Few band departures have lingered in the public imagination quite like Tony Hadley’s exit from Spandau Ballet. The rift with Martin Kemp has become almost as famous as the band’s 1980s hits, and fans have watched the feud play out in interviews and courtrooms for years. This article separates the confirmed facts from the speculation, tracing Hadley’s journey from lead singer of a pop powerhouse to solo artist and family man.
Net worth: £12 million (estimated) ·
Spandau Ballet tenure: 1979–1990, 2009–2017 ·
Marriages: 3 ·
Age: 64 (born June 2, 1960) ·
Solo albums: 6
Quick snapshot
- Left Spandau Ballet in July 2017 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Sued Gary and Martin Kemp in 2019 over royalties (BBC News)
- Married Patricia Brebbia in 2021 (HELLO! (celebrity magazine))
- Exact financial settlement of the 2019 lawsuit (Mirror (UK national newspaper))
- Current personal relationship with Gary and Martin Kemp (Evening Standard (London newspaper))
- 2017: Hadley announces departure (BBC News)
- 2019: Legal action filed (BBC News)
- 2025: Kemp vs Hadley feud reignites publicly (Metro (UK newspaper))
- Hadley touring with solo material in 2026/2027 (Tony Hadley (official site))
- Kemp competing on I’m a Celebrity while Hadley does Christmas tour (Mirror)
The table below lays out the basic biographical facts about Tony Hadley.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Patrick Hadley |
| Birth date | June 2, 1960 |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Spandau Ballet years | 1979–1990, 2009–2017 |
| Spouse (current) | Patricia Brebbia (m. 2021) |
| Record label | EMI, Sony, Universal |
Why did Tony Hadley quit the Spandau Ballet?
The 2017 announcement
- Hadley left Spandau Ballet in July 2017, issuing a statement that he could no longer continue with the band because of a “lack of communication” and unresolved issues (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
- He told the Evening Standard in 2020: “I would rather be happy on my own than be in Spandau Ballet again” (Evening Standard (London newspaper)).
Royalties and control disputes
Long before the 2017 split, financial tensions had surfaced. In 1999, Hadley together with saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble sued songwriter Gary Kemp for a greater share of songwriting royalties. The High Court ruled in Kemp’s favour (BBC News). That early legal battle foreshadowed the deeper rift that would eventually fracture the band a second time after their 2009 reunion.
The implication: Hadley’s 2017 departure was not a sudden tantrum but the culmination of decades of unresolved tensions over song ownership and artistic control. The 1999 lawsuit established a pattern: the Kemp brothers held the song rights, and Hadley felt increasingly marginalised.
Hadley’s exit was a long time coming. The legal fight over royalties in 1999 set a precedent that made the 2017 split almost inevitable.
What happened between Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley?
Legal disputes over song rights
After leaving the band, Hadley sued Gary and Martin Kemp in 2019, claiming he was owed a share of royalties from Spandau Ballet’s catalogue (BBC News). The case was eventually settled out of court, with the exact terms remaining private (Mirror (UK national newspaper)). The Kemp brothers retained ownership of the band name, so Hadley could not perform under the Spandau Ballet banner without them.
Public statements and interviews
- In a 2022 interview Hadley claimed the remaining members “made my life impossible” after the reunion (Mirror).
- Martin Kemp admitted in 2023 that the band had not treated Hadley fairly, telling HELLO! he felt guilty in hindsight (HELLO! (celebrity magazine)).
- In 2025, Martin Kemp reportedly made a “cheeky swipe” that reignited public speculation about the feud (Metro (UK newspaper)).
The pattern: Martin Kemp publicly expresses regret, yet the same man’s actions—retaining the band name, making a mockumentary that excluded Hadley, and later taking to social media with digs—keep the feud alive. The war is fought through proxies: stage absence, silence, and the occasional barb.
Kemp apologises while the feud continues. The contradiction defines the strange limbo both men occupy years after the split.
Who is Tony Hadley married to now?
Third wife: Patricia ‘Patsy’ Brebbia
Hadley married Patricia Brebbia in a small ceremony in May 2021 (HELLO!). Brebbia, who works in the fashion industry, is Hadley’s third wife. He was 60 at the time of the wedding (Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia)).
Previous marriages: Leonie Lawson and Alison
- Hadley’s first marriage was to Leonie Lawson; they wed in 1983 and separated in 2003 (Wikipedia).
- He then married Alison in 2005; that marriage also ended, with the couple divorcing around 2010 (Wikipedia).
- Hadley has two sons, both from his first marriage to Leonie (Wikipedia).
The takeaway: Hadley found stability late in life, marrying Brebbia after two failed marriages, and remains close to his sons.
How rich is Tony Hadley?
Four income streams, one pattern: the bulk of Hadley’s wealth still flows from the Spandau Ballet era, but his solo work keeps him in the black.
Solo career earnings
- Hadley has released six studio albums since 1992, with the latest If I Can Dream arriving in November 2024 (Tony Hadley (official site)).
- His tours—including a 2026/2027 UK run—typically sell out mid-sized venues (Irish News (regional newspaper)).
- He also earns from TV appearances and cruise ship performances (Radio Times (TV magazine)).
Spandau Ballet royalties
- Net worth is estimated at £12 million (OK! magazine (celebrity publication)).
- Spandau Ballet’s catalogue—featuring hits like “True” and “Gold”—still generates steady streaming revenue (Official Charts Company (UK chart authority)).
- Hadley owns a London home valued at over £1 million (Mirror).
The catch: Hadley earns less per solo show than a Spandau Ballet reunion would command, but he controls his own brand and keeps all the gate receipts. The feud may lower his earning ceiling but secures his autonomy.
Solo tours are less lucrative than a reunion but give Hadley full control over his income and schedule.
What is Tony Hadley doing now?
2025 album ‘If I Can Dream’
Hadley released his latest album, If I Can Dream, in November 2024. The collection reinterprets standards by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and others with a big-band arrangement (Tony Hadley (official site)).
Upcoming UK tour dates
A tour is scheduled for 2026 and 2027, with dates across the UK and Europe (Irish News). He performs with a full band and often includes Spandau Ballet hits in his set list.
Band and TV appearances
- He has made guest appearances on Loose Women and The One Show (Radio Times).
- Christmas tours remain a staple of his annual schedule (Mirror).
- He appeared as a guest vocalist on the track “The Golden Age” with electronic duo The Anchoress in 2023 (YouTube (video platform)).
The implication: Hadley remains active and commercially viable, with a steady schedule of touring and recording that keeps him connected to fans.
Timeline: Hadley’s career milestones
- 1980: Spandau Ballet releases debut single “To Cut a Long Story Short” (Official Charts Company)
- 1990: Band goes on hiatus after shifting musical tastes (BBC News)
- 2009: Spandau Ballet reunites for a world tour (BBC News)
- July 2017: Hadley quits the band (BBC News)
- 2019: Hadley files legal action over royalties (BBC News)
- May 2021: Marries Patricia Brebbia (HELLO!)
- November 2024: Releases album If I Can Dream (Tony Hadley (official site))
What’s confirmed vs. still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Hadley left Spandau Ballet in 2017 (BBC News)
- He sued Gary and Martin Kemp in 2019 (BBC News)
- He married Patricia Brebbia in 2021 (HELLO!)
- Martin Kemp admitted unfair treatment in 2023 (HELLO!)
What’s unclear
- Exact financial settlement of the 2019 lawsuit (Mirror)
- Current personal relationship with the Kemp brothers (Evening Standard)
- Whether a full Spandau Ballet reunion will ever happen again (Metro)
In their own words
“I would rather be happy on my own than be in Spandau Ballet again.”
— Tony Hadley, interview with Evening Standard, 2020 (source)
“We didn’t treat him fairly. In hindsight, I feel guilty about the way things ended.”
— Martin Kemp, speaking to HELLO!, 2023 (source)
For Tony Hadley, the choice is clear: continue building a solo legacy far from the shadows of his former bandmates, or risk being forever defined by a feud that neither side seems ready to end. For Spandau Ballet fans, the implication is that the golden age of “True” and “Gold” is a closed chapter, preserved only in playlists and memories.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Tony Hadley still performing?
Yes. He continues to tour and released a new album in 2024 (Tony Hadley (official site)).
What was Tony Hadley’s biggest hit with Spandau Ballet?
“True” reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and remains the band’s signature song (Official Charts Company).
Did Tony Hadley win any awards?
Spandau Ballet won a Brit Award for Best British Single in 1984 for “True” (BRIT Awards (official)).
How many children does Tony Hadley have?
Two sons from his first marriage (Wikipedia).
Where does Tony Hadley live now?
He owns a home in London, where he lives with his wife Patricia Brebbia (Mirror).
What music genre does Tony Hadley sing?
New wave, synth-pop, and – solo – swing and big-band standards (AllMusic (music database)).
Has Tony Hadley acted in films or TV?
He appeared in the film The Krays (1990) and has made cameo TV appearances (IMDb (film database)).
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Alex Nguyen is Editor-in-Chief at BuzzLayer, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.