In 2024, the New Wave struck back. Several legendary acts—from Haircut 100 to Propaganda—returned with new music for the first time in decades. To my surprise, the best of the bunch came from the guys with the doofy haircuts.
A Flock of Seagulls released Some Dreams, their first album of original material since 1995’s The Light at the End of the World. The album captures their signature guitar-and-synth sound—bold, dynamic, unmistakably Seagulls.
In truth, the Seagulls never really flew away. Mike Score—vocalist, creative force, and man behind the most iconic haircut of the ’80s—has kept the band going through numerous lineup changes, regularly touring the ’80s nostalgia circuit. In 2018, the classic lineup reconvened to record orchestral versions of their biggest hits—timeless tracks like “I Ran (So Far Away)” and “Modern Love is Automatic.”
The current iteration of A Flock of Seagulls is set to embark on a U.S. tour, headlining the Lost ’80s Live! tour and playing a handful of solo shows. I reached out to Mike Score to find out what it’s like to have new songs in the setlist for the first time in 30 years. He’s not exactly verbose—a quintessential “let the music do the talking” kind of guy. Here’s what he told me.
Some Dreams is A Flock of Seagulls’ first album of original material in 30 years. Why now? What inspired you to return to recording as the Seagulls after such a long time?
Has it really been that long? It was partly just having a collection of songs that I wanted to record and the opportunity to release them as Seagulls songs. I only think of myself as A Flock of Seagulls.
Did the songs on Some Dreams begin as brand-new ideas, or were they tracks you’d been sitting on for a while?
The songs are a mixture of new ideas and stored songs. “Some Dreams” was a new song. “Him” is a couple of years old.
You reunited the classic Seagulls lineup to record orchestral versions of your hits for the Ascension album. Did that experience influence the new songs in any way? Did you share any of the new material with them?
The orchestral albums were something on their own—really the record company’s idea. I never showed the original guys any new songs.
“Some Dreams” sounds like quintessential A Flock of Seagulls. What’s your process for staying true to the classic sound while still keeping things fresh?
Getting the Seagulls sound is easy sometimes. I start with a synth line, add some catchy guitar, and away you go. The sound is always fresh. It never seems to get old.
This is the first time in 30 years that you’ll be touring with a full album of new Seagulls songs to play live. How does it feel to have fresh songs in the mix after years of performing the classics? Does it change how you connect with the audience?
We won’t be playing all the new songs—we play a mix of old hits and new stuff.
Our connection with the audience is always good. Mostly it’s the nostalgia for them, I think, but we do get a good amount of younger fans as well.
A lot of your New Wave peers have released new music recently. Do you have any thoughts on why bands from that era are resurging now?
I’m sure that over the years they’ve built up a collection of new songs and need to release them.
You’ve helped shape the sound of New Wave and synthpop in lasting ways. Are there any modern artists who feel like kindred spirits or seem to be carrying your legacy forward?
Not really—I don’t listen to many new bands. But there are bands that are trying to recreate that ’80s thing. Some songs are rehashed ’80s style by new bands. I’m sure they enjoy the connection.
A Flock of Seagulls 2025 Tour Dates
04/15 – Washington, DC @ The Atlantis
04/16 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall
04/17 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
05/17 – Tulare, CA @ Adventist Health Amphitheater
07/31 – New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl
08/01 – Boston, MA @Boch Center Wang Theatre
08/02 – New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
08/06 – Northfield, OH @ MGM Northfield Park Center Stage
08/10 – Macon, GA @ Atrium Health Amphitheater
08/12 – St Petersburg, FL @ Mahaffey Theater
08/17 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
08/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
08/21 – San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
08/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
08/28 – Ontario, CA @ Toyota Arena
08/29 – Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
08/30 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
08/31 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino & Resort
09/05 – Tulare, CA @ Adventist Health Amphitheater
