Nick Heyward

Nicholas Heyward (born 20 May 1961) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He came to international attention in the early 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter for Haircut One Hundred. He and the band parted ways after their first album, after which he continued as a solo artist.

Biography Early life Born in Beckenham, Heyward spent his early years in and around south London. He attended Kelsey Park School for Boys in Beckenham where he studied art and photography. He left school at 16 to work as a commercial artist. Around this time Heyward was a punk rock fan, with a particular interest in bands with singer-guitarists, citing XTC's Andy Partridge and Talking Heads' David Byrne as his musical heroes during this period.

Haircut One Hundred Heyward and school friends Graham Jones and Les Nemes, the core of Haircut One Hundred, started bands together as far back as 1977. They were first known as Rugby, then the Boat Party, Captain Pennyworth and Moving England, before settling on Haircut One Hundred. The band signed with Arista Records in 1981 and had four UK top 10 singles between 1981 and 1982. Their debut album, Pelican West (1982), written by Heyward, reached No. 2. It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.

Work on the band's second album commenced in October 1982 but, in January 1983, a statement was issued confirming that Heyward had left the band, However, many years later, Heyward stated that he had been struggling with stress and depression at the time after a year of constant work and pressure which led to him being, in effect, dismissed by the other members of the band.

Over the years, the band has reformed several times, most recently in May 2023. In 2017 Heyward described a "deep love" for the band and remarked that "the door is always open". In an interview with Lorraine, he said he was "ever hopeful" that the band would one day play a reunion show at the Roundhouse where Pelican West was recorded.

Solo career Heyward's solo career began in March 1983 with the single "Whistle Down the Wind", Two further top 20 hits followed: "Take That Situation" (No. 11) and brought him his first hits of the 1990s. The first single, "Kite", reached No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart

In 1995, Heyward released his second Epic Records album, Tangled, providing him with the UK top 40 single "Rollerblade". Heyward's most recent major label release. It featured three singles, "Today", "The Man You Used to Be" and "Stars in Her Eyes".

Since 1998, Heyward has released two independent albums: Open Sesame Seed (2001), a collaboration with British actor/singer Greg Ellis, and featuring Ellis reading Heyward's poetry to the accompaniment of Heyward's musical backing; and The Mermaid and the Lighthouse Keeper (2006), an album of songs recorded with singer/actress India Dupre.

In November 2013, Heyward announced on his website that he was in the process of recording a new album with his son, Oliver. A preview of the album was made available on the site in October 2015. A PledgeMusic campaign to support the album was announced on Heyward's website, on 4 April 2017 and the album title, Woodland Echoes, was released the following day.

Personal life Heyward married Glaswegian Marion Killen in 1987. They had two children, Oliver and Katie, before divorcing in 2000.

Heyward lives in Stoke Row, South Oxfordshire, and in February 2016 announced his engagement to Sara, his American girlfriend.

Discography Albums +List of albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications UK NZ Pelican West Released: 9 March 1982 Label: Arista Format: LP, CS 2 31 29 12 BPI: Platinum Postcards from Home Released: 1986 Label: Arista Format: CD, LP, CS — — — — I Love You Avenue Released: 10 October 1988 Label: Reprise Format: CD, LP, CS — — — — From Monday to Sunday Released: 7 December 1993 Label: Epic Format: CD, LP — — — — Tangled Released: 9 October 1995 Label: Epic Format: CD 93 — — — The Apple Bed Released: 11 August 1998 Label: Creation Format: CD — — — — Open Sesame Seed Released: 2001 Label: Private release Format: CD — — — — The Mermaid and the Lighthouse Keeper Released: 2006 Label: Up the Ante Format: CD — — — — Woodland Echoes Released: 2017 Label: Gladsome Hawk Format: CD, LP 89 — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles +List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" 1981 4 — — — 41 50 32 — BPI: Silver Pelican West "Love Plus One" 1982 3 37 — 18 8 18 22 — BPI: Gold "Fantastic Day" 9 — — — — — 29 — "Nobody's Fool" 9 — — — — — — — Pelican West Plus "Whistle Down the Wind" 1983 13 — 20 — — — — — North of a Miracle "Take That Situation" 11 — — — — — — — "Blue Hat for a Blue Day" 14 — — — — — — — "On a Sunday" 52 — — — — — — — "Love All Day" 1984 31 — — — — — — — "My Pure Lady" — — — — — — — — "Warning Sign" 25 — — — — — — — "Laura" 1985 45 — — — — — — — "Over the Weekend" 1986 43 — — — — — — — Postcards from Home "Goodbye Yesterday" 82 — — — — — — — "You're My World" 1988 67 — — — — — — — I Love You Avenue "Tell Me Why" 1989 — — — — — — — — "Kite" 1993 44 107 — 4 — — — — From Monday to Sunday "He Doesn't Love You Like I Do" 58 — — — — — — 55 "The World" 1995 47 — — — — — — — Tangled "Rollerblade" 1996 37 — — — — — — — "Today" 1997 — — — — — — — — The Apple Bed "The Man You Used to Be" — — — — — — — — "Stars in Her Eyes" 1998 — — — — — — — — "Baby Blue Sky" / "Mountaintop" 2017 — — — — — — — — Woodland Echoes "Perfect Sunday Sun" — — — — — — — — "The Stars" 2018 — — — — — — — — "The Unloving Plum" 2024 — — — — — — — — "Dynamite" 2025 — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. "Whistle Down the Wind" additionally charted at No. 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. "Kite" charted at No. 7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.