Gary Kemp
Gary Kemp
Gary James Kempis an English pop musician and actor who is the guitar player and chief songwriter for the 1980s new wave band Spandau Ballet. His brother, Martin Kemp, plays bass guitar in the band. Gary Kemp also provided backing vocals on many of the tracks to lead singer Tony Hadley...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth16 October 1959
real past years
For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was being in a band. That's all I did. I had no other social life. I don't want my life to be like that now. I've spent the past 10 years having a real life as well. But Spandau Ballet is such a difficult shadow to outrun.
stars dad book
We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was about eight and we pulled out two - a Biggles and a science fiction novel. I never got the ace fighter pilot but fell in love with all things to do with the future and space. Isaac Asimov soon became my guiding star.
thinking people sometimes
I think sometimes my controlling instincts came out of a fear of other people.
thinking self interviews
I think my younger self would be more amazed to know I was doing an interview for 'The Spectator.
life-is
Your life is the same wherever you go.
instinct
My instinct is to be very controlling.
ideas acting tools
Songwriting helps me sort out my personal problems. With acting, you're just a tool for someone's ideas.
lying reading may
Don't see the point in reading ghost-written autobiographies, even though some of these published lives may fascinate me. The 'ghost' is always present, manipulating an interview into first-person singular text, and it feels like I'm reading a lie.
dad thinking class
I keep my house tidy, because then I can think clearly. I feel the same about myself. Presenting yourself well is a working-class thing - my dad was a printer, but he wore a tie most days. The ungroomed look belongs more to the middle classes.
dad thinking dying
In the '80s the band was 24/7. You were only as good as what you were producing at any given moment. Now my family is more important. I also think having the shock of your mum and dad dying humbles you slightly.
writing next lines
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
song wife splits
Kevin Costner told me that 'True' was his and his wife's song. I'm not sure if that's a good thing because they split up soon after.
country honour
It's always an honour doing anything for your country.
actors musician pops
I've always thought that actors wanted to be pop musicians and pop musicians wanted to be actors.