Martin Kemp's wife Shirlie has candidly admitted "we survived it" as she opened up about their long-standing relationship and the pressures of fame. The Spandau Ballet bassist and Wham! backing singer have been married since 1988, but they reveal that being famous in their era was a wildly different experience compared to modern popstars.
A Chance Encounter and a Delayed Connection
Martin Kemp first spotted Shirlie while watching Wham! perform on Top of The Pops, and a few weeks later, he ran into her at a theatre show. At an after party, he gave her his number, but Shirlie never called him initially. However, her bandmate George Michael eventually decided to pick up the phone, leading to Martin finally securing a date with Shirlie. This serendipitous moment marked the beginning of their enduring partnership.
Navigating Fame in the 1990s
Discussing the early days of their relationship on the Mid-point podcast, Shirlie, now 63, explained how they would often enter and exit clubs or restaurants through back entrances to avoid photographers. She noted that this was a stark contrast to today's culture, where celebrities sometimes pay photographers to capture them. "It was a very different time for us," Shirlie said. "Why we survived it? I think we were just at the right place at the right time. That was our era and we understood it. Love is also a very grounding thing."
Martin, 64, elaborated on this by highlighting the myth and legend that surrounded popstars in the 1980s. He compared it to the current era, where celebrities "give everything" and lack the mystery of the past. "Being a popstar back in the day was all about myth and legend," Martin said. "You'd look at the poster and that's all you got, so everything else about this popstar happened in your head. What he was doing at home, was it a palace, you know, who is this person, but nowadays they give everything. You know what Robbie looks like when he's at home in his underwear, they give you everything."
Family Life and Recent Adventures
The couple have been together ever since their first date, sharing a son named Roman and a daughter named Harleymoon. Their relationship has stood the test of time, with both attributing their success to love and understanding of their unique era in fame.
In a lighter recent incident, Martin revealed he had to be rescued by firefighters after finding himself stranded in a lift before a DJ set in Falkirk. He was trapped for an hour before the successful evacuation, but he saw the funny side, posting a picture with the fire service on social media. Alongside the post, Martin wrote: "Stuck in a lift for an hour!! Before tonight's gig at City Falkirk… but I still had fun. Thank you so much Falkirk Fire Brigade for rescuing all of us!!!!"
Reflections on Love and Legacy
Shirlie's admission of "we survived it" underscores the challenges they faced in the spotlight, but their story is one of resilience and affection. As they continue to share their experiences, Martin and Shirlie Kemp offer a glimpse into a bygone era of celebrity, where mystery and love played key roles in navigating the highs and lows of fame.
