Music icon Steve Norman has revealed Spandau Ballet once enjoyed a pub crawl along Sauchiehall Street with Altered Images.
Steve, a co-founder of the band which dominated the air-waves in the ‘80s, made the revelation ahead of coming to Glasgow as part of a tour celebrating Spandau’s debut album Journey to Glory in 1981.
Formed in 1979, the band featured Steve, brothers Martin and Gary Kemp, drummer John Keeble and singer Tony Hadley.
Steve told the Glasgow Times: “With Spandeau, in about ‘82, we got quite pally with Altered Images, and a few of us and Altered Images did a pub crawl up Sauchiehall Street.
“We were in every bar, it was the funniest thing, people must have thought ‘what the hell’, they’ve seen Spandau Ballet and Altered Images staggering about with their arms around each other.
“It was such a great period and we went to Glasgow all the time, we played a place called Ultra Tech in the beginning, and back in the early 80s that was a really cool place.
“We were looked after by everyone in Glasgow, I’ve always, always, had a soft spot for Glasgow, and Scotland, to be honest.”
Next week, Steve and his band The Sleevz will bring the music of Spandau Ballet to the Garage to honour 40 years since the release of the band’s ground-breaking first album.
Accompanied by the five-piece band, which includes his son Jaco and partner Sabrina, Steve will perform the album in its entirety, including their first hit single To Cut A Long Story Short.
The show will also feature later Spandau classics including True, Gold and Only When You Leave.
Steve says it’s been an “interesting experience” performing the songs, as he performs lead vocals and plays guitar as well as the saxophone.
“I’m ultra-critical, so I haven’t listened to that first album since it was released, since we recorded it,” he says.
“Until last year, I hadn’t sat down and listened to it from the beginning to the end.
“And it’s interesting to see things I never saw before, you see things in a completely different light, so I’ve enjoyed that.
“And I’ve enjoyed picking up the guitar again and learning how to play the guitar and sing at the time.”
Steve says he decided to go on the tour so he could “celebrate” the music and give fans a chance to hear the songs live one more time.
He said: “I think it’s very sad that Spandau are not together any more, and all these anniversaries that are coming up, everyone else is really enjoying them and the public and fans are enjoying celebrating them all over.
“I just think it’s something worth focusing on because it was a really interesting time, the early ‘80s especially.
“It was a ground-breaking time for music and culture, and pop music, and I just didn’t want that to slip by so I thought ‘lets me and my band do it’.”
He continued: “This is the last chance for everyone, me included, to hear those tracks performed live by one of the members of Spandau Ballet, because no one in the band is going to do it.
“I’ve had people come up to me in tears because we played Glow live and they were so touched, they never ever thought they would hear that live again.”
And although there may not be a pub crawl with Spandau Ballet and Altered Images, Steven is still looking forward to returning to Sauchiehall Street.
He added: “A good party atmosphere is what I’m looking for, I can’t think of a better place to have a good party than Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.”
Steven Norman and The Sleevz will be at The Garage on Friday, February 3.
You can find out more HERE.
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