Tony Hadley rushed to hospital as he's forced to cancel gig at the last minute

28 August 2023 , 07:46

401     0

Tony Hadley was taken to hospital (Image: James Shaw/REX/Shutterstock)

Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley was rushed to hospital moments before he was due to take to the stage, forcing him to cancel the gig at the last minute.

The singer, who is best known for his 80s band with hits True, fell ill and needed medical care. He was set to perform at the Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon Live Lounge in Northern Ireland. But during soundcheck, it became clear to onlookers that Tony, 63, was unwell. He met some of his fans for a meet and greet on Sunday evening after the soundcheck, but appeared uncomfortable. When he returned to take to the stage, Tony told organisers he wasn't well. He was then taken to hospital.

Tony had to pull out of his performance (Redferns via Getty Images)

Michelle McTernan, who was in charge of PR for the event told theBelfast Telegraph : "We had to do what was right by him and he was taken to hospital, and his crew have all gone with him, to stick together. We hope he gets better soon."

Other performers at the festival had to fill in for Tony in order to put on a show. Ruth McIlroy, who organised the weekend, said: "Medics on site were very clear he needed to go to hospital. It is disappointing because we had a great day with the half marathon earlier, and Tony singing would have been the icing on the cake, but we have to take care of people, and we are more concerned that he'll be OK."

Tony was due to perform hits from his solo career as well as from his time as Spandau Ballet's frontman. Earlier this year, Tony revealed to The Mirror that he would never reunite with his former bandmates. Tony, who sang on classic hits True and Gold, said: "You could offer me all the tea in China and I wouldn’t get back with them. There’s no way. I’m pretty easy-going, it takes a lot to get to that point but once you’ve pushed me and crossed that line, that’s it. I’m done."

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Spandau Ballet decided to take a break in 1990 for solo projects but it turned into a full-blown split when Tony, drummer John Keeble and saxophonist Steve Norman unsuccessfully sued guitarist Gary Kemp – the brother of bassist Martin Kemp – in a royalties row. Despite the bad blood, the group re-formed for a world tour and new album in 2009. The old rivalries soon flared up again and Tony quit in 2017 – but he says the band’s insistence that he simply didn’t want to work with them any more is not true.

He explained: "There’s a very specific reason as to why I left and they’ve never been brave enough to say. It’s not for me to say why, because I didn’t create the situation. It’s for them to be honest with fans and say, 'Look, we cocked up. We did this to our ex-lead singer, which caused him to leave the band. We’re really sorry, we made a big mistake.' Unfortunately, their actions were such that I couldn’t do it any more and I quit. The only one I’m in touch with is Steve." Meanwhile, Tony’s solo career is thriving and the dad of five did a 40-date UK tour last year to celebrate 40 years in music.

Mia O'Hare