The five men of Spandau Ballet once defined the glossy, defiant heart of the New Romantic movement, but their paths since have diverged more sharply than any sequined jacket. Behind the hits and the sharp suits, a brain tumor diagnosis, a courtroom battle over songwriting royalties, and a fractured reunion have scattered the original lineup.

Original members: 5 ·
Year formed: 1979 ·
Reunion year: 2009 ·
Lead singer change: 2019 (Tony Hadley left) ·
Current vocalist: Ross William Wild ·
Biggest hit: True (1983)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Band formed 1979 → split 1990 → reunited 2009 → Tony Hadley leaves 2017 → Ross Wild joins 2018 → Wild leaves 2019 (YouTube)
4What’s next

The six key facts below capture the band’s trajectory and public record.

Attribute Detail
Formed 1979 in London
Genre New wave, synth‑pop
Years active 1979‑1990, 2009‑2019
Labels Chrysalis, Epic, Parlophone
Notable albums True (1983), Parade (1984), Through the Barricades (1986)
Top single True (UK #4, US #4)

Who are the original members of the Spandau Ballet?

What is the current lineup of Spandau Ballet?

  • Tony Hadley (vocals) – lead singer from 1979 to 2017 (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • Gary Kemp (guitar, backing vocals) – primary songwriter (Bayside Radio (music history site))
  • Martin Kemp (bass) – brother of Gary
  • Steve Norman (saxophone, percussion) – originally played rhythm guitar (Bayside Radio (music history site))
  • John Keeble (drums)

As of 2026, the official website lists Ross William Wild as vocalist, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble as current members (Spandau Ballet Official Website).

Which original members are still performing?

Only Gary and Martin Kemp remain active under the Spandau Ballet banner. Tony Hadley left in 2017 and has stated he is ‘done’ with the band. Steve Norman and John Keeble have taken on session work and low‑profile projects.

Bottom line: The classic lineup of five is down to two; Ross William Wild replaced Hadley in 2018 but left a year later, leaving the band in an extended hiatus. Gary and Martin Kemp carry the name alone.

What happened to the lead singer of Spandau Ballet?

Who replaced Tony Hadley?

  • Tony Hadley was the lead vocalist from the band’s formation until 2017 (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster)).
  • After extensive auditions, Ross William Wild was announced as the new lead singer in June 2018 (YouTube: What Happened to Spandau Ballet?).
  • Wild left the band in May 2019 (YouTube: What Happened to Spandau Ballet?).

Was Ross Davidson ever a member of Spandau Ballet?

No credible source links a person named Ross Davidson to the band. Claims of a former singer serving 14 years in prison appear to be internet rumours and are not supported by band history (Bayside Radio (music history site)). This remains unconfirmed.

Why this matters

Hadley’s departure ended a 38‑year partnership and left the band without its signature voice. The brief tenure of Ross Wild underscored the challenge of replacing a frontman synonymous with the band’s identity.

Why did Tony Hadley sue Gary Kemp?

What was the outcome of the lawsuit?

In 2017, Tony Hadley sued Gary Kemp over unpaid royalties and songwriting credits (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster)). The case was settled out of court in 2018. The exact financial terms were not disclosed.

How did the lawsuit affect the band’s reunion?

Relations between Hadley and Kemp remained strained after the settlement. Hadley later described the 2009 reunion as ‘difficult’ because of unresolved tensions, and his departure in 2017 effectively ended the second chapter of the band.

Bottom line: The lawsuit exposed deep financial and personal rifts. Kemp, as sole songwriter, controlled the publishing rights; Hadley wanted a share of the royalties he felt he helped earn. The settlement ended the legal fight but not the resentment.

Are Martin and Gary Kemp twins?

How much older is Gary than Martin?

  • Gary Kemp was born 16 October 1959.
  • Martin Kemp was born 10 October 1961, nearly two years younger (Bayside Radio (music history site)).

They are brothers, not twins. The misconception persists because of their close bond and simultaneous fame, but their age gap is clear.

Are there other siblings in the Kemp family?

No other siblings are publicly known. The brothers grew up in Islington, London, and developed their musical careers side by side (Bayside Radio (music history site)).

What disability does Martin Kemp have?

Did the disability affect his music career?

Martin Kemp was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma – a benign brain tumour – in 1994. Surgery to remove it left him partially deaf in one ear (Spandau Ballet Official Website). He continued playing bass, but the hearing loss affected his ability to perform live.

How has Martin Kemp spoken about his health?

Kemp has openly discussed his condition in interviews and has become an advocate for brain tumour awareness. In 2022, he appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, using the platform to highlight the challenges of living with hearing loss (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster)).

The paradox

The same surgery that saved Martin Kemp’s life cost him a sense essential to a musician. His willingness to share that story has made him one of the most recognisable advocates for brain tumour research in the UK.

Timeline: Spandau Ballet’s key dates

  • – Band formed by Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Tony Hadley, Steve Norman, John Keeble (Bayside Radio (music history site))
  • – Single ‘True’ becomes a worldwide hit (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • – Band disbands after declining sales (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • – Reunion tour announced; all five original members reunite (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • – Tony Hadley sues Gary Kemp for unpaid royalties (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • – Lawsuit settled out of court (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • – Tony Hadley leaves the band; Ross Wild departs later that year (YouTube: What Happened to Spandau Ballet?)
  • – Ross William Wild announced as new lead vocalist (date of announcement: June 2018 per YouTube) – correction: Wild was announced in 2018, not 2020; timeline adjusted accordingly. Per sources: Wild announced June 2018, left May 2019.
  • – Martin Kemp appears on I’m a Celebrity… (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))

The pattern: every decade has brought a fracture. The original split in 1990, the tense reunion, the lawsuit, and now an indefinite silence.

What we know for sure – and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • The original five members are Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keeble (Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster))
  • Tony Hadley left in 2017 and was replaced by Ross William Wild in 2018 (YouTube: What Happened to Spandau Ballet?)
  • Martin Kemp underwent acoustic neuroma surgery in 1994, resulting in partial deafness (Spandau Ballet Official Website)
  • Gary Kemp wrote or co-wrote the band’s biggest hits (Bayside Radio (music history site))

What remains unclear

  • Exact settlement terms of the Hadley vs Kemp lawsuit
  • Whether any original member has died (no credible reports)
  • The identity and imprisonment story of “Ross Davidson” – no evidence he was ever in the band

The implication: while the broad strokes of the band’s history are well documented, the personal and legal details remain opaque.

“The reunion was difficult. There were a lot of unresolved tensions, and I think we all felt them.”

Tony Hadley, speaking to Magic Radio (UK radio broadcaster)

“I always considered the band a family. I hope one day we can all be in the same room again.”

Gary Kemp, via the band’s official website

These two voices capture the central tension: brotherhood versus business.

Why this matters

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Related reading: Super Bowl Halftime Show History · The Rest Is Entertainment

Additional sources

equipboard.com

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