Johnny Hates Jazz was an English band that was active during the late 1980′s.
The band consisted of Englishmen Clark Datchler (Vocals, Keyboards), Calvin Hayes (Drums, Keyboards), and American Mike Nocito (Guitar).
The band gots it’s name in reference to Mike Nocito’s Brother-in-Law, Johnny, who apparently, really hated Jazz.
The group charted their first US hit in 1988 with the single “Shattered Dreams” which rose to #2 on the Billboard Top-40 Charts.
Their follow-up single, “I Don’t Want to be a Hero” reached #31 on the Billboard Top-40, also in 1988.
They had no other Billboard Top-40 singles, though the 1988 single “Turn Back the Clock” did reach #5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts.
Their 1987 album, “Turn back the Clock“, which yielded all three singles, was the only studio album the group ever released.
In 2003, a compilation album, “The Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz” was released. I have always wondered something….If a group only released ONE album in their career, wouldn’t the “Greatest Hits” album have all the same exact music as the ONE album that they released? Hmmmmmmmmm Again, I am an Idiot, so maybe I am missing something here……
I was stationed in England when these guys first hit the charts. They were supposed to be the next “big” British group and seemed destined for a huge career.
They ended up being a One-Album Wonder.
The group broke up in 1988.
As of 2009, the original members were trying to record a new album and are hoping to one day again tour as “Johnny Hates Jazz“.
