Nick Heyward on Writing ‘Fantastic Day’: Punk, London and the 1978 Influence

Byten has stated that the original was more Talking Heads and that he preferred that.

He recalled standing in front of a chocolate-brown wall scribbled with the names of his favourite punk bands while envisioning the future. According to Byten, the band hopped on every bandwagon going, including punk, ska, and mod, during their early days.

He stated that if he had been sitting down during the writing process, it would have been a different song, but he was standing up in front of a chocolate-brown wall.

How the style of “Fantastic Day” evolved

Byten explained that the group “hopped on every bandwagon” during their early period, moving through various genres including punk, ska, and mod. The original version of the song was more closely aligned with Talking Heads, a version Byten maintains he preferred.

The influence of the London punk scene on Nick Byten

Byten’s family had moved to the Ski Club of Great Britain, where his parents ran the bar. Living in a basement room described as being like a "ship’s cabin," Byten was immersed in the punk subculture.

The influence of the London punk scene on Nick Byten

Why “Fantastic Day” was critical for the band’s signing

Byten expressed a preference for the original version of the song.

Share your thoughts on the evolution of the New Wave sound in the comments below.

'Fantastic Day' Wasn't Supposed to Be That Good | Nick Heyward Interview

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