SPANDAU BALLET
'LIVE AT THE N.E.C'
DVD
RELEASE DATE
25TH JULY 2005
After the excitement of attending the DVD screening and getting a taste of how great the DVD was going to be I wondered how I was going to survive almost a month until the release date on the 25th July 2005. Luckily I didn't have to, as out of the blue I received an email asking me if I would like to write a review. Of course this was an opportunity I could not miss and less than 24 hours later the DVD arrived on my door step.
The first thing I would say is if you already own the video version of this concert, put that to one side because what you will see and hear on this DVD bears little resemblance.
The picture quality of this DVD is so good that I could almost imagine seeing my reflection in the shine on Tony's leather trousers (not that I have any desire to get that close to Tony's trousers). The detail is amazing when you consider how the original concert was filmed. The sound quality is superb every note and word can be heard as clear as if you are in the same room. Even the track I played on my computer showed that the surround sound is magnificent
As I had heard all the songs on this DVD a million times before I chose to watch it the first time with the commentary on. This was Gary and Martin reminiscing and sharing their thoughts and feelings of how they felt at that time. I was struck by how relaxed it sounded, completely unscripted, and unrehearsed which was apparent quite close to the beginning when Gary had a touch of colour blindness mistaking his white guitar for his brown one. There is also some light hearted joking about Tony's hair and the ozone layer, how singers can't drink as much as drummers, how good/bad Martin's bass playing was and how Gary always has to have the last chord.
The DVD is worth buying just for this commentary alone I promise you lots of laughs and probably insights into things you may not have previously known, and indeed Martin didn't know, like what happened to his leather jacket. Unfortunately there is just not enough room here to relate all that is said.
The extras section contains videos of 'Fight for Ourselves,' 'Through the Barricades', which is always very poignant, 2 versions of 'Raw,' 'Be Free With Your Love' and my personal favourite 'Crashed into Love.' Other extras include a very, very nice picture gallery which contains photographs of the guys as a group and individually and a discography of Spandau Ballets albums.
Last but not least is 'The Making of Fight For Ourselves' which contains contributions from all the guys and shows the amount of time and work that goes into making a film that will last just 4 and a half minutes a fact that didn't escape John
In summary as well as containing the songs that we all know, love, and sing along to, this DVD contains so much more. For the fans lucky enough to have been at the live gig, happy memories. For those that weren't a glimpse of what it would have been like. For those that may not be Spandau Ballet fans, a close up look at one of the greatest bands of the 80's, and for those of us that are, a rekindling of the desire to see a show like this again.
The release of the DVD will be followed with a one hour TV special featuring some of the highlights and interviews from the DVD. This is due to be aired on ITV1 on the evening of 30th/31st July at 00.30am
Gary's only solo album "Little Bruises" is also due to be re-released on the same day go to
http://www.freewebs.com/garykemp/news.htm