When you are on tour do you have any bizarre
backstage/ dressing room requests or superstitions that
you’d like to tell us about? I don’t believe
in any of that superstition bullshit, all that we do before the
show is to gather round, shake hands and last of all I kiss the
backing singer on the cheeks, then just get out there and do the
show. If you could work with any musician, alive or dead,
who would you choose? It would probably be Tony Bennett
or Frank Sinatra. My mum and dad used to play them all the time
when I was a kid and they have such great voices. I could only
ever try to emulate them. I wouldn’t mind singing with
Anastacia these days, she’s got a great voice. What were the last three things that you bought? Two
bottles of water and a packet of sweets. I don’t go in for
any of that celebrity stuff, I just go out and do stuff for
myself wherever I can, including going to the local shop. What is the most bizarre thing a fan has ever given
you? I was once on a kids TV show and told people I
really liked cookies. The next time we performed these kids were
pelting us with packets of cookies. They were really quite nice
actually. Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with and
why? Probably Tony Blair. I’d like to ask him what
the hell he’s doing at the moment in Iraq and what he’s
doing with George W. Bush. Who or what acts as your inspiration? No
doubt about it: my family. I do everything for them. Would you ever consider replacing Pete Waterman and be
a judge on Pop Idol? Yes, I wouldn’t mind doing it
actually. I don’t think I’d be like Simon Cowell or
someone, but I’d really enjoy doing it all. Although
I’d be unhappy with the exploitation of all those kids. Plus
you’d get paid well! There has been a resurgence in Eighties music and
fashion – what do you think has caused this? I
think the stuff was just really good. It wasn’t all about
money and greed like people say now. It was a time of charity and
stuff, band aid and a lot of giving. I can’t work out the
clothes though! If you weren’t a successful musician, what do you
think you would be doing? I’d probably be a doctor.
I wanted to be a cockney doctor, but I just couldn’t do the
maths at A-level. Do you have any advice for young singers who are keen
to follow in your footsteps? Be totally dedicated,
it’s gruelling, but most of all get a lawyer because
there’ll always be someone trying to rip you off, especially
when you’re young. What things do you never leave home without?
My mobile phone. You never know when that call that’ll bring
you a fortune will come in! And finally, you became well-known as the leadsinger
of Spandau Ballet; have you ever been tempted to try any ballet?
No. I was at a party with Kim Wilde and she saw me dancing and
said how hopeless I was. They did offer me the chance to dance at
the Lido once. I’m 17 stone and 6’4” though for
God’s sake!ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2004
Chatting Up…Tony Hadley
