The band name “Spandau Ballet” originates from a phrase seen as graffiti in a Berlin club bathroom by Robert Elms. He read the words, “Rudolf Heß, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet,” which later inspired the name suggestion to the band. The phrase’s exact meaning remains unclear, and the band initially chose the name purely for its sound without understanding its background.
The story begins with Robert Elms, a journalist and friend of the band, who took a trip to Berlin. During a weekend visit, he noticed the graffiti on a toilet stall wall in a nightclub. Elms did not speak German, so the phrase was likely written in English. He recalled this line in his autobiography, The Way We Wore (2005). The full phrase mentioned “Rudolf Heß,” the Nazi war criminal imprisoned in Spandau Prison, “all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet.” This observation led Elms to propose the name change for the band, which was then called The Gentry.
Gary Kemp, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, confirmed the origin story. He acknowledged that the band did not initially know what “Spandau” referred to and that they just liked how the name sounded. The mysterious phrase was not given particular significance at the time. It was only later that the band learned about the historical Spandau Prison in Berlin and Rudolf Hess’s connection to it.
The meaning of “Spandau Ballet” remains uncertain. Some speculate the phrase may refer to the manner in which British guards changed shifts at Spandau Prison, described once in a 1953 London Daily News article as looking like a “corps de ballet.” However, no German sources affirm that this phrase was ever used by Germans or applied to the changing of guards. Additionally, there is no evidence the phrase was a euphemism related to any execution or hanging, despite rumors linking it to Hess’s suicide.
Contrary to some assumptions, the term “Spandau Ballet” was not a commonly used phrase in either German or English before the band’s adoption. It was not a known euphemism or military slang. The phrase appears to have been a piece of graffiti poetic imagination or “bathroom stall poetry,” possibly reflecting Hess’s suicide or isolation.
An alternative origin story claims the name predates the more famous use. David Barrat, a fan and writer, alleged in 2018 that an earlier London punk band active in 1978 had created the name Spandau Ballet. This band supposedly combined “Spandau,” derived from Spandau: The Secret Diaries by Albert Speer, a book about Nazi war criminals, with “ballet,” inspired by descriptions of flowers in a gardening book as “balletic.” Michael Harvey, a member of the 1978 band, recalls the name being an accidental fusion without connection to the Berlin prison or Rudolf Hess.
This earlier band’s story hints the name was not consciously related to political or historical figures but was rather a quirky mix of unrelated influences. It is possible that the name was passed on to Robert Elms or others who subsequently introduced it to the later band, Spandau Ballet, which gained international fame.
The involvement of Robert Elms in naming the band is clear. He is acknowledged as the individual who suggested the name to the band, confirming his close relationship with the group. Although the chronology of how the name was chosen and became definitive is somewhat blurred over time, Elms’s role remains undisputed.
Several myths around the phrase “Spandau Ballet” have circulated. One common but unsupported claim is that the name refers to the MG08 machine gun used by German forces, nicknamed “Spandau” during World War I. However, no evidence from German sources backs this claim. Additionally, no documented euphemistic meaning for the phrase existed prior to the band’s adoption of it.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name Origin | Based on graffiti read by Robert Elms in Berlin club bathroom |
| Original Phrase | “Rudolf Heß, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet” |
| Meaning | Unclear; possibly refers to Hess’s suicide or guard ceremony but no solid evidence |
| Alternative Story | Name from 1978 band combining Nazi diaries and gardening book terms |
| Robert Elms’s Role | Name suggester and close band associate |
| Myths | No evidence for military slang or euphemisms for MG08 or hanging |
The name “Spandau Ballet” thus emerges as a combination of a striking phrase encountered during a trip, possibly inspired by political history and cultural imagery. The band embraced the name mainly for its distinctive sound. Over time, curiosity about its meaning grew, but no definitive interpretation prevails.
- Robert Elms read graffiti in Berlin inspiring the name.
- The phrase refers to Rudolf Hess and Spandau Prison but has no clear meaning.
- The band took the name without knowing its full context initially.
- An earlier band might have combined unrelated words to create the name.
- No confirmed euphemistic or slang background exists for “Spandau Ballet.”
- The name reflects a blend of history, mystery, and artistic expression.
Where did the band name “Spandau Ballet” first appear?
The name was first seen by Robert Elms on a bathroom stall in a Berlin club. The graffiti read: “Rudolf Heß, all alone, dancing the Spandau Ballet.”
Does the phrase “Spandau Ballet” have a clear meaning?
No. The origin of the phrase is known, but its exact meaning remains unclear. It might refer to Rudolf Hess’s suicide or soldiers changing guards at Spandau Prison, but no confirmed explanation exists.
Was “Spandau Ballet” a common phrase before the band used it?
No. The phrase was not a known euphemism or common saying either in German or English before the band adopted it.
Did another band use the name “Spandau Ballet” before the famous one?
Yes, a London band in 1978 reportedly used the name first, combining “Spandau” from a Nazi war criminal’s diaries and “ballet” inspired by a gardening book.
Who suggested the name “Spandau Ballet” to the band?
Robert Elms, a friend of the band, suggested the name after seeing the phrase in Berlin. His close relationship to the band and his role in proposing the name are well documented.
