Monday 28 September 2009

Spandau Ballet Offer Free Download of New Song Release


(PR) Spandau Ballet's official site had this update on Friday: Spandau Ballet appeared on GMTV this morning to make the surprise announcement that they are releasing a new single "Once More" and a new album of the same name on Mercury Records this November.
Featuring reworkings of classic Spandau Ballet tracks, alongside two brand new tracks, the album is available to pre-order now from or from the Spandau Ballet store. Pre-orders from the official store qualify for competitions to win signed numbered canvas prints of the artwork, and pre orders from either retailer qualify for the opportunity one of 400 albums signed by the band.
Spandau Ballet are also giving spandauballet.com visitors a very articular preview of the album by giving you the opportunity to download the incredible new version of "Only When You Leave" when you register. If you have previously registered, don't worry, you will be emailed a link to download the track on Monday.
Speaking earlier of the new recordings singer Tony Hadley said: "When we got back together and the tour dates went on sale, none of us could believe the fantastic reaction we got from fans and the press alike. When the chance came to get into a studio and play music together, we couldn't pass it up.
Gary Kemp continued: "The band gelled instantly and we instantly played better than we did even back in the day. The new song was a way for us to gig that Spandau Ballet are back, not just to play the hits on tour but also to take on our contemporaries in the pop charts!"

Friday 25 September 2009

First single in 20 years to Spandau Ballet to release


Spandau Ballet are set to release their first single in nearly two decades. Once More will be released on 9 November, 20 years to the month that the so called New Romantics released their debut single Crashed Into Love.
The band, best known for a string of 80s hits including True and Gold, reunited in March of this year. They split under resultedly acrimonious circumstances in 1990. Singer Tony Hadley told the BBC: "We got back together and the tour dates went on sale, none of us could believe the fantastic reaction we got from fans."
He continued: "When the chance came to get into a studio and play music together, we couldn't pass it up."
Tickets for their comeback show at the O2 Arena in London sold out in less than 20 minutes, when they went on sale earlier this year. The success of their comeback appears to have eased communication between the band. Guitarist Gary Kemp said the band had "gelled" this time around.
Kemp said: "The new song was a way for us to show that Spandau Ballet are back, not just to play the hits on tour, but also to take on our generation in the pop charts."
Once More is taken from an album of the same name, which features reworked versions of some of the band's past hits. A release date for the album has not yet been announced.

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Labour promises an 'A-list' conference act, Pandora


The Conservatives are to offer more energetic party members the opportunity to rave on to early Nineties club sensation Angie Brown (last year's star, Tony Hadley, was, we're told, "too busy with Spandau Ballet" to make a second appearance), while the Lib Dems decided not to book anyone but what of Labour's plans for their league entertainment?
Party representatives insist that they have lined up an "A-list" act to accompany Gordon Brown's keynote speech at the official conference dinner, though they are playing their cards inquisitively close to their chests as to the chosen star's identity.
Eddie Izzard, one of the party's few remaining big name cheerleaders, insists he won't be convinced to take to the stage, though he plans to attend. Billy Bragg, on the other hand usually a regular face around the party's annual love-in – turned out last night at a fringe Lib Dem event to discuss the role of the arts in prison.
As for the rest of the party's cast of celebrity supporters, the signs aren't promising. Beverley Knight and Geri Halliwell have both issued stern denials of any involvement which leaves... Mick Hucknall? Tragically, he didn't return Pandora's call.

Friday 18 September 2009

Spandau Ballet see to tickets


celebrate the launch of the newly refurbished LG Arena at The NEC we have got the fantastic prize of a groups of tickets to see Spandau Ballet at LG Arena on Sunday, October 25, along with a wonderful Entertainment Zone hospitality package.
This includes a car park pass, welcome glass of champagne and a fantastic pre gig four course meal.
The LG Arena, Birmingham opens it doors this October after a £29 million facelift. There is a brand new pre and post gig entertainment space forumLIVE that boasts over 100 LG digital screens and a singular LG surprise.
There are also brand new exclusive hospitality bars and restaurants, including a spectacular show deck which looks out over the whole arena bowl and has a private bar and facilities for 100 inner ticket holders every night.
Marking the official launch of the LG Arena, a stellar line-up of 20 bands and artists have been confirmed for the opening season, running from October 7 to December 31.
Performers include teen diva Miley Cyrus, rockers Green Day, James Morrison and 80s superstars Depeche Mode, as well as Spandau Ballet.
The new LG Arena: where life’s good live!To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer this question using the form below:

newly refurbished LG Arena is located at which venue? Is it:
A) ICC
B) The NEC
C) Symphony Hall?

Tuesday 15 September 2009

the unkindest cut of all and now


WITH the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, I can pinpoint the exact moment today when things went phut.
Due to a looming manuscript deadline and a neighbour with a vast collection of Bob Marley routinely played at Stadium Australia volume, I currently decided to ditch my London existence for a weekend away. In a quest for a geography that would invigorate me I headed ''up north''. Specifically to that part of England where the road signs stop listing town names and simply say "the north" and "the south"; where people say hello to you on the streets, and where articles in sentences are optional. This, however, is not the aforementioned moment.
After discovering that my four star hotel didn't have WiFi, my plans of writing all weekend took a slight detour. However, in an uncharacteristic glass-half-full moment, I decided to use the time fruitfully and so booked in to get my hair done at a local salon.
Upon comer at said salon a slight young thing, with hair that would not have been out of place on a member of Spandau Ballet, sat me down and started asking me the standard questions.
We agreed on what I wanted. Or so I thought. This, still, is not the moment.
She went off to mix the colours and I settled in to read a five-year-old copy of a magazine providing useful tips on decoupage and baking.
She came back and we began the small talk challenge, where she asked questions to which she had no interest in hearing the answers and I provided answers in the hope of shutting down the conversation.
About half way into the challenge, accordingly with my head half covered in aluminium foil, she mentioned that until two weeks ago her hair had been waist long. Given it was now cut in an homage to the New Romantics, this piqued my interest. ''Really?'' I say. ''Did you get it done here?''
She laughed out loud and said ''No!'' with such force that the foil strips tinkled in the breeze.
Faced with the prospect of asking her to stop half way through, I reasoned that clearly she didn't do her own hair so she was probably the talented one and I would be fine.
And that, dear reader, is the moment when, instead of getting a selection of autumnal low lights and a trim, I ended up looking like David Bowie as the Goblin King in Labyrinth.

Thursday 3 September 2009

Spandau Ballet reunion


Johnny Marr has mocked his '80s pop rivals Spandau Ballet's "chicken-in-the-basket" reunion.
The former Smiths guitarist claimed that he would be happy if someone paid the new romantic band £20 million to cancel their upcoming live shows.
"I can't bear the thought of a Spandau Ballet style comeback. What's the point? Spandau are reforming, so they put on a big chicken in the basket event, which is all they amounted to in the first place," he told the Daily Mail.
"Maybe someone should pay them £20 million not to reform. purportedly we were offered $10 million [£6.2 million] to play a handful of Smiths gigs in 2007, and I wasn't remotely tempted."
Marr, who is recently promoting his new Ignore, The Ignorant LP with The Cribs, insisted that he is too busy to consider a Smiths reunion anytime soon.
He added: "I can't speak for Morrissey, but I know that I'm too busy right now to get The Smiths on the road again. Is that likely to change? Who knows?"