What does the name Spandau Ballet mean?
The band ‘Spandau Ballet’ got their name from some graffiti on a Berlin nightclub wall in the 70s. The writing read: ‘Rudolf Hess, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet. ‘ Spandau was a prison in the city, infamous for holding Hess, Hitler’s deputy, until his death in 1987.
Where did Spandau Ballet get there name?
Friend and writer Robert Elms suggested they change their name to Spandau Ballet, a phrase which he told them he had seen written on a wall on a weekend trip to Berlin: “Rudolf Hess, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet”.
Who were the original members of Spandau Ballet?
The original line-up included Gary Kemp on guitar, his brother Martin Kemp on bass, Tony Hadley as lead vocalist, saxophonist Steve Norman and John Keeble on drums when Spandau Ballet exploded onto the music scene in 1980, becoming one of the most successful groups of the New Romantics era and selling 25 million albums …
What happened at Spandau?
Spandau Prison was located in the borough of Spandau in western Berlin. It was originally a military prison, but became a proto-concentration camp under the Nazis. After the war, it held seven top Nazi leaders convicted in the Nuremberg trials.
Why is it called Spandau Ballet?
According to some sources, the name Spandau Ballet could point to two possible meanings: one refers to the jerky movements of Nazi war prisoners hanged at Spandau prison as they were hanged, or according to others, it refers to enemy lines getting shot down by a German World War II machine gun MG42 Spandau. Okay, that escalated quickly.
What is a Spandau?
The spandau was a machine gun used by the wermacht in the second world war. I believe the ballet part refers to what the human body does when the bullets from this gun hit it. They were named after Spandau prison, in West Berlin.
Is this the only song you Remember from Spandau Ballet?
For some, that may be the only song they remember from Spandau Ballet, the English new wave band formed in Islington, London, in 1979, inspired by the capital’s post-punk underground dance scene. Here’s the music video below so that you can take it in all its 80s glory: Superb.
Did Spandau Ballet win any awards?
The Q Awards are hosted annually by the music magazine Q. Spandau Ballet has received one award. The BRIT Awards are the British Phonographic Industry ‘s annual pop music awards. Spandau Ballet has received one award from one nomination. The Ivor Novello Awards are awards for songwriting and composing, presented annually in London.