Johnny Hates Jazz

by Michael Sutton
The British trio Johnny Hates Jazz had Spandau Ballets striking attire, clean-cut looks, and knack for smooth, glossy pop songs that were more soulful than the critics gave them credit for. Unfortunately, like Spandau Ballet Johnny Hates Jazz were stigmatized in the U.S. by an omnipresent hit that burned out interest in the group before the rest of their discography had the chance to be heard. Johnny Hates Jazz was formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler (vocals, piano), Calvin Hayes (keyboards), and Mike Nocito (bass). Named after a friend who despised jazz, Johnny Hates Jazz released their first single, Me and My Foolish Heart, on RAK Records that year. The band searched for a major-label deal, and they were signed by Virgin Records after a gig at, ironically enough, a jazz club near the end of 1986. The groups debut single for Virgin, Shattered Dreams, rocketed them into superstardom in 1987. Shattered Dreams landed at number five on the U.K. charts and number two in America. The bands debut LP, Turn Back the Clock, appeared in 1988, going multi-platinum in England and in the U.S.
While none of Johnny Hates Jazzs subsequent singles took off in America, they launched a hit parade in the U.K. as I Dont Want to Be a Hero, Turn Back the Clock, Heart of Gold, and Dont Say Its Love followed Shattered Dreams onto the airwaves. However, despite the success, Datchler departed from Johnny Hates Jazz in the summer of 1988. Datchler was angry at how the other members were reinterpreting his compositions and decided to pursue a solo career, recording Raindance in 1990. Hayes and Nocito replaced Datchler with producer Phil Thornalley on Johnny Hates Jazzs 1991 effort Tall Stories. Although it didnt sound that different from Turn Back the Clock — Let Me Change Your Mind Tonight couldve fit perfectly on that album — Tall Stories was a bust. Johnny Hates Jazz broke up afterward.