Vocal heroes

10:34am Wednesday 28th January 2004

Following their success on Reborn in the USA, two of the most powerful and distinctive voices of our time go head to head at Fairfield Concert Hall on Friday, February 6, at 8pm.

Tony Hadley, former Spandau Ballet singer, and Peter Cox, Go West frontman, have revived interest in their careers after the reality television show last year and reminded everyone just what great voices the boys have.

Tony went on to win Reborn in the USA, and although it may have looked like a battle of egos at times, it drew favourable press coverage.

The current tour title makes it sound like a knock-out, sing to the death kind of show, but that's not what it's all about says Peter Cox.

His signature tune, King of Wishful Thinking, gained worldwide recognition as the opening title track for the 1990 romantic film, Pretty Woman.

With Go West partner Richard Drummie that one song has given his career longevity.

"It's a hit that has kept me working and of course fans still want to hear it along with We Close Our Eyes and Goodbye Girl. But there is more to this tour than just nostalgia," he says.

"There is friendly rivalry, and of course I've got my fans and Tony has his, rooting for us. But we are on stage together a lot of the time singing duets.

"It's a great chance for us to sing those songs we always wanted to, like Don Henley's Boys of Summer and the late Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistible, and we throw in some surprises. The tour is the most intensive we've ever done, it's going to be a bit of an education and challenging.

We'll have to curb the late night, red wine drinking sessions!" he says.

This comment draws guffaws of laughter from Tony Hadley in the background. I remind him that when we last spoke he was in Nashville sounding groggy after what he described as "a bit of a night".

"After Nashville I think every night was a bit of a night," he laughs. "Well, if you're in Detroit and Memphis you just gotta go out and party! Seriously though, I have sort of been in training for this gig. I've been on the Hay Diet as I have a constant battle with keeping the weight down. I just like food and drink too much."

He is thrilled with the way he has earned success as a solo artist.

"I'm blown away with the fact that people come to see me, not Spandau Ballet. I've been touring solidly and I'm booked right up until September," he says with sincerity.

Both Tony and Peter have solo albums that will be released to coincide with their UK tour, they'd be mad not too, as the dates are selling out.

Despite revelations in the media that he has recently split from his wife Leonie, Tony is still enthusiastic about his career and work.

"I've been in this business for 27 years, I'm 43 now, and I always hoped that it would be my life career. It's great to earn a living out of doing what you love. I can still remember how thrilled I was getting on Top of The Pops."

What else is he going to do?

"Well, I've written a book, sort of part one of my life, called To Cut A Long Story Short. It's almost a reborn thing I suppose," he says thoughtfully. "At the end of January I'm nipping out to Bangkok to play golf with Nick Faldo, it's linked in to a concert I'm doing for some corporate enterprise, and earlier I went to do two shows in Mauritius.

"Then it's whack, straight back into the tour. Vocally it is quite gruelling for me, 56 dates. The show is two hours 20 minutes long and I think I sing 24 songs. But I am looking after myself and will be trying to get eight hours sleep a night and rest the vocal chords and give up the wine so I don't need a new liver!

"My new album is a bit jazzy and more of a swing thing. I want to keep on singing as long as I can. BB King is still touring, Sinatra went on for years and Tony Bennett still performs.

"I just hope I'm lucky enough to keep my voice and stay young at heart singing, writing and recording. I am going on aren't I? Just call me Gobbo Hadley!"

Tickets for Tony Hadley vs Peter Cox at Fairfield are £18 and £20 from the box office on 020 8688 9291.