Music icon Steve Norman has revealed that he wants Spandau Ballet to embark on “one last tour,” as he felt the band “never had closure”.
Spandau, who featured Steve, brothers Martin and Gary Kemp, drummer John Keeble and singer Tony Hadley, dominated the air-waves during the eighties with hits including Gold And True.
However, they took a break in 1990 to pursue solo projects, before reforming for a new world tour and studio album in 2009 – with Tony Hadley later quitting the band in 2017 and Spandau calling it a day just two years later.
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During this time there have been reports of ‘tensions’ between the band members, but Steve Norman has revealed he now wants the band to get back together for one last tour.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star, Steve said: “The tragic thing is, we’ve never had closure.
(Image: Getty Images)
“We never said we split up. We never had closure for the fans, but also ourselves. How about doing one last tour? A world tour. The Farewell Tour? Then call it a day.
“It’s all left up in the air and Tony left, but I’m sure if the deal was on the table and it was the right one, he’d come back for a tour.
“It would be wave goodbye to each other and pat each other on the back, give each other a hug.”
He added: “Life is too short. Which is why I get on with Spandau.
“I’ve got great memories of all my time I spent with my best mates. That is far more important than all these stupid grudges, bitterness.”
(Image: PA)
Steve’s comments come ahead of his band The Sleevz hitting the road for a tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Spandau’s hit debut album Journeys To Glory, which was pushed back from its original 2020 date due to the pandemic.
The tour is currently visiting cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Edinburgh and London, until October 31, 2022.
Featuring hits including To Cut A Long Story short, Steve said: “Listening to the album in full again, I haven’t done that for 40 years. That was an experience. I genuinely was surprised how it stood up.”
He added: “I was surprised how good the songs were. How good the band played together. There’s a lot of energy. For me, it’s all about energy.”
(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Performed by Steve Norman in the group The Sleevz, the star continued: “With the Journeys to Glory album, I’m very aware of that fine line of not being a pastiche of Spandau.”
“I’ve also got my own tunes to balance them out, and also, it had to be The Sleevz that are coming across during this. I don’t want it to sound exactly like Spandau’s interpretation. It’s fairly close, but close enough.
“I’m like, ‘free yourself up a little. If you want to stick a little solo in there, go for it.’ It’s not going to be verbatim to the album.”
Speaking about the group, Steve added: “We get on very well as a band. It’s fun. I’m a firm believer in a happy camp is a creative camp. I always make sure I pick the right people that are in my inner circle. It’s really important that. It’s as important as what they play.”
The star also revealed that the band is a bit of a family affair, with his partner Sabrina on backing vocals, and his lookalike son taking on bass duties for the group.
(Image: Pete Cole/Youtube)
Steve is even trying to get his son to wear the famous kilt from their To Cut A Long Story short video onstage, saying: “Even in this band there’s generations – my son is the bass player.
“We’re similar looking – I’m trying to get him to wear the kilt! I’m wearing it in Scotland definitely!”
Spandau’s look came straight out of the Blitz scene in the early eighties, where the band rubbed shoulders with other huge stars of the decade including Boy George, Midge Ure and Steve Strange, who he described as “one of my dear best friends.”
“Steve was great. We were pals straight away, especially me and Martin Kemp. We were always close me and Martin. He would take us to all these clubs. If something was happening in London, Steve knew about it.
“He took us under his wing and I’ll never forget that.”
(Image: Redferns)
Speaking of that time, Steve revealed that it was also “famous last words,” after Boy George made a joke about singer Tony Hadley.
“In the Blitz, it was just a creative hot bed,” said Steve.
“There were people there – designers, writers, people that were creative. It was an incredible time. Of course the story about how Boy George was there.
“He shouted down from where he was living and we were doing a photo session there. He got up in the afternoon and he said, ‘oh you still got that lead singer singing for you? I could sing better than that.’
“John Keeble shouted up and said, ‘well form a band then.’ And the rest is history! Famous last words!”
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
However on The Sleevz’s upcoming tour, it is actually Steve who will be taking on vocal duties in the songs once sung by Tony Hadley, following a stellar career that has seen Steve DJ in Ibiza for 12 years and perform with legends including Iggy Pop, Earl Slick and Mike Garson.
“I don’t like to stick on one thing. I’m not just a sax player – it’s all of it that I do. That’s how I like it to be, otherwise I get kind of bored. When there’s a gig like that, I can let myself go on all of it. I love it. That’s what my shows are generally like. This time I’m doing all the lead vocals.”
“It’s a great opportunity to bring people together.”
SPANDAU BALLET’S STEVE NORMAN AND THE SLEEVZ UK TOUR IS CURRENTLY VISITING CITIES ACROSS THE UK UNTIL OCTOBER 31, 2022.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
