Tony Hadley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Hadley MBE
Hadley performing in Italy, in 2012
Born	Anthony Patrick Hadley (1960-06-02) 2 June 1960 (age 65) Islington, London, England
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1976–present
Spouse(s)	Leonie Lawson ​ ​ (m. 1983; separated 2003)​ Alison Evers ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	5
Musical career
Genres	Blue-eyed soul pop new wave
Instruments	Vocals keyboards percussion
Labels	SlipStream PolyGram EMI CBS Sony BMG Chrysalis Parlophone

Anthony Patrick Hadley (born 2 June 1960) is an English pop singer. He became famous in the 1980s as the lead singer of the new wave band Spandau Ballet. After the band first split in 1990, he started his own solo music career. Tony Hadley rejoined Spandau Ballet in 2009 but left again in 2017. He is well-known for his powerful and expressive singing voice.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Anthony Patrick Hadley was born on June 2, 1960, in Hampstead, North London. He was the oldest of three children. His father, Patrick, was an electrical engineer, and his mother, Josephine, worked for the local health authority. Growing up, Tony listened to many different artists. He enjoyed bands like Queen and Roxy Music. His parents also introduced him to classic singers like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Becoming Famous with Spandau Ballet

Tony Hadley helped start the band Spandau Ballet in 1976. It was first called The Cut. He formed the band with Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keeble, and Michael Ellison. They were all students at Dame Alice Owen's School.

As the lead singer of Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley became very successful around the world in the 1980s. The band had many hit songs, including "True", "Gold", and "Through the Barricades". They also performed at the huge Live Aid concert in 1985.

Tony Hadley was known for his stylish look and his strong voice. People described his voice as having a "dramatic warble" and a "massive vocal range." Music experts said his voice was very powerful and expressive.

Spandau Ballet broke up in 1990. Their last album, Heart Like a Sky, was not as successful as their earlier albums like True and Parade.

In 2009, the band announced they had reunited with Tony Hadley. They went on a tour in the UK and Ireland. Tony Hadley stayed with the band on and off until 2017, when he announced he was leaving for good. He later said he preferred to be happy on his own rather than be in the band again.

Tony Hadley's Solo Career

Early Solo Albums: 1992–1996

After Spandau Ballet first broke up, Tony Hadley started his solo career. He signed with EMI and released his first solo album, The State of Play, in 1992. This album and its singles did not become big hits.

After leaving EMI, Tony Hadley started his own record company called SlipStream Records. His first release from his own label was the song "Build Me Up." This song was part of the soundtrack for the film When Saturday Comes.

In 1996, Tony Hadley performed in a BBC Radio 2 live show of Jesus Christ Superstar. He played the main role in the performance.

New Collaborations and Self-Titled Album: 1997–2000

When he returned from touring, Tony Hadley worked with the group Tin Tin Out on their song "Dance With Me." This song reached number 35 on the UK singles chart. This was the first of many collaborations he did with electronic and dance artists.

In 1997, Tony Hadley released his next solo album, also called Tony Hadley. This album included cover songs and new songs that fit his voice. It also featured some songs he wrote himself, like "She," which he wrote for his daughter Toni. The album reached number 45 in the UK.

In 1999, Alan Parsons chose Tony Hadley to sing the lead on the song "Out of the Blue" for his album The Time Machine.

Reality TV and True Ballads: 2003–2005

In 2002, Tony Hadley joined a new ITV reality TV show called Reborn in the USA. He won the show, which earned him a recording contract with Universal Music.

His winning prize led to the album True Ballads. This album included three re-recorded hits from his Spandau Ballet days. It also had ten songs from his 1997 album and two new songs. One new song was "I Can't Make You Love Me", which he sang on the show. The other was "After All This Time," the theme song from the BBC drama series Down to Earth.

Hadley (right) performing with Martin Fry in 2005

After his success on the show, Tony Hadley continued to perform a lot. He toured with Peter Cox from the band Go West. They sang songs from both their bands. He also toured with Martin Fry from ABC, performing songs from both ABC and Spandau Ballet.

Jazz and Swing Album: 2006–2008

In 2006, Tony Hadley released his first solo album in nine years, called Passing Strangers. This album was a jazz and swing album. It had eighteen songs, including both covers and original songs. Tony Hadley said the album was a "nod" to older music styles. He toured to support the album, including a special "big band" tour.

In 2007, Tony Hadley performed at the Retro Fest with other 1980s artists. He reunited with Martin Fry and Peter Cox for a special performance of "Addicted to Love".

Solo Work During Spandau Ballet Hiatus: 2011–2014

After touring for two successful years, Spandau Ballet took another break in June 2010. Tony Hadley continued his solo career. In 2013, Tony Hadley and other 1980s singers like Kim Wilde and Bananarama set a new world record for Comic Relief. They performed the highest-ever concert, singing on a Boeing 767 airplane at 43,000 feet (13,000 meters).

In 2014, Tony Hadley appeared on the Italian TV show La Pista. He sang Spandau Ballet's "Gold" and even "Rio" by rival band Duran Duran. A new solo song, "Take Back Everything," was released in the summer of 2014.

Tony Hadley in 2014

New Original Music: 2017–2021

On July 3, 2017, Tony Hadley announced he was no longer a member of Spandau Ballet. Later in 2017, he sang with Jane McDonald on her song "I See It in Your Eyes."

Talking to the Moon, Tony Hadley's first album of new original solo songs since Passing Strangers, was released in the summer of 2018. It included the single "Tonight Belongs to Us." He toured to support the album. In 2020, he began working on a new album, releasing the first song from it, "Obvious," on June 12.

Tony Hadley also took part in charity songs. In 2020, he was one of many celebrities on "The Best Christmas (in Lockdown)" for the Electric Umbrella organization. In 2021, he appeared on a charity version of the Robbie Williams song "Angels" to honor producer Steve Brown.

40th Anniversary Tour: 2022–Present

On February 18, 2022, Tony Hadley released his first solo song in over two years, "Because of You." This song showed a new, more upbeat sound for him. From March to May 2022, Tony Hadley went on a 40-date tour across the United Kingdom. This tour celebrated his 40th year in the music business. The tour was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour ended with four special shows in October 2022, where Tony Hadley performed with a full orchestra.

Other Work and Awards

In 1991, Tony Hadley appeared in the music video for the American hip hop group P.M. Dawn's song "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss." This song used a sample from Spandau Ballet's "True."

Tony Hadley also worked as a radio presenter for Virgin Radio and Absolute Radio. He hosted shows playing classic 1980s music. He also appeared on TV shows in the Philippines and Australia.

He acted in a British short movie called Shoot The DJ, playing a character named Eddie Richards. His daughter, Toni, also appeared in the film.

In 2015, Tony Hadley took part in the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He finished in sixth place.

Tony Hadley supports several charities, including the UK Huntington's Disease Association and Shooting Star Chase. In December 2019, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his charity work with Shooting Star Chase Children's Hospice Care. This is a special award given by the King or Queen for great achievements.

In January 2024, Tony Hadley performed on Michael McIntyre's Big Game Show for BBC One.

Personal Life

Tony Hadley has three children, Tom, Toni, and Mackenzie, with his first wife, Leonie Lawson. They separated in 2003. In July 2009, he married Alison Evers. They live in Buckinghamshire and have two children together: Zara (born 2006) and Genevieve (born 2012).

Tony Hadley is a big fan of the Arsenal football team. He has even played for the Arsenal ex-Professional and Celebrity XI team. He is proud of his strong work ethic, which he says his parents taught him from a young age.

For a time, Tony Hadley was a co-owner of a brewery that made his own beer, including "Hadley's Golden Ale."

Political Views

Tony Hadley supports the Conservative Party in the UK. He has attended their annual conferences. He has been described as one of the few openly right-leaning rock stars.

Discography

Studio Albums

• The State of Play (1992)
• Tony Hadley (1997)
• Passing Strangers (2006)
• The Christmas Album (2015)
• Talking to the Moon (2018)
• The Mood I’m In (2024)

Live Albums

• Debut (2000; re-released 2003)
• Obsession: Live at Ronnie Scott's (2001; also re-released as Dance With Me and Tony Hadley: Reborn)
• Tony Hadley vs. Peter Cox & Go West (2004)
• Tony Hadley vs. Martin Fry & ABC (2005)
• Hadley, Norman & Keeble: An Evening of Gold (2009)
• Live from Metropolis Studios (2013)

EPs

• Get So Lonely (2001)

Singles

Literature

• Hadley, Tony (2022). My Life in Pictures. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781913172718.

Images for kids

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  Hadley performing in Italy, in 2012

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  Hadley (right) performing with Martin Fry in 2005

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  Tony Hadley in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Tony Hadley para niños