News | Entertainment
26 Feb 2026 9:01
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."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Feb: Bad Bunny hailed Willie Colón as "one of the legends who contributed" to Latin music following his death
     26 Feb: JoJo Siwa hopes her signature bows can inspire a new generation to find "their voice and confidence"
     26 Feb: Wunmi Mosaku wants to make women feel "seen and represented" with her maternity line
     26 Feb: Conan O'Brien has been "practicing backflips" in case Rose Byrne wins an Oscar
     26 Feb: Backstreet Boys "pray" they don't get injured before going on stage
     26 Feb: Sir David Beckham has been hailed a "true gentleman" after helping an injured skier
     25 Feb: Matthew Lillard admits his fashion sense is "still stuck in 2000"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A new role and an appointment at New Zealand Rugby as part of their high performance overhaul More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    It feels like the golden days for dairy farmers - as they celebrate a record-breaking year More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Bad Bunny hailed Willie Colón as "one of the legends who contributed" to Latin music following his death 8:51

    Entertainment:
    JoJo Siwa hopes her signature bows can inspire a new generation to find "their voice and confidence" 8:21

    Business:
    It feels like the golden days for dairy farmers - as they celebrate a record-breaking year 8:17

    Rugby:
    A new role and an appointment at New Zealand Rugby as part of their high performance overhaul 8:07

    Basketball:
    Tall Blacks coach Judd Flavell claims Parker Jackson-Cartwright's done the groundwork to fit in, should eligibility laws allow him to represent New Zealand 7:57

    Entertainment:
    Wunmi Mosaku wants to make women feel "seen and represented" with her maternity line 7:51

    International:
    New image taken by ALMA telescope reveals 'extraordinary' detail of Milky Way's central zone 7:47

    Health & Safety:
    Surgeries are being put off at Christchurch Hospital 7:47

    Law and Order:
    Police are investigating a sudden death in Auckland's Taupaki last night 7:37

    Entertainment:
    Conan O'Brien has been "practicing backflips" in case Rose Byrne wins an Oscar 7:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd