MANILA, Philippines - Spandau Ballet, one of the most successful British bands of the ’80s which shot to international prominence during the New Romantic Era, is coming for a one-night-only concert on Sept. 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City..
Ovation Productions, in association with Dainty Group Asia, is mounting the musical event in Manila as part of the Asian leg of the band’s world tour dubbed Soul Boys of the Western World Live! and in support of its documentary film of the same title.
The show brings to Manila the five original members — Tony Hadley (lead singer), John Keeble (drums), Gary Kemp (guitar), Martin Kemp (bass) and Steve Norman (guitar) — to perform live for the first time their smash-hit songs for Pinoy fans.
Among the band’s greatest hits which have captivated millions worldwide are True, Gold, Through the Barricades, I’ll Fly For You, Lifeline, Round And Round, Communication, Highly Strung and Only When You Leave, and many others.
Formed in London in 1976, Spandau Ballet was inspired by the New Romantic movement, a youth cultural phenomenon sweeping the West End at the time, and became one of the most successful groups to emerge in the music scene during that period.
It evolved from a punk band to a power pop group before its sound and style became more electronic. It transformed into a synthesized dance pop act after it played in such clubs as Billy’s and Blitz where the New Romantic Era was spearheaded.
The band launched its recording career with the release of its debut single, To Cut A Long Story Short, which reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom in the late ’80s. It was the first of 10 UK Top 20 hits that also included a No. 1 single in 1983 with the song, True, a No. 2 single Gold, and a No. 3 single Only When You Leave, its last American hit.
True was Spandau Ballet’s biggest hit after it peaked at No. 1 in the UK singles charts on April 30, 1983 for four weeks to become the sixth biggest selling single of the year and charted highly in 20 other countries.
It is also the group’s most-remembered song in the US, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1983 and topping the adult contemporary chart for one week.
For over three decades, the band has sold over 25 million records worldwide, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe.
After splitting up in 1990, Spandau Ballet reunited in October 2009 with a world tour starting with eight play dates across Ireland and the UK, followed by a tour in Australia with Tears for Fears in April 2010.
In recognition of its successful return to the music and concert scene, Virgin Media honored Spandau Ballet as the Best Comeback Band of 2009 at the Virgin Media Awards.
The group got together and hit the road again in 2014 to promote a documentary about its members and the ’80s culture more broadly, Soul Boys of the Western World, which premiered at the Royal Albert Hall.
The band also attended South by Southwest (its first public appearance in North America since 1985) and the Cannes Film Festival to drum up support for the film.
Its current world tour is taking Spandau Ballet to major cities in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Australia before making stops in Asia for shows in Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong.
(Tickets to Soul Boys Of The Western World Live! are priced at P6,750, P5,750, P4,750, P3,750 and P2,750 plus applicable charges. They are available at all SM Tickets outlets and online at www.smtickets.com or call 02-470-2222 ).