Martin Kemp, renowned musician and actor, has recently made a striking claim that Princess Diana modelled her fashion style after his band Spandau Ballet’s distinctive look. The assertion came during an episode of the podcast “FFS! My Dad Is Martin Kemp,” in which Martin and his son, TV presenter Roman Kemp, engaged in a light-hearted discussion about Martin’s past fashion choices and their influence.

The conversation began with Roman teasing his father about a particularly notable photograph, jokingly comparing Martin’s appearance to a Halloween costume as “Captain Hook” and describing his outdated 1980s attire as “awful.” Martin himself concurred, admitting it was “possibly the worst picture” ever taken of him. Nevertheless, he defended his era’s fashion, stating that what now seems exaggerated was considered perfectly normal at the time.

Martin boldly claimed that Princess Diana “was copying what Spandau Ballet were wearing,” pointing to shared features like shoulder pads and ruff collar shirts as examples of this influence. Supporting his point, he recalled how his mother once made him a shirt with shoulder pads for a Top of the Pops appearance, leading to the trend catching on widely the very next day. However, he acknowledged that the concept wasn’t entirely original, citing that he himself had drawn inspiration from Steve Strange, a known fashion icon.

Roman expressed strong scepticism about the claim, labelling it an “outrageous statement” and maintaining that their fashion ideas were not invented by his father. In response, Martin stood his ground, emphasising his pivotal role in popularising the look, even humorously declaring, “I’m gonna clear it up – not Spandau Ballet, Martin Kemp. Martin Kemp invented it.”

Outside of the family banter on fashion, Martin Kemp shared another personal insight during the podcast — his technique for achieving a restful night’s sleep. When Roman mentioned feeling “too stressed” to sleep well, Martin recommended memorising and reciting a monologue before bedtime. He explained, “I will get in my bed and close my eyes and say this monologue I had on stage when I was acting,” specifically referencing a two-minute monologue from his role in the musical ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ which centres around Elvis Presley.

Roman joked that the play “must have been boring,” to which Martin responded with good humour, clarifying, “The play was really good, it was a musical all about Elvis, it was good.”

This exchange between father and son offers a candid glimpse into Martin Kemp’s reflections on his cultural impact in the 1980s, his personal habits, and the playful dynamic they share. The podcast episode adds a layer of nostalgia and entertainment for fans of Spandau Ballet, as well as those interested in royal fashion history and the personal lives of public figures.

Source: Noah Wire Services