Spandau Ballet Reformation Tour - Tuesday 20th October 2009 - O2 Arena

What?

The Reformation Tour is the first live appearances of Spandau Ballet since their acrimonious split in 1989 which ended with half the band suing the others over song-writing royalties. Although three members attempted to tour together in the 1990's, the public lost their hunger for the new romantics and each went their own seperate ways. The Reformation Tour is the first time all five original members of Spandau Ballet have performed together since, which is all the more impressive after lead singer Tony Hadley famously claimed that they would only reform after Hell had frozen over (hence this review's title).

The Band

Hailing from North London, Spandau Ballet comprise of:
Tony Hadley - lead vocals
Gary Kemp - guitar, keyboards and backing vocals
Martin Kemp - bass guitar
Steve Norman - saxophone, guitar and percussion (mainly bongos!)
John Keeble - drums and backing vocals

Since the heady days of their greatest success in the 80's, the Kemp brothers have added to their repertoir of skills performing in films (most notably as the infamous Kray twins) and TV, whilst Hadley spent a period DJ'ing on Virgin radio.

The Stage

Knowing that the crowds attending the O2 would only really be interested in (a) the music and (b) how time had treated each of the old boys, Spandau Ballet had a relatively spartan stage set-up. A raised platform in the centre upon which sat the drum kit, keyboardist and backing singer behind a lower stage which was dominated by Hadley and the Kemps, joined by Norman periodically as he was required to belt out a saxophone solo. Behind the stage hung a giant video screen showing close-ups of the band (they really have aged well ladies!) and the odd visual flourish or animation.

By way of introduction to the show a video montage was projected onto a scrim in front of the stage detailing the strange similarities between the early 80's and the current economic climate with pictures of the band at the height of their fame overlaid with the words "Recession", "Gloom", "War". At the end of the intro video, the scrim dropped to the floor revealing the band and the O2 erupted into life.

The Songs

Despite having recently recorded and released a new album, Spandau Ballet played it safe for the most part, performing a two hour long greatest hits setlist interspersed with the occasional new track all of which was lapped up by the audience. Opening with their first single "To Cut a Long Story Short", the Ballet boys suddenly appeared to have lost a good twenty years as they attacked the song with enthusiasm before segueing neatly straight into The Freeze. Suddenly it was like the group had never been away and if anything had actually improved with age. "Where have you lot been for the past twenty years?", Hadley roared at the ecstatic crowd before ploughing on.

The first hour slid by effortlessly and quickly as we were entertained with all the old classics before the tempo slowed and former arch enemies Hadley and Gary Kemp performed an intimate, accoustic version "With the Pride".

And then we were off again, the crowd back on their feet, bellowing along to "Chant No 1" and "Lifeline" whilst screaming deliriously as Martin Kemp and Steve Norman strutted their stuff. Momentum built towards the end of the show and when the band finally reached "True", it was as though we had slipped back in time, the mostly middle-aged audience transported back magically to school discos of old by Hadley's incredibly soulful voice and lighting like stars. Stewards were kept busy herding people back to their seats as couples of old attempted to slow dance in the aisles.

At the end of the main set, the band returned to the stage; both Kemp brothers minus shirts, instead sporting the vests of old and Hadley nursing a glass of Jack Daniels. The crowd hit fever pitch as the Ballet belted out "Gold" and it felt as though the roof temporarily lifted off the dome.

Highlights

1. "To Cut a Long Story Short"
Probably my favourite Spandau Ballet track which was performed with such enthusiasm I could not help but grin like an inane chimp. A fantastic opener.

2. "Lifeline"
18,000 people singing "oo-oo-ooh!". Hilariously camp and an odd shared experience.

3. "She Loved Like a Diamond"
Despite failing to make even the top 40 back in 1982, an up-tempo remix and the rawness of a track performed live made this a highpoint.

4. "Round and Round"
Candid home video footage of the band in their youth provided an excellent backdrop to an introspective track and added an additonal layer of meaning. Hadley's voice has improved with age and added a layer of genuine emotion to the general nostalgia. Norman's extended sax solo helped maintain the impression of an 80's timewarp too!

5. "True"
As mentioned above, it seemed as if most of the crowd had been waiting for this track; a chance to relive the olden days and remember romance squeezed by children, mortgages and careers. Hadley and co slowed the track even further which caught out the other half of the audience singing along!

6. "Gold"
A classic track, performed with energy and the perfect way to close out the show and send us all home smiling. The band appeared to be shocked as to the warmth of the crowd and the reception they received, so much so that Keeble appeared to be unable to drag himself off the stage at the very end; maybe the crowd were not the only ones taken back in time!

Lowlights

Despite being an amazing event, there were some downsides:

1. Some of the crowd. Clearly some people had drunk too much, having to leave for toilet breaks (or more beer) at frequent intervals.

2. No support act. Prior to the "main event" we were treated to classic 80s tracks spun by an unnamed DJ. This was ok but a support act would have been better.

Merchandise

Mrs L and I skipped T-shirts this time (there really was nothing suitable for a guy anyway!). Shirts cost £20-£22 although I have heard some say subsequently that they are of rather poor quality. Programmes cost £10 and for a quite reasonable £70 one could purchase a limited edition (1 of 500) Reformation tour poster signed by the band.

Overall

Considering tickets cost between £45 and £60 at release I was really, really fortunate to have picked up a pair for £25 from ebay (including postage!) and despite the seats being at the very back of the Arena they were worth every penny. Despite Mrs L and I having some misgivings about dragging ourselves all the way to London we both had a great time and the £102 face value on the tickets would still have been worth it.

Hadley and Co perform as though they have never been away; high energy and enthusiasm with a sense of tongue in cheek. Gone is the posing and swaggering required of a yound band, replaced instead by middle aged wisdom and a shared memory of times long gone with their audience. Hadley's voice has improved with time and Martin Kemp has even learned to play the bass properly in the intervening years; were it not for Spandau's heavy reliance on the saxophone (which instantly dates their music!) it is easy to see them packing shows worldwide for years to come.

Key info:

What did it cost? After combining travel, food, tickets and parking about £100
Would I go again? Definitely.
What did it taste like? Nothing - we ate at Zizzi's outside the Arena first.
What did it smell like? Impulse, Brut and nostalgia.
What did it sound like? 1982.
What did it feel like? My face ached for a day afterwards from grinning so much.
Overall what was it like? Like a bunch of friends reminiscing over the old days. Outstanding!

Links

Spandau Ballet's homepage: http://www.spandauballet.com
The London Evening Standard's review: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23759161-spandau-ballet-boys-bounce-back-after-split.do
Spandau Ballet Live at the O2 DVD: http://www.recordstore.co.uk/spandauballet/productdetail.jsp?productPK=unittest-m5Yee7fkh5s2rgEyqN3IEb-1

© ben-lloyd 2009. This review may appear on other websites under the same user name.