The Psychedelic Furs: Hard Rock Icons
Contents
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. The band were one of the most successful acts of the 1980s, with their hits “Love My Way”, “The Ghost in You”, and “Heartbreak Beat”.
Introduction
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. The Fur’s eclectic mix of punk, pop, and new wave sensibilities helped usher in a more diverse musical landscape in the 1980s. The band’s most popular song, “Pretty in Pink,” was used as the title track for the John Hughes film of the same name. The Psychedelic Furs continue to tour and perform to this day, with a sound and style that is as fresh and relevant as ever.
The Psychedelic Furs’ Beginnings
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band formed in London in 1977. The group was founded by brothers Richard and Tim Butler, Duncan Kilburn (saxophone) and Paul Wilson (drums), with Paul Eddington (guitar) and Roger Morris (guitar) joining soon afterwards. The band’s first album, The Psychedelic Furs, was released in 1980. It was followed by a string of successful singles, including “Love My Way” and “Pretty in Pink”.
The formation of the band
The Psychedelic Furs began in England in February 1977 as an offshoot of the London punk scene. The four members – brothers Richard and Tim Butler on vocals and bass and guitar, respectively, Duncan Kilburn on saxophone, and Paul Wilson on drums – were all art school students who shared a love of Roxy Music and David Bowie.
The early days
The Psychedelic Furs began as an English rock band in the late 1970s. The band was founded by brothers Richard and Tim Butler, who were joined by John Ashton, Duncan Kilburn, and Paul Wilson. The Psychedelic Furs’ sound was heavily influenced by punk rock, but they also incorporated elements of classic rock, new wave, and post-punk into their music.
The band’s debut album, The Psychedelic Furs (1980), was a commercial and critical success, and it established the band as one of the leading acts of the post-punk/new wave movement. The album’s lead single, “Love My Way,” became a Top 40 hit in the UK and helped to propel the album to No. 18 on the UK charts. In the US, the album peaked at No. 174 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Psychedelic Furs’ follow-up album, Talk Talk Talk (1981), was another commercial and critical success. The lead single from the album, “Pretty in Pink,” was released as a soundtrack for the film of the same name. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and No. 12 on the UK singles chart. “Pretty in Pink” would go on to become one of The Psychedelic Furs’ signature songs.
The Psychedelic Furs’ Success
Formed in 1977, the Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band that was part of the post-punk and new wave movements. The band’s sound has been described as “rock and roll with synthesizers”. The Psychedelic Furs were one of the first hard rock bands to sign to a major label and their success paved the way for other hard rock bands to find mainstream success.
The release of their first album
The Psychedelic Furs began working on material for a new album in early 1979, with the aim of having it released that summer. Columbia Records, however, was not willing to rush-release an album by an unknown band, and the album ended up being shelved for over a year. When it was finally released in July 1980, it was hailed as a masterpiece by the British press. The NME’s Gavin Martin wrote: “The Psychedelic Furs are the best new band in Britain… They have the potential to become one of the great rock bands of the Eighties”.
The release of their second album
The Furs found success with the release of their second album,Talk Talk Talk, which reached number 44 on the Billboard 200 and turned Gold. The album’s first single, “Into You Like a Train”, peaked at number 3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and was ranked34th on Guitar World’s list of greatest post-punk guitar songs. “Pretty in Pink” was released as the album’s second single. Initially written as an esoteric album-oriented rock song and rejected as its single, it became one of the band’s most recognizable songs after being featured in the 1986 John Hughes film Pretty in Pink. It peaked at number 45 on both the Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts.
The Psychedelic Furs’ Later Years
The Psychedelic Furs released seven studio albums between 1980 and 1991, but their output slowed down considerably after that. The band’s last album, “World Outside,” was released in 1991 and they went on an extended hiatus not long afterwards. In the years since, the Furs have reunited for a number of tours and one-off shows. Here’s a look at what the band has been up to in recent years.
The release of their third album
The Psychedelic Furs released their third album, Without Words (1987), without any press coverage or radio airplay. The resulting single, “Heartbreak Beat”, only managed to reach number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. In spite of the commercial disappointment of the album’s release, “Heartbreak Beat” became one of the band’s most popular songs and has been a staple of their live shows since its release.
The release of their fourth album
The release of their fourth album, Mirror Moves, in 1984, saw the Furs’ biggest success with the lead single “Here Come Cowboys”. The album reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 14 in the US; “Here Come Cowboys” peaked at No. 15 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and No. 17 on its Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Conclusion
Even though the Psychedelic Furs’ career has had its ups and downs, they have managed to remain a relevant force in the rock world. Their new album, “Made of Stone,” is a return to form that fans old and new will appreciate. If you’re looking for hard-hitting rock music with an edge, then look no further than the Psychedelic Furs.
