--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 18 when I signed my first record…" description: "\"I was 18 when I signed my first record contract and in those days fame was a lot of fun.\" — Martin Kemp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/martin-kemp-6448_contract_i-was-18-when-i-signed-my-first-record-c_1321304.jpg" --- # I was 18 when I signed my first record contract and in… ![“I was 18 when I signed my first record contract and in those days fame was a lot of fun.” quote by Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/martin-kemp-6448_contract_i-was-18-when-i-signed-my-first-record-c_1321304.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/martin-kemp-6448_contract_i-was-18-when-i-signed-my-first-record-c_1321304.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/martin-kemp-6448_contract_i-was-18-when-i-signed-my-first-record-c_1321304.jpg) > “I was 18 when I signed my first record contract and in those days fame was a lot of fun.” [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early fame felt enjoyable, hinting at youthful excitement and the thrill of new opportunities. **In simple terms:** Young fame was fun and exciting. Key Takeaway Cherish youthful experiences. Themes celebrity youth career beginnings Mood nostalgic reflective Type memoir inspirational When to use this quote - music contracts - public attention - career milestones Key Concepts entertainment industry personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn from early fame? - How did those experiences shape your later choices? A Different Perspective May overlook later challenges of fame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [18 Signed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18-signed-4404591/) [Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract/) [Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days/) [Days Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-fame-4404592/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-lot-905818/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Record Contract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-contract-1087305/) [Signed Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signed-record-632412/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) ## Related quotes > [Once I got a record contract, and I took my songs which weren't quite finished, or maybe they were a good idea, maybe they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-kreviazuk/once-i-got-a-record-contract-and-i-took-my-songs-which-weren-t-quite/) [Chantal Kreviazuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-kreviazuk/) > [Always I was dreaming of a record contract. From 10 to 13, it was all I could think of. I worked hard for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/always-i-was-dreaming-of-a-record-contract-from-10-to-13-it-was-all-i/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Yeah, early '71 is when I got my record contract. I had a record come out by August of '71. Things happened really fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/yeah-early-71-is-when-i-got-my-record-contract-i-had-a-record-come/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I had no interest in being an actress what so ever, and when I was about 14 or 15, I was signed to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-de-beaufort/i-had-no-interest-in-being-an-actress-what-so-ever-and-when-i-was/) [India de Beaufort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-de-beaufort/) > [We've been playing together since we were 13, and from the age of 18, we've had a record contract. I think that we've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/we-ve-been-playing-together-since-we-were-13-and-from-the-age-of-18/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [One of the biggest wake-up calls of my career was when I saw a record contract. I said, 'Wait - you sell it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/one-of-the-biggest-wake-up-calls-of-my-career-was-when-i-saw-a-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Do you have a record contract? I have a recording agreement. What's the difference? One is an agreement and one is a contract! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/do-you-have-a-record-contract-i-have-a-recording-agreement-what-s-the/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [It's not always about the money and the fame, and a lot of people think that it is sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/it-s-not-always-about-the-money-and-the-fame-and-a-lot-of-people/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [I think the people who are out there for fame get themselves in a lot of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/i-think-the-people-who-are-out-there-for-fame-get-themselves-in-a-lot/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [Fame is a lot of pressure, especially when you're responsible for your entire family. Financially, emotionally - everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-carter/fame-is-a-lot-of-pressure-especially-when-you-re-responsible-for-your/) [Nick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-carter/) > [I think a lot of young people don't realize the price of fame is a lot higher than they imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/i-think-a-lot-of-young-people-don-t-realize-the-price-of-fame-is-a/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [First of all, plain and simple, you have no real idea of what it means to be famous until you become famous. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/first-of-all-plain-and-simple-you-have-no-real-idea-of-what-it-means/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I always regarded people who want fame with a lot of suspicion. Unless you have a product to sell, I don't know why anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/i-always-regarded-people-who-want-fame-with-a-lot-of-suspicion-unless/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [Fame has a lot of baggage to carry around. I wouldn't want to be like Bruce Springsteen. I don't need that much money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-chilton/fame-has-a-lot-of-baggage-to-carry-around-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-like/) [Alex Chilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-chilton/) > [Fame is a lot of fun, but it's not interesting. I loved being noticed and praised, even the banquets. But they didn't have anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gilbert/fame-is-a-lot-of-fun-but-it-s-not-interesting-i-loved-being-noticed/) [Jack Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gilbert/) ## More by Martin Kemp > [We used to have a nanny who was obsessed with Take That. She was in love with Mark Owen and her room in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/we-used-to-have-a-nanny-who-was-obsessed-with-take-that-she-was-in/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [The violence in 'EastEnders' is a lot more dangerous than the violence in 'Family.' It becomes dangerous when it is softened, like in 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/the-violence-in-eastenders-is-a-lot-more-dangerous-than-the-violence/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [Charisma always was the important thing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/charisma-always-was-the-important-thing-to-me/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [There was a moment when Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal for a game against Leeds, and the whole of the ground was waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/there-was-a-moment-when-thierry-henry-returned-to-arsenal-for-a-game/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [My favourite genre is probably Seventies rock: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath. I love that stuff because it's what everyone was into when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/my-favourite-genre-is-probably-seventies-rock-deep-purple-black/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [Music was far more tribal in the Eighties; you were into one band and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/music-was-far-more-tribal-in-the-eighties-you-were-into-one-band-and/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [When I was young, I first went into the theatre which opened up across from my house. My mum and dad put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/when-i-was-young-i-first-went-into-the-theatre-which-opened-up-across/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [My wife Shirlie was in Wham! when we met, so we were moving in the same circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/my-wife-shirlie-was-in-wham-when-we-met-so-we-were-moving-in-the-same/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [There's not many jobs where you go home and are still smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/there-s-not-many-jobs-where-you-go-home-and-are-still-smiling/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [When you're acting, playing the bad guy, you get a chance to open up this box inside and look at all the bad things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/when-you-re-acting-playing-the-bad-guy-you-get-a-chance-to-open-up/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I've worked with lots of actors who sit at home for years waiting to get a job, then as soon as they do, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/i-ve-worked-with-lots-of-actors-who-sit-at-home-for-years-waiting-to/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [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/) > [Sometimes when somebody wants to take the lead it's nice to take a back seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/sometimes-when-somebody-wants-to-take-the-lead-it-s-nice-to-take-a/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [Gary and I have been working together all our adult lives and there aren't many brothers who have that opportunity, or they have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/gary-and-i-have-been-working-together-all-our-adult-lives-and-there/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [If you're lucky enough to come from, I was very lucky when I grew up, I grew up in a house fill of love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/if-you-re-lucky-enough-to-come-from-i-was-very-lucky-when-i-grew-up-i/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) [Explore all 99 Martin Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) ## More Contract quotes > [I am very convinced that I did not contract Ebola in the isolation unit, because our process is so safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-brantly/i-am-very-convinced-that-i-did-not-contract-ebola-in-the-isolation/) [Kent Brantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-brantly/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I love Scott Coker and I love Bellator and I love what we have built together and it's a little uneasy to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chandler/i-love-scott-coker-and-i-love-bellator-and-i-love-what-we-have-built/) [Michael Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chandler/) > [I signed my first book contract without paying much attention to what it said. I didn't know at the time that the book would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-signed-my-first-book-contract-without-paying-much-attention-to-what/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I work seriously with complete integrity. I never, never, never have offered a part to anyone who didn't deserve it, and I've never not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toback/i-work-seriously-with-complete-integrity-i-never-never-never-have/) [James Toback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toback/) > [Nowadays, in the contract that actors sign, you have to agree that you're going to do a certain amount of publicity-the hard part they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/nowadays-in-the-contract-that-actors-sign-you-have-to-agree-that-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A prisoner is imprisoned by the crime that he has committed. A jailer is imprisoned — in the very same prison — by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-prisoner-is-imprisoned-by-the-crime-that-he-has-committed-a-jailer/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“When we are quiet and still we contract and settle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-are-quiet-and-still-we-contract-and-settle/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [When you sign a contract, that's your deal. Everyone has different deals anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/when-you-sign-a-contract-that-s-your-deal-everyone-has-different/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [When you need to renew your contract, you must demonstrate why they are renewing your contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/when-you-need-to-renew-your-contract-you-must-demonstrate-why-they/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [“You don't know with who you are having to deal with... you just sign the contract to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/you-don-t-know-with-who-you-are-having-to-deal-with-you-just-sign-the/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [Even if you have a contract you can be sold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teemu-pukki/even-if-you-have-a-contract-you-can-be-sold/) [Teemu Pukki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teemu-pukki/) > [I worked in three local news markets and in every single one of them, they said: 'You're a lousy anchor. 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