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
fear panic somewhere start terrible travel
I have a terrible fear of travel. Just before we go, I start to panic and tell my wife I don't want to go. It's ridiculous. But actually it's only when it's somewhere I've not been to before.
came certainly children fan interest label liked people politics
I certainly wasn't a fan of Thatcher's politics. People liked to label us as children of Thatcher. What nonsense. The real children of Thatcher came in the 1990s, and had no interest in politics. The Oasis, Britpop scene.
affair destroy families hope music obviously ourselves sure terrible
It has been a terrible affair for ourselves and our families and one that I'm sure was obviously going to destroy any hope of us making music again.
band dad dying family given good mum producing shock
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.
creative vulnerable adrenaline
Being onstage is a way of harnessing your vulnerability and using the adrenaline to be creative. It's a very vulnerable place to be - technically, emotionally, and physically - but I love it.
competition martin younger
My brother Martin is two years younger than me. There has never been any competition between us - clearly he was the good-looking one; he was also very sporty, and I am not a football player.
running school home
My life is routine-obsessed. I'm OCD, and if I'm not at home, I always get up early and exercise. I don't crash and burn at night, not these days, so early-ish to bed. At home, I have three small boys who bring me down to earth with school runs and endless meals.
area inches rain since
We've had four-and-a-half inches of rain in that area since Sept. 15,
adapted burns dependent develop fire lab los monitor national park projects species thousands
We monitor all of our burns in the park and have been working with Los Alamos National Lab to develop some projects cross-boundary, ... Fire has been here for thousands of years and there are many species ecologically dependent on fire. They have adapted to it and are dependent on it.
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.
ideas acting tools
Songwriting helps me sort out my personal problems. With acting, you're just a tool for someone's ideas.
writing next lines
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
everything-happens-for-a-reason nonsense detest
I detest that saying Everything happens for a reason; its nonsense.