A Flock of Seagulls swooping into Cedar Rapids amphitheater

Duran Duran is typically tagged as the group that led the second British Invasion during the early ’80s. But the quintet of pinups was actually preceded by another photogenic act from the United Kingdom that hit the charts courtesy of some infectious tunes.

A Flock of Seagulls was an early MTV darling. Clips for such catchy songs as the moody and baroque “Wishing (If I had a Photograph of You),” the dreamy “Space Age Love Song” and the atmospheric “I Ran (So Far Away),” with the perfectly melodic guitar line, set a standard for ’80s synthesizer-driven pop, and were embraced by music fans.

“ ‘I Ran’ was a great bridge between what was already happening in music and what was about to happen,” vocalist/guitarist Mike Score said while calling from Los Angeles. “It was an exciting time. It was such an inspiring period. So much was coming together for us.”

Courtesy of the songs, the MTV play, and regular rotation on radio, A Flock of Seagulls went from playing clubs to stadiums.

“It was exhausting and exhilarating,” Score said. “It was an unforgettable time.”

A Flock of Seagulls, performing Wednesday, July 20, 2023, at the McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids, opened for such iconic acts as Blondie, Elvis Costello and the Police.

“It was surreal,” Score said. “We were on bills with many of our heroes, and we really didn’t have time to catch our breath. We went from one from one show to another.”

Aside from performing at festivals, the group was playing larger and larger venues with headlining gigs.

“Nothing prepares you for that experience,” Score said. “You just live it.”

Nothing prepares a recording artist for a decline, either. Score is the only original member of A Flock of Seagulls to survive that roller coaster ride with the band.

“Once you surf those ups and downs, you learn how to handle it,” he said. “Once you hit a certain point, it’s only normal to go down from there. I’ve dealt with all that comes from being in a band like this.”

Score still is standing and playing the hits, as well as material he’s crafted over recent years. The band, which won a Grammy for its instrumental “D.N.A.” in 1982, has released a pair of albums 2018’s “Ascension” and 2021’s “String Theory” — over the past three years. The latter includes a collaboration with the Slovenian Symphonic Film Orchestra.

“We’re trying to move forward,” Score said. “That’s what we aspire to. We’re still challenging ourselves.”

A Flock of Seagulls has 25 former members. The last time the original lineup was assembled was 20 years ago for VH1’s entertaining but often awkward “Bands Reunited” program.

“What I experienced on that show was a reminder of why we broke up,” Score said. “The problems we had that took so long to reach the surface when we were together back in the day, came right back. Sometimes you can’t go back and you just have to move on, and that’s what I’ve done.”

Score also has released a number of solo albums.

“I’m driven to create,” he said. “It’s what I do.”

But Score has no problem playing the old hits, which is good since there is such a demand for songs from the ’80s.

“We all get nostalgic,” he said. “Fans like going back to the music that they grew up with or experienced during a certain time of their lives. I guess we provided the soundtrack and I’m proud of that. I never get tired of playing ‘I Ran’ or ‘Wishing.’ The songs still hold up and they remind me of the great times we had back in the day.”