The Hooters

The Hooters are an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s. Their popularity resulted in the band opening the Philadelphia portion of the Live Aid benefit concert in 1985. During the late 1980s and 1990s, The Hooters found significant commercial success internationally, especially in Europe, where they played at The Wall Concert in Berlin in 1990, before they went on hiatus in 1995.

Since reuniting in 2001, The Hooters have staged successful tours in Europe and 2007 saw the release of their first album of new material since 1993, Time Stand Still.Early years (1980-1984)The Hooters were formed in 1980 and played their first show on July 4 of that year. They took their name from a nickname for the melodica, a type of keyboard harmonica which is German in origin and made by Hohner. Two of the members, Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, originally played in a band in the late 1970s called Baby Grand and released two albums on Arista Records.

The Hooters are playing at the blacksheep Festival on Saturday, 24th June 2023

During the 1980s, The Hooters played on the Philadelphia club scene, boosted by airplay on WMMR, the major rock radio station in Philadelphia at the time. They soon became a huge success along their native East Coast, playing everything from clubs to high schools, while appearing on local television shows. In 1982, Bazilian and Hyman were asked to write, arrange and play on the debut album of a relatively unknown singer named Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual, who was being produced by their former bandmate from Baby Grand, Rick Chertoff.

Hyman co-wrote the song “Time After Time,” which would go on to hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and was subsequently nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. In 1983, The Hooters released their first independent album, Amore, which sold over 100,000 copies and introduced the original versions of songs like “All You Zombies,” “Hanging On A Heartbeat,” “Fightin’ On The Same Side” and “Blood From A Stone,” all of which would reappear in different versions on later albums.

Although a studio album, Amore captured the same spirit that made The Hooters admired for their live performances.The Hooters presence, as performers and as songwriters, was recognized when, on July 26, 1984 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, Columbia Records signed them to their first major recording contract.

Mainstream success (1985-1989)The Hooters’ 1985 Columbia Records debut album, Nervous Night, achieved platinum status around the world, selling in excess of 2 million copies and included Billboard Top 40 hits “Day By Day” (No.

18), “And We Danced” (No. 21) and “Where Do The Children Go” (No. 38). Rolling Stone named The Hooters the Best New Band of the Year.Nervous Night, an award winning video, released in 1985Nervous Night, an award winning video, released in 1985On July 13, 1985, they were the opening band at the Philadelphia Live Aid benefit concert, gaining international recognition for the first time.

Their first major overseas tour came later that year when they played throughout Australia.On June 15, 1986, The Hooters participated in A Conspiracy of Hope, a benefit concert on behalf of Amnesty International, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.