Calvin Hayes, co-founder of UK chart-toppers Johnny Hates Jazz, dies aged 63
The keyboardist and drummer who helped deliver a number one album to Virgin Records in the late 1980s has died, marking the loss of a key figure in Britain’s lucrative pop export era.
Calvin Hayes, the keyboardist and drummer who helped establish the 1980s pop group Johnny Hates Jazz, has died at 63. He collapsed earlier this week at his residence in Washington.
Former bandmates Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito confirmed the death on the band's official social media channels. "As many of you now know, our old friend and former bandmate Calvin died on Thursday," they wrote, adding that they were "utterly shocked and deeply saddened" by the sudden news.
The duo explained that they spoke privately with others who knew Hayes before making a public announcement. They noted that this delay allowed them to share memories, express their emotions, and "begin to come to terms with such a tragic loss."
Born in London on November 27, 1962, Hayes helped build a highly profitable commercial enterprise. He formed the group in 1986 alongside Datchler and Nocito, securing a recording contract with the major label Virgin Records.
The company capitalized on their momentum the following year when the single "Shattered Dreams" became a massive commercial breakthrough. This retail success propelled their debut record, Turn Back The Clock, to the number one position on the UK Albums Chart.
The strong commercial performance established the trio as significant players in the British music market during a highly competitive decade for international pop exports. However, the group's commercial trajectory shifted dramatically after Datchler departed the lineup.
He was replaced by former Cure bassist Phil Thornalley, but their subsequent release, Tall Stories, failed to register on the national charts. This decline in consumer demand ultimately led to the band's initial dissolution.
Johnny Hates Jazz briefly reunited in 2009 to capitalize on nostalgia markets, though Hayes exited the lineup the following year. Despite his departure, his former colleagues emphasized his enduring pride in the group's historical catalog and its ongoing cultural footprint.
"The three of us were brothers in arms for an extraordinary moment in time, one in which we managed to touch the world with the music we created together," Datchler and Nocito stated in their tribute. They added that Hayes remained incredibly proud that their recordings, particularly from their debut album, "continue to resonate with so many people" four decades later.
The musicians concluded their statement by focusing on the positive impact of their early collaboration. "It is in the brightness of that moment, and with the memory of the great comaraderie we once shared, that we will remember Calvin," they wrote.
