The Psychedelic Furs

Bio

The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band that was founded in London in the late 70s. They came together in England's burgeoning punk scene of 1977 and initially consisted of Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass guitar), Duncan Kilburn (saxophone), Paul Wilson (drums), and Roger Morris (guitars). By 1979, this line-up had expanded to a sextet due to the addition of John Ashton on guitar and Vince Ely replacing Wilson on drums. The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact. The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack. In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days. The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984. By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit. Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit. However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach. From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991. The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train." Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s. Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Echo & the Bunnymen, Modern English, The Church, Love And Rockets, Peter Murphy

Genres

rock,synthpop,alternative rock,shoegaze,punk rock,post-punk,new wave,pop rock,rock and indie,alternative rock,new romantic,new wave,new wave pop,post-punk,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

city: 1977-02

Begin Date: 1977-02

Last Update:

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Videography

The Psychedelic Furs - "Don't Be a Girl" [ Poëtka Cover Song ]

The Psychedelic Furs - "Don't Be a Girl" [ Poëtka Cover Song ]

Aug/2025

Artist discography

by

Last FM

Made of Rain

May/2020

You'll Be Mine

Mar/2020

Live in Concert (Live)

Live in Concert (Live)

Mar/2020

Psychedelic Furs Live (Live)

Psychedelic Furs Live (Live)

Mar/2020

Don't Believe

Jan/2020

Heaven / Heartbeat

Heaven / Heartbeat

Jun/2018

Heartbreak Beat / Shock

Heartbreak Beat / Shock

Jun/2018

Legends Live In Concert, Vol. 37, Part 2

Legends Live In Concert, Vol. 37, Part 2

Apr/2016

Legends Live In Concert Vol. 37, Part 1

Legends Live In Concert Vol. 37, Part 1

Apr/2016

Playlist: The Very Best of The Psychedelic Furs

Playlist: The Very Best of The Psychedelic Furs

May/2011

Heaven: The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs

Heaven: The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs

Apr/2011

Heaven (The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs)

Heaven (The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs)

Jan/2011

The Best of Pyschedelic Furs

The Best of Pyschedelic Furs

Apr/2009

Original Album Classics: The Psychedelic Furs

Original Album Classics: The Psychedelic Furs

May/2008

The Best Of

Sep/2007

The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs

The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs

Jan/2007

Collections

Mar/2006

Collections: The Psychedelic Furs

Collections: The Psychedelic Furs

Mar/2006

Superhits

Sep/2003

The Psychedelic Furs Superhits

The Psychedelic Furs Superhits

Aug/2003

You'll Be Mine

Mar/2020

Don't Believe

Jan/2020

Come All Ye Faithful

Come All Ye Faithful

Jun/2020

Heaven: The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs (Disc 1)

Heaven: The Best Of The Psychedelic Furs (Disc 1)

Mar/2011

Evergreen - Single

Evergreen - Single

Aug/2021

Evergreen

Aug/2021

No-One

Apr/2020

New York: East Coast Broadcast 1982

New York: East Coast Broadcast 1982

Oct/2022

New York

Jul/2024

New York East Coast Broadcast 1982

New York East Coast Broadcast 1982

Feb/2024

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