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The album, which is a collaboration between Ferry and artist Amelia Barrett, marks a significant shift for the Roxy Music frontman. He compared the spoken word style to earlier Roxy tracks ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ and ‘Mother of Pearl’. Talking to Clash Magazine last month, Ferry said: “The nearest I ever got to doing pieces like this before would maybe be back in Roxy… I’m pleased that when we’ve played Loose Talk to people, they’ve said, ‘Oh, this sounds really different.’ That’s what I’ve always wanted with everything I’ve done or been involved in: to be different.”  

Barrett has built a career as an artist without pigeonholing herself, having dabbled in performance poetry, painting, and immersive exhibitions. She is not new to the music world either, having released a cassette in 2023 in collaboration with Christian Flamm, which contained recordings in both English and German. Barrett met Ferry at an art exhibition in London’s East End, going on to record an audiobook at the singer’s recording studio. This led to ‘Loose Talk’, which Ferry described as “her words, my music”.

 

 

 

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 In the podcast, the ‘Slave to Love’ singer revealed the pair’s creative processes. Barrett wrote and recorded her parts completely separately to Ferry, whose sole focus was on composing and mixing the music, doing so alongside the album’s producer, James Garzke.

Ferry also revealed that the album would feature a co-credit for late bass player Alan Spenner, who passed away in 1991. The bassist played with Roxy Music during the late 70s and early 80s, and the piece that Ferry has unearthed and used on his upcoming album comes from 1973’s ‘For Your Pleasure’. It was shelved, before Spenner added a bass part when he played with the band, and then shelved again. Spenner’s playing can be heard on ‘More Than This’, ‘Avalon’, and ‘Dance Away’. His playing style has been described as “spinning lines that exuded a soulful, rhythm & blues disposition akin to Motown masters”.

Through his work with Roxy Music and his solo career, Ferry has built up a reputation as a modern-day aesthete, regarding the visuals to be just as important as the music. He touched on this in the interview, crediting his former university lecturer and pop artist, Richard Hamilton, for shaping his tastes. The artist’s influence is evident in the three music videos that have been released so far, blending various filmmaking techniques and looking more experimental than his usual sleek and highly-stylised music videos. The music videos for ‘Loose Talk’ are also Ferry’s first time directing videos, which might go some way to explaining the shift.

‘Loose Talk’ is set to be released in less than two weeks, hitting shelves and streaming services on 28 March. Preorders, presaves, and an exclusive green vinyl pressing are all available now. With a considerable buzz in certain circles, it will be fascinating to see the response to Ferry’s new direction.

You’ve all been asking. WELL HERE WE GO. Manchester, Southend, Birmingham, London you’re up. We are doing 4 exclusive shows with the Orchestra. October 2022. Tickets available Friday 24th September 2021.https://t.co/4hWOEpih6d

— Tony Hadley (@TheTonyHadley) September 21, 2021

 

 

Tony Hadley MBE is known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of Spandau Ballet who were previously known as The Cut in 1976. Martin Kemp (Bass guitarist and vocals), brother Gary Kemp (Songwriter, guitarist, synthesiser and backing vocals), Steve Norman (Saxophonist and hand drums) and John Keeble (Drums) made up the band lineup.

The band released their debut single “To Cut A Long Story Short “ on October 31st 1980 to rave reviews and went on to top the UK charts with their album True released in 1983. The band’s single also entitled “True” (1983)  topped the charts in the UK Official Singles Chart. The band is also known for popular singles “Gold” (1983), “Only When You Leave” (1984), “I’ll Fly For You” (1984) and “Through The Barricades” (1986) to name a few.

The band went on a 19-year hiatus in 1990 and saw the singer release his solo album The State of Play in 1992. The band reunited for The Reformation Tour in 2009 and the singer announced his departure from the band in 2017 to embark on his solo career once again.

The singer said that he will be performing both his solo material and Spandau Ballet hits during his tour. The singer is set to perform with his The Fabulous TH Band and the four extra tour dates will see him perform in Manchester, Southend, Birmingham and the London Palladium on October 25th 2022.

The singer will now be performing 40 dates during his tour and will perform with a full live orchestra for his four extra dates. The singer’s tour will kick off on March 1st and tickets for the additional four dates are on sale from September 24th. 

See Tony Hadley’s 40th Anniversary 2022 Tour dates below. Tickets are available here

01/03/22 De La Warr Pavilion- Bexhill
02/03 Fairfield Halls- Croydon
04/03 The Swan- High Wycombe
05/03 G Live- Guildford
05/03 BIC Pavilion- Theatre-Bournemouth
08/03 Town Hall- Cheltenham
09/03 St David’s Hall- Cardiff
11/03 Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
12/03 Philharmonic- Liverpool
13/03 Victoria Hall- Stoke
15/03 De Montfort Hall- Leicester
16/03 City Hall- Sheffield
18/03 City Hall- Hull
19/03 Victoria Hall- Halifax
20/03 Globe- Stockton
22/03 Perth Concert Hall
23/03 Royal Concert Hall- Glasgow
24/03 Buxton Opera House
05/05 Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
06/05 Corn Exchange- Cambridge
07/05 Regent Theatre- Ipswich
08/05 Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall
10/05 Assembly Hall- Worthing
11/05 Bath Forum
13/05 Torquay Princess Pavilion
14/05 Guildhall- Portsmouth
15/05 Oxford New Theatre
17/05 Dartford Orchard Theatre
18/05 Northampton Derngate
20/05 Scunthorpe Baths Hall
21/05 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
22/05 York Barbican
24/05 Usher Hall- Edinburgh
25/05 O2 City Hall-Newcastle
26/05 Sands Centre- Carlisle
27/05 Opera House-Blackpool

Extra live Orchestra dates:
21/10 Bridgewater Hall- Manchester
22/10 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
23/10 Symphony Hall- Birmingham
25/10 London Palladium

Spandau Ballet had a 19-year hiatus in 1990 and reformed for their “Reformation Tour” in 2009. In 2017 Lead Singer Tony Hadley announced his departure. Spandau Ballet then recruited Ross Wiliam Wild as their Lead Singer who also announced his departure, from Spandau Ballet in May 19 to work with his band Mercutio. Martin Kemp then confirmed that Spandau Ballet would not Tour again without Tony Hadley.

Gary Kemp’s musical career has spanned over 40 years and his first Solo Album Debut was in 1995 with his Album “Little Bruises“. Gary Kemp has now embarked on another Solo offering with his new Solo Album “InSolo” released on 16/07/21. Gary Kemp claims both David Bowie and Mark Ronson as his “Musical Heroes”

Gary Kemp collaborated with his brother Martin Kemp, Roger Taylor (Queen Drummer), Toby Chapman (Co-Producer of “InSolo“), Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd Bass Player), Lee Harris (Talk Talk Drummer) and Ash Soan (Del Amitri Drummer) for “InSolo” and views the Album as Personal Album and the tool that enabled him to address his past. Gary Kemp stated that “I’m forever sort of pulling around this younger version of myself”

Gary Kemp further expresses that his struggle of thinking about the past and living in the now is difficult for him to do. Gary describes The Album “InSolo” as a form of Self-Therapy. The number eight listed single “I Am the Past” is viewed by Gary Kemp as him addressing his past.

“InSolo” has been described as being a Cinematic Sounding and Visual lyrical Album. Gary Kemp states that he is no longer thinking of writing songs for Spandau Ballet’s comeback and is now fully focused on his solo material.

Gary Kemp held a Q & A Session for his Followers on 02/08/21 at The Old Brewery

On 03/08/21 Gary Kemp tweeted:

Thanks to everyone who came last night and to @RoughTrade East for hosting the event so superbly. And a special thank you to @realmartinkemp for leading the rather raucous but emotional interview.
It was great to hear the album that loud too! #INSOLO
@RichardYoungGY pic.twitter.com/h4pFP7Nh0f

— Gary Kemp (@garyjkemp) August 3, 2021

Gary Kemp also participates in a Podcast with Guy Pratt entitled “Rockonteurs” and has not announced a Tour in respect to “InSolo”