Gary Kemp, the renowned musician from the iconic 80s band Spandau Ballet, has confessed to living with an all-encompassing fear, admitting he’s scared of ‘everything’.
Kemp attributes his anxious nature to his mother, describing her as a ‘great worrier’ whose concerns he has inherited.
In an interview with the Sun’s Fabulous, the 65 year old musician shared: “Everything (scares me). My mother was a great worrier and I’ve inherited her concerns. I’m always nervous before travelling, which is crazy as I do it so much!”
Despite his fears, Gary finds solace in activities such as cycling through the countryside or hiking in the Lake District with his wife Lauren.
Gary also discussed how his passion for writing music serves as a therapeutic outlet, helping him cope with his self-described ‘obsession with order and tidiness’. He revealed: “I’m obsessed with order and tidiness. My records and books are either subject ordered or alphabetical.”
Kemp credits songwriting with alleviating his anxiety, stating: “My new record was born out of a period of anxiety for me that I seemed to cure as I kept writing. Everyone struggles today with endless global news, but writing has always been my therapy.”
However, he acknowledges that the recording process can be frustrating, often plagued by self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, reports the Express.
This candid admission follows Gary’s previous revelation about seeking therapy after succumbing to ‘doom-scrolling’ during the Covid-19 lockdown. He reflected on his decision to start therapy, suggesting it was prompted by several factors including the realization that he hadn’t fully mourned the loss of his parents, who passed away just days apart in 2009.
He shared his thoughts, saying: “Maybe it was lockdown or doom-scrolling; I’m terrible for scrolling the news. Or getting to a certain age. That might have had a lot to do with it, and starting to feel vulnerable.”
He continued, explaining the effect of this delayed grieving process on his mental health: “I think, as well, I hadn’t grieved my mum and dad dying at the same time. In my therapy, I think I grieved for the first time for them. I had to deal with it.”