When Shattered Dreams made Johnny Hates Jazz one of the most recognisable names of the 1980s, few could have predicted that frontman Clark Datchler would later channel his creativity into environmental activism.
Now, nearly four decades on, Datchler and bandmate Mike Nocito are touring again, bringing their catalogue of timeless hits, including Turn Back The Clock and I Don’t Want To Be A Hero, to Bedford Esquires this Thursday (23 October).
For Clark, the journey from pop stardom to environmental campaigning has always been guided by the same impulse: a deep sense of connection to the world around him.
“When I left Johnny Hates Jazz, I had already developed a concern for the planet,” he told the Bedford Clanger. “But it wasn’t really about environmentalism as a cold term; it came from a love of nature, a love of the wild places of the planet.
“I still go for long walks in nature. I find that very inspiring, just as the composers and poets of old used to do.”
As he travelled the world as a musician, Datchler says he became acutely aware of the damage being done to the natural environment. “I wanted to play my part in somehow reversing that,” he said.
“So yes, I did become environmentally active, but mainly through my songwriting.”
Green Tech Awards
His first solo album after leaving the band, Rain Dance, featured the title track as an environmental statement. This was followed by further work at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios near Bath, a creative hub known for its progressive and globally minded approach to music.
Later, his album Tomorrow, recorded in the United States, explored the world humanity is creating for future generations.
Alongside his solo work, Datchler was also involved in the early years of the Green Tech Awards in Berlin, now one of the world’s largest environmental award ceremonies.
“It started off with very humble beginnings,” he said, “and I was the sole performer there at the awards, very close to the people who started it.”
In 2008, his album Tomorrow earned him the first Green Music Award at the Green Tech Awards for his dedication to environmental protection. He is now a Green Award laureate alongside other musicians including Bob Geldof, Morton Harket and Rea Garvey.
When asked how today’s artists could use their platforms to raise awareness, Datchler’s response was characteristically thoughtful.
“I don’t think it’s their job to educate people,” he said. “Most people are fully aware of what’s going on. The problem is, if you try to over-educate, people switch off.
It ceases to have impact and becomes another box to tick in a political manifesto. People aren’t stupid; they know what’s happening.”
He believes that modern pop has lost some of the social awareness that once defined it. “You used to find it very strongly in the 60s, 70s and 80s. That was just part and parcel of what you did.
“I really don’t hear that very much anymore. Maybe there’s focus on specific groups of people, but not on global matters, not about how we care for the only planet we have.”
Musicians should inspire
Instead of lecturing, he says, musicians should inspire. “There are intelligent, artistic ways of writing about these subjects. You don’t need to bang people over the head with it.
“Music used to be its own universe; now it competes with other forms of entertainment. But I think it can still move people in powerful ways.”
After they split in 1988, Datchler and Nocito reunited in 2010 and have since released two acclaimed albums, Magnetized and Wide Awake, as well as new material inspired by their classic sound and modern influences.
Now joined by guitarist Nick Keeble, Johnny Hates Jazz are once again performing to audiences across the UK and beyond, reconnecting with fans who have grown up with their music and its messages.
“We’ve been writing and recording this year, and you’re going to hear the fruits of that next year,” said Clark. “I think what we’re creating now bridges what we did in the late 80s and what we’re doing today.”
Johnny Hates Jazz play Bedford Esquires (60A Bromham Road) on Thursday, 23 October (7.30pm–11pm). Tickets cost £27.50 and are available from See Tickets.
