--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I…" description: "\"For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was being in a band. That's all I did. I had no other social life. I don't want my life to be lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/gary-kemp-15911_ballet_for-24-hours-a-day-for-10-years-all-i-th_1486639.png" --- # For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was… ![“For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was being in a band. That's all I did. I had no other social life. I don't want my life to be like that now. I've spent the past 10 years having a real life as well. But Spandau Ballet is such a difficult shadow to outrun.” quote by Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/gary-kemp-15911_ballet_for-24-hours-a-day-for-10-years-all-i-th_1486639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/gary-kemp-15911_ballet_for-24-hours-a-day-for-10-years-all-i-th_1486639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/gary-kemp-15911_ballet_for-24-hours-a-day-for-10-years-all-i-th_1486639.png) > “For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was being in a band. That's all I did. I had no other social life. I don't want my life to be like that now. I've spent the past 10 years having a real life as well. But Spandau Ballet is such a difficult shadow to outrun.” [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on a decade consumed by band ambition, now seeking balanced life beyond the lingering shadow of past fame. **In simple terms:** Past obsession, now seeking balance. Key Takeaway Prioritize diverse experiences over single focus. Themes career obsession life balance legacy Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - new hobbies - social relationships - personal development Key Concepts identity formation career transition Questions to Reflect On - How will you define success now? - What steps will you take to diversify your life? A Different Perspective Old passions may still dominate thoughts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Spandau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-spandau-5430323/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-life/) [Spandau Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spandau-ballet-1281354/) [Thought Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-band-3629583/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I joined Spandau Ballet not because I wanted to be the best musician in the world, but because I wanted to be Elvis Presley,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-joined-spandau-ballet-not-because-i-wanted-to-be-the-best-musician/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [We never thought we were musicians. We just thought we were in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-rock/we-never-thought-we-were-musicians-we-just-thought-we-were-in-a-band/) [Ad-Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-rock/) > [Our first record with Spandau Ballet went to number five - I guess we were offering something different and it appealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/our-first-record-with-spandau-ballet-went-to-number-five-i-guess-we/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [You can't drink on an eight hour flight, pass out, and then go onstage... well you can, but then you're Spandau Ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/you-can-t-drink-on-an-eight-hour-flight-pass-out-and-then-go-onstage/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [I had 10 wonderful years in Spandau Ballet. It was an incredible way to grow up, to hang out with your best mates, discovering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-had-10-wonderful-years-in-spandau-ballet-it-was-an-incredible-way/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [Im not a nostalgia freak, I never listen to old Spandau Ballet stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hadley/im-not-a-nostalgia-freak-i-never-listen-to-old-spandau-ballet-stuff/) [Tony Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hadley/) > [My parents used to park us kids at the public library in downtown Honolulu every Saturday. They'd leave us there at 8 A.M. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-parents-used-to-park-us-kids-at-the-public-library-in-downtown/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [“The fact is that libertarianism is not and does not pretend to be a complete moral or aesthetic theory; it is only a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/the-fact-is-that-libertarianism-is-not-and-does-not-pretend-to-be-a/) [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [All I do on my days off now is bake. I like to try out making different things. I have such a raging social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/all-i-do-on-my-days-off-now-is-bake-i-like-to-try-out-making/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [I have a social life. But I don't discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-have-a-social-life-but-i-don-t-discuss-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [It's important to make your social life and your friends and family - make that a priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-barks/it-s-important-to-make-your-social-life-and-your-friends-and-family/) [Samantha Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-barks/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More by Gary Kemp > [Pop music should be about young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/pop-music-should-be-about-young-people/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Road cycling, especially up mountains. It's the heady mixture of endorphins and aesthetics that I love. My wife does it too, and being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/road-cycling-especially-up-mountains-it-s-the-heady-mixture-of/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [It's always an honour doing anything for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/it-s-always-an-honour-doing-anything-for-your-country/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [My brother Martin is two years younger than me. There has never been any competition between us - clearly he was the good-looking one;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-brother-martin-is-two-years-younger-than-me-there-has-never-been/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [We were on the cover of Women's Wear Daily, which was hardly rock 'n' roll, but it pleased me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-were-on-the-cover-of-women-s-wear-daily-which-was-hardly-rock-n/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Why do I find it hard to write the next line?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/why-do-i-find-it-hard-to-write-the-next-line/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I think my younger self would be more amazed to know I was doing an interview for 'The Spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-think-my-younger-self-would-be-more-amazed-to-know-i-was-doing-an/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [The thought of going on tour with people like Toyah Wilcox is just appalling. I'm certainly not tempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/the-thought-of-going-on-tour-with-people-like-toyah-wilcox-is-just/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I've been through Hell with some of the members of my old band, and Hell is highly stressful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-ve-been-through-hell-with-some-of-the-members-of-my-old-band-and/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I've always thought that actors wanted to be pop musicians and pop musicians wanted to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-ve-always-thought-that-actors-wanted-to-be-pop-musicians-and-pop/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I certainly wasn't a fan of Thatcher's politics. People liked to label us as children of Thatcher. What nonsense. The real children of Thatcher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-certainly-wasn-t-a-fan-of-thatcher-s-politics-people-liked-to-label/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [My life is routine-obsessed. I'm OCD, and if I'm not at home, I always get up early and exercise. I don't crash and burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-life-is-routine-obsessed-i-m-ocd-and-if-i-m-not-at-home-i-always/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Love is family, support, priority, and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/love-is-family-support-priority-and-understanding/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [I love my children unconditionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/i-love-my-children-unconditionally/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) [Explore all 41 Gary Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) ## More Ballet quotes > [“Afterwards Isabelle often wondered if the moments themselves were greater or the memory of them. At least the memory did not pass, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/afterwards-isabelle-often-wondered-if-the-moments-themselves-were/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [So I'm studying ballet every day and really training so people will see me as a ballet dancer, which no one's seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/so-i-m-studying-ballet-every-day-and-really-training-so-people-will/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [No matter the style, the farther one goes the more obstacles increase, and the more distant appears the object it is desired to attain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-georges-noverre/no-matter-the-style-the-farther-one-goes-the-more-obstacles-increase/) [Jean-Georges Noverre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-georges-noverre/) > [What I love most about ballet is being able to express my emotions through dance, and to be able to bring others joy through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/what-i-love-most-about-ballet-is-being-able-to-express-my-emotions/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [It is not a question of who dances but of who or what does not dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-st-denis/it-is-not-a-question-of-who-dances-but-of-who-or-what-does-not-dance/) [Ruth St. Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-st-denis/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) [Peter Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-martins/) > [Even though I am a professional, and I know what the steps are, I don't quite know how I'm going to do them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/even-though-i-am-a-professional-and-i-know-what-the-steps-are-i-don-t/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/bob-s-work-gleaned-from-hoofing-from-vaudeville-from-ballet/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [You can imagine me as a kid growing up in redneck Texas with ballet shoes, tucking the violin under my arm. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swayze/you-can-imagine-me-as-a-kid-growing-up-in-redneck-texas-with-ballet/) [Patrick Swayze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swayze/) > [I only started writing in the latter days of Spandau Ballet. I didnt know I could write because all had our roles within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hadley/i-only-started-writing-in-the-latter-days-of-spandau-ballet-i-didnt/) [Tony Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hadley/) > [All ballet, all reading, all music. That was my world, my inner world,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-makarova/all-ballet-all-reading-all-music-that-was-my-world-my-inner-world/) [Natalia Makarova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-makarova/) > [I can dance. I like hip hop and stuff and jazz movements, but I'm horrible in ballet. I tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-can-dance-i-like-hip-hop-and-stuff-and-jazz-movements-but-i-m/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) [Browse all 1,227 Ballet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For 24 hours a day, for 10 years, all I thought about was being in a band. That's all I did. I had no other social life. I don't want my life to be like that now. I've spent the past 10 years having a real life as well. 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