Tony Hadley, who rose to fame in the 1980s as the frontman of the legendary band, has spoken out about a painful health condition and how he will need surgery in 2026.
A Spandau Ballet legend has reportedly been forced to arrange his gigs around a “desperately needed operation” after revealing details of a health struggle. In 2023, Tony Hadley, who rose to stardom as the frontman of the new wave group during the 1980s, was reportedly compelled to withdraw from a festival following what he termed a “serious fall” whilst in Italy.
The incident left him with a knee injury requiring “major” surgery. Medical professionals advised him to “minimise all travel” to prevent potential “complications”. During a February appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch with Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer the following year, he provided more insight into his ordeal.
He claimed that the south of Italy, where he was performing, “let a lot of water go on the tiled floor,” and that he slipped. He claimed that the agonizing incident had caused his leg to “rip off” and have a “fractured patella” (kneecap) and that it had “ripped the tendons off” as a result.
Tony explained that while things initially “went a lot better,” things “had subsequently “gone a little pear-shaped,” and that he was scheduled to “have a big clean out” prior to surgery, which also led to difficulties in his recovery.
It appears Tony is still battling problems with his knee. In fact, he recently revealed to The Mail’s Richard Eden that he’s set to “get a new” one in 2026.
In fact, according to Richard’s account, Tony has apparently found himself having to center his performances around a “desperately needed operation.” “Rockers never seem to retire these days, but touring can be grueling for older stars,” wrote Richard. “
Tony Hadley, whose Broadway hits include Gold and True, continued, “Tony told me he had scheduled his shows around a desperately needed operation.” “
At the Magic Of Christmas concert at the London Palladium, Tony revealed to him: “I get a new knee (next year). I can (hardly) walk on it, so I get a new knee after the tour.”
He further explained his knee injury on Sunday Brunch in 2024, explaining that despite having them changed for a different date, he was scheduled to join the Swing Tour in March of that year and that he “had to cancel a few shows in Italy.”
When questioned about whether his discomfort had subsided, he said, “hurts.” Tony insisted that “No, I don’t need any sympathy — really! ” This sparked a chorus of “awws!” “
Posting on X at the time if the Italian incident, Tony wrote: “You may be aware that I had minor accident yesterday and injured my knee. I am being very well looked after by the medical team here in Italy and wanted to thank everyone for their kind words of support.”
Over the summer, Tony described the Spandau Ballet reunion as “bloody difficult” due to his reported feud with former bandmate Gary Kemp (the brother of I’m A Celeb’s Martin Kemp), according to the Independent. The group, which initially split in 1987, reunited in 2009, but Tony left just six years later.
He accused his bandmates of doing things they called “not the behavior of friends,” according to the publication, but he has allegedly kept the details a secret. He addressed the i: “God, that was bloody challenging. I and Gary are always at the center. A band always has two members who fallout.
