Nik Kershaw celebrates 40 years of '80s glory

Virgin Radio

6 Sep 2024, 13:17

Credit: Virgin Radio UK

Iconic '80s pop star Nik Kershaw is back on tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his chart-topping year.

Pop legend Nik Kershaw, who ruled the charts in 1984, is back with a bang, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough year.

With a new tour and a fanbase spanning generations, the singer behind Wouldn’t It Be Good reflects on the highs and lows of fame, fatherhood, and—of course—that unforgettable mullet.

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His two hit albums from that era, Human Racing and The Riddle, are going out on the road once again, performing both in their entirety.

And no, it’s not just for the nostalgia crowd. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, his fanbase is more diverse than ever—even his own kids have been spotted at his shows. Though, as he tells it, they’re more into Slipknot than Dancing Girls.

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy on Virgin Radio, Nik shared his excitement for the tour.

He said: "1984 was my big year. So we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of that year, and we had two albums released in nine months. So we're playing both of those albums in their entirety."

Of course, when you’re dealing with hits like Wouldn’t It Be Good and The Riddle, you don’t want to play things too predictably.

"We're not going to do it in sequence," he says, explaining the logic behind the setlist. "The problem with that, if we do it in sequence, the second song of the whole show would be Wouldn't It Be Good. So, that wouldn't have worked."

Kershaw was a household name back in the '80s, with his catchy pop tunes, distinctive vocals, and instantly recognisable synths. But fame, as he reveals, came at a dizzying speed.

He explained: "I was already earning a living playing music, so in that respect, [fame] didn't change much. But being a celebrity changes everything. It just kind of happened so quickly.

"Literally, from the beginning of January 1984, I couldn't get arrested, and at the end of January 1984, I couldn't leave the building without getting jumped on."

Despite his rapid rise to stardom, Kershaw made a conscious decision to step back from the limelight at the end of the decade.

He didn’t disappear from music entirely, though—he spent his time writing songs and producing for other artists.

"I was happy doing that for a while," he admits, "but being the control freak I am, I was losing control of some of my songs, and I thought, well, I'm just gonna get back on the horse again."

And get back on the horse he did. His return to the stage has been met with enthusiastic crowds, and Kershaw couldn’t be happier.

Kershaw gushed: "It's really gratifying. You put the tickets on sale, and you kind of stand back and see what happens. We did some shows last year, just some sort of general club shows, and they sold really well. So, we upped the venue sizes this time, and it's been really good."

One of the most heartwarming aspects of his comeback tour? Seeing the range of ages in the crowd.

"Obviously, the hardcore are there from back in the day," Kershaw says, "and then they drag their kids along. And, [some are] not kids anymore. But also, there's another bunch that have just kind of stumbled upon me on YouTube or whatever, and it's great to see them there."

But it’s not just fans who are getting to know Kershaw’s music. His own children have only recently discovered the full extent of their dad’s pop stardom.

"They didn't know why we lived in a big house until they got old enough to sort of see the videos," he says with a chuckle.

As for his youngest? Well, he’s not exactly jamming out to Wide Boy.

"He's into Slipknot and System of a Down," Kershaw reveals. "He's introducing me to his music rather than the other way around."

Of course, no trip down '80s memory lane would be complete without mentioning the era’s iconic fashion—and yes, we’re talking about that mullet. Kershaw, however, is quick to distance himself from the blame.

"I don't think I can claim credit for that," he jokes. "There were some pretty spectacular clippers back then. My son is sporting what he claims to be a mullet, but I'm thinking, that's not a mullet. This is a man."

Whether or not his son’s attempt at reviving the style is successful remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Kershaw’s legacy as a quintessential '80s pop icon is here to stay.

With his tour selling out and fans both old and new singing along, it’s clear that Kershaw’s infectious energy and timeless hits continue to strike a chord.