Spandau Ballet return to U.S. for first American gig in 29 years

Reunited new romantic band Spandau Ballet played its first concert in America in almost three decades on Wednesday (12Mar14) when singer Tony Hadley and his bandmates performed at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. The British band is at the festival promoting new documentary Soul Boys of the Western World, which chronicles the group’s rise in the 1980s, and the stars hit the stage at the Vulcan Gas Co. venue for a hits-filled set, featuring songs like To Cut a Long Story Short, True and Gold.
The gig followed the premiere of the new George Hencken film, which features archival footage which traces the bandmembers’ roots in London to their international success and their performance as part of Live Aid in 1985.
Spandau Ballet were forced to abandon a U.S. tour the same year – the last time they played in America – after saxophonist Steve Norman injured his knee.
The group’s return to America was marred by a festival tragedy on Wednesday night (12Mar14) when a suspected drunk driver ploughed into a crowd of music fans outside an X concert, killing a man and a woman and injuring 23 others.