New Romantics fall out of love - again

In a short and strangely worded statement issued yesterday, Tony Hadley wrote: "Due to circumstances beyond my control, it is with deep regret that I am required to state that I am no longer a member of the band Spandau Ballet and as such I will not be performing with the band in the future."

The remaining members of the band later gave their own side of the story: "Much to our frustration, Tony has made it clear in September 2016 that he didn't want to work with the band anymore. This has not changed and 2015 was the last time we were able to perform or work with him. So we have now made the decision to move on as a band."

If Hadley did indeed refuse to perform, then quite why his announcement was made "with deep regret" or "due to circumstances beyond my control" is mystifying - but it certainly indicates the return of the acrimony and resentment that resulted in an intra-band legal squabble in 1999.

Spandau Ballet may have become mainstream pop-soul boys for the Thatcher years but it's worth remembering their roots at Steve Strange's fantastical post-punk Blitz club.