Heyward and school friends Graham Jones and Les Nemes, the core of Haircut 100, started bands together as far back as 1977. They were first known as Rugby, then the Boat Party, Captain Pennyworth and Moving England, before settling on Haircut 100. The band signed with Arista Records in 1981 and had four UK Top 10 singles between 1981 and 1982. Their debut album, "Pelican West" (1982), written by Heyward, reached No. 2. It was Certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.