One of the most memorable hairstyles of the 1980s was the Flock of Seagulls Haircut. If you grew up in the 1980s, then chances are you were either a fan of A Flock of Seagulls or knew someone who was. And if you were into that type of music, chances are you knew someone with the Flock Of Seagulls haircut.
Known in the industry for their heavily synthesized new-wave era musical style, the band first made its debut in 1981 and has continued to release albums up until the late 90s and as recently as 2021.
Originally from the United Kingdom, most of the band members moved to the United States in the mid-1980s after the release of their album “Dream Come True”. But what the band was mostly known for, was their bizarre hairstyle that created a cult following.
So what exactly was the Flock of Seagulls haircut, and why was it so popular during the 1980s?
The Flock Of Seagulls Haircut
When it comes to iconic hairstyles of the 1980s, the Flock Of Seagulls haircut is one that many will fondly remember. It was big and bold like the rest of the 80s, and it was only really for those that were daring enough to rock it. So how did this epic hairstyle come to be?
The 1980s music scene changed the entire fashion industry. You could tell a lot about what type of music a person listened to based exclusively on their haircut and clothing choice. For those who were into the heavy metal rock bands, it was common for them to grow big hair to match the popularity of the big hair bands.
From crimped hair to jheri curls, to the mohawk and even the mullet, people were mimicking the hairstyles of their favorite bands and singers. One of the most iconic styles of the 80s was popularized thanks to the band’s regular appearances on MTV.
Back when the band first started, the David Bowie mullet was extremely popular. Before one show, the lead singer, Mike Score and bassist Frank Maudsley, were trying to get the mullet just right but they only had one small mirror.
The two band members ended up getting into a fight just before going on stage, and a punch from Maudsley flattened Score’s mullet straight down the center. Because there was no time to fix his hair, the band made their appearance as is, and the audience loved the new look.
The Band’s Formation
A Flock of Seagulls was formed by Mike Score back in 1980. At the time, Mike Score and his brother Ali were living in Liverpool.
Score had quit his job as a hairdresser and decided to form a synth-heavy, new wave era rock band with his brother and another hairdresser, Frank Maudsley.
With Ali on the drums and Frank playing the bass, the band released its first album in 1981 with its lead track becoming an instant hit at new-wave clubs throughout the UK.
But it was not until 1982 that the band got its first big break when the song, “I Ran (So Far Away)” was released as a single.
The music video of the single was picked up by MTV and became an instant hit around the globe. Thanks to the growing MTV generation, the band’s hit single climbed the American top 10 – and the rest they say is history.
Between 1982 and 2021, A Flock of Seagulls released seven studio albums and appeared in 20 compilation albums. And while they released 16 singles, only a few of these ever made it to the top of the charts around the world.
In the UK, their song “I Ran” only made it to #43, while the song, “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph of You)” made it into the top 10.
In the US, however, their debut album, “A Flock of Seagulls” made it all the way up to the top 10, and stayed on the Billboard charts for 50 weeks. Their next album, “Listen” hit #16, and stayed on the charts for another 23 weeks.
Flock Of Seagulls Haircut Cult Following
A Flock of Seagulls had a cult following, and along with it a cult following for their hairstyle of the same name. The crazy hairstyle made its way into popular culture, and was the butt of a joke in the Adam Sandler movie, “The Wedding Singer”.
The Flock of Seagulls haircut also showed up in many mainstream TV shows. For example, even Chandler from the show “Friends” got in on the action during one episode, cementing the 80s hairstyle as a bona fide cult phenomenon.
From Pulp Fiction to X-Men, the Flock of Seagulls hair trend was an important part of growing up in the 1980s. It remains a hairstyle that is so silly, but at the same time so nostalgic, that we remember it fondly today.
Now whether the Flock of Seagulls hairstyle comes back as a fashion trend today is yet to be seen, but chances are that probably won’t be the case. Regardless if there was ever a hairstyle that was tethered to the 1980s, you’d be hard pressed to find another one that is just as quirky as the Flock Of Seagulls Haircut.
