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Gary's living the dream
 | | Gary Kemp |
SPANDAU Ballet's Gary Kemp wakes up every morning thinking of Islington. His memories of growing up in Rotherfield Street, Islington, are so vivid he imagines he is there just before his eyes open.
Gary and brother Martin - who played Steve Owen in EastEnders - were born and raised around Essex Road.
It was at Dame Alice Owen school - formerly at the Angel - that Gary formed the now legendary 80s group with Tony Hadley, John Keeble and Steve Norman.
And even though fame has since taken him around the world he admits Islington will always be home.
"When I first wake up in the morning and am in that half sleep state the vision in my head is of the street outside our old house in Rotherfield Street," he said.
"It takes a while to shake it off and realise I'm not there.
"Islington is under my skin and in my dreams still now."
Gary Kemp remembers hanging around in Ecclesbourne Park as a youngster, running from gangs and drinking in the Tibberton Arms in Greenman Street.
He and his brother were also some of the first pupils through the door of the Anna Scher Theatre in Barnsbury Road, Islington. Both went on to star together in the film, The Krays - the story of the famed East End gangster brothers, Ronnie and Reggie Kray.
But they lived a meagre life and he says they never dreamed fame and fortune would come knocking.
He added: "We had quite an impoverished upbringing but it felt quite normal at the time.
"We lived in a house with two flats above us and an old lady below and all had to share one toilet in the yard outside. In the winter it froze up, but none of the flats had bathrooms.
"We moved a few roads away to Elmore Street when I was 15 and the house had an indoor bathroom, which felt like luxury."
He added: "I played the guitar a bit when I was 11 and started writing songs.
"We went to Anna Scher just by chance and all of a sudden found ourselves doing a bit of TV.
"There was no musical or acting background in our family but both me and my brother became addicted to it."
Gary formed Spandau Ballet in the late 1970s and they had their first hit record in 1980.
He says they invited his brother, who was at Central Foundation Boys School, to join because he was the best-looking guy they knew. Gary was the main songwriter and the group sold millions of records worldwide including True, Cross The Line, Gold and Fight For Ourselves.
They have just released a new DVD of one of their live performances in Birmingham.
Gary said: "It has brought back a lot of memories and I had forgotten how good a live band we were.
"People only ever know us for our records but we were known in those days for being a good live band. This concert was a moment in Spandau Ballet's history I'm very proud of so wanted to bring it into the future." - CHRISTINA BOYLE.
* WE have five copies of the DVD to give away - signed by Gary Kemp. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning one is answer the following question: Who was the lead singer of Spandau Ballet?
Send your answer, with your name, address and telephone number, to: Spandau Ballet DVD Competition, North London Newspapers, 161 Tottenham Lane, London N8 , to arrive no later than July 29, 2005.
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