Craig Allen says: ‘Meet Johnny Hates Jazz’

"Johnny Hates Jazz" is a British pop/rock band that formed in London in 1985...that would score a major international hit (and one of "Jersey's Favorite Hits), just two years later!

The band is made up of songrwriter, vocalist and keyboard player Clark Datchler (born in London on March 27, 1964), and bassist Mike Nocito (born August 5, 1960).

Both guys were born into music families.

Clark's dad, Fred Datchler, was a member of two British Chart-topping bands in the 1950's! "The Stargazers" were the first British band to reach #1 on the UK Singles chart. As a part of the "Polkadots," Datchler sang backup for the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Petula Clark, among others.

Born in Germany, Mike Nocito is an American, whose family was based in Europe. His mom was a singer with the harmony group "The Cactus Kids," They sang for the troops throughout Europe.

Clark Datchler got his start in music early...through his teens, he was writing songs. He also sang, played keyboards and guitar with several local London bands! He was well known on the London club circuit.

At age 17, Datchler released his first single, on Bluebird records, a London independent label. He was backed by the reggae band "Aswad."  Shortly, he had a songwriting deal with Warner Brothers Records, and moved to Los Angeles.

Mike Nocito was a guitarist in school bands. He spent time as a recording engineer before teaming up with Datchler.

The two met in 1982, at RAK Studios in London.

Clark Datchler had just become lead singer in the band "Hot Club," along with Calvin Hayes (who would be a founding member of Johnny Hates Jazz).

In 1983, RAK head honcho Mickie Most was so impressed by Datchler, that he signed Clark to a solo deal. It was Most who put Datchler and Nocito together. At the time, Nocito was an engineer for the label...and over the next four years, the two worked as a team on Datchler's solo music.

In April 1986, Datchler, Nocito and Calvin Hayes released the first "Johnny Hates Jazz" record.

"Me And My Foolish Heart" got airplay in England, but it was not a commercial success.

Undeterred, Datchler began writing new songs...including their breakout Hit "Shattered Dreams."

"Shattered Dreams" was released in England in March 1987, and went to #5 on The UK charts, and top-5 throughout most of Europe and Asia.  It was a #2 smash in Japan!

Released later in 1987 in the US, "Shattered Dreams" went to #2 on the Hot 100 in 1988, and stayed there for 3 weeks. "Shattered Dreams" was a #4 hit in Canada in 1988.

Three other (but less-remembered) worldwide hits would follow for Johnny Hates Jazz:

"I Don't Want To Be A Hero"  (#31/1988). This anti-war anthem was a #11 hit in England.

"Turn Back The Clock" went to #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart in New Jersey. I maintain that this song should have been a Top-40 chart hit...but it was not meant to be...here. "Turn Back The Clock" was a #12 hit in England.

"Heart Of Gold" went to #19 in the UK, but did not chart in the US.

The "Turn Back The Clock" album (pictured at the top of this article) entered the British Album chart at #1, selling 4 million copies...

Despite all this success, Clark Datchler left "Johnny Hates Jazz" at the end of 1988!

Datchler moved to Amsterdam after leaving Johnny Hates Jazz. There for the remainder of the 1980's, he recorded two solo albums ("Raindance" and "Fishing For Souls").  In the 1990's, he returned to England, basing himself at Peter Gabriel's "Real World Studios," near Bath, England. In 2000, Datchler moved back to the US, where he built a solar powered home and studio, becoming environmentally active. He also recorded his most recent solo album "Tomorrow."

Mike Nocito would go on to make another "Johnny Hates Jazz" album after Datchler's departure. He would team up with Calvin Hayes, and new member Phil Thornalley. "Tall Stories" hit the record store shelves with a thud in 1991...there were no hit singles.

In his post "JHJ" years, Nocito based his work in Cambridge, England. He has worked extensively with "Katrina & The Waves." You know this band for another of Jersey's Favorite Hits: "Walking On Sunshine" (which Mike Nocito did NOT have a hand in).

But wait...as happens in the rock 'n' roll world...all is not as it seems...

Datchler and Nocito met up again in 2009, after Nocito wrote the song "Magnetized," which he thought would be a hit for Johnny Hates Jazz!

Soon, Datchler moved back to England, and began writing the rest of the songs that would be needed for a new Johnny Hates Jazz album. At the same time, the original lineup of Datchler, Nocito and Hayes began playing live at music festivals across Europe. However, in 2010, Calvin Hayes would again leave the group...and this was before the new album was recorded.

Recording the "Magnetized" album would span much of 2010 and 2011.

The album was released in 2013, with "Magnetized" getting heavy airplay across England on the BBC. The single went to #1 on "BBC Radio 2" airplay charts...it was also a big hit in Germany!

Unfortunately, at this time, Clark Datchler was diagnosed with a serious illness, and all band activities ground to a halt.

As of this year, 2014, Clark Datchler is well, and a followup single, "Lighthouse" has been released in Germany.

Below: Johnny Hates Jazz performing "I Don't Want To Be A Hero," earlier this year..

And...Johnny (still) Hates Jazz...

Ironically, the band was named after a jazz-hating mutual friend of Datchler, Nocito and Hayes. Further, the guys were "discovered" playing at a jazz club.

You can't make this stuff up!

Check out their official website, by clicking here!