Tears For Fears
Biography
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981. The principal members are Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The duo were part of the new wave and synth-pop movements that emerged in the early 1980s and were part of the Second British Invasion of the US.
Formation and The Hurting
Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith met as teenagers in Bath. After the dissolution of their first band, Graduate, they formed Tears for Fears. Their debut album, The Hurting, was released in 1983 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album's lyrical themes, inspired by Orzabal's difficult childhood and interest in primal therapy, resonated with audiences. It featured three UK top-five singles: "Mad World", "Change", and "Pale Shelter".
Songs from the Big Chair and Global Stardom
The band's second album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), brought them worldwide fame, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200. This album featured a more expansive and commercially accessible sound. It included the international hit singles "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Shout," both of which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" also won the Brit Award for Best British Single in 1986.
The Seeds of Love and Smith's Departure
Their third album, The Seeds of Love, was released in 1989 after a lengthy and expensive production process that cost over £1 million. The album entered the UK chart at number one and featured the transatlantic top 5 hit "Sowing the Seeds of Love". Other singles from the album included "Woman in Chains" and "Advice for the Young at Heart". Following a world tour, increasing tensions between Orzabal and Smith led to Smith's departure from the band in 1991.
Solo Era and Reunion
Orzabal continued using the Tears for Fears name as a solo project, releasing the albums Elemental (1993) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995). Elemental included the international hit "Break It Down Again". In 2000, Orzabal and Smith reconciled and began working together again. This reunion resulted in the album Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, released in 2004. The album received mixed reviews but was followed by successful tours.
The Tipping Point
After a nearly 18-year gap, Tears for Fears released their seventh studio album, The Tipping Point, in February 2022. The album's creation was a lengthy process, marked by disagreements with former management and the personal tragedy of Orzabal's wife's death, which influenced many of the songs. The Tipping Point was met with critical acclaim and became the band's highest-charting album in the UK in 30 years, also reaching the top 10 in the United States.