Spandau Ballet fulfil family wish

Gary and Martin Kemp’s mother begged them to reform Spandau Ballet just before she died.

The brothers were left devastated earlier this year when their dad Frank died of a heart attack, only for their mother Eileen – who was recovering from a heart bypass operation – to pass away just days later.

Gary has revealed their beloved mother urged them to reunite with their former bandmates in tribute to their father.

He said: “The second thing my mum said after we told her dad had a heart attack and wasn’t going to live was that he was so looking forward to Spandau Ballet being back and it was such a shame.

“Both of them were very excited about the prospect of a reunion before they passed away. It’s given us another reason to do this. The feeling their sons are making the wish come true and to make them proud of us.”

The brothers – who play guitar and bass in the group – began rehearsing with their bandmates Tony Hadley, John Keeble and Steve Norman and found the sessions helped coped with their grief.

Martin told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “It was really therapeutic. If I was on a film set I can’t imagine being around people who would have known my parents so well.

“It would be much harder for me to get over, but being around an alternative family made things easier.”