News | Entertainment
8 Dec 2025 15:03
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Gary Kemp believes musicians who struggle with fame "shouldn't be in the business"

    The Spandau Ballet guitarist suggested the likes of Chappell Roan - who has repeatedly complained about the scrutiny she has faced and being "yelled at in public" by fans - should lead "anonymous" lives instead, though he acknowledged up-and-coming artists may not realise what life in the public eye is like until it is too late


    He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I mean, really, you shouldn't be in the business If you really feel like that, should you? Maybe you should just go out anonymous and never put a video out or a photograph out... but maybe they don't know until it's happened to them and then it becomes tricky."

    Gary believes his brother, former bandmate Martin Kemp, is "more of a celebrity" than he is.

    He said: "He's more of a celebrity than me. Years and years ago, fame was something that could get you a table at a restaurant or get you nearer to the front of the queue."

    And the 65-year-old songwriter is uncomfortable with the modern idea of stars being more open about their lives, particularly through social media.

    He said: "I loved Bowie when he was full of mystique. I didn't really like him when he went on 'TFI [Friday]' and told dad jokes."

    Gary - who has Finlay, 34, with ex-wife Sadie Frost, and Milo, 20, Kit, 16, and 12-year-old Rex with wife Lauren Barber - doesn't think Spandau Ballet received the credit they deserved at the height of their fame in the 1980s because of their largely female fanbase.

    He said: "If you're a good-looking band, you'll tend to have a lot of girls following you... and if that was the case in the 1980s, you weren't worthy. Blokey bands that had more men following them would be seen to be better musicians, for some reason - I have no idea why that is other than sexism, because you know us and Duran [Duran], who did have a lot of female followers, all played our instruments really well.

    "All wrote pretty good songs, were all great singers, but for some reason, we were discredited by that, especially by a lot of the male music writers from the time."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     08 Dec: Elizabeth Olsen "romanticised" about being an old lady living in a "beautiful British seaside town" when she was a teenager
     08 Dec: Emma Heming Willis dec lares Die Hard a Christmas movie
     08 Dec: Self Esteem's stance on having children has changed since she became a dog mom
     08 Dec: Sir Rod Stewart says Penny Lancaster has taught him to be more honest
     08 Dec: Simone Biles knew she wanted to marry Jonathan Owens after their first date
     08 Dec: Ben Affleck spent Thanksgiving with his ex wife
     06 Dec: Critics choice nominations 2026: Sinners scores 17 nods, One Battle After Another earns 14
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The father of Tauranga teen running sensation Sam Ruthe has paid tribute to the long-term record-holder his son has consigned to history More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A significant milestone for the country's wool sector, with an export deal signed More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    Multiple fires have broken out near Tongariro National Park 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Elizabeth Olsen "romanticised" about being an old lady living in a "beautiful British seaside town" when she was a teenager 14:50

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps will definitely be fielding a fast-bowling debutant in the second cricket test against the West Indies starting in Wellington on Wednesday 14:37

    Entertainment:
    Emma Heming Willis dec lares Die Hard a Christmas movie 14:20

    International:
    Oscar Piastri praised as future formula 1 world champion by rivals 14:17

    Basketball:
    Basketball's bearded wonder James Harden is now in the NBA's top 10 scorers of all time 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Self Esteem's stance on having children has changed since she became a dog mom 13:50

    Law and Order:
    A school caretaker who gave a 13-year-old drugs and had child abuse material on his phone - has lost an appeal against his sentence 13:47

    International:
    Russia increases recruitment of foreign fighters through targeted social media campaigns 13:37

    Health & Safety:
    Children from a Christchurch daycare where some were burnt by chemicals accidentally put on a waterslide - are back at the centre today 13:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd