Spandau Ballet – Through The Barricades
A love story trapped in conflict
In the fall of 1986, Spandau Ballet released one of their most emotional tracks—“Through the Barricades.” This wasn’t just another polished pop ballad; it was a song built on real tragedy, raw love, and the political backdrop of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Released on 27 October 1986 as the second single from their fifth album (which shared the same title), the track quickly became a standout moment in their catalog.
The single came with “With the Pride” (Live in ’85) on the B-side, and was produced by Gary Langan, with Gary Kemp writing the song. Its roots go deep: Kemp was moved by the 1983 killing of Thomas “Kidso” Reilly, a band crew member who was shot by a British soldier in Belfast. A walk down the Falls Road and a visit to Reilly’s grave gave Kemp the spark to write a love story tangled in political division.
Emotional impact, literary depth
Kemp described the song as a kind of Romeo and Juliet tale—two lovers trying to hold onto each other despite the chaos surrounding them. The lyrics tap into that heartbreak and hope, referencing sacrifice and resilience. One line even pulls from W.B. Yeats’ “Easter, 1916”: “It’s a terrible beauty we’ve made” Just a small touch that gives the song some extra poetic weight.
Acoustic intro, big finish
Musically, it starts simple—a dry, delicate acoustic guitar. Then the arrangement builds gradually into a big, dramatic finale. Tony Hadley’s vocal performance carries the whole thing, and Kemp himself said it might be Hadley’s best vocal ever. The sparse beginning was intentional: let the voice do the work.
It’s classic Spandau, but with more grit and gravity than most of their hits.
On the charts
“Through the Barricades” made a strong impact across Europe. In the UK, it reached number 6 and stayed on the Singles Chart for ten weeks. It topped the charts in Italy, hit number 2 in Spain, number 3 in the Netherlands, number 4 in Ireland, number 7 in Norway, number 10 in Belgium, and number 14 in West Germany. It also landed at number 6 on the European Hot 100.
The song’s success helped anchor the Through the Barricades album, which opens with the atmospheric “Barricades ‒ Introduction”—a cinematic lead-in that sets the emotional tone for what follows. The album itself reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Silver in 2021 for over 200,000 units shipped.
Still the song they’re proudest of
Years on, “Through the Barricades” remains one of the band’s most respected tracks—both by fans and the group themselves. It’s often singled out as their personal favorite, and still appears in their setlists when they perform live. When the album was remastered and reissued in 2017, this track got extra attention, proving its staying power.
It’s not just a love song—it’s one that brings history, loss, and hope into the mix. No surprise it still resonates.
