Tony Hadley: ‘Right-wing is a bit of a weird one, isn’t it?’

Spandau Ballet’s place at the forefront of the New Romantic movement has long shaped public perception of politically vocal Tony Hadley.

As the genre’s early gender-bending looks gave way to sharp suits, Spandau’s sound became strongly associated with Thatcherism.

Over the years, frontman Tony has gained a reputation as a right-wing rock star for the rich – but he’s not so sure.

‘Right-wing’s a bit of a weird one, isn’t it?’ he told Metro when we asked about the label. ‘It’s like right-wing, left-wing, middle. I’ve always said I’m a conservative communist.’

For the Gold singer, that means ‘everybody’s equal’ and should be treated as such, ‘no matter what your job is’.

‘But then I don’t have a problem making money,’ he added after pausing to consider his surprisingly socialist declaration.

Tony reasoned: ‘We need to be kinder to each other. We need to treat people equally, but also we need people to invest in our country.

‘Everybody needs to make money in one form or another. Making money shouldn’t be a bad thing.’

Despite his ‘very strong views’, Tony doesn’t believe that artists should be too vocal when it comes to political issues.

‘If you want to be a politician, go into politics,’ he quipped, having reportedly considered running for Parliament way back in 2008.

‘We’ve all got views on the world and politics,’ the former I’m A Celeb star continued. ‘My view is that I love my country absolutely to bits, but it has not been run properly for a number of years.

He suggested that we should pick the ‘cleverest businessman on the planet’, pay them a hefty £5million salary and let them run the place.

‘Or her’, Tony corrects himself, jokingly suggesting a Dragon’s Den star should take the role. Metro offered that Deborah Meaden could be the woman for the job, which he agreed.

‘I just want someone to grab it by the coat and just shake it up a bit and do what’s right for everybody,’ the True singer added with a hint of frustration.

It’s been 50 years since Tony and Spandau’s breakthrough, and Thatcherism criticism or not, the music has undeniably stuck around.

True remains a classic after it saw four weeks at number one in the UK and cracked the top five in the US. Meanwhile, Gold has transformed into a football anthem.

Tony’s heading out on The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026 to celebrate, with19 shows lined up boasting a set list that will span crooner classics, festive tracks, and a sprinkling of Spandau.

Spandau Ballet numbers have been reimagined with the Big Band, which Tony has toured with on and off over several years.

Despite parting ways with the rest of the band rather unceremoniously in 2017, Tony has never got tired of those chart-topping numbers.

‘I don’t have a problem with singing them,’ he reflected. ‘They’re part of my life and part of everybody else’s life.’

He’s not spoken to former bandmates Martin Kemp, Gary Kemp, and John Keeble in over a decade but did catch up with Steve Norman recently for a ‘nice drink’.

‘I don’t have any angst,’ he said with a sigh. ‘Times a healer in a way, but I don’t have I don’t have any problems with the rest of the guys.

‘They get on with their lives. I get on with mine.’

As for a potential reunion, Tony believes it would ‘take an awful lot’ for him to return, even if next year marks 10 years since he left.

He explained that after 50 years of making music, and over 10 years solo, he’s still ‘hypercritical’ of everything he does.

‘I don’t rest on my laurels,’ the singer shared. ‘I’m still learning. I’m still criticising myself, still beat myself up. I want to be better all the time.’

Tony has almost finished his next album – between endless touring and buying a pub with some 200 other locals – and has a clear plan for the one after that.

‘I want to be better, to write better songs,’ he shared. ‘I said to my band, I want us to just get in a room and I want us to thrash it. Let’s just get 10 songs. Everybody throw their ideas into the pot.

‘[Then] just record it live in a studio somewhere to get back to that kind of almost 60s vibe where the Beatles and the Stones just got in a room and made it together, and I’ve never really done that.’

After 50 years in the business, Tony’s much more focused on his music than before and stated he’s largely ‘done’ with the whole being famous part of his life.

‘I think [the celebrity thing] has kind of had its day,’ he said when asked if he’d dive into another reality show after his memorable turn on I’m A Celebrity.

‘I mean, we all love traitors,’ Tony added. ‘The whole country is gripped and my kids say, “Oh, come on, Dad, go on the traitors.” No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I’ve done my bit.’

He might pop up on a cookery show or do a quick chat for the news but as for what he called the ‘let’s wheel them out and see what they can do’ shows, ‘it’s not for [him] anymore’.

That being said, Tony would love to be a traitor should Claudia Winkleman and the producers ever come knocking.

‘The only trouble is I can’t lie,’ he confessed with a chuckle. ‘I would try and fabricate something and just start laughing, but then they probably wouldn’t know whether I was telling the truth or not. So who knows?’

Perhaps an Alan Carr-style victory is still in the cards for Tony, but it sounds like a Richard E. Grant-esque exit is more likely.

Until then, the former frontman will be on tour with his Big Band as well as a cruise with Marti Pellow and numerous festivals.

Time in a Scottish castle would probably be quite relaxing when your schedule is this packed, even if you might get murdered.

Tickets for Tony Hadley’s The Christmas Big Band Tour are on sale now.

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