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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTEARS for FEARSUK new wave duo formed by Curt Smith (b 24 June 1961), bass and vocals, with Roland Orzabal (b 22 August 1961), guitar and vocals, refugees from mod revival band Graduate (LP Acting My Age '80 with Steve Buck on keyboards, John Baker on guitar, Andy Marsden, drums). Thay aimed for a self-consciously new wave approach with single 'Suffer The Children' on indie label Idea before signing with Phonogram. Third single 'Mad World' made no. 3, 'Change' no. 4, re-recorded second single 'Pale Shelter' no. 5, all '82-3. Though from Bath, they fitted into a Liverpool bracket of pop production (China Crisis, Pale Fountains etc); album The Hurting '83 sold almost a million, but they gained strength through recruitment of two supernumerary group members: drummer Manny Elias (ex-Interview) played on first LP; keyboardist Ian Stanley (b 28 February 1957, High Wycombe) was a local musician whose home studio was the venue for recording of Songs From The Big Chair '85, with a more muscular sound exemplified by hits 'Shout' and 'Mothers Talk', and stronger electro-dance material; but the album also included more usual TFF fare, e.g. 'I Believe', dedicated to ex-Soft Machine vocalist Robert Wyatt, with his 'Sea Song' on the flip. They set out to conquer the USA with the aptly titled Orzabal/Stanley song 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', written with producer Chris Hughes (ex-Adam Ant): no. 1 in USA/2 UK; 'Shout' also no. 1 USA; 'Head Over Heels' made five hits from the LP at no. 12 UK/3 USA. Chair was no. 1 in the USA for five weeks. It was an unusual partnership: Orzabal wrote most of the songs, though they shared lead vocals; they were not attractive in the usual pop way, both openly and happily married, yet gained wide audience from teens upwards of both sexes. They claimed their albums s were inspired by intellectual concepts, Hurting by Arthur Janov's primal scream therapy (the name of the group came from Janov's book Prisoners Of Pain), Chair by USA film Sybil about a girl with 16 personalities who retreats to psychiatrist's chair, but the teen audience bought them because they were catchy; the lyrical concern and the premium set on musicianship set them in the '70s, yet the songs and image didn't seem to date in pop terms. They took '86 off to rehab their homes; Mancrab was a splinter group of band members. With a new lineup including vocalist Oleta Adams The Seeds Of Love '89 was no. 1 UK, top ten USA. Having discovered Adams on tour in the USA they wrote and produced her debut album Circle Of Love '90, then split up. Compilation The Tears Roll Down charted in USA '92; Orzabal carried on as Tears for Fears with Elemental '93, still in the top 50 albums; Raoul And The Kings Of Spain made the top 80 '95, Saturn Martial And Lunatic '96 back on Mercury didn't. Smith released solo Soul On Board '93. They were probably regarded as oldies, but came back in 2000, and were relevant all over again. A remake of 'Mad World' was used in the cult film Donnie Darko 2001, and found a new audience for their solemn and romantic art-pop. Smith returned for Everybody Loves A Happy Ending 2004, and they were sampled by several artists. The Tipping Point 2022 was hailed as their best since Seeds Of Love. |