The Psychedelic Furs

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in London in February 1977.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Led by lead vocalist Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar, the Psychedelic Furs are one of the many acts spawned from the British post-punk scene.

The band had several hits in their early career. In 1986, filmmaker John Hughes used their song "Pretty in Pink" for his film Pretty in Pink. They went on hiatus after they finished touring in 1992, but resumed in 2000 and continue to perform live. The band released Made of Rain, their first studio album in nearly three decades, on 31 July 2020.<ref name=rollingstone>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Career

Early days (1977–1980)

Richard Butler stated that the Psychedelic Furs began rehearsing in his family's front room but were soon banished because of the noise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band was initially called RKO, then Radio. They later vacillated between calling themselves the Europeans and the Psychedelic Furs, playing gigs under both names before permanently settling on the latter.<ref name="Thompson, Dave 2004">Template:Cite book</ref> The word psychedelic was chosen to separate the band from punk rockers who ostentatiously scorned the legacy of 1960s rock music.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The band 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 with Vince Ely replacing Wilson on drums and John Ashton joining as a second guitarist.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The Psychedelic Furs' debut, a self-titled album released in March 1980, was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album quickly established the band on radio in Europe and was a No. 18 hit in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia.

Success (1981–1991)

The Furs found success in the US with their next release, 1981's Talk Talk Talk, which saw the band making its debut on the US Billboard 200 chart.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In the UK, the album yielded 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 Pretty in Pink and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling Pretty in Pink soundtrack – though Richard Butler was later adamant that the cinematic interpretation had very little to do with the song's original intent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1982, the band was reduced to a quartet with the departures of Morris and Kilburn and moved to the U.S. in search of a producer.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The band recorded their next album, Forever Now, with record producer Todd Rundgren in Woodstock, New York. Released in September 1982, this album contained "Love My Way", which became another UK chart entry, and also their first US Billboard Hot 100 single.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

Ely left the band after Forever Now (though he would later return in 1988). The next album, Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey (who also programmed the drums and became the band's drummer) 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, peaking at No. 29. Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys" for the corresponding US release which failed to chart but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In Canada, "The Ghost In You" also charted. Mirror Moves became a Top 20 album on the Canadian Albums Chart and was named the No. 1 album of 1984 by Toronto new wave radio station CFNY.Template:Citation needed

File:RButler.jpg

Richard Butler in 2006

By the mid-1980s, the band had become a staple on both US college radio and modern rock radio stations. Simultaneously, they were experiencing consistent mainstream success placing several singles in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Still, according to biographer Dave Thompson, they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace."<ref name="Thompson, Dave 2004"/>

In 1986, the band recorded a new version of "Pretty in Pink" for the film soundtrack. Released as a single, it became their biggest hit to date in the US and their biggest UK hit.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the recording studio with producer Chris Kimsey to record a follow-up release before they were ready.<ref name=butler /> The result was Midnight to Midnight, their biggest Top 40 success to date, but an album that Richard Butler later characterised as "hollow, vapid and weak".<ref name=butler>Template:Cite news</ref> A more overtly commercial effort than their prior recordings, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", the Furs' biggest Top 40 hit in the US. The album also featured drummer Paul Garisto and saxophonist Mars Williams, both of whom toured with the band.

In the wake of Midnight to Midnight, Ely returned, and the Furs issued the single "All That Money Wants", a track recorded for the 1988 best-of compilation album All of This and Nothing. 1989's Book of Days, produced by the band and David M. Allen, featured the singles "Should God Forget" and "House". Produced by the band and Stephen Street, 1991's World Outside included the single "Until She Comes" and was the Furs' final studio album for more than two decades.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">Template:Cite book</ref> From 1988 on, the Furs' singles had steady chart success with three No. 1 hits on the newly established US Modern Rock Tracks chart between 1988 and 1991. "All That Money Wants" was a No. 1 hit in 1988, while "House" topped the chart in 1990 and "Until She Comes" was No. 1 in 1991.

Hiatus and reunion (2000–present)

File:TButler.jpg

Tim Butler in 2006

The band took a long break in the early 1990s, with Richard and Tim Butler going on to found Love Spit Love with Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer (both of whom would later join Guns N' Roses). In 2000, Richard Butler, Tim Butler, and Ashton reformed the Psychedelic Furs. The touring lineup also included Fortus and, later, Ferrer. They released a live album, Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live ,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which included a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once in My Lifetime)".

In 2006, Richard Butler released a solo album, Richard Butler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since re-forming in 2001, the band continued to tour worldwide. The current Psychedelic Furs touring line-up includes Richard Butler, Tim Butler, Zack Alford, Amanda Kramer, and Rich Good.

In 2017, the band's 1984 single "The Ghost in You" was featured in the second season of Netflix hit series Stranger Things and was included on the Sony Music soundtrack companion to the season, Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, released in October 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, the band's 1982 single "Love My Way" was played several times in the Oscar-nominated film Call Me by Your Name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Psychedelic Furs released their eighth studio album Made of Rain on 31 July 2020 to positive reviews. This release marked the first full-length studio album by the band since 1991's World Outside. It became the band's second-highest charting UK Album ever and featured at the end-of-year Best Albums roundup in Mojo, Uncut, Classic Pop, ABC's Good Morning America, and Vive Le Rock among others.<ref name="rollingstone"/> "Don't Believe", the first single from the album was released on 20 January 2020. It was followed by "You'll Be Mine", "No-One" and "Come All Ye Faithful", each with an official video. On 1 March 2021, the band released the official video for Made of Rain's fifth single "Wrong Train". It premiered exclusively on NME.com and was inspired by Richard Butler's paintings. He starred in the video himself. The Strokes' Grammy Award-winning album The New Abnormal (2020) featured the song "Eternal Summer" which quotes the Furs' "The Ghost in You", for which songwriters Richard and Tim Butler received songwriting credits.

On 1 September 2021, two weeks before the Made of Rain Tour kicked-off, the band released a new single "Evergreen", from the Made of Rain sessions. According to Richard Butler it is about "memory and the passing of time."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Richard Butler co-wrote songs with Martin Gore for Depeche Mode's fifteenth studio album Memento Mori (2023), including the lead single "Ghosts Again".

Saxophonist Mars Williams died on 20 November 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Members

Template:Col-begin

Template:Col-2 Current

Richard Butler – vocals (1977–1992, 2000–present)
Tim Butler – bass (1977–1992, 2000–present)
Amanda Kramer – keyboards (2002–present)
Rich Good – guitars (2009–present)
Zack Alford – drums (2021–present)

Template:Col-2 Former members and Touring musicians

Duncan Kilburn – saxophone, keyboards (1977–1982)
Roger Morris – lead and rhythm guitar (1977–1982)
Paul Wilson – drums (1977–1978)
John Ashton – lead and rhythm guitar (1979–1992, 2000–2008)
Vince Ely – drums (1979–1982, 1988–1990)
Phill Calvert– drums (1982–1983)
Ann Sheldon – cello (1982–1983)
Gary Windo – saxophone (1982–1983)
Ed Buller - keyboards (1982–1985)
Mars Williams – saxophone (1983–1989, 2005–2023; his death)
Mike Mooney – rhythm guitar (1984–1985)
Paul Garisto – drums (1984–1988, 2009–2020)
Marty Williamson – rhythm guitar (1986–1987)
Roger O'Donnell – keyboards (1986–1987)
Joe McGinty – keyboards (1989–1991)
Knox Chandler – rhythm guitar, cello (1990–1991)
Don Yallech – drums (1990–1992)
Richard Fortus – rhythm and lead guitar (2000–2002, 2024-2025)
Earl Harvin – drums (2000–2001)
Frank Ferrer – drums (2001–2008)

Template:Col-end Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1977 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1977 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977

Colors =

 id:vocals       value:red           legend:Vocals
 id:bass         value:blue          legend:Bass
 id:lguitar      value:teal          legend:Lead_guitar
 id:rguitar      value:brightgreen   legend:Rhythm_guitar
 id:keys         value:purple        legend:Keyboards
 id:drums        value:orange        legend:Drums
 id:sax          value:tan2          legend:Saxophone
 id:cello        value:darkblue      legend:Cello
 id:lines        value:black         legend:Studio_Album

PlotData=

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Richard Butler   from:start      till:01/03/1992 color:vocals
 bar:Richard Butler   from:01/03/2000 till:end        color:vocals
 bar:Tim Butler       from:start      till:01/03/1992 color:bass
 bar:Tim Butler       from:01/03/2000 till:end        color:bass
 bar:Roger Morris     from:start      till:01/03/1982 color:lguitar
 bar:Roger Morris     from:start      till:01/01/1979 color:rguitar width:3
 bar:John Ashton      from:01/01/1979 till:01/03/1982 color:rguitar
 bar:John Ashton      from:02/03/1982 till:01/03/1992 color:lguitar
 bar:John Ashton      from:02/03/1982 till:01/01/1984 color:rguitar width:3
 bar:John Ashton      from:31/12/1987 till:01/01/1990 color:rguitar width:3
 bar:John Ashton      from:01/03/2000 till:31/12/2008 color:lguitar
 bar:John Ashton      from:01/03/2000 till:31/12/2008 color:rguitar width:3
 bar:Rich Good        from:01/01/2009 till:end        color:lguitar
 bar:Rich Good        from:01/01/2009 till:end        color:rguitar width:3
 bar:Mike Mooney      from:01/01/1984 till:31/12/1985 color:rguitar
 bar:Marty Williamson from:01/01/1986 till:31/12/1987 color:rguitar
 bar:Knox Chandler    from:01/01/1990 till:31/12/1991 color:rguitar
 bar:Knox Chandler    from:01/01/1990 till:31/12/1991 color:cello   width:3
 bar:Richard Fortus   from:01/03/2000 till:01/07/2002 color:rguitar
 bar:Richard Fortus   from:01/03/2000 till:01/07/2002 color:lguitar width:3
 bar:Ed Buller        from:01/01/1984 till:31/12/1985 color:keys
 bar:Roger O'Donnell  from:01/01/1986 till:31/12/1987 color:keys
 bar:Joe McGinty      from:01/01/1989 till:31/12/1991 color:keys
 bar:Amanda Kramer    from:01/07/2002 till:end        color:keys
 bar:Paul Wilson      from:start      till:31/12/1978 color:drums
 bar:Vince Ely        from:01/01/1979 till:31/12/1982 color:drums
 bar:Vince Ely        from:01/03/1988 till:01/07/1990 color:drums
 bar:Phill Calvert    from:01/01/1983 till:31/12/1983 color:drums
 bar:Paul Garisto     from:01/01/1984 till:01/03/1988 color:drums
 bar:Paul Garisto     from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2020 color:drums
 bar:Don Yallech      from:01/07/1990 till:01/03/1992 color:drums
 bar:Earl Harvin      from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2001 color:drums
 bar:Frank Ferrer     from:01/01/2002 till:31/12/2008 color:drums
 bar:Zack Alford      from:01/01/2021 till:end        color:drums
 bar:Duncan Kilburn   from:start      till:01/03/1982 color:sax
 bar:Duncan Kilburn   from:start      till:01/03/1982 color:keys    width:3
 bar:Gary Windo       from:01/01/1982 till:31/12/1983 color:sax
 bar:Mars Williams    from:01/09/1983 till:01/03/1989 color:sax
 bar:Mars Williams    from:01/09/2005 till:20/11/2023 color:sax
 bar:Ann Sheldon      from:01/01/1982 till:31/12/1983 color:cello

LineData =

 at:07/03/1980 color:black layer:back
 at:06/06/1981 color:black layer:back
 at:25/09/1982 color:black layer:back
 at:21/08/1984 color:black layer:back
 at:21/02/1987 color:black layer:back
 at:31/10/1989 color:black layer:back
 at:31/07/1991 color:black layer:back
 at:31/07/2020 color:black layer:back

</timeline>