This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley's Christmas Party - 29th December 2005 - Fairfield Halls, Croydon
This gig was billed as Tony Hadley's Christmas Party and was raising money for The Lowe Syndrome Trust and Huntington's Disease Association. Lots of people attending were in Christmas spirit, dressed up in tinsel and brought a real party spirit to it. Everyone was sitting in their seats when Tony bounded on stage dressed in black jacket, black shirt and jeans and introduced the evening and launched into Bowie's Heroes. The next thing I knew the whole of the first couple of rows had suddenly got up and rushed to the front, this surprised the newspaper photographer who had got himself nicely lined up to take some pictures of Tony. The set followed the set list, except after Only When You Leave, Tony then sang Lifeline. Great Wide Open - a Tom Petty song was next, a lovely song that Tony introduced us to at Butlins. Next Peter Cox and Richard Drummie joined Tony on the stage for the next two songs. There were no horny boys at this gig, so Walking in Memphis wasn't quite the same, but Richie Barrett and Phil Williams did their best with the actions along with most of the front row. Martin Fry was next to join Tony on stage to repeat two songs from the Tour. The first half ended with New York Minute, Woman in Chains and Through The Barricades.
The interval went really quickly and then it was time for the second half and the Go West boys joined Tony for the first two songs. It was a surprise that they included the Ry Cooder song Why Don't You Try Me - I hadn't heard them sing that one since 2004. Andrea Grant joined Tony for Suspicious Minds and as she lives in Croydon, Tony asked her which bus she had come to the venue on. Duran's Rio was up next - Tony does a good version of this and it was only the second time that he had sung it. He was joined by Martin Fry and Richard Drummie for Suffragette City and Peter Cox and Richard Drummie for Simply Irresistible. Tony finished off with True, Gold and That's Life. It was then time for the encore of Addicted to Love and Lets Stick Together, Martin Fry, Peter Cox and Richard Drummie all joined him for these last songs and Tony had his guitar for Lets Stick Together, with Richie Barrett doing the solo bit, Chris Dale (the roadie and member of I Play Rock) was also up on stage for this last song. Too soon this gig was over and it was time to head round to the stage door to wish Tony a very Happy New Year