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INDUSTRY REPORT # 40
Catching Up With
August 26th, 2025 by Traci Turner
The legendary Howard Jones will kick off the North American portion of his global tour next week, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his brilliant album, “Dream Into Action.”
The new wave icon had already captured our attention with his 1984 album, “Human’s Lib” – home to “New Song” and “What Is Love” – but “Dream Into Action” solidified Jones’ place in music history thanks to “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life in One Day,” “No One Is to Blame,” and “Like to Get to Know You Well.”
“Dream Into Action” was a top ten record at its 1985 drop, and got new life in this generation when “Things Can Only Get Better” was featured on an episode of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”
In the years since its release, Jones has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, with the last three forming a trilogy: “Engage,” “Transform,” and “Dialogue” in 2015, 2019, and 2022, respectively.
Jones will launch this round of show dates next week in Nashville, then hit all corners of the US before his California stops. After that, Jones will keep himself busy for the rest of the year in Europe.
Coming along for the US ride will be alt pop favorites Haircut 100, with frontman Nick Heyward ready to give us “Love Plus One,” and SiriusXM First Wave (and former KROQ) DJ Richard Blade, who will open the shows with his “world-renowned DJ set.”
OCMN was extremely lucky to chat with Jones at his UK home before he packed up to head to our shores. After we exchanged pleasantries and I apologized for making him work, we got to talking:
Traci: I saw you play two years ago when you toured with Culture Club and Berlin, so I had to look back on that review.
Howard: (chuckling) What did you say about it?
Traci: “Jones’ voice sounded as if no time has passed. His electronic sound is there, but even more updated, so it is fresh, but still what you know. He displayed some sweet dance moves.”
Howard: (chuckling) Oh, great.
Traci: You made a comment that night that stuck with me: Sometimes things go horribly wrong and you always wanted to write songs that got people over the hump; that if we threw it all away, things can only get better. “We can do this. We can solve the problems. We can turn things around.” Honestly, music got me through COVID. You’re one of the good things in the world that makes people happy, so thank you from that standpoint. And thank you for coming back to America!
Howard: Well, thank you. I’m very excited. I’ve always loved touring America. I love Americans.
Traci: Does it feel painful that it is the 40th anniversary of “Dream Into Action?”
Howard: No, it doesn’t feel painful. It’s just a point in time that you can celebrate, I suppose, a marked time with. I think it’s nice. I can’t hold four decades in my head. I don’t know how anybody can hold even a whole lifetime in their head. I can’t do that. Or say a century or a millennia. I can’t conceive of those big things anyway.
Howard went on: So it’s a bit abstract. It’s like 40 years is just a bunch of words, really. When I think back, it seems like a short amount of time for all the things have happened. I mean, the amount of touring, the amount of albums, people I’ve met, the fans I’ve met, the cool things I’ve been able to do through music. It seems maybe that 40 years, it seems like longer.
Traci: What was one of those “cool things” that you got to do?
Howard: Well, I got to do Live Aid. I got to tour with Ringo. I got to play with Stevie Wonder. I got to hang out with Paul McCartney. I even accompanied Rod Stewart once at an industry deal in London. I’ve had a chance to do some amazing things and work with some incredible people, Chris Hughes and BT more recently from a younger generation.
Howard explained: So, many things, really. But probably the touring is the most amazing for me because you’re out there, you’re in a different city every night, you’re having to react to what’s going on in front of you and be great. There’s no room not to be great. You’ve got to be great that night because everyone’s paid all this money to see you and travel so far to get there. It’s got to be good. Touring is my favorite thing because it’s challenging.
Traci: You already had “Human’s Lib” with “New Song” and “What Is Love.” You were seeing success, and then “Dream Into Action” came and exploded things. Did it feel like an explosion or did it feel like a slow climb to that?
Howard: Well, in the UK, “Human’s Lib” had been the exploding thing; suddenly being catapulted to be known at all and known in the whole of the UK. But it was “Dream Into Action” that really established me in America. It was the big album for me in America. That was an explosion. But when you ask about whether it was a long time coming, it wasn’t in a way, because I’d always wanted to be successful in America because I’d lived in North America when I was a kid.
He continued: I’d lived in Canada for a total of three years growing up, so I’d listened to a lot of American music which was played in Canada, as well as some British music as well. So I grew up really with an American pop education. Also, I think the thing is about people in the UK is that to really say you’ve made it, you have to play Madison Square Garden. You just have to. And I did. I got to do that. So that’s how you measured how you’re doing in America. And America has continued to be my biggest place for my music.
Traci: You’re going to open this tour at the Ryman. The Mother Church. Have you played there before?
Howard: I did a few dates with Darryl Hall and I loved playing that, so I really wanted to play my own shows there.
Traci: In addition to you, there is Haircut 100 and Richard Blade. You guys all toured together already, so obviously you get along.
Howard: Yes, we do. It’s easy. That’s very important to me that there is good harmony in the touring party because it makes everything so much more fun. I really, really like the the Haircuts; they’re great. I love listening to them. The music is so good and great, full of energy and great musicianship, and it’s just a treat to hear them every night. And then, of course, Richard. What he’s doing is, I think, unique. He’s playing tracks, but he’s also giving you a bit of history about how the ‘80s came about, and it’s fascinating. He really engages the audience in it as well. I don’t think anybody else has done that.
Traci: In addition to the 40th anniversary, you’re releasing something called “The Farmyard Sessions,” right? Tell me about that.
Howard: Well, it’s called “The Farmyard Sessions” because the studio where we recorded it was called Farmyard Studios because it was converted from a farm, farm buildings into a studio. Rather than just re-release the album in its original form, I thought it’d be nice to release some tracks that give you more of an idea how the tracks developed and some different alternative mixes. For instance, there’s a version of “No One Is to Blame” that was recorded outside in the courtyard of the farm buildings. You can hear animals and planes and going over. It’s coming out on vinyl, which is always such a big hit with the fans.
Traci: You had the the trilogy of albums over the past few years, but I heard a rumor that there’s a fourth one?
Howard: Yes, I will do it. It’s called “Global Citizen.” It’ll be started next year, I guess. I don’t know what form it’s going to take yet. But I promised that I would do this, and I have to fulfill that. So it will happen. It’ll be next year. It’s been a bit of a gap.
Traci: Well, I mean, you’re only doing a whole global tour!
Howard: Yeah, that’s right. I’ve been working on a track with BT recently. He’s got a new album, and I’m actually composing a track that is for him, and that’s been a lot of fun doing that. I’m enjoying that.
Traci: I saw on your Insta that you are working out, getting in shape for the tour.
Howard: Yes, trying to! It’s important for me to because you need the energy to do an hour and a half jumping about the stage. I don’t want to compromise on that. And part of it is about, to me, we can look after ourselves into our later years and keep healthy and be youthful in our approach to things. I mean, obviously, we’re going to look a bit more world worn, but we can still have energy on stage. I really want to do that. And I think when I lose that, then I’ll know that’s time to retire. But I’m not at that stage yet.
Traci: Not at all! When I sat down to research for this I was surprised to see you turned 70 this year! You do not look it!
Howard: Really? It’s shocking, isn’t it?
Traci: Like I said, you still got sweet dance moves!
Howard: Well, I don’t know about sweet! I don’t have any plan with that, I just move around as it takes me.
Traci: My husband has played keyboards for decades as well, so I have an “old school keyboardist” question: Do you miss actual buttons?
Howard: I know exactly what he means. I have still got a lot of my old keyboards, and I’ve been recently making sure they’re all working properly. I like to take the Jupiter 8, for instance. It is wonderful to have all the knobs and the switches in front of you. I really know how to just work that. It’s quicker, to get the sounds that you want. Scrolling through menus is painful. So, yes, I do.
Howard went on: Now I tend to use a lot more of the old keyboards because they just sound better than the software. I do use software as well, and we use it live because you can’t take those keyboards on the road. I get them up in the studio and record them live and don’t even use MIDI and just chop them up. But it is quicker for me because that’s what I grew up with is working the knobs and the switches.
Traci: You have so much at your fingertips these days; between the keyboards and computers, it’s unlimited. How do you not go overboard? Do you hear a song and think, “That’s enough.”
Howard: That’s a good question. It’s funny because I don’t think you’re ever really 100% satisfied with anything that you do. There is a point where you’ve got to let it go, and it’s actually good enough, and I can live with it. But the pressure is from the idea that now anybody who’s got a laptop and access to software can make really good sounding stuff at home in their bedroom.
Howard explained: But if you’re supposed to be somebody who’s done it all their lives and pioneered some of some of it, the pressure is on to come up with something new and special that people may not have heard. And I take that on. I still I want to have that pioneering spirit where you create. And it’s down to time. It’s spending the time crafting great sounds and great core changes and great unexpected things, great sound design, so that people can be thrilled with it. They go, “Oh, wow, that was great.” That’s the idea. Not to be making something that a lot of people could do, but you’ve got to be pushing for something special all the time. I think that’s good – that’s a good pressure.
Traci: I’ve been listening to the trilogy the past few days, and you’re doing a fantastic job. We are looking forward to your influence in person. If you have any hassles in the US, please let me know. I’ll come bail you out.
Howard: (chuckling) Great. Thank you. We’ve got our visas and everything. I know all the things that are going on – I keep up with everything – but I love Americans. They speak to you in the elevator. They’re warm people. The people that I meet are so great. I totally always look forward to it, and I am doing that this time, even more.
Traci: I am being one of those overly talkative Americans now. (laughing) I just like to be positive as much as I can.
Howard: That’s the thing. That’s what we have to do, is stay positive, isn’t it? I like to say there’s always ways you can. Just being extra kind to people is a statement, and it’s an action. It’s an activity that you’re contributing to the world you live in, like respectful, kind. That goes a long way. And I think we just double down on that, and that’s our battleground.
What an outlook and what a kind human. The one and only Howard Jones will be here soon! Until then, pick up the freshly released “Dream Into Action – The Farmyard Sessions.” The 20-track, double orange vinyl LP will get you in the mood to see Mr. Jones when the 40th anniversary tour hits your city.
OCMN will be there for opening night in Nashville and report back. SoCal fans can catch the tour on September 18th at House of Blues in Anaheim or September 20th in Del Mar at The Sound.
TO FOLLOW
SID 250827 | JIMMY ALVAREZ | EDITOR
