The Psychedelic Furs
Biography
The Psychedelic Furs, whose name belies their punk-influenced music, were formed in England in 1977 by brothers Richard Butler (vocals) and Tim Butler (bass), along with saxophone player Duncan Kilburn and guitarist Roger Morris. By the time they released their self-titled debut album in 1980, the group had become a sextet, adding guitarist John Ashton and drummer Vince Ely. That album, featuring Butler's hoarse voice (the tone of which suggested John Lydon without the sneer) was a bigger hit in England, where it reached the Top 20, than in the U.S.
Talk Talk Talk (1981) did better, reaching the U.S. Top 100 and producing two British singles chart entries, one of which was "Pretty in Pink," later also a hit in the U.S. when a new version was used as the title song of a film. Forever Now (1982) saw the band reduced to a quartet with the departure of Kilburn and Morris. The rest moved to the U.S., turned to producer Todd Rundgren, and scored a U.S. Top 50 hit with "Love My Way." Ely then left, and the remaining trio of the two Butlers and Ashton made Mirror Moves (1984), the biggest Psychedelic Furs hit yet.
The film Pretty in Pink helped spread their name further before the release of their next album, Midnight to Midnight (1987), which consequently got to number 12 in the U. K. and the Top 30 in the U.S. and included the Top 30 U.S. hit "Heartbreak Beat." Book of Days (1989) marked the return of Vince Ely, but was a considerable commercial disappointment. World Outside (1991) also failed to find an audience. The Psychedelic Furs then folded up shop, and Richard Butler launched a new group, Love Spit Love. The band lasted two albums -- 1994's Love Spit Love and 1997's Trysome Eatone -- and didn't enjoy the monumental success of Butler's original band. Butler kept on. He began writing songs for a supposed solo effort as the '90s came to a close. Those sessions led to new songs with brother Tim and a subsequent Furs reunion in early 2000.
With both Butlers and John Ashton living in upstate New York, the time was right. They tested the waters and their audience for a joint summer tour with the Go-Go's, and the reception was warm. A year later, the Psychedelic Furs -- now featuring Love Spit Love guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Earl Harvin -- headlined their own club gigs across North America and a classic Richard Butler was keen to be back in the right place. Beautiful Chaos, a live album capturing some of the band's greatest hits from the last tour, was issued in November 2001. Their first live album ever, Beautiful Chaos was a gift for the loyalists. It also introduced their first new song in almost ten years, a somber ballad entitled "Alive." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
The furs just played in Seattle 2009. They took a 15 year break, while Richard worked with Love Spit Love, and now are back together. Richard has a solo album "Richard Butler" quite diff. from The P. Furs ...But that voice - YUM! He covered the (Smith's tune)for the intro for the TV show "Charmed". He is also a talented painter, with shows in NYC.
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I envy my father. Music was so much better in his time. The Furs are amazing, in my humble opinion. I have to deal with the Miley Cyrus obsessed little preteens in my class, and he got THEM. Life is unfair. Oh well. At least I have him around to introduce me to decent music like this. If not, I'd be listening to top forties stations right now. -shudders-
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This band was the perfect complements to any mix tape in the 80's. If you were into The Cure, New Order, The Smiths, R.E.M. you always found room for The Psychedelic Furs in your 90 minute tapes, then get in your car with friends and pretty much just disappear for at least those 90 minutes.
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Saw them with the Fixx and the Alarm. Great show, very nice guys. Butler still looks good.
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I just started a Psychedelic Furs cover band called Genitalia Concert Incident. Visit us on our FaceBook page for updates.
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Hey Bromide, If you had payed $30 for a ticket I would understand why your b**ching. I saw New Order in 1989 and they didn't play Blue Monday. Stop yer b**ching you whiny lil' b**ch.
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I'm starting to like them, not sure why this is on Deadsy radio to be exact but who cares, I gotta go take a s**t
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fubar52 says they nwre great in 81 1n slc and they still make me wanna get up and kick out the jamz
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see you should just leave the past alone not go find it all washed up and cranky and yell at it (this is assuming the "genitalia concert incident" was recent.)
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Hey, Steve. Thanks for that lame concert. I payed $15 for that concert and they only played an hour. Plus, they wouldn't even play "Pretty in Pink". When I kept yelling out for them to play the song, he made a derogatory about Molly Ringwald's genitalia.
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Everything about them is great. The Furs were smart 80s that could strongly continue on, if Richard so decided. Solo is fine, too, thank you.
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I booked them at my undergraduat e college and they were great but only played for an hour. I went on their tour bus to lay into their manager and there is a girl I had gone out with a couple years before on Richard's lap. Needless to say I was distracted.
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lol - this is like the only artist page without a fight on it.
just can't fight while the furs are on. |
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Great song from a great band....love the Furs!! More must own CDs....made not just one great song..but great whole albums!!! IF you do not own F Now or Mid to Mid or All of this...BUY em....
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FROM FURS TO LOVE SPIT LOVE, RICHARD BUTLER IS GOLDEN IN VERSE AND MELODY
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i saw them once drunk out of my mind-every show i went to in those days plastered-i could barely talk-new order,clash, r o m e o void,flipper , x , dead kennedys and on and on..........
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I've been listening to the Furs since the 80's and to date (2008) I still don't understand what "Ghost In You" means....... .
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These guys are so ingrained in my own childhood. It's hard to believe their first album is nearing 30 years old!
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