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| The New York Optimist March 2009 |
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded
after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave
synthesizer bands of the early 1980s, but later branched out into mainstream rock and pop which led to international
chart success.
The band have sold more than 22 million albums worldwide (including over 8 million in the United States alone).
Orzabal and Smith met as teenagers in their home city of Bath, England. The duo became session musicians for the band
Neon, where they first met future Tears For Fears drummer Manny Elias. Neon also featured Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher
who went on to become Naked Eyes. Smith and Orzabal's professional debut came with the band Graduate, a Mod
Revival/New Wave act drawing on the major influences of the time, including The Jam and Elvis Costello. In 1980,
Graduate released an album, Acting My Age, and a single "Elvis Should Play Ska" (referring to Elvis Costello, not
Presley). The single just missed the Top 100 in the UK, though it performed well in Spain and in the Netherlands.
after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave
synthesizer bands of the early 1980s, but later branched out into mainstream rock and pop which led to international
chart success.
The band have sold more than 22 million albums worldwide (including over 8 million in the United States alone).
Orzabal and Smith met as teenagers in their home city of Bath, England. The duo became session musicians for the band
Neon, where they first met future Tears For Fears drummer Manny Elias. Neon also featured Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher
who went on to become Naked Eyes. Smith and Orzabal's professional debut came with the band Graduate, a Mod
Revival/New Wave act drawing on the major influences of the time, including The Jam and Elvis Costello. In 1980,
Graduate released an album, Acting My Age, and a single "Elvis Should Play Ska" (referring to Elvis Costello, not
Presley). The single just missed the Top 100 in the UK, though it performed well in Spain and in the Netherlands.
| Publishers pick of the week, Tears For Fears. "everybody wants to rule the world". |
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