Gary Kemp

Biography

Gary Kemp was born in October 1959 in Islington, London. He received his first guitar as a gift from his parents on his tenth birthday, sparking his passion for music. During the 1970s, he and his brother, Martin Kemp, honed their acting skills at Anna Scher’s drama school. In 1978, Gary founded a band called "The Makers," which later evolved into Spandau Ballet after Martin joined as the bassist.

Spandau Ballet gained significant attention in March 1980 when they were featured in an ITV documentary, leading to a lucrative deal with Chrysalis Records. Over the next decade, the band released a string of chart-topping hits, including "To Cut a Long Story Short" (1980), "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" (1981), "True" (1983), and "Gold" (1983), solidifying their status in the music scene. After their 1987 tour, the brothers shifted focus back to acting, landing roles as the notorious Kray twins in the film The Krays (1990).

Throughout the 1990s, Gary appeared in various acting projects, most notably in The Bodyguard (1992). In 1999, he was embroiled in a legal dispute over royalties with his former bandmates, which he ultimately won. However, in March 2009, the original members of Spandau Ballet reconciled and announced a reunion tour, celebrating their legacy in music once again.