Top 40 Tony Hadley Quotes

I studied Russian history at school, and I absolutely loved St Petersburg. It was magnificent – the architecture is incredible and has quite a significant Dutch influence.

We shared a doctor in Harley Street, and it turned out Axl Rose was a huge fan of mine, which was cool because Im a bit of a rocker – I should have worn spandex and grown my hair long but instead I joined a pop band.

My brother Steve was always considered the naughty one but I used to drive my parents to despair because I had no fear. Id climb a tree without testing the branches and I was always getting into scrapes.

I was too trusting when I was younger, especially of certain people in the music business.

Even prior to my herniated disc, Id been to an acupuncturist in Oxford for general muscular pain, and to an osteopath.

You have to be philosophical about life, you cant angst over it too much.

Fans used to write love letters to me, but I havent had any marriage proposals.

Although I am happy to hike over mountains and to trek through jungles, one thing I hate is not being clean.

I moved to this 16th-century cottage in 2011 with my wife Ali and I’ve really enjoyed doing it up to accommodate our family.

I only started writing in the latter days of Spandau Ballet. I didnt know I could write because all had our roles within the band.

When I was eight I discovered ‘The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe’ by C S Lewis and it made me fall in love with reading.

I was a bit of a strange kid in some ways. I had microscopes, scalpels.

There were always so many beautiful women throwing themselves at us. One time we had 40 models in our hotel suite someone had called an agency and invited them along.

Ive got four vertebrae that are fusing and compressing together so I am getting smaller. It doesnt bother me. Its just what it is.

I’m so lucky to have five wonderful children.

Rocknroll is a selfish business because youre always thinking about the tour, the show, promotion and writing new albums. Your head is somewhere else, but Ive learnt to not let it be all-consuming. You want time with your family.

Although I love travelling and I’ve been to some wonderful places, I always appreciate coming home.

People say 53 is too old to be a dad, but I dont think so. Its the input you have that counts, and youre more experienced and worldly-wise.

I wish I’d been in Duran Duran.

I went to a biological exhibition when I was about ten or 11, so I was really into biology, nature, that kind of thing.

Be open-minded so you can always see the other side of the coin.

Live Aid is up there with anything I’ve ever done in my life: meeting so many heroes and being part of such a global phenomenon.

My first trip was probably to Camber Sands in East Sussex, where I remember playing in the dunes on the beach.

My mum, Josephine, is a great believer that you can be whatever you want in life. I was raised as part of the postwar generation and encouraged to do well at school.

I have never been very good with technology and when it comes to gadgets I normally lag pretty far behind my friends.

I loathe litterbugs and Im pretty vocal if I see someone do it.

In business, I can get the big picture, thebig ideas, but not the finer details. I am good at delegating, however, and trusting the people to whom I do delegate.

TV can edit things to make anyone look good or bad.

Im a big fan of Sunday family lunches.

My main memory of the Princes Trust concert at Wembley was Ringo Starr asking for my autograph for his kids. Ringo Starr, asking me! That was quite a moment.

Sometimes I do find myself out there, looking for answers. But maybe there are no answers, maybe there is no rhyme or reason. Thats life, its up and down and Ive had my fair share of both.

We like visiting beaches and seeing the area. We went to St Mawes in Cornwall with my brother recently and spent the days crabbing, mackerel fishing and having barbecues.

Before I went into the music business I wanted to be a surgeon.

I went on a school trip aged 13 around the Mediterranean on a Second World War ship. Seeing lemon trees and orange groves at that age was amazing.

There is far too much aggression and violence in society and people should be kinder to one another.

Listen, Im not technically the best singer in the world.

I hit 51 the other week but I still feel like I’m 28.

I would love to see a politician who really loves his country and is working for the people and not for him or herself.

I have a pretty good life. I dont dwell in the past, that is dangerous. I have no regrets and try to learn from my mistakes.

When I was a small child in London in the early 1960s, I had whooping cough. Then, when I was ten, I had a bone infection called osteomyelitis. I was given antibiotics, and I remember being really groggy and in pain.