Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley Drinks and Parties with Filipino Businessman Before Manila Show

He bought a ticket to the world and now he’s come back again. 1980s heartthrob and former Spandau Ballet lead vocalist Tony Hadley was back Manila in Manila recently to perform for one night concert at the Newport Performing Art Theater in Newport World Resorts in Pasay City. Hadley was in town for his 40th Anniversary Tour. 

Hadley has been to Manila a few times over the years. He was last in the country in 2014, and of course he sang his band’s timeless hits: “True,” Gold,” and “Through the Barricades.”

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Businessman AJ Violago posted a video on his Facebook page of Hadley singing with him and his family and college friends. The unexpected and informal “appearance” of the 80s icon happened a day before his show.

Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet gives AJ Violago a hug

Photo by AJ Violago.

According to Violago, he has been friends with Hadley for over 10 years. In fact, Hadley also visited his home and sang when the singer was last in Manila in 2014. 

Anthony Jude Violago, or AJ to his friends, is the son of Oscar Violago of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Group, whose business interests include real estate, infrastructure, agriculture, water, and renewable energy. Most recently he was also appointed special assistant to the Governor of Rizal.

Tony Hadley poses with some of AJ Violago's friends and family

Photo by AJ Violago.

Spandau Ballet was part of the New Romantics movement that originated in the U.K. in the late 70s. Emerging from the nightclub scene in London, the underground subculture was characterized by flamboyant, eccentric fashion heavily inspired by the glam rock era. Many British music acts rose to prominence during this period, including Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, and even Boy George and Culture Club, which all helped usher in a sort of Second British Invasion of the US Charts, all the while helped by the popularity of MTV.

Violago and Hadley in 2014

Photo by AJ Violago.

Formed in Islington, London in 1979, Spandau Ballet became one of the most successful British pop groups ever , selling over 25 million albums and no less than 23 hit singles worldwide. The band’s 1983 album “True” reached number one in the U.K. and top five in the U.S.

The band called it quits in 1990, when it played its last live show, after which Hadley pursued a solo career. But after an almost two-decade absence, the band reformed in 2009 for “The Reformation Tour,” and going on a sell-out “greatest hits” world tour.

A snapshot from 2014

Photo by AJ Violago.

Watch some of the videos here: