Today is the 37th birthday of Nick Heyward, former lead singer and

guitarist for '80s pop band Haircut 100. In late 1982, Heyward left the

band to pursue a solo career just as Haircut 100's debut album, Pelican

West (which was a major U.K. hit), climbed into the U.S. top 40.

Heyward reportedly had personality clashes with various Haircut members.

Heyward, who was born in Beckenham, Kent, England, formed Haircut 100 in

1981 in his birthplace with guitarist Graham Jones and bassist Les

Nemes. The band's perky pop, coupled with Heyward's poster-boy looks,

quickly led to a contest among major U.K. record labels to sign the

group. After winning the contract, Arista released Haircut's

Heyward-composed debut single, "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)." In

late '81, the track made the U.K. top 5, and its follow-up,

HREF="http://www.addict.com/music/Haircut_100/Love_Plus_One.ram">"Love

Plus One" (RealAudio excerpt) went even higher on the charts.

In March of '82, the band's debut album, Pelican West, was a #2 British

smash, making Haircut 100 the hot group of the moment. "Love Plus One" and

the album also dented the U.S. top 40 shortly after, boding well for the band's

future. But at the end of '82, Heyward left the band over a disagreement and

signed with Arista as a solo act early the following year. Sometime Haircut

member Mark Fox took over lead vocals, but the band was never able to

replicate its early success and broke up in 1984.

Heyward, meanwhile, had two U.K. hits ("Whistle Down the Wind" and "Take

That Situation") from his solo debut, 1983's North of a Miracle. When

1986's Postcards from Home didn't fare as well, Heyward left Arista for

Warner Bros. Records, but under his new contract, he produced only one

album -- 1989's I Love You Avenue, which didn't hit big in the U.K.

and never broke in the U.S. After switching to Epic Records, Heyward's

1993 album, From Monday to Sunday, produced two minor U.K. hits.

Early in '94, one of the singles, "Kite," became a U.S. modern-rock hit

and Heyward toured the States. Since releasing a few singles in the

U.K. in 1996, Heyward has not been heard from on the music scene.

Other birthdays: Joe Cocker, 54; Cher, 52; Warren Cann (Ultravox), 46; Jane

Weidlin (the Go-Go's), 40; Susan Cowsill (Cowsills), 38; Brian Nash (Frankie

Goes To Hollywood), 35; and Tom Gorman (Belly), 32.