Gary Kemp may be best known as the guitarist of Spandau Ballet, but his songwriting pen is what has truly shaped his career—and his bank account. While many fans remember the band’s brother duo, Gary and Martin Kemp, fewer know that Gary wrote every one of the band’s 23 hit singles.
Born: 16 October 1959, Islington, London ·
Primary Role: Songwriter, musician, actor ·
Known For: Lead guitarist and principal songwriter of Spandau Ballet ·
Net Worth (estimated): £8 million ·
Notable Acting Role: The Bodyguard (2018) ·
Current Band: Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets
Quick snapshot
- Gary Kemp is Spandau Ballet’s principal songwriter (Gary Kemp Official Website (primary source))
- He wrote all 23 of the band’s hit singles (Gary Kemp Official Website)
- Gary is the older brother of Martin Kemp by about 2 years (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Exact net worth remains disputed — estimates range from £8 million to £25 million (Express (UK tabloid, 2020))
- Details of past family disagreements are not fully documented (Express (UK tabloid, 2020))
- 1981–1990: Spandau Ballet active, Gary writes hits like “True” and “Gold” (ITV Lorraine (TV interview, 2025))
- 2009–2019: Band reunites, brothers reconcile after earlier tensions (ITV Lorraine (TV interview, 2025))
- 2018: Gary stars in The Bodyguard musical (Wikipedia (acting credits))
- Gary continues performing with Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets (Good Life Project (podcast interview, 2021))
- His solo album INSOLO keeps his creative voice alive outside the band (Good Life Project (podcast interview, 2021))
A handful of data points help frame how Gary Kemp’s career diverges from his brother’s — and why his songwriting role matters for the family’s wealth story.
| Attribute | Gary Kemp | Martin Kemp |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Gary James Kemp | Martin John Kemp |
| Date of Birth | 16 October 1959 (Wikipedia) | 10 October 1961 (Wikipedia) |
| Age Gap | Older by 1 year, 11 months | Younger |
| Primary Role in Spandau Ballet | Lead guitarist, principal songwriter (Gary Kemp Official) | Bassist (Wikipedia) |
| Notable Hit Written By | “True”, “Gold”, “Through the Barricades” | None (no songwriting credits) |
| Net Worth Estimate | £8 million (2020, per Express) (Express) | ~£5 million (reported indirectly) |
| Acting Career | The Bodyguard (2018) (Wikipedia) | EastEnders, Kray biopic (IMDb) |
| Current Musical Project | Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets (Good Life Project) | TV appearances, DJ sets |
The songwriting royalty stream gives Gary a recurring income that Martin, an actor and former bassist, does not have. Even if both recorded the same album, only Gary gets the writer’s share — and that gap compounds over decades.
Are Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp twins?
- No. Gary was born on 16 October 1959, Martin on 10 October 1961 (Wikipedia (birth records)).
- The nearly two-year difference means they are not twins — a persistent myth partly because they looked similar and played in the same band.
The confusion is understandable: both had the same dark hair, similar build, and stood side by side on stage for a decade. But Gary is the elder by 1 year and 11 months — enough to drive a big-brother dynamic that shaped their relationship. Martin once said in a 2018 documentary that they “were never closer” than after the band’s reunion, hinting that the age gap had created distance earlier (ITV Lorraine (TV interview)).
“We were never closer” – Martin Kemp, 2018 documentary
How wealthy is Gary Kemp?
- A 2020 comparison in the Express reported Gary’s net worth at £8 million, citing Celebrity Net Worth (Express (UK tabloid, 2020)).
- Other online estimates place his wealth between $100,000 and $1 million (Pop Craze (aggregator, low confidence)) — but these are far less reliable.
- His wealth is likely higher than Martin’s because of songwriter royalties from Spandau Ballet’s catalog.
The reason Gary comes out ahead is structural: he wrote “True”, “Gold”, and 21 other singles. Every time those songs are streamed, played on radio, or used in a film, Gary receives a publishing cheque. Martin, who played bass on the original recordings, earns only a performer’s share — a fraction of the total. The financial difference is not about how much they worked, but who owned the pen.
If you are comparing the Kemp brothers’ net worth, the answer is always: Gary’s royalty stream from his songwriting catalogue acts as a permanent financial buffer that Martin’s acting income cannot match.
Did Gary Kemp write all of Spandau Ballet songs?
- Gary is credited as the writer of all 23 of Spandau Ballet’s hit singles (Gary Kemp Official Website (primary source)).
- He has repeatedly stated in interviews that he wrote the words and music for every track the band released as singles (Good Life Project (podcast, 2021)).
- Other band members contributed instrumentally but did not share songwriting credits.
“Songwriting is my ultimate therapy” – Gary Kemp, ITV Lorraine (2025)
This concentration of writing credits is unusual in a band — most rock groups split songwriting among several members. Gary’s sole ownership of the Spandau Ballet catalogue means he controls the music publishing rights, which is the single biggest reason his net worth outpaces his brother’s. The pattern is clear: one songwriter, one bank account.
Martin Kemp was equally famous in the band’s heyday — his face on magazine covers, his acting career later thriving — but fame does not pay royalties. Only copyright does.
Do Martin and Gary Kemp get along?
Brothers Gary and Martin Kemp experienced tension during Spandau Ballet’s breakup in the 1990s, but they have since reconciled. In a 2018 documentary, Martin said they “were never closer” than after the band’s reunion. (ITV Lorraine (TV interview))
en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, canadareport.net
Gary Kemp’s songwriting success is often compared to that of his brother Martin Kemp, who also enjoyed a diverse career in music and acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gary Kemp best known for?
He is best known as the lead guitarist and principal songwriter of Spandau Ballet, writing hits such as “True” and “Gold”. (Gary Kemp Official)
Is Gary Kemp still married?
Yes, he has been married to Lauren Barber since 2014. They have two sons together. (Wikipedia)
Has Gary Kemp acted in films?
Yes, he played the role of the father in the stage musical The Bodyguard (2018) and has appeared in several TV projects. (Wikipedia)
What instruments does Gary Kemp play?
Primarily guitar, but he also plays keyboards, bass, and sings. (Gary Kemp Official)
Does Gary Kemp have a solo career?
Yes, he released a solo album INSOLO in 2021 and has toured with his own band. (Good Life Project)
What is Gary Kemp’s current band?
He is a member of Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, a Pink Floyd tribute project. (Good Life Project)
How tall is Gary Kemp?
According to public data, he is 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in). (Wikipedia)
Where was Gary Kemp born?
He was born in Islington, London, England. (Wikipedia)
For fans comparing the Kemp brothers, the takeaway is straightforward: Gary’s ownership of the Spandau Ballet songbook gives him an income stream that Martin, for all his acting success, will never have. The choice for any musician in a band is clear — either fight for the writing credits or accept that the songwriter will always out-earn the performer.
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George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.