Gary Kemp Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth

What is Gary Kemp’s Net Worth?

Gary Kemp is an English musician and actor who has a net worth of $12 million. Gary Kemp is best known as the guitarist and principal songwriter for Spandau Ballet, one of the defining bands of the 1980s New Romantic movement. With hits like “True,” “Gold,” and “Through the Barricades,” Kemp’s sharp melodic instincts and lyrical craftsmanship powered the band to global success. While his bandmate Tony Hadley provided the voice, Kemp was the creative engine behind their biggest records, penning nearly every song in their catalog. Outside of Spandau Ballet, Kemp has pursued a varied career that includes solo music, acclaimed acting roles in British film and television, and recent success as a broadcaster and podcast host. He is also a member of Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, a group that revisits early Pink Floyd music. Kemp’s versatility and longevity in the entertainment industry have made him a respected figure both within and beyond the pop world, earning him accolades for his work across multiple creative disciplines.

Early Life

Gary Kemp was born on October 16, 1959, in Smithfield, London, and raised in the working-class neighborhood of Islington. He attended Dame Alice Owen’s School, where he met future bandmates John Keeble, Steve Norman, and Tony Hadley. His younger brother Martin Kemp also attended the school and would later join the band. Kemp originally considered pursuing acting full-time and enrolled at the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington, where he appeared in several stage and television productions as a teenager. However, music quickly became his dominant passion, and by the late 1970s, he and his school friends were experimenting with forming a band.

Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet emerged in 1979 from the London club scene that birthed the New Romantic aesthetic. With Gary Kemp writing nearly all the songs and playing lead guitar, the band developed a polished, synth-infused sound that balanced style with substance. Their debut album, “Journeys to Glory” (1981), featured early hits like “To Cut a Long Story Short” and established them as one of the hottest acts in British music.

The band’s true breakthrough came with the 1983 album “True,” which featured the global smash title track, a blue-eyed soul ballad that reached No. 1 in the UK and became a Top 5 hit in the United States. Other hits like “Gold” and “Lifeline” followed, helping the band tour internationally and build a broad fanbase across Europe, Australia, and North America.

Kemp’s songwriting defined the band’s sound and identity, but his control over the creative direction also created tensions. Spandau Ballet’s success continued through the mid-1980s with albums like “Parade” and “Through the Barricades,” though the band’s popularity began to wane by the decade’s end. They broke up in 1990, and Kemp retained songwriting credit and royalty rights, which later led to a bitter legal dispute.

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Royalty Lawsuit and Reunion

In 1999, Tony Hadley, John Keeble, and Steve Norman sued Gary Kemp over songwriting royalties, claiming they had been promised a share of the band’s publishing income. The lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful, with the court siding with Kemp, who had always been credited as the sole songwriter. The legal battle caused a deep rift in the band that lasted nearly a decade.

However, in 2009, the group reunited for the documentary “Soul Boys of the Western World” and a successful reunion tour. They released a new album, “Once More,” featuring re-recordings of classic songs and two new tracks. Despite the brief resurgence, old tensions resurfaced, and Hadley eventually left the group again in 2017. Kemp has since ruled out any further reunions.

Solo Work and Acting Career

Kemp released a solo album, “Little Bruises,” in 1995, which received modest critical acclaim but limited commercial attention. In the years following Spandau Ballet’s original breakup, he focused more heavily on acting. He earned praise for his role as Ronnie Kray in the 1990 film “The Krays,” co-starring alongside his brother Martin as Reggie Kray. He later appeared in films such as “The Bodyguard” (1992), “Killing Zoe” (1993), and “Dog Eat Dog” (2001), as well as on stage and television in the UK.

Kemp returned to music in 2018 when he joined Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, a band dedicated to performing early Pink Floyd material. The group has toured extensively and released live recordings, giving Kemp the opportunity to reintroduce himself to audiences in a new musical context.

Broadcasting and Podcasts

In recent years, Kemp has become a prominent voice in British media. He co-hosts “The Rockonteurs” podcast with Guy Pratt, where they interview legendary figures from the world of rock and pop. The podcast has become a critical and fan favorite, celebrated for its insightful, conversational tone and deep music knowledge.

He has also appeared as a guest or host on BBC Radio, Channel 4, and Sky Arts programs focused on music history and cultural commentary.

Personal Life

Gary Kemp married costume designer Sadie Frost in 1988. The couple had one son, Finlay, before divorcing in 1995. He later married Lauren Barber in 2003, and they have three children together. The family resides in London.

Kemp was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2021 for his contributions to music and the arts.