nMonday 16 \u2013 Bournemouth
\nTuesday 17 \u2013 Truro
\nThursday 19 \u2013 Birmingham
\nFriday 20 \u2013 Manchester
\nSaturday 21 \u2013 York
\nMonday 23 \u2013 Edinburgh
\nWednesday 25 \u2013 Hull
\nThursday 26 \u2013 Blackpool
\nFriday 27 \u2013 Gateshead
\nSunday 29 \u2013 Glasgow
\nMonday 30 \u2013 Nottingham<\/p>\n
\nFriday 4 \u2013 London Coliseum<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_275066204-359a.jpg\")
\n\t\tTony said he\u2019s \u2018done\u2019 with the celebrity reality TV side of fame (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_132108195-58ee.jpg\")
\n\t\tHe\u2019s up for being a traitor if the opportunity came around though (Picture: PA)<\/p>\n
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