News | Entertainment
18 Jan 2026 9:08
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."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Jan: Todd Bridges has split from his wife Bettijo B. Hirschi
     18 Jan: Jay Leno says people are "so shocked" he's stayed by his wife's side after her dementia diagnosis
     18 Jan: Guy Fieri has described his horror injury as the "worst thing he's been through" in two decades
     18 Jan: Pete Davidson is launching a new podcast series
     18 Jan: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon struck a deal with Netflix to boost pay for all crew members on The Rip
     18 Jan: Kendra Wilkinson doesn't think she's "good enough to be a wife or a girlfriend"
     17 Jan: David Harbour has found psychotherapy to be transformative for him
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Former All Blacks wing Grant Batty is being remembered for his bravery on the rugby field and ability to energise a crowd More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Revelations New Zealanders faced a 200-percent spike in E-shop scams over the festive season More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Todd Bridges has split from his wife Bettijo B. Hirschi 8:53

    Environment:
    Reports of homes flooding, and farm animals needing rescue following heavy rain in Northland 8:47

    Politics:
    Iranian protesters are calling on Trump to intervene — but the shadow of 1953 still haunts the US 8:47

    Basketball:
    The New Zealand Breakers have kept their NBL playoff hopes alive after beating the Cairns Taipans 104-86 in Perth 8:37

    Living & Travel:
    The fault of a crash in the opening race of the Sail GP season in Perth has been pinned on the Black Foils 8:27

    Entertainment:
    Jay Leno says people are "so shocked" he's stayed by his wife's side after her dementia diagnosis 8:23

    Health & Safety:
    Meet the Australian volunteers changing lives on a hospital ship in Africa 8:17

    Soccer:
    The Wellington Phoenix women have benefited off the boots of two teenagers to claim a 2-nil A-League win away at Canberra United 8:17

    International:
    It's been described as a "mega rocket" which is set to take astronauts to the moon for the first time in decades 8:07

    Entertainment:
    Guy Fieri has described his horror injury as the "worst thing he's been through" in two decades 7:53


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd