A Flock Of Seagulls

Though hit singles like “I Ran (So Far Away)” helped define the sound of early-’80s synth-pop, what really cemented A Flock Of Seagulls’ reputation was even more fundamental: hair. The visually striking ’do of singer Michael Score, a former hairdresser, was a sweeping wave of blond hair that made him resemble a large yellow stork. To this day, it remains an instant shorthand reference to the era, the way the ducktail shouts 1957. Even if fashion’s constant evolution hadn’t left Score’s trademark frozen in time, male-pattern baldness brought the era to a definitive close. But Score continues to soar at the head of his migratory Flock, of which he’s the sole original member, bringing keyboard-drenched pop to those still in search of a space-age love song.

Updated 10/07/2009