SPANDAU BALLET: Surprise Public Performance

SPANDAU BALLET: Surprise Public Performance

Stage set-up in the middle of “Plaza de Callao" by radio station M80... SPANDAU BALLET suddenly appeared and began to sing!!

Tony Hadley, 55 (Vocals)

These Brits form one of best pop bands in the world. In the eighties, their first album continued post punk invented by Joy Division, but gradually inclined towards the effective, gimmicky and catchy ballad genre which they are real experts and to which they owe the sale of more than 25 million albums. Their ability to combine synthetic sounds with instruments serving sweetened melodies earned them the throne among the “new romantic” band movement, which also stared, in that decade, bands like Wham! and Duran Duran.

Gary Kemp, 55 (Guitar)

Closer to 60 than 50, three of Spandau Ballet left yesterday the stage at Callao in top form: in acoustic format (vocals, guitar and sax) delivered two of their greatest hits, "Gold" and "True". It was a surprise concert organized by M80. The station and other music channels PRISA, together with SER, celebrate, the whole week, the 90th anniversary of the founding station, Radio Madrid.

Steve Norman, 55 (Saxophone)

Not surprising the concert was deserted: by the time the band ended their second song, almost 500 attendees demanded an encore. "We didn't test for acoustic format" Gary apologized, and immediately improvised a funky tune to the delight of the audience.

• "No idea they were going to play.  They were my favourite band, I had posters and everything; what a surprise" said an excited woman close to 50. "They're older, but that's adorable: they're growing old with us," her friend added. 

• "My parents have all their albums. They're going to freak out when show them" exclaimed a young woman after the concert. 

• "They're my idols, but I never thought I would find them here, playing live. It is the best thing that happened in my life!" said an 21-year-old English Erasmus student while waiting to get an autograph from Tony and taking pictures with her mobile.

From 17th to 21st June: Radio stations SER, 40 Principales, Cadena Dial and M80 will broadcast live from the stage at "Callao", with more musical performances and surprises to continue celebrating the Anniversary of "Radio Madrid".