Canadian synth-pop group Men Without Hats achieved popularity in the 80s with 'Safety Dance' and 'Pop Goes the World'. The band. led by singer Ivan Doroschuk, have continued to make music and perform since reforming in 2010.
We caught up with Ivan at Rewind Festival
Photogroupie
Hi Ivan. What do you do when you're not making and playing music?
Ivan
Hang out. I live on the beach in Vancouver Island, so swim and just chill.
Photogroupie
I love the 'Safety Dance' song, does that still have a special place in your heart?
Ivan
It does. I'm really glad I'm fortunate and blessed that it's crossed generations and people still enjoy listening to it.
Photogroupie
I first came across the song on The Simpsons when Homer Simpson did his own Safety Dance. How did that come to be used in the show?
Ivan
That was just a publishing decision.
Photogroupie
Have you seen that episode and how did it feel to have the song used in other shows too?
Ivan
Yeah, I've seen it a few times. It's great! Sometimes I feel the song doesn't belong to me anymore. So it's great that people have made it their own.
Ivan
Do you still feel a bit nostalgic about the 'Rhythm of Youth' album?
Ivan
Well, it's a great memory for me. Like I say, I'm blessed that I can still come out and play it pretty well. It's great.
Photogroupie
I've seen quite a few people walking around today with Men Without Hats T-shirts as well, which I think is a testament to the longevity of the band. What are your memories of that period in the 80s?
Ivan
Well, the 80s was one of the first decades that concentrated on youth. The music and films and styles were all, about the youth. And so I think that's why people like to go back there and remember it.
Photogroupie
You've been touring recently, any plans to come to the UK?
Ivan
We hope to be back very soon to do a full tour.
Photogroupie
Are you working on any new music?
Ivan
We have a new single load coming out in September.
Photogroupie
Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Ivan
It's a surprise. I think people are gonna like it. It's gonna fit right up there with Safety Dance and Pop Goes the World.
Photogroupie
The Safety Dance video was shot in England. How did that come about?
Ivan
The producer, Tim Pope, who did a lot of our videos, just wanted me to come over here and do it. He thought that it would fit the song, and it does. It's good. It's like, you know, sometimes when you see 80s videos now you just kind of, you can kind of chuckle at the hairdos and the clothing and whatnot, but that video is kind of timeless. It's like watching a Western or something. You can't really put a date on it.
Photogroupie
Who from the 80s, or any other period in music is your icon?
Ivan
Well, I probably Peter Gabriel. I grew up listening to Genesis. that's what I thought I was doing - I was doing was putting synthesized music to a dance beat. I was front and center with the disco movement too. So for me, 80s music was that: It was synth music with a dance beat.
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