Tony Hadley | World Hunger Day 2012
We are delighted that Tony Hadley will be joining us for World Hunger Day 2012 Celebrations 28 May. Book Tickets | Royal Albert Hall
Tony Hadley’s Biography
Tony Hadley, the eldest son of Josephine and Patrick, was born at The Royal Free Hospital, Islington London on 2 June 1960. Tony attended Dame Alice Owen’s Grammar School and thought his future lay in medicine but, after winning a holiday singing competition, decided that his vocation was as a singer … the rest is history …
Spandau Ballet – The 80s Phenomenon
 Pioneers of the 80s Romantic movement, Spandau Ballet formed in 1978 and had numerous chart topping singles and albums all over the world, some of the most memorable being the singles “Gold”, “Only When You Leave”, “Lifeline”, the epic “Through the Barricades” and of course the international number one “True”; the latter famously sampled by PM Dawn in 1991 and featured on Paul Anka’s Rock Swings in 2005.
As lead singer of Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley has, over the years, earned the accolade of being one of pop music’s greatest vocalists. In addition to all the band’s songs, many will remember his prominent vocal contribution to the Band Aid UK charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and subsequent 1985 London appearance at Live Aid. He also performed solo at the Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley in June 1988.
Spandau Ballet reformed in April 2009, and their sold out ‘Reformation Tour’ kicked off in October 2009 with 13 UK Arenas, including three nights at London’s O2, followed by Croatia, Serbia, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, then on to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UAE.
The tour ended in June 2010 with the band performing their first festival date at the Isle Of Wight.
A Life In Music
Turning the page on Spandau Ballet (after they disbanded in 1990), Tony has stuck to the same raw instincts that brought him early success. Tony is now a solo artist in his own right who has spent the past twenty years entertaining audiences all over the world with his stunning rich voice that has lost none of it’s power.
He has continued to write and record, and to date has released four solo studio albums; ‘State of Play’ on EMI Records, two albums through Universal Records, a self-titled album in 1998, and ‘True Ballads’ in 2003. In 2006, on his own label, Slipstream Records, he released his long-awaited swing album ‘Passing Strangers’. He has also released three live albums, two live DVDs and has had European success with several dance music collaborations.
On the live music front Tony is a regular performer, delighting audiences at home and abroad with such events as the ‘Night Of The Proms’ in Holland & Belgium, orchestral tours of Europe and South America, as well as on his own UK & European solo tours.
In 2005 Tony’s contribution to the music industry was officially recognised with the award of a Gold Badge from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
Subsequently, in 2007 he won a new legion of fans following his critically acclaimed performance as Billy Flynn in Chicago on the London’s West End Stage. Tony’s appearances in the show gave the musical one of its most successful runs ever and earned him an invitation to perform in the 10th Anniversary Show in 2008 year.
In August 2011 he played his first solo shows in the US. This was the first time that he had performed Spandau Ballet songs there since 1986.
Boys On Tour
As well as the conventional shows Tony has played some extremely unusual venues for British, NATO and UN Troops on active service in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Northern Ireland. From aircraft hangers & tank workshops to bombed-out theatres & derelict sports halls to name but a few Tony felt it was a real honour to give something back and be asked to entertain our troops.
A Passion For Swing
Aside from his own live band, Tony also has a passion for ‘Swing’; Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Jack Jones being just a few of his personal favourites and has performed with some of the greatest jazz orchestras in Europe, including London, Holland, Italy and Spain.
In 2006 Tony released his long-awaited swing album ‘Passing Strangers’. It was a personal project that had been months in the planning and truly reflects his passion for swing. The album features some of his favourite songs and was released to coincide with Tony’s first UK Swing tour, aptly-named ‘Swinging True’.
TV, Radio And Publishing
Tony’s talents as an artist extend beyond the stage and in recent years his profile has increased dramatically in the UK. His participation in the UK reality TV show ‘Reborn In The USA’, which saw him travelling across The US in a tour bus with eight other British artists, eventually won him the public vote and the overall “crown”.
He also became a successful Radio DJ at Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio), bringing his own brand of chat and music to the national airwaves every Friday & Saturday night. Tony left Virgin in October 2008 and is now planning his own radio show to be syndicated around the world.
In May 2004 Macmillan Books released Tony’s autobiography ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’. The book charted Tony’s youth, his early days in the school band, and the heady heights of worldwide super stardom as lead singer of Spandau Ballet. The book was a popular success entering the Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers chart.
Charitable Work
Tony likes to donate time to support charitable causes. As patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospice he has worked and performed annually at their fund raising events.
Tony also has a major involvement with Action Medical Research, participating in their treks to Machu Picchu, The Lost World (Venezuela) and in 2009 the Eden Trek, trekking from the Pacific to Caribbean coasts in Costa Rica, resulting in a huge sum of money being raised for the charity’s “Touching Tiny Lives” campaign, looking at research into and help for premature birth. Each Autumn, Tony hosts his own celebrity golf day to raise money for this charity.
On the 25th June 2010 Tony Hadley became the new President of TRIC, the Television & Radio Industry Club. TRIC is an organization that aims to promote mutual understanding and goodwill amongst those engaged in the audio, visual, communications and allied industries. Tony took over from the TV Presenter, Sian Williams. Established in 1931 TRIC has an unrivalled track record of charitable support and its members channel their energies and use their influential contacts to raise money to benefit good causes.
Tony is also a Patron of The Lowe Syndrome Trust and bibic (British Institute for Brain Injured Children), and supports Huntington’s Disease Association, Willow Foundation, NSPCC and the Rhys Daniels’ Trust.
The Entrepreneur
Aside from his life in the music industry, Tony has other business interests. Since 2006 as co-owner of the Red Rat Craft Brewery in Suffolk, he has become a brewer, supplying ales & stouts to Jimmy’s Farm, Sainsburys, House Of Fraser, and to various regiments of the armed forces including The Royal Anglian Regiment, The 7th Armoured Brigade ‘Desert Rats’, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and 1 Squadron RAF Regiment.
Tony also has his own-brand of award-winning ales, including Hadley’s Golden Ale, Hadley’s Crazy Dog Stout, and later this year will launch Hadley’s Gold and Hadley’s SB. In 2010 the Brewery secured a contract to supply four original ales to Coworth Park in Surrey, part of The Dorchester Collection, and also a contract with Mitchell & Butler Pubs
The Family Life
As father of five children, Tony likes to keep fit and keep up with the kids!! He regularly runs and exercises. He loves his annual ski holiday and savours scuba and water skiing in the summer. One of his biggest passions is football – he’s a regular at all the Arsenal matches – and plays for Arsenal ex-Professional and Celebrity XI team whenever he can. His speciality is the “own goal”!
What’s Next
Tony is currently working on his new album for release in 2012. This will be accompanied by a series of Country House shows in the UK, and overseas festivals.
Tony Hadley & World Hunger Day
W e are absolutely delighted that Tony Hadley will perform as part of World Hunger Day 2012 celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.
The World Hunger Day Concert, 28 May will be led by legendary singer and UN FAO Ambassador, Dionne Warwick and will also feature the full orchestra of Southbank Sinfonia.
The entire line up and ticket information will be released in the coming months.
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