Eighties pop legends unrecognisable after band split, near-fatal car crash and working with Hollywood star

EIGHTIES pop legends looks unrecognisable after their band split.

Johnny Hates Jazz burst onto the scene with a very successful debut album which scored a No.1 in the eighties.

The British pop band – consisting of Datchler, Nocito and Hayes – ended up parting waysCredit: Getty

Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito reunited for a photo together in smart attire, as they enjoyed a gigCredit: Instgram @johnnyhatesjazzofficial

And Shattered Dreams was a single that fans of the band couldn’t get enough of as it made the top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1987.

They went on to have a string of successful hits, including Turn Back The Clock, I Don’t Want To Be A Hero, and Heart Of Gold.

But the British pop band – consisting of Datchler, Nocito and Hayes – ended up parting ways.

Now, nearly 40 years since Johnny Hates Jazz was formed, they look worlds away from their Shattered Dreams days.

Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito reunited for a photo together in smart attire, as they enjoyed a gig.

Clark penned: “Me n’ Mike went to see Daryl Hall and the excellent Todd Rundgren in London last night. Fab as ever to see such influential artists still giving it their all…”

Fans were quick to say the pair “hadn’t aged,” with one writing: “You haven’t aged!!!! I want the secret potion.”

A second added: “Good to see you looking good Clark. ❤❤Much love to you from the states.”

The band worked with Hollywood star and filmmaker David Fincher back in their heyday, and made two music videos with him.

David is the name behind many a successful psychological thriller, including Gone Girl, Seven, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Fight Club.

Datchler left the band at the end of 1988 and Hayes and Nocito continued, but their second album, Tall Stories, was unsuccessful and the band ended up dissolving altogether due to a near-fatal car accident in which Hayes was badly injured and in hospital for two years.

In yet more sad news for the Johnny Hates Jazz stars, Datchler was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in 2013.

Datchler had reunited with Nocito in 2013 to release album Magnetized when Datchler was diagnosed after collapsing while walking in a London park.

Thankfully, he made a full recovery the following year.

In 2022, their Shattered Dreams hit was given a modern makeover for a very special reason.

Datchler released a soulful new recording of the track in support of Polish charity Poland Welcomes, which runs shelters for women and children who fled the war in Ukraine.

Datchler said: “When the war in Ukraine started, the sheer shock of it made me want to do something to help – but I didn’t know what.

“Then a friend suggested that ‘Shattered Dreams’ could represent what people in Ukraine are going through.”

Johnny Hates Jazz can be found posting on their social media to their legion of followers, where they share updates on gigs they’re playing across London.

The band worked with Hollywood star and filmmaker David Fincher back in their heyday, and made two music videos with himCredit: Getty

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’
fbq(‘init’, ‘752905198150451’);
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);