Nick Heyward
The breezy voice of new wave pop with Haircut One Hundred who forged a lasting, introspective solo career after the band's early split.
Born 1961 (age 65)·English singer-songwriter and guitarist·Birthday: May 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Nick Heyward burst onto the early-80s scene as the effortlessly charming frontman of Haircut One Hundred, his boyish grin and the band's jazzy, sun-drenched pop scoring hits like 'Love Plus One.' Just as they reached their peak, he left, a move that shocked fans but signaled his desire for deeper artistic control. His solo path traded the band's bright horns for a more personal, guitar-based sound, collaborating with producers like former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. While he never recaptured the same massive commercial success, he cultivated a devoted following and critical respect for his finely crafted songwriting. Albums like 'North of a Miracle' and later works reveal an artist who matured gracefully, exploring themes of love and melancholy with a light touch, securing his place as a beloved figure in British pop beyond his initial moment of fame.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Nick was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led Haircut One Hundred to international success with their debut album 'Pelican West' and hits like 'Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)' and 'Love Plus One.'
- Released a string of solo albums beginning with 'North of a Miracle' (1983), which spawned the UK top-10 single 'Whistle Down the Wind.'
- Maintained a consistent songwriting and recording career for over four decades after his initial pop fame.
- His early work with Haircut One Hundred helped define the upbeat, sophisticated sound of the British new wave pop scene.
Did You Know?
He left Haircut One Hundred at the height of their popularity after their first album due to creative differences and stress.
His first solo album, 'North of a Miracle,' was produced by Geoff Emerick, the famed engineer for The Beatles.
Heyward is known for his distinctive, clean guitar playing style, often using a Rickenbacker guitar.
He made a cameo appearance in the 1984 film 'Give My Regards to Broad Street' starring Paul McCartney.
“I left the band at number two because I had to follow the song, not the chart.”
