News | Entertainment
14 Dec 2025 13:54
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Gary Kemp believes musicians who struggle with fame "shouldn't be in the business"

    The Spandau Ballet guitarist suggested the likes of Chappell Roan - who has repeatedly complained about the scrutiny she has faced and being "yelled at in public" by fans - should lead "anonymous" lives instead, though he acknowledged up-and-coming artists may not realise what life in the public eye is like until it is too late


    He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I mean, really, you shouldn't be in the business If you really feel like that, should you? Maybe you should just go out anonymous and never put a video out or a photograph out... but maybe they don't know until it's happened to them and then it becomes tricky."

    Gary believes his brother, former bandmate Martin Kemp, is "more of a celebrity" than he is.

    He said: "He's more of a celebrity than me. Years and years ago, fame was something that could get you a table at a restaurant or get you nearer to the front of the queue."

    And the 65-year-old songwriter is uncomfortable with the modern idea of stars being more open about their lives, particularly through social media.

    He said: "I loved Bowie when he was full of mystique. I didn't really like him when he went on 'TFI [Friday]' and told dad jokes."

    Gary - who has Finlay, 34, with ex-wife Sadie Frost, and Milo, 20, Kit, 16, and 12-year-old Rex with wife Lauren Barber - doesn't think Spandau Ballet received the credit they deserved at the height of their fame in the 1980s because of their largely female fanbase.

    He said: "If you're a good-looking band, you'll tend to have a lot of girls following you... and if that was the case in the 1980s, you weren't worthy. Blokey bands that had more men following them would be seen to be better musicians, for some reason - I have no idea why that is other than sexism, because you know us and Duran [Duran], who did have a lot of female followers, all played our instruments really well.

    "All wrote pretty good songs, were all great singers, but for some reason, we were discredited by that, especially by a lot of the male music writers from the time."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     14 Dec: Best stand-up comedy performance:
     14 Dec: Jane Seymour is still "very sexually active" at the age of 74
     14 Dec: Minnie Driver has admitted moving back to London after spending more than two decades in California was "really difficult"
     14 Dec: Timothy Spall's battle with leukaemia stops him from being a "t**t"
     14 Dec: Kesha dumped her boyfriend after being freed from her recording contract
     14 Dec: Sydney Sweeney wants to date a "well-kept man" with a "great personality"
     14 Dec: Francesca Scorsese "obviously" landed a high-profile directing job because of her famous father, Martin Scorsese
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The defending champion Whai are backing their strong away form in this afternoon's Tauihi national women's basketball final against the Mainland Pouakai in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Best stand-up comedy performance: 13:50

    Soccer:
    High praise for Wellington Phoenix keeper Josh Oluwayemi 13:47

    Living & Travel:
    The defending champion Whai are backing their strong away form in this afternoon's Tauihi national women's basketball final against the Mainland Pouakai in Christchurch 13:27

    Entertainment:
    Jane Seymour is still "very sexually active" at the age of 74 13:20

    International:
    Two US troops killed in Syria ambush along with one American civilian 13:07

    Rugby:
    A couple of big names have navigated their way into the second round of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace 13:07

    Entertainment:
    Minnie Driver has admitted moving back to London after spending more than two decades in California was "really difficult" 12:50

    Law and Order:
    A South Auckland cop's escaped conviction - despite pleading guilty to possessing cocaine 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Timothy Spall's battle with leukaemia stops him from being a "t**t" 12:20

    Law and Order:
    Fire and Emergency NZ is looking into the cause of a fire at two homes in Auckland's Beach Haven just after six last night 11:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd