Cy Curnin

As the leader of the British new wave band the Fixx, Cy Curnin (vocals, keyboards) often found him and his group compared to fashion-conscious '80s acts such as A Flock of Seagulls and Duran Duran. Ironically, even though Curnin scoffed at those bands' predilection for high-style clothing, he became involved in the fashion business himself, founding a company called Cy Wear that specialized in hats. However, it was not as successful as his musical career. In the '80s, the Fixx saturated new wave radio stations with anthemic, hummable songs about nuclear war and alienation; tracks like "Stand or Fall" and "Red Skies" communicated Cold War fears of global annihilation with radio-ready hooks. Although the Fixx's videos were constantly played on MTV, Curnin wasn't as well-known as '80s peers such as Bono of U2 and Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. Curnin and the other members of the Fixx distinguished themselves by their anonymity, trashing image for substance. Curnin recorded six albums with the Fixx and then decided a respite was needed in the early '90s. In the mid-'90s, Curnin found himself on a VH1 program promoting his line of hats. In 1998, the Fixx regrouped and released Elemental, Curnin's critically-acclaimed return to the music scene.