For the last 15 years, Tony has toured as a solo artist many times, even playing for UN troops on a few occasions. He's also an actor, TV presenter, charity worker (last year trekking to Macha Pichu in Peru for charity) and a keen footballer and Arsenal fan. He can also add successful author to this list - his 2004 autobiography hit the top 10 best sellers' list.

His older fans will be glad to know that he is about to tour with a big band, off the back of his 'Passing Strangers' swing album. Reminiscin caught up with the very amiable and infectiously enthusiastic Tony Hadley to find out how things have been going with his solo career, what his upcoming tour will be like, his plans for his acting career and what Tony thinks about a Spandau reunion…

Tell me about the new tour - what can we expect?
A selection of really brilliant songs from the album. We are looking at the arrangements of all the songs and trying to give them a slightly different treatment. We'll probably throw in a couple of contemporary pop rock songs as well, just because of the fact that we will have about 15 to 16 people on stage. It will sound awesome. For people who have not seen a big band- it is different vibe altogether from conventional pop rock. It is a huge sound, very exciting and loud. When the band really swings, you've never heard anything like it.

What's the album sounding like?
The album 'Passing Strangers', which is the title track of the album. There are a few ballads in there which are just beautiful songs. There are also a few songs that are quite sexy and up tempo. It is very Sixties, lots of flutes on it. It is a very cool sounding album. People are going to respond to it in a good way.

Swing might surprise a few people - what made you take this direction?
Because I have always loved it. As a kid growing up I was bombarded with swing. On Sunday mornings my mum and dad would play those records before Sunday lunch. Whether it was Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, or Tony Bennett even to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, all those kind of artists I was gradually convinced and brainwashed (laughs). They are just fantastic. At the time I wanted to be a singer both my parents said I should really embrace different types of music and listen to all types of music. I took note of that and loved the music ever since.

Has swing been pigeon-holed?
I think a lot of people when you mention swing they do think of Robbie Williams, Westlife, and the Frank Sinatra type of thing. This album isn't like that at all. It is a different type of album from what people think swing is.

You've worked with some amazing musicians - what do you look for in a co-musician?
Someone that has got to be bloody good. They have to have a good sense of humour. There is no point in working with someone who is the best musician in the world but is a boring person. I am not one of these people that will go to bed after a gig with a hot cup of cocoa -I can't do that. In the conventional pop rock band we were a very close unit and had such a good time on tour. This is gonna be a bit different because obviously I will be going out with a different set of musicians. I have a met a few of them and a lot of them are on the album. They are a good bunch of lads and there are a couple of girls too, so I am sure we will be having a couple of sherbets afterwards.

What is a typical Tony Hadley fan like? Do you find they're mostly Spandau fans?
A typical Tony Hadley fan-mighty god! I would say a typical fan would be about 35-40 female. Married, two kids going out with their mates going to see T Edge on a night out-that would be the typical. Then around that you have got the guys who grew up with Spandau, Tony Hadley, grew up with 'Gold'. Unbelievably, we also get a lot of young people. I was in the airport the other day, the George Best airport and there was this family, and they were asking if they could have my autograph. The daughter was saying, 'I'm your biggest fan' and I asked her how old she was and she said 16, and her mum said she loves my stuff. I thought surely it should be Mcfly (laughs) but she said I like them too but I love you as well.

What is it that you like about acting?
I did a couple of things, but I hate watching myself on TV. I cringe, I actually cringe. For me to do acting properly I need a lot more experience. I would really need to take six months to a year out of the music business and concentrate on acting. I mean, I haven't got the time for that. A good friend of mine Sylvia she is on a film at the moment and if it gets funded she wants me to be in it. I am not gonna play any character I am just gonna play myself (laughs). If you have not been trained as an actor per se, you can't stay out of your comfort zone otherwise you will look like an idiot, and I know what I did wrong.

Do you have any particular goals as an actor?
I would love to do a big film- a gritty kind of film. I like Football Factory, you know really gritty but with a slight sense of humour. I would like to do a film like that but it depends if they ask. It is a prize to do films like that, so I can sort of imagine people are out there with their agents saying if you have got a chance he would love to be in this film, and that film. I mean we haven't been down that road as it does take up a lot of time. If someone came along and said it will take three weeks out of your life, it's gonna be the next biggest film-yep, I'd do that.

You've played in some amazing places - where's been your favourite? Why?
Oooooh, I love everywhere actually. My favourite city in the world is Rome. I love Italy. I went there the other week. There was 10,000 people on the street going absolutely mental-wow! Their enthusiasm to swing is incredible.

How about holidays - where's your favourite place to holiday?
On holiday a bit of Italy, Spain and America. I love LA and New York. Hamburg in Germany is a great place to go. I get a kick out of pretty much everywhere. Hong Kong, I have never been to China, Russia and India. We hopefully might be doing some shows in India next year.

Do you have any stand-out memories of far distant places? I know you've played to lots of UN troops....
We played for the British Army on the Northern Ireland border. It was the biggest building I have ever encountered.

Gold is a karaoke favourite - where is the strangest place you've ever heard it?
The strangest place I heard it and I can tell you this. I was in Spain, I was in a car and I put the radio on and some guy was doing the Spanish version, in a Spanish accent (mimics the accent to 'Gold' lyrics). I sat there and laughed my tits off. It was a hilarious version of 'Gold'.

Is there any chance of a Spandau reunion?
Myself and John Keeble are best friends. I can't see it. I know the others might want to get back together again, but the trouble is there is an awful lot of things that went on and that the public don't know about. I couldn't write about it in my book and I couldn't discuss it on radio or in the press. People are not aware of that.

What are your favourite things in the world to do, biggest passions? And what do you do to relax?!
Love football - I am Gooner. I love snow skiing as well. I can water ski as well, but snow skiing is the best. I love snorkelling; I am in the sea for hours.

You recently trekked through Venezuela - are you pretty healthy?
Yeah, I had my appendix out in January and four weeks- touch and go I got the all clear. I went across the mountains - It was all great.

You've had some personal upheavals recently - how's your personal life right now?
Everything is going great. I have worked hard over the years from playing the Wembley to Spandau to not having a solo album to going back to the beginning again. I have worked, worked and worked to built up a following. New and new people have been coming to the shows and more and more people have been saying this is great-this guy can still cut it. It's a long time and a lot of hard work but it does pay off. You have to keep your profile up by doing tours and TV. That is what you have to do, fortunately after 25 years I am still doing what I love and I think I am incredibly lucky. Not a lot of people can say they are still here in the music business after 25 years-very lucky to be doing what I love.

Tell me something a Tony Hadley fan might be surprised to find out about you?
God they know everything, they know everything before I know. Something they wouldn't know…errrrrr… I tend to bite my nails. I do get told off for it as well.

You've done so many amazing different things, so I just wonder how is it that you live your life -i.e. is there a big picture or is it all about immediate fun. A carpe diem philosophy? What is it that drives you?
I am not a terribly nostalgic person. I am not one of these people that are driven by the past, some people say you hanker back to the glory days of Spandau, but no I don't. I mean the glory days are still here. I sure there are few artists out there that get their old videos and records out-once it's done it's done. This swing album I am bang out proud about it. Once done, I have checked it out on several different systems and I am happy with the mixes. I certainly won't be playing it as that is for other people to be listening to. I really much of the person who lives for today-it is 2006 and I happy with this.

What's next for Tony Hadley?
Stacks of promotion for the new album and we start the tour on October 4th. It is not a massive tour as we are taking it easy before Christmas. Nice easy tour to kind of ease people into the fact that Tony Hadley has changed musical direction. Then next year it will working to promoting the album abroad. Fingers cross touch wood- it is a different move for me but hopefully something that people will get into.

Related Links:-
> www.tonyhadley.com
> Tony Hadley CD - Amazon.co.uk