Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, A

UK new wave group formed in Liverpool '79 by brothers Mike (b 5 Nov. '57) and Ali Score, keyboards/ vocals and drums. Lead guitar Paul Reynolds, Frank Maudsley on bass made up group with name inspired by Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Spotted by Bill Nelson, who prod. "It's Not Me Talking' for his Cocteau label; signed with Jive for subsequent releases. Visually in fashionable post-punk "Futurist' mould, with synth, electronic drum kit, etc; ex-hairdresser Mike affected ever-stranger hair styles to get noticed: MTV boosted "I Ran (So Far Away)' to no. 9 USA '82 with video's futuristic silver setting; UK had seen Gary Numan do it first and better; gave it only no. 43. "Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)' followed earlier "Space Age Love Song' in having sci-fi-type movie footage; "Wishing' was best stab at catchy melody, made no. 10 UK/26 USA, but status remained higher in USA: band headlined MTV '82 New Year's Eve Rock'n'Roll Ball. Eponymous first album followed by Wishing '83 with hit "Nightmares', giving relief from space obsession with Hitchcockian setting, but peaked at no. 53 UK; despite two more top 40 hits UK '83-4, album The Story Of A Young Heart '84, Dream Come True '86, they were unlikely to match USA success without an MTV. Reynolds left '85; they split '86.