Clark Datchler: Success Was Only the Beginning | Johnny Hates Jazz
1:01:43•1,956 views
“Shattered Dreams” brought Clark Datchler international success with Johnny Hates Jazz. But at the height of that success, he walked away. What was he searching for—and what eventually brought him back?
In this interview with Steve Blame, Clark explores the life behind the songs: growing up with a father whose musical career had been overtaken by a changing world, learning from jazz and soul, and finding his own voice as a songwriter.
He recalls his father recognising the potential of “Shattered Dreams” before much of the music industry did, Rusty Egan introducing him to electronic music, and the unexpected route from losing his record deal to becoming the singer in Johnny Hates Jazz.
We discuss the anti-war message of “I Don’t Want to Be a Hero”, the emotional power of upbeat music with darker lyrics, and the pressures that led Clark to leave the band at their peak.
Clark also describes finding new meaning through environmentalism, world music and his time around Real World Studios—and how returning to his earlier songs has changed his understanding of the young man who wrote them.
We finish with “Soul Believer”, Johnny Hates Jazz’s collaboration with Jaki Graham: a love letter to the soul music that shaped them, featuring a bass part developed with Hamish Stuart.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Growing up in a musical family
02:50 His father’s changing fortunes and The Beatles
04:25 Musical education and finding his own path
05:38 Why “Nowhere Man” resonated
07:25 Writing songs and learning through rejection
09:28 Success, family and making his father proud
10:48 His father hears “Shattered Dreams”
11:30 Why the song comes first
13:58 Individuality, songwriting and finding a distinctive voice
16:24 Soul music, social themes and “I Don’t Want to Be a Hero”
19:18 Happy music, darker lyrics and emotional release
20:43 First performances and unexpected attention
22:24 What fame brings to the surface
25:38 Rusty Egan, electronics and writing in Los Angeles
30:20 Hot Club, Glen Matlock and Calvin Hayes
32:14 Meeting Mike Nocito at RAK Studios
34:11 “Me and My Foolish Heart” and an unexpected opportunity
36:55 Losing a record deal and finding a new beginning
38:16 Making personal songs connect with other people
39:22 MTV, image and music videos
41:55 Leaving Johnny Hates Jazz at their peak
43:54 Environmentalism and wanting more from songwriting
45:31 Music, healing and Real World Studios
47:42 The Irish bouzouki and discovering new sounds
49:34 World music and bringing different traditions into pop
51:27 “Soul Believer”: a love letter to classic soul
52:18 Hamish Stuart and the song’s beginnings
53:15 How Jaki Graham completed the record
54:27 The songs and artists woven into “Soul Believer”
56:58 Returning to the songs of his younger self
58:14 Rethinking “Turn Back the Clock”
59:20 A different understanding of success
59:46 The veteran moved by “I Don’t Want to Be a Hero”
1:00:52 Closing reflections
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