On this page we only want to give you a very rough summery of the Spandau Ballet story ... to tell their story the way it should be done would mean to create a complete site just devoted to the band... if you are looking for something like that you will find a very good site at ...

Arben Previzi's
Unofficial Spandau Ballet Page

Spandau turn into trendsetters and as visuals get more and more important they become pioneers in the field of music videos and especially Martin with his model looks and his magic blue eyes personifies the band's image to be 'very young and very beautiful'. Professional photographers praise his looks and style and he is often seen on magazine covers, not only when these magazines report about the band but in general about the New Romantic movement.

On this page we don't want to get deeper into the New Romantic's philosophy and as our priority lies on Martin's film career anyway we only want to give you a brief summery on his time of fame and success with Spandau Ballet. The career of the band has been followed extensively by the media and so we think it's not necessary to go into every little detail.

Their very first single is released in the UK on October 27th 1980, it's 'To cut a long story short', and with this release their success story starts. Their debut album 'Journeys To Glory' is a huge success, not only in the club community. Their second album 'Diamond' can't live up to their record company's expectations, it's a bit too experimental. But soon enough they record and release new material that is much more pop orientated. They make a successful transition from what we would call nowadays indie darlings to mainstream popstars. Already at the end of 1982 there are first signs for severe 'Spandaumania' in the UK and when they release 'True' on April 12th 1983 they finally make it to the very top of the singles charts. All of a sudden our avangarde heroes have become pin ups for the kids.

Despite his success Martin still lives with his parents and his biggest problem at the time is that he doesn't spend enough money which makes him pay too much tax. Also his love life is a success, he dates Shirlie from pop rivals Wham! and they become inseparable.

'True' will remain the band's only no.1 hit in the UK but all their following releases (singles & album) reach high chart positions, they tour the world and are part of the original Band Aid project as well. In 1985 they are ready to conquer the world, but sadly ... Steve Norman injures his knee during a concert in the States and the band is forced to take a rest. They make an appearance at the historic Live Aid concert though, but the rest of the year they spend more or less fighting their record company. The only positive thing happens to Martin, he uses the break to get engaged to Shirlie. Aaah!!! And Martin and Steve have the honour to become part of a popular UK football comic ... Roy Of The Rovers:

At the end of the year Martin teams up with Steve Norman for some more charity work and plays the model at an event called Fashion Aid. Well, perhaps Mart's not quite made for the catwalk after all.

After four albums Spandau finally finish their cooperation with Chrysalis. While they are working on a new album in Ireland they can't keep Chrysalis from making some quick bucks by releasing two compilation albums.

Once the new album is recorded the band can land a big coup. They are signed by Sony Music (still CBS at the time) and their comeback gives the world the best song the band ever recorded, 'Through The Barricades'. Perhaps they lost a few fans in the UK, but in Holland, Spain and particularly in Italy they only reach the climax of their career now.

There are no words to describe what sort of reaction they get in Italy, they become a phenomenon that hasn't seen anything like it ever since. But despite all this huge success they still don't become 'untouchable', they keep in contact with their fans and they're still very much down to earth. It's this attitude that keeps the Spandau spirit alive, even today! There might be better individual musicians but in our view there has never been a better team on stage, and everybody who has seen the band in concert will know what we mean. The 1986/87 world tour is a complete success but it's also very long and so the band take a well deserved break and decide to record the next album in London.

1989 finally sees the release of the new album, followed by a successful tour. But in between album and tour Martin and Gary finally can start shooting the long announced and always postponed 'Krays' movie. It's a busy time for Martin and it marks the beginning of his 'second' career!

Sadly, after the end of their 1990 tour and some more promotional trips the band somehow disolves ... there is never an official end, perhaps the 1991 release of their 'Best of...' CD marks the end of the story ...

... but actually the band has ceased to exist before that. Still Martin and Steve bravely promote the album, but after this it's very much over and everyone embarks on solo ventures. But hits such as 'True', 'Gold', 'I'll fly for you' and 'Through The Barricades' will always remain. Just as all the good memories ...