Tony Cowell
MARTIN KEMP was the child actor who went on to become a heartthrob with Eighties band, Spandau Ballet, then take over the small screen in
EastEnders. He’s been married to wife Shirlie Holliman - former Wham! backing singer and one half of Eighties pop duo, Pepsi & Shirlie – for more than 30 years. Now they’ve teamed up for the first time to make a swing album. Martin explains why it took so long for them to sing together, and Shirlie opens up about their late friend and musical genius George Michael, who helped set them up on their first date. How did the idea for the album come about? SHIRLIE: Martin invited me to sing on the demo for the song, You Make Me Feel So Young. I was a bit reluctant at first because I gave up the music business many years ago, so I was quite nervous about the whole thing. Then we ended up doing the whole album together…
MARTIN: The moment the record label heard Shirlie sing, they thought she was amazing – and said she sounded like Doris Day. I was always looking to make a happy-sounding album. So in the end, it was like the two of us were singing love songs to each other that actually meant something to us about our own relationship. My mum and dad would play Frank Sinatra songs every Sunday when we had our lunch – it’s a shame they are no longer here – as they would love this album, I’m sure.
You have been together for more than 30 years, but have never made music together – why?
SHIRLIE: Because I gave up singing long ago when I had my children [Harley and Roman] and my heart wasn’t in it. I did a few shows as Pepsi & Shirlie, but we both felt that we’d had our day. If I was ever going to do anything it had to be swing, because I have secretly loved that music since I was a child. But it was a huge challenge for me because I was so nervous about singing again. I was like a little mouse in the studio.
Your daughter, Harley, also wrote two songs for the album, didn’t she?
MARTIN: Yes, she’s a very clever girl. She also made a video for us, too. But the songs that she wrote tell the story of the relationship she has with us – so they are very personal to all of us.
Shirlie, you sang with George Michael – do you think he’d approve of this album?
SHIRLIE: He would have loved it and would be the first one to say, ‘I want to come around and hear the songs.’ He was always proud of my family and was godfather to Roman. George always encouraged both of us in what we were doing. He was such a kind, loving friend. He was also the one who pushed Martin to join EastEnders. It’s so sad that he’s no longer around in our lives.
Do you often think about George and Wham! and the continued influence he still has on the music scene?
SHIRLIE: He was such a huge part of my life – and now there is even more interest in him and Wham! There is a big sense of celebration of what Wham! brought to music. His music and legacy will live on and I’m very proud of that.
Didn’t George come along on your first date?
SHIRLIE: It was George who made me call Martin! I had met Martin at a party and he had given me his number, but I was too shy to call him. So George dialled the number and handed me the phone. That led to our first date. George insisted on coming as well – to make sure I went! The rest is history…
What do your children think about the pair of you singing together?
SHIRLIE: We didn’t tell them until we had finished the album. Then we played them the song, You Make Me Feel So Young – and they said, ‘ Who is that’? and I said: ‘It’s your mum and dad!’ They thought it was amazing. It was Roman who insisted I did it.
Will there be any more Spandau Ballet tours?
MARTIN: Who knows? It could change next month. If we did then I would be the first one on the tour bus! We toured in 2009, then again in 2015, so we will have to see. The band was a big part of my life.
You were also a judge on the BBC boy band talent show Let it Shine. Would you do that again?
MARTIN: I loved having the opportunity of working with Gary Barlow – but that show was very specific to Take That, so it can’t really be done again. But I liked being able to give a fair and honest judgment on singing talent.
You’re set to go on tour with a 40-piece orchestra next year, aren’t you?
MARTIN: Yes, a show called Big Band Broadway, so we will reproduce the same sound we have on the album. It will be the first time that Shirlie and I have sung together in public.
In The Swing Of It will be released on 22 November by Sony Music.