It’s funny how whenever we need to get somewhere, we have to know the road to take. This applies to directions, life or music. Sometimes, all three intersect.
As for me, I was a kid of the ‘80s. I was a creature of late night and FM radio. I loved everything about that time: No rent, free food and great music!
My life was kind of like a John Hughes movie… and in my mind, I was the typical Anthony Michael Hall character. The music I loved guided my moods.
If I was agro, it was AC/DC; if I was mellow, OMD; if I was annoyed, it was The Smiths.
When I wanted to be the cool kid on the block, it was The Specials or Boingo. And when everything was great… it was The Psychedelic Furs!
Earlier this year I was ecstatic to hear they would be releasing new music. That was before the world went sideways.
The Furs Future is Here
“I don’t even know,” Butler replies when asked why it took so long to release a new Psychedelic Furs album. “I mean, I think I spent 25 years saying, ‘Why?’ and then four years saying, ‘Why not?’ And then we just did it. We were a very creative force, and when we started writing songs, it just happened quite naturally.”
Richard Butler
It seems like the Furs have always been part of our lives. It’s hard to imagine them as teens playing music in their living room before they got kicked out of their for makign all that loud racket.
Before they were known as The Furs, these Brits were called “RKO” then just “Radio.” They also went by the name “the Europeans” before they settled on The Psychedelic Furs.
They went with that name so they could separate themselves from the masses.
It was 1986 and I remember “Pretty In Pink” just blew up, courtesy of John Hughes of course. I recall other favorites that popped up during major parts of my life. Songs like “Heaven,” “The Ghost in You,” “All That Money Wants,” and “Heartbreak Beat.”
I also remember movies like “Valley Girl” with that killer soundtrack that included the Furs’ “Love My Way.”
Even now, their music is still featured on radio, tv and film. Their monster hit “Pretty In Pink” was also in the feature film “Some Kind of Wonderful.”
Their other uber-hit, “Love My Way,” was in a few of my favorite movies, including “The Wedding Singer,” while “The Ghost in You” was in the Netflix juggernaut, “Stranger Things.”
Bottom line, their music has always been part of our lives.
When I heard they had a new album coming out, I couldn’t wait to see what the Butler brothers had in store for us.
The duo have been touring and playing their music for decades (they disbanded for a bit and reformed in 2001). Richard and Tim Butler have been talking about making a new album for just as long, but it didn’t become reality until this past year.
On Friday, July 31st, the wait will be over. The Furs will release “Made of Rain,” their first new album in nearly three decades.
The single “Don’t Believe” has all The Furs signature elements. It features heavy drumming, insanely good guitar, crazy chorus and the signature vocal style that Richard Butler delivers on.
Other singles to look forward to include “Come All Ye Faithful,” and “You’ll be Mine.”
The current incarnation of the band features Richard Butler on vocals, Tim Butler on bass, Rich Good on guitar, Mars Williams on sax, Amanda Kramer on keys, and Paul Garisto on the skins. You will definitely want to catch their new stuff because The Psychedelic Furs are just as energetic and electric as ever.
No word just yet as to when they’ll promote the album, Cornoavirus has something to do with that. Although, they are scheduled to play Royal Albert Hall on May 14 where they plan to perform the album in its entirety, along with a second set of their greatest hits.
As for their fans, they are just so happy to hear new music from the Furs and they can;t wait to see them, live again.
About that…. as we come to grip with the Zombie apocalypse, tour dates will be announced we’re guessing sometime in 2021. In the meantime, check out all there is to know about the Furs!
The Psychedelic Furs | Made of Rain track listing
1. The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll 2. Don’t Believe 3. You’ll Be Mine 4. This’ll Never Be Like Love 5. Ash Wednesday 6. Come All Ye Faithful 7. No-One 8. Tiny Hands 9. Hide The Medicine 10. Turn Your Back on Me 11. Stars
