Why Spandau Ballet AREN'T heading for a New Romantic romance

At least not yet, anyway, reveals Tony Hadley, as he responds to an olive branch from guitarist Gary Kemp, defends Band Aid from its detractors and admits he's sick of wokeism

- By Fran Winston

WHEN Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp told the Daily Express in January he fancied the idea of reforming the hit Eighties band with Tony Hadley at its helm, no one was more surprised than the former frontman himself.

After all, he had left the New Romantic five-piece twice in 1990 and 2017, both times acrimoniously leaving bandmates to blame one another for the fallout.

So when Gary hinted at a reunion with Tony, adding: "I want to die with no enemies, right? So if me and Tony can just be happy in each other's company or happy for each other, and I think we are that", it seemed the stage door was open for a rekindled New Romantic romance.

The big question then is... will Tony finally bury the hatchet and make the dreams of Spandau Ballet fans come true?

He lets out a huge laugh when asked, admitting Gary's comments "came as news to me" and adding: "I was like, 'What?'

"Listen, I'm getting on with my life. I've got this big band tour at the end of the year. I've got a European tour, October, November. I've got festivals. I'm already booked for Australia, New Zealand, south-east Asia next March. So I haven't got any time anyway. It's not going to happen this side of Christmas.'

He has a twinkle in his eye as he says all this before turning decidedly more serious and noting: "They should have thought about things. They should have been a bit nicer."

He certainly doesn't sound like someone wallowing in regret.

Indeed, Tony, 64, can afford to be sanguine with a busy and satisfying international solo career. Performing timeless jazz standards and swing anthems on a Christmas tour of the UK from November, he'll make nods to his chart-topping past with reworkings of Spandau Ballet classics such as True, Gold, and Through The Barricades.

A proud Tory, the singer says he's not encountered the increased costs and red tapes other pop stars say Brexit has caused them when touring in Europe.