The original chapter of Haircut One Hundred beamed briefly yet brightly. They achieved the kind of success that they could have only dreamed of four UK Top 10 hits, all of which were definitive ‘80s classics – ‘Love Plus One’, ‘Fantastic Day’, ‘Favourite Shirts (Boys Meets Girl)’ and ‘Nobody’s Fool’ – followed by a debut album, ‘Pelican West’, which peaked at #2 during an eleven week run in the Top 10, in the process reaching Platinum status.
That was 42 years ago. But now, after a lengthy absence, Haircut One Hundred are back, fuelled by the power of friendship, a love of adventure, and the simple joy of seeing wherever their unexpected next chapter will take them. Their return now gathers pace with today’s release of their first new music in 40 years with the new single ‘The Unloving Plum’.
‘The Unloving Plum’ sparkles with the exuberant joy of a band loving what they do. The joyous, brass-assisted, instantly unforgettable pop that they’re best known for is still their most compelling trait, but it’s a natural evolution that takes in touches of jangly, Beatles-esque pop and an anthemic Britpop-flavoured power. While vocalist/guitarist Nick Heyward explains what it means to him, it also speaks to the universal experience of something great in life emerging from what you initially thought was the worst possible outcome.
Nick says, “It’s about that first bad relationship that you have, which makes you think the first bite of the unloving plum is poisonous. Being dismissed by someone for the first time feels awful, but it turns out to be the best thing that could’ve happened. The unloving plum takes you to the depths, but that’s a step you often need to go through to find the loveliest thing you’ve ever experienced.”
Listen to ‘The Unloving Plum’ – BELOW:
There was a time when it seemed as if the book was closed on Haircut One Hundred. But when Nick, guitarist Graham Jones and bassist Les Nemes reunited for a band meeting, the vibe instantly switched from a business meeting to a laidback hangout between old friends. With little in the way of planning, the band somehow instigated its own rebirth with a series of happy accidents: a life-affirming headline show at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire; a broader UK headline tour; a sensational Radio 2 Piano Room session; and an unexpected offer to be managed by the team behind Wet Leg. Haircut One Hundred 2.0 was firmly underway.
New music was soon on the agenda too, with the three key members and drummer Blair Cunningham enjoying a rapid-fire writing and recording session with Sean Read (Dexys) at his Famous Times studio in Hackney. Les conjured up a killer bassline, the band’s energy flowed and ‘The Unloving Plum’ quickly emerged – a process near identical to how they had recorded ‘Love Plus One’ all those years ago. And now a new album is firmly underway too.
The original Haircut One Hundred era came to a halt due to two interlinked issues. With no management, they had no leadership, but no management also meant a near infinite quantity of cooks spoiling the broth. Too naive to say no, and with Nick suffering from stress and depression, it all rapidly unravelled. But now having a second chance in their sixties is something too special to take for granted.
As Nick concludes, “There have been hugs and tears because we’re so glad to have each other’s friendship back. That’s the most important thing, because you know that’s going to last for the rest of your life. To be out with your best mates at this age, still doing the thing that you love together… I just think, wow, what did I do to deserve this? This is amazing!”
Haircut One Hundred are currently completing an extensive North American tour with ABC and Howard Jones, which has seen them receive rapturous receptions from fans who have waited so long to see them. Their next UK show comes with a main stage set at Radio 2 in the Park on September 8th, before they play as special guests to David Gray at Manchester Opera House on September 13th.
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