Four Inane Questions with Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward and Graham Jones
Photo Courtesy of Haircut 100’s Instagram
The last time the Brit synth-pop band Haircut 100 performed in the States, E.T. ruled the theaters and Pac-Man was busy gobbling up quarters. 40+ years later, the new-wave darlings are back with their (mostly) original line-up. The group will be performing alongside Howard Jones and ABC for a retro-centric concert at the Uptown Theater on Sunday, Aug. 25.
With their decidedly tropical-disco sound, Haircut 100 remains a classic early ’80s staple. And, as we pointed out, they are a popular go-to on Sirius XM’s First Wave channel. “It’s brilliant that we’re still in the collective consciousness out there,” guitarist Graham Jones says. “That’s fantastic.”
Besides a stint on American Bandstand, the last time the group collectively came together was for an appearance on VH1’s Bands Reunited back in 2004, more than two decades after they hit the mainstream. Now, they’re back and crisscrossing the U.S., and hitting KC for the first time. “We’ve got a great band. And, as a unit, the three of us are so positive and in tune with each other,” singer Nick Heyward says. “Whatever we do, it kind of just rubs off, and the infection kind of spreads—the positive infection.”
We recently spoke with Heyward and Jones while they were across the pond in their native Great Britain. Naturally, we asked if they’d be game to tackle our daft questionnaire. They didn’t hesitate. We love (plus one) that about them.
The Pitch: What band is still at the top of your must-see list?
Nick Heyward: The Stones. I think I’d like to see The Stones. I have still not seen them. I can’t believe it. Yeah, I had a chance as well—I was at the Park Lane Hotel in 1982 and Bill Wyman came up to me and said, “Do you want to come and see us? We’re playing at the 100 Club.”
Graham Jones: I would have liked to have seen the Sex Pistols. I would like to have seen Sparks in the ’70s. As for current bands, I don’t know, Springsteen?
Heyward: And, I’d like to see Taylor Swift!
Photo Courtesy of Haircut 100’s Instagram
What’s an ’80s music video that lives rent-free in your head?
Heyward: It’s “Sledgehammer.”
Jones: I was gonna say that, yeah! Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.”
Heyward: Yeah, because it was out there. It was pure imagination and those chickens, those disturbing chickens, and the hammers.
What karaoke song have you always wanted to try or maybe attempted?
Jones: I’m not a karaoke fan, but I did “My Way” once—The Sid Vicious version. It was quite good fun. I was nominated to do that once.
Heyward: I’d like to have seen that, Jonesy. Well, I did “Love Plus One” in L.A. A friend of mine invited me to a karaoke bar and I’d never been to a karaoke bar. And I got up and sang “Love Plus One,” and, I didn’t sing it very well.
What’s the most insane fact about Haircut 100 that no one knows?
Heyward: Our gangster past. We’ll just leave that out there.
