Nik Kershaw

2000–present

The follow-up studio album, To Be Frank, was released in 2001. Over the years, Kershaw has collaborated on albums with artists such as Elton John, Bonnie Tyler, Sia and Gary Barlow.

In 2005, Kershaw released Then and Now, a collection of earlier material with four new tracks. In 2006, he completed another solo studio album, You've Got to Laugh, available only through his website or digitally through iTunes. This album contained twelve tracks and was released on Kershaw's own label, Shorthouse Records.

On 13 May 2010, Kershaw appeared on stage and hosted "Our Friends Acoustic" in aid of Mencap. He performed "The Riddle", "Wouldn't It Be Good", "Dancing Girls" and "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Other 1980s performers joined him and performed their own songs, including Howard Jones, Andy Bell of Erasure and Carol Decker of T'Pau at The O2 in London.

Kershaw wrote songs and performed for the soundtrack of the 2010 film, Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks. He wrote and sang the theme song, "If It Gets Much Better Than This". He also appeared as an extra in the penultimate scene, presenting a copy of the book to Hawks for signing in the book shop.

Following the release of his eighth studio album in 2012 (Ei8ht, his first release to reach the UK Albums Chart since 1986), Kershaw undertook a small tour of the UK, with some European dates. As part of each show he played the entirety of his debut studio album, which had been re-mastered and re-released in March 2012.

In 2012, Kershaw was featured as the lead vocalist on a new recording of "The Lamia", originally recorded by Genesis for their studio album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), with Steve Hackett for the latter's Genesis Revisited II studio album. He is also featured as a guest performer on the same song on Hackett's Genesis Revisited: Live at Hammersmith CD and DVD, released November 2013.

Kershaw performed a solo acoustic set at Fairport's Cropredy Convention in August 2013. He was on tour in the UK and Ireland in Autumn 2014. He continues to perform at 1980s revival events and festivals each year. In the latter part of 2015 he performed a 31-date tour of the UK, on a double bill with Go West, supported by Carol Decker of T'Pau.

On 11 November 2016, Kershaw performed in Reykjavík, Iceland, together with the pop rock band Todmobile. He joined them after a short set of eight songs and played guitar on three Todmobile songs.

In June 2020, Kershaw released an extended play (EP) of six new songs, These Little Things. Oxymoron is Kershaw's most recent full studio album, which was released in October 2020. It features 16 songs, which were recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

In 2024, Kershaw went on a co-headlining tour with Go West in Australia and New Zealand.

In late 2024, Kershaw embarked on a 40th Anniversary Tour, titled 'The 1984 Tour'. Kershaw performed both iconic platinum albums Human Racing & The Riddle in their entirety.

Personal life Kershaw's first wife was Canadian Sheri Pogmore, herself a musician who featured on several of Kershaw's early studio albums. The couple married in July 1983, had three children together, and divorced in 2003. Their second son was born with Down syndrome.

In 2019, Kershaw received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Suffolk for his services to the music industry.

Discography

Studio albums Human Racing (1984) The Riddle (1984) Radio Musicola (1986) The Works (1989) 15 Minutes (1999) To Be Frank (2001) You've Got to Laugh (2006) Ei8ht (2012) Oxymoron (2020)

Written work Musings & Lyrics: Inane Ramblings of a Grateful Idiot (2025)

Collaborations 1985: "Nikita" by Elton John – Kershaw on electric guitar and backing vocals with George Michael. 1985: "Act of War" by Elton John – Kershaw on electric guitar 1991: Still by Tony Banks – Kershaw on lead vocals on "Red Day on Blue Street", "I Wanna Change the Score" and "The Final Curtain". "Red Day on Blue Street" and "I Wanna Change the Score" co-written by Banks and Kershaw. 1993: Duets by Elton John – "Old Friend" written by Kershaw. All instruments by Kershaw. Vocals by Kershaw and John. 1994: "Seventeen" (single) by Let Loose – co-writer and producer. 1996: "Walls of Sound" (single) from Strictly Inc. – B-side "Back to You" was co-written by Banks and Kershaw. 1998: Live the Life by Michael W. Smith – "Let Me Show You the Way" co-written by Kershaw, Smith and producer Stephen Lipson. Also featured Smith and Kershaw on guitar. 1999: Darkdancer by Les Rythmes Digitales – "Sometimes" co-written by Jacques Lu Cont and Kershaw. Lead vocals by Kershaw. 1999: This Is Your Time by Michael W. Smith – "Hey You It's Me" – co-written by Kershaw and Smith. Backing vocals by Kershaw. 2001: "Island" by Orinoko – co-written by Kershaw. 2010: Come Out and Play by Kim Wilde – duet with Wilde on the track "Love Conquers All". 2010: Heavy Rain (video game) – "Falling Backwards" – written and guitar by Kershaw 2012: The King of Number 33 by DeeExpus, song "Memo" – lead vocals Kershaw. 2012: Genesis Revisited 2 by Steve Hackett, song "The Lamia" – lead vocals Kershaw. 2015: "Lonely Robot" Guitar on "Humans Being" 2016: "The Sky's the Limit" on Fly (Songs Inspired by the Film: Eddie the Eagle) 2021: "Sink or Swim" by Lily González "I Like You Better When You're Gone" co-written by Nik Kershaw 2022: "paranoid" by Izzy Kershaw