A Flock of Seagulls

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History

A Flock of Seagulls was started by Mike Score and his brother Ali in 1979 in Liverpool. Mike, who was previously a hairdresser, played keyboards, guitar, and vocals, Ali played drums and their friend Frank Maudsley played bass. The band took their name from a line in the song "Toiler on the Sea" by The Stranglers, which appears on their album Black and White. The band added guitarist Willie Woo, and Mark Edmondson joined briefly when Ali and Mike had a falling out; however, Ali re-joined when Mark took ill. They then began writing songs. Soon after, Willie left, allowing Paul Reynolds to join. They then started playing clubs, and soon enough, they got a contract.

Eventually, under the management of Tommy Crossan and Mick Rossi (Checkmount Limited), they began to release singles through Jive Records. The group released an EP and a couple of singles, 'Its Not Me Talking' and 'Telecommunication' on Bill Nelson's 'Cocteau' label; both tracks produced by Nelson. In 1982 the group's third single "I Ran (So Far Away)" became a worldwide hit, most notably reaching number 1 in Australia and the top 10 in the US and New Zealand (where the band became popular). The parent album A Flock of Seagulls and another single "Space Age Love Song" were also successful. In late 1982 the band found major success in their home country with "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" (first single from their next album) which reached the top 10. As it turned out, 1982 would prove to be the peak year of their commercial and critical success. hair blow dryer

1983 saw the release of three singles to back their second album Listen. Each was only a minor success in the UK and abroad. The album bore a heavily processed electronic sound that was a break from the Duran Duran guitar and bass driven sound of their dbut. Faced with disappointment the group produced a third album in 1984 that leant closer to a guitar sound. "The More You Live, The More You Love" was The Story of a Young Heart's lead single. It was moderately successful, despite having production that recalled their breakout hit "I Ran". The album's other two singles - "Never Again (The Dancer)" and "Remember David" - didn't make any headway. t3 tourmaline hair dryer

Faced with sliding sales and a loss of direction following the third album the group relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania minus Paul Reynolds. Eventually in 1985 the group released a new album; Dream Come True. Despite having a new sound based around the Fairlight Synthesizer the album was critically panned and a commercial failure. The remaining members fell out and A Flock Of Seagulls in its original incarnation disbanded. In promotion of Dream Come True, two videos - "Who's That Girl" and "Heartbeat Like a Drum" - were filmed in quick succession. These two videos were the last time the three remaining members were together in a recording or performance capacity until 2004. hair dryer wall mount

In November 2003, the original line-up (Mike and Ali Score, Paul Reynolds and Frank Maudsley) reunited for a one-off performance on the VH1 series, Bands Reunited. In September 2004, they reformed again and played a small number of live shows in the United States, but broke up immediately afterward.

Maudsley returned to Liverpool and is now the owner of a newsagent in the City Centre, while Mike and Ali Score stayed in Philadelphia. The brothers then had a falling out that resulted in Mike Score remaining as the sole original member of the band and Ali going to Boston, where he played in a hard rock band and then worked for a computer company in Cambridge.

Post 1989 developments

Following the dissolution of the band in the wake of Dream Come True, Mike Score resurfaced in a series of new bands with changing line-ups. The band released two singles ("Magic" and "Burnin' Up") and one album (The Light at the End of the World) which achieved some success. The group made a cameo appearance in the 1999 movie The Suburbans, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and Will Ferrell.

In 2003, A Flock of Seagulls performed for the unveiling of the Syracuse A-league football logo and team's name, Syracuse Salty Dogs, in Syracuse, New York. The band returned later that year for a performance at one of the Salty Dogs' games at Syracuse's P&C Stadium.

In November 2003, the original line-up (Mike and Ali Score, Paul Reynolds and Frank Maudsley) reunited for a one-off performance on the VH1 series Bands Reunited. In September 2004, they reformed again and played a small number of live shows in the United States, but broke up immediately afterward. The reunion included performances at Nike Run Hit Wonder (L.A., not NYC), a series of 5000 and 10,000-metre road races, featuring popular bands that are frequently classified as one hit wonders (including Devo, General Public, and Tommy Tutone) who performed along the race course.

Mike Score continues to tour under the band's name with a new line-up, but the other original members have retired from music. The band played a show at Classic Bowl in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The band's 2005 lineup was Mike Score, lead singer, keyboards; Joe Rodriguez, lead guitarist; Pando bassist; and Michael Brahm, drums. In June 2005, the current line-up appeared on the debut episode of the American edition of NBC's Hit Me Baby One More Time. Besides performing their hit song "I Ran (So Far Away)", they also performed a cover of Ryan Cabrera's "On the Way Down".

In an interview on the VH1 special 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s, Mike Score said "Every time he performs live... Everyone just wants to hear 'I Ran'", and goes on to say "...and I'm sick of it!". Also that he resents the song, but plays it live because people enjoy it. "I Ran" was listed at #55 on the countdown. He said the same thing in VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s, and was listed at #2 on this countdown. The interview on 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s was the exact same one that was shown on 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s.

A Flock of Seagulls performed at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines on April 19, 2008 as part of "The Lost 80s Live in Manila" tour along with Gene Loves Jezebel and Real Life.

On February 4, 2010 Flock of Seagulls played at the Ghostbar at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike Score was the only original band member, They were the only band that played that night starting at 12:30 am.

Personnel

Classic line-up (19791984)

Frank Maudsley Bass

Paul Reynolds Guitar

Ali Score Drums

Mike Score Keyboards, Vocals

Discography

Studio Albums

Year

Album

Chart Positions

U.K

DEU

SE

U.S

AUS

1981

Modern Love Is Automatic EP

Release Date: 1981

Label: Jive Records

1982

A Flock of Seagulls

Release Date: June 1982

Label: Jive Records

32

26

32

10

19

1983

Listen

Release Date: May 1983

Label: Zomba Records

16

14

44

16

90

1984

The Story of a Young Heart

Release Date: August 1984

Label: Jive/Arista

30

31

67

1985

Dream Come True

Release Date: 1985 (UK), March 1986 (US)

Label: Jive Records

1995

The Light at the End of the World

Release Date: 1995

Label: I.R.S. Records

Compilation Albums

The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls 1991

20 Classics Of The 80's 1995

Wishing (compilation album) 1996

The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls (Import) 1998

Greatest Hits Remixed 1999

I Ran (live album) 1999

Platinum & Gold Collection (compilation album) 2003

Essential New Wave 2003

I Ran: The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls 2003

We Are The 80's 2006

Space Age Love Songs 2008

Playlist: The Very Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls (compilation album) 2008

Singles

Year

Title

Album

Chart Positions

U.K.

U.K. Indie

AUS

DEU

IRL

U.S

Hot 100

MSR

Dance Club Play

1981

"(It's Not Me) Talking"

45

"Telecommunication"

A Flock of Seagulls

19

1982

"I Ran (So Far Away)"

43

1

31

9

3

8

"Space Age Love Song"

34

68

30

59

"Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)"

Listen

10

46

37

6

26

3

62

1983

"(It's Not Me) Talking" (Cocteau Records re-issue)

22

"Nightmares"

Listen

53

"Transfer Affection"

38

22

"(It's Not Me) Talking" (Rerecording)

78

1984

"The More You Live, The More You Love"

The Story of a Young Heart

26

37

56

10

"Never Again (The Dancer)"

"Remember David"

1985

"Who's That Girl (She's Got It)"

Dream Come True

66

1986

"Heartbeat Like a Drum"

1989

"Magic"

1995

"Magic" (Re-issue)

The Light at the End of the World

"Burnin' Up"

1996

"Rainfall"

2000

"Rainfall" (Re-issue)

2007

"I Ran (So Far Away)" (A Flock Of Seagulls vs. The Angry Kids)

Video Albums

Year

Title

Format

1984

Through the Looking Glass

Notes: Features A Flock of Seagulls songs from 19811984 and a brief interview.

VHS

Hairstyle

Mike Score's distinctive hairstyle has been mentioned, copied, and parodied many times in the media:

In the American television sitcoms Friends (by Chandler in a flashback to his and Ross's college years, when they had formed a New Wave band)

In That '70s Show when they parodied the '80s.

It was referred to, as a means of scoff, in Pulp Fiction.

In the musical The Wedding Singer the character Sammy sings a line in the song "Saturday Night" referring to Mike Score's hair style: "Can't wait 'til chicks start flocking to my Flock of Seagulls hair".

A Diet Pepsi commercial shows a man telling us that he wants to feel young again, then it shows a montage of the man with Score's hairstyle while the song "I Ran (So Far Away)" plays, but finding out it's a bad idea.

In the song "Albuquerque" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, the song's main character encounters a hermaphrodite with a "Flock of Seagulls haircut"

In a Supercuts commercial, a man enters a hair salon. After a few moments he notices that the only hairstyle given is Mike Score's famous haircut. (In the background, the sound of seagulls can be heard.)

When Danny Pintauro came out of the closet, The Daily Show referred to his Flock of Seagulls haircut on Who's the Boss? as an indicator of his orientation.

In the film The Wedding Singer, Adam Sandler's character approaches an airline ticket agent who is sporting a Mike Score hairstyle. The ticket agent says "Do you like Flock of Seagulls?" with Sandler's reply, "I can see you do."

In an XM Satellite Radio TV commercial, the logo's wavelengths take different shapes; one of which is Mike Score's hairstyle as the guitar riff for "I Ran (So Far Away)" plays on the background.

In the Larry the Cable Guy Christmas Special, Tony Orlando and Larry look at photographs of the past and sees a picture of Larry with Mike Score's hairstyle. Orlando says, "Look at that! The 80s!" Larry replies, "No, that was actually last year. I just like Flock of Seagulls."

In an episode of Family Guy titled "One If by Clam, Two If by Sea", Peter can be seen with a haircut similar to Mike Score's in the beginning of the episode.

In the swiffer commercial, an 80's DJ imitates the hairstyle.

The band is referenced in Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me when Austin Powers says "The 70s and the 80s? You're not missing anything, believe me. I've looked into it. There's a gas shortage and A Flock of Seagulls. That's about it."

Grammy Award

The album track, "D.N.A.", from A Flock of Seagulls, won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

References

^ A Flock of Seagulls on MySpace Music

^ A Flock of Seagulls Fan Club

^ Smith, Steve Bits and Pieces: the Penguin Book of Rock and Pop Facts and Trivia. Penguin, 1988 ISBN 0140107436

^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=10242

^ a b http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3577

^ a b http://www.charts-surfer.de/

^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=A|FLOCK|OF|SEAGULLS&sql=11:3ifixqe5ldje~T5

^ a b Kent, David Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. David Kent, 1993 ISBN 0646119176

^ http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/a.htm

^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/

^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=A|FLOCK|OF|SEAGULLS&sql=11:3ifixqe5ldje~T51

^ Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) - Memorable quotes (IMDB)

External links

Official MySpace site

Fan Club site

AFOS Online

Categories: British New Wave musical groups | 1980s music groups | Grammy Award winners | English musical groups | Music from LiverpoolHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from January 2008 | All articles needing additional references