Haircut 100

Haircut 100 were a New Wave band, formed in 1980 by Nick Heyward, whose most successful single was "Love Plus One". The group broke up in 1984, but then briefly reunited in 2004.

Biography

The band was originally formed by pin-up Heyward (guitar, vocals), Les Nemes (bass), Tim Jenkins (guitar) and Rob Stroud (drums). Jenkins left quite early on when the band was unsigned. He was later followed by Stroud who joined the punk band The Sex Gang Children. Graham Jones left The Low Numbers to join the band, which at the time was named 'Moving England'. Stroud was replaced by Patrick Hunt on drums who played on their first single, "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)". Hunt was fired and replaced by the American Blair Cunningham. Cunningham replaced the drum track on the album version of "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)", although the single had the original drums played by Hunt. During their early gigs, Phil Smith and Mark Fox were drafted to play saxophone and percussion respectively. Originally meant to be session musicians, they were asked to join the line up of the band when they signed to Arista Records.

Haircut 100 appeared just as New Wave was peaking. They were quickly successful: their first single, 1981's "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" reached number four in the UK Singles Chart. Their next single, "Love Plus One", reached number three and broke the Top 40 in the United States. The following two singles "Fantastic Day" and "Nobody's Fool" each reached number nine in the UK.

Haircut 100 seemed poised for stardom, then Heyward left the band in January 1983 to pursue a solo career. Percussionist Marc Fox took Heyward's place as vocalist. In 1984, the band released the album Paint and Paint, but broke up soon after.

In 2004 all of the band's ex-members reunited for an episode of VH1's series Bands Reunited.

Band members

Nick Heyward - born Nicholas Heyward, 20 May 1961, Beckenham, Kent - Vocals/Guitar.
Les Nemes - born Leslie Nemes, 5 December 1960, Croydon, Surrey - Bass.
Graham Jones - born 8 July 1961, Bridlington, East Yorkshire - Guitar.
Patrick David Hunt - Shaftesbury, Dorset - Drums. (left before first album was completed)
Phil Smith - born 1 May 1959, Redbridge, Essex - Saxophone.
Marc Fox - born 13 February 1958 - Percussion/Vocals.
Blair Cunningham - born 11 October 1957, Harlem, New York - Drums.

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haircut 100