European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Singer Tony Hadley. Spandau Ballet breaking the barricades by Anita Gosch staff writer Spandau Ballet in t a classical dance nor is it connected with the West Berlin prison that housed nazi War criminals it s a group of Young londoners who play a sizzling mix of pop Rock and Funky dance rhythms the quintet has had enormous Success in Europe since it kicked off the Quot new romantic Quot wave in 1980, a trend that placed emphasis on fashion and also brought the likes of culture club and Duran Duran to the forefront. Spandau Ballet s heyday came in the mid sos when the band had numerous hit singles and sold out Arenas across the continent. But in the United states Spandau Ballet was Little More than a one hit wonder. Only the 1983 single True hit the top 5 on the american charts. Lead Singer Tony Hadley attributes the group s Lack of Success in the United states to the nature of the music Industry. Quot i think the problem in America is that the people have to know what they re dealing with whether it be Light Rock heavy Rock top 40,&Quot Hadley said in an interview in Frankfurt West Germany Quot record companies find it hard to get to grips with anything other than what they re familiar with. Like the 1986 hit through the barricades. Because it s very european a it s More like a Folk Rock song rather than a Standard Light Rock song like Bon Jovi a the american record company just did t understand  with heart like a sky Spandau Ballet s sixth and latest up Hadley to apes to crack the . Market. The album is the group s second release on lbs records. In 1985 the band members sued their former record company Chrysalis for release from its contract citing inefficient promotion in the United states. Hadley says rumours of anti semitism sparked by the group s name also kept Spandau Ballet out of the american limelight. Quot i heard this Rumor was actually being floated around by some people in America out in new York and i think the record company just overreacted Quot he said. Quot to come up with that sort of a conclusion about our band is just stupid. Spandau Ballet Means nothing it s just a  the name actually came from Graffiti on the Wall of a toilet in a West Berlin club he said. Spandau Ballet which also includes guitarist and chief songwriter Gary Kemp Bass player Martin Kemp saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble has Long been involved in charitable activities. In 1984, the group took part in the All Star session for band Aid s do they know it s Christmas record a project started by Bob Geldof for ethiopian famine Relief. The following year the band performed at the live Aid concert in London. Recently Hadley provided backup vocals on an album in support of saving elephants in Africa Quot i be got kids Quot he said Quot i want them to grow up and be Able to see elephants and  Hadley 29, has two children Ages 6 and 4 though Spandau Ballet s music is dance oriented pop the band members have always placed emphasis on lyrics along with romantic ballads the group focuses on socially conscious songs. Through the barricades attacks divisions in society whether they be social religious or political be free with your love from the new album promotes Goodwill and brotherly love and the 1983 hit Gold is about Quot discovering yourself finding Confidence and finding the ability to Deal with  Spandau Ballet s fans who at a recent concert ranged in age from teen agers who crowded the backstage door to Young adults have reacted positively to the group s lyrics says Hadley. Quot we be gotten a lot of letters from ians who have said your song inspired me to get better Quot he said. Quot it s very satisfying that people feel things from the songs that we sing and  highways and byways to hell by Richard Harrington the Washington Post its the year s oddest concept album Rock stars in the present tense singing songs made famous by Solo stars or group members who died from drug or alcohol abuse it s called stairway to heaven Highway to hell though it contains neither the led Zeppelin nor acc songs that give the album its title Zeppelin which lost drummer John Bonham in 1979, is represented by his moby Dick performed by four drummers including his son Jason Bonham. The who which lost drummer Keith Moon is represented by my generation performed by russian rockers Gorki Park and i can t explain by the scorpions. Motley Crue offers Tommy Bolin s teaser Bon Jovi revives Phil Lynott s the boys Are Back in town Cinderella attempts Janis Joplin s move Over and Ozzy Osbourne gets lost in Jimi Hendrix s purple Haze. All the acts participated in last summer s Moscow music peace festival. A Jam irom that event closes out the poly ram album. Proceeds from sales will be split Between the make a difference foundation in North Carolina and the  s a s All Union society for sobriety. The make a difference foundation is a nonprofit group directing its drug and alcohol abuse fight toward youth through pro responsibility messages. The album project was executive produced by Bon Jovi manager Doc Mcghee who was convicted in 1988 of helping to import 20 tons of marijuana into North Carolina Mcghee who received a $15,000 Fine and a suspended sentence of five years goes on trial again in mid february in Louisiana on related charges that could bring him 150 years in jail and a $400,000 Fine. According to billboard both cases resulted from the Federal probe that led to the indictment of former panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega Mcghee was charged with being a member of a Large drug ring that allegedly conspired to import 1.28 million pounds of marijuana valued at $1.5 billion. Another of Mcghee entertainment s acts appears on stairway Highway. Skid Row which revives the sex pistols holidays in the Sun. The group s Lead Singer Sebastian Bach has been in the spotlight and he has t looked Good in the february Issue of Metal Edge Magazine the handsome almost pretty Rock Star is pictured wearing a to shirt that reads Quot aids kills fags dead Quot a mindless parody of the raid pesticide logo. Aids activists have lambasted the group pointing out that its impressionable fans Are mostly from 15 to 24-years-old, a demographic group which has a reputation for promiscuous unprotected sexual behaviour evidenced in the nigh rate of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases and that Bach s stance suggests they Are somehow unaffected by aids critics also berate Bach for promoting bigotry and violence against homosexuals in the Wake of record Levels of Hale crimes. A letter to Metal Edge pointed out that the Magazine would never have printed photos of a shirt haranguing members of ethnic groups. On mtg Bach tried to dismiss the controversy with the Ozzy Osbourne Bat biting defense saying someone had thrown the shirt on stage during a show and he d simply put it on. He said he realized Quot it s not Cool to make fun of death i guess nobody gets my jokes Quot adding Quot let me state this a i do not know condone comprehend or understand homosexuality in any Way shape or  Bach does comprehend lawsuits because he s now faced with one after a late december incident in Springfield mass during a concert in which skid Row was opening for Aero Smith Bach was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the audience. After shouting obscenities and apparently thinking he d spotted the culprit he threw the bottle Back into the audience and then leaped off stage into the crowd. Unfortunately the bottle hit a 17-year-old fan in the face and she was also caught in the Middle of the Brief Brawl that erupted before Bach was hauled Back onto the stage by his Road Crew. The girl was treated for severe facial cuts and bruises Bach was arrested after the concert and charged with two counts of assault and Battery two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of mayhem. Freed on $10,000 Bond he s scheduled to go to trial in May. Unfortunately for Bach a concert goer shot the whole incident on Tapie which has been airing on mtg. Skid Row s Sebastian Bach not laughing now. The billboard charts new Nof  week. Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday january 31.1990