A Flock of Seagulls et Men Without Hats

The band was formed by brothers Mike and Ali Score with Francis Maudsley and Willie Woo, who was soon replaced by Paul Reynolds, brought in to complete the line up. Before performing live the band would practice above Mike’s hairdressing salon. Once confident enough to perform in front of a crowd, the band started to play in clubs where they quickly gained a following and peaked the interest of record producers. The group released a single called “Telecommunication” which became a dance hit in the US, placing at number 19 on the US dance chart. This success across the pond attracted the attention of Jive Records who signed them to their label.

The band quickly released their debut album, “A Flock of Seagulls” in 1982, which peaked at number 10 in the US and number 5 in Canada. A single from the album, "I Ran (So Far Away)" became a runaway success hitting the number one spot in Australia and reaching the top 10 in the United States.

Despite their popularity abroad, the band had yet to achieve significant success in the UK but that was set to change with the release of their 1983 album “Listen”. The lead single from the album, “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)” climbed to number 10 on the UK singles chart and helped the album become a top 20 hit in the UK and the US.

The band’s next album, “The Story of a Young Heart” was moderately successful but ultimately was unable to attract the same attention as A Flock of Seagulls’ first two albums. The band’s next two albums, “Dreams Come true” released in 1985 and “The Light At the End of the World” released ten years later failed to even make it onto the charts. The band’s momentum waned and despite the recognition they had earned for making headway in the new wave scene, the band broke up. Mike Score still occasionally tours using the band name and is currently pursuing a solo career.

Founded by brothers Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk in 1977, Ivan soon took responsibility for the songwriting and vocal aspects, and Stefan became the guitarist. Over Men Without Hats' history the band has seen over 25 members pass through its door since 1977, with Stefan, Ivan, brother and synth player Colin Doroschuk and Jeremie Arrobas remaining a unit for the longest period. In 1980, Men Without Hats released their debut EP “Folk of the 80’s”, however the personnel changed drastically for the 1982 full-length release of “Rhythm of Youth”. Led by the track “I Like” it was the subsequent single “The Safety Dance” which catapulted the band to international recognition. The single spent three weeks at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also proved popular in the UK, New Zealand, and South Africa. The studio album earned a string of positive reviews, spawning the subsequent singles “I Got the Message” and “Living in China”.

Following the arrival of Ivan and Stefan's brother Colin Doroschuk, Men Without Hats issued their sophomore album “Folk of the 80’s” in 1984. The record proved popular in Canada but failed to achieve the success of its predecessor. The EP “Freeways” arrived in 1985 featuring remixes of earlier songs, and was supported by a small tour, which was documented on the DVD “Live Hats”. With a fresh lineup behind Ivan and Stefan including Lenny Pinkas, the band released “Pop Goes the World” in 1987, the title single of which reached No. 2 on the Canadian Single Chart and was later used in the 1987 film “Date with an Angel”.

The full-length “The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century”, featuring the ABBA cover “SOS”, was released in 1989 with little stir made. “Sideways” followed in 1991 and marked the group’s move away from new wave synth sounds towards the guitar dominated ‘90s. Following the release Men Without Hats disbanded in which time Ivan crafted the solo album “The Spell” issued in 1997. The band reformed in 2003 to release “No Hats Beyond This Point”, followed by a pair of compilation albums “My Hats Collection” in 2006 and “The Silver Collection” in 2008. Men Without Hats’ released their seventh studio album “Love in the Age of War” in 2012, 30 years after their debut record.