Rock ‘n’ roll is ripe for knockoffs, but it’s rare to see the musicians behind some of the ’80s’ biggest hits dabble in satire with both feet.
This is exactly the unusual proposal that was proposed at the extremely entertaining event.Camps: all goldin which Spandau Ballet siblings Gary and Martin Kemp continued their 2020 rock parody, Kemps: It’s all true (itself inspired by the extremely serious but accidentally hilarious 2018 documentary Bros. After the screaming stops) with a dose of self-irony with a safety lock.
The brothers could not resist. Everything was about to fall apart: Martin’s acting career, the questionable quality of her latest albums, her rocky relationship with former singer Tony Hadley. But this ridiculous film written by Ax Nathan Gerst Actor Rhys Thomas also made a broader commentary on the cynicism and greed of the music business.
The story began when Martin split from his “two wives” – ex-Wham! Backing singers Pepsi and Shirley (he’s actually only married to Shirley Holliman). With no place to live, he tried to build bridges with Gary, who had moved to the country and dreamed of turning his barn into a shared art space called Spandau Valley. In Spandau: The Ballet he also wanted to give an interpretive dance version of his group’s repertoire.
With Martin facing alimony demands from Pepsi and Shirley and Gary needing money for their Spandau Valley dream, they needed a get rich quick plan. One of the ideas was a reunion tour. Tony Hadley, with whom they were really estranged, wasn’t there, so their manager (Michael Kitchen) suggested they team up with another big name for a McBusted-style show. What about Harry Styles? You could be “Spandau Harry.”
They also tried to capitalize on the airbrushed biopic trend by teaming up with Dexter Fletcher, the director of live-action films about Queen and Elton John. The Kemps played younger versions of themselves, and Adil Ray played the role of Hadley. They were shocked to find that Fletcher gave him the best lines. “We’re going to create a whole new movement,” Tony once said. “It’s a new and romantic phenomenon, and we don’t have a name for it yet.”
The Kemps were also surprised to learn that they had lost ownership of their back catalogue. If they wanted Spandau Ballet songs in the film, they would have had to re-record them in Taylor Swift style. Either that, or steal the master from the company that purchased the originals.
After wandering in vain along Abbey Road, they chose the latter option and soon emerged from prison with their valuable mills.
Meanwhile, their plans to tour with Harry Styles were scuppered when Gary agreed to hand over the job to Status Quo’s Francis Rossi. Rossi insisted that the brothers wear fake tails and vests and perform as “Spandau Quo”.
All gold It was great, chaotic and fun, and Gary and Martin managed to keep it serious. But the film also offers a sharp critique of the way the music industry revolves around money and ego. It’s interesting how much Thomas was inspired by the recording of Queen’s concert films.
Eventually, the Kemps were arrested for spreading toxic havoc on Gary’s farm (this movie had storylines after storylines) and had to watch as the real Tony Hadley took their place as the headliner at a big New Year’s Eve party. He sang, they frowned; a suitably horrifying conclusion to rock’n’roll’s most ridiculous scorched-earth skewer.
Source: I News
I am Harvey Rodriguez, an experienced news reporter and author with 24 News Reporters. My main areas of expertise are in entertainment and media. I have a passion for uncovering stories about the people behind the scenes that bring the entertainment world to life. I take pride in providing my readers with timely and accurate information on all aspects of the entertainment industry.