Haircut 100

Of all pop’s shining, fiery comets, Haircut 100 burnt brightly, gave off heat, changed the landscape, and then, as fast as they appeared, were gone, leaving many happy memories. 

For 18 months or so in the early 1980s, Haircut did their thing. They were led by irrepressible songsmith, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Nick Heyward with South London’s Stanley Clarke, Les Nemes, on the bass. Adding Graham Jones, on lead guitar, and then, Memphis-born Blair Cunningham – a man who had lived several lifetimes by the age of 24 – on drums, the group charmed both press and public with their oblique-yet-everyman lyrics, brisk funk and sunshine pop. Who can forget songs as joyous and memorable as Fantastic Day, Love Plus One and Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) and the accompanying album, the mighty, flirty and flighty Pelican West. Pelican West was already platinum-certified in the UK only three months after release. The album spent 11 consecutive weeks in the British Top 10 and twice reached No. 2. It also charted in the US, Australia and beyond. 

By 1983, it was all over, and the band stepped out separately. Aside from Nick Heyward's tremendously well-regarded solo career (nine acclaimed albums to date including the Geoff Emerick-produced masterpiece North of a Miracle), Jones went on to co-found underground scenesters Boys Wonder; Nemes toured with 80s icon Rick Astley, and Cunningham drummed with a veritable who’s who of pop including Paul McCartney.

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary release of Pelican West, Haircut 100 reunited in May 2023 for an emotionally charged, hit-laden sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire. A UK and US tour followed, as well as a prestigious Glastonbury appearance. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, the band were recording again: a new single appeared, The Unloving Plum, which became BBC Radio 2’s Record Of The Week. 

The novelty of reforming soon gave way to reality. “We thought the reunion show would be emotional, but it’s been getting more emotional as we go along,” Nick said in 2024. “It’s like a dynamo, like a bike – it’s picking up speed and energy as it goes.” And now, it’s a new chapter for the group – a brand-new album is nearly finished, and the group are keen to share this material, as fresh as a daisy.

“Haircut 100 were a revelation,” Mickey McCarter wrote for Parklife DC about the band’s show at Columbus Athenaeum in 2024. “Nick Heyward and company delivered these tunes with an upbeat boyish charm that had everyone in the venue feeling good . . . It was truly remarkable to see Haircut 100 in action. Here’s to hoping these Englishmen tour American venues again in the near future.” Well, even in today’s somewhat crazy world, wishes can still come true. Haircut 100 are returning, basking in the moment, revelling in rekindled friendships, emboldened by new material, their catalogue of hits sounding better each play and ready to take the show back on the road. Nick speaks for his bandmates when he says, “Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor sang Fit As A Fiddle (And Ready For Love) in Singin’ In The Rain – we know exactly what they mean. Let’s do this!”