News | Entertainment
9 May 2025 17:13
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
     09 May: Justin Bieber finds love "exhausting"
     09 May: Jennifer Lopez promised her children she'd be "stronger and better" after her divorce from Ben Affleck
     09 May: Dolly Parton admits her husband would "expect" her to keep going after his death
     09 May: Smokey Robinson's attorney has branded the sexual assault allegations against the singer as "vile" and "false"
     09 May: A man who allegedly crashed his car through the gate of Jennifer Aniston's home has been accused of harassment
     09 May: David Hasselhoff is set to undergo knee surgery next week
     09 May: Holly Madison would love to repair her relationship with Kendra Wilkinson
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Auckland FC have had All Blacks great Dan Carter in camp to help them prepare for the A-League finals More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Prime Minister's responding to nationwide protests over the Government's pay equity changes More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Justin Bieber finds love "exhausting" 16:59

    Living & Travel:
    The window is closing for the Indian Panthers to return to the National Basketball League 16:57

    Law and Order:
    A recent serious dog attack in Auckland is highlighting the extent of the issue 16:47

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Lopez promised her children she'd be "stronger and better" after her divorce from Ben Affleck 16:29

    Rugby:
    Auckland FC have had All Blacks great Dan Carter in camp to help them prepare for the A-League finals 16:27

    International:
    Giro d'Italia challenge led by outsider Michael Storer as Aussie hopes hinge on supporting favourites 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Dolly Parton admits her husband would "expect" her to keep going after his death 15:59

    Entertainment:
    Smokey Robinson's attorney has branded the sexual assault allegations against the singer as "vile" and "false" 15:29

    Environment:
    A major road has flooded in Auckland as wet weather makes its way across the country 15:27

    Entertainment:
    A man who allegedly crashed his car through the gate of Jennifer Aniston's home has been accused of harassment 14:59


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd