Tears For Fears announces first live album 'Songs for a Nervous Planet'

18/9/2024

MUSIC

The iconic British duo Tears For Fears has revealed the release of their first live album, 'Songs for a Nervous Planet', set to drop on 25 October. Alongside the album, they announced a cinema release, 'Tears For Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film)', which will premiere on 24 and 26 October in over 1,100 cinemas worldwide.

BY HANAN, 4 minutes read

Credits V2 Records.

On the creation of the album, Curt Smith shared, "We decided to film the live show last year. I think a lot of people don’t realise that we’re actually a good live band! They see a duo and expect two people with a couple of keyboards and backing tracks, but over the years, we've significantly improved since our heyday back in the Eighties."

Roland Orzabal added, "We've never released an official live album, so you could say this has been 40 years in the making."

Bringing iconic vibes to the big screen

Kymberli Frueh, SVP of Programming at Trafalgar Releasing, said, "Tears For Fears' cinematic soundscapes and powerful lyrics create unforgettable concert experiences for fans, forging emotional connections through a vibrant, communal atmosphere. 'Tears For Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film)' celebrates the band's timeless influence on legions of fans, and we're honoured to bring it to cinemas worldwide."

A 22-track ride through hits and new vibes

With 22 tracks, 'Songs for a Nervous Planet' offers an impressive showcase of Tears For Fears' live performances, taking the audience on a journey through the setlist of 'The Tipping Point Tour'. The album also includes four new studio tracks: 'Say Goodbye to Mum and Dad', 'Emily Said', 'Astronaut' and the newly released 'The Girl That I Call Home'. These tracks expand the setlist with themes of love, isolation, mental health and escapism.

Recalling the new track, Roland Orzabal shared, "My wife Emily has been asking me for years to write her a love song. So, I finally did it. I was in Hawaii, and every day I would sing over the backing track, but I couldn’t come up with a title. One night, I asked the universe for help, and I woke up the next morning with 'The Girl That I Call Home'. My wife loves it."

Recorded simultaneously with the live album, 'Tears For Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film)' features many of the band’s iconic hits, including 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World', 'Shout', 'Sowing the Seeds of Love', 'Mad World', and 'Head Over Heels', alongside new fan favourites from 'The Tipping Point', their first album in 17 years. The film captures the lasting power of the duo and their touring band.

Credits V2 Records.

Meet Tears For Fears the legends behind the hits

Tears For Fears consists of Roland Orzabal (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Curt Smith (vocals, bass, keyboards) and was founded in 1981 in Bath in England. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide, numerous sold-out shows and several awards, the band represents a blend of pop music, sharp and conscious lyrics, guitar riffs and new-wave influences.

Their 1983 debut album, 'The Hurting', featured anthems such as 'Mad World', 'Change' and 'Pale Shelter'. The band’s 1985 album, 'Songs from the Big Chair', marked a turning point for them and music as a whole. Featuring hits like 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World', 'Shout', 'Head Over Heels', 'Mothers Talk' and 'I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)', the album went five-times platinum and hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200. Slant called it “one of the Best Albums of the 80s”, it earned a place in '1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die' and received a rare A+ rating from Consequence.

Their 1989 album, 'Seeds of Love', turned out to be their final collaboration until 2004's 'Everybody Loves A Happy Ending', which rekindled their musical spark. The band toured for three years across North America, Japan, South Korea, Manila and South America from 2010.

In 2013, they debuted a cover of Arcade Fire's 'Ready to Start' and in 2017, they released the compilation album 'Rule The World', returning to the top of the UK album charts.

In 2022, Tears For Fears made a comeback with their first studio album in 17 years, 'The Tipping Point', one of the most anticipated albums of 2022 according to Pitchfork, Vulture, Stereogum and others. The album received widespread critical acclaim, and the subsequent world tour sold out globally.

Shaping new sounds with subtle influence

Tears For Fears continues to resonate with new generations in subtle yet significant ways. They’ve quietly influenced rock, hip-hop, electronic dance music, indie and more. Kanye West sampled 'Memories Fade' on 'The Coldest Winter' from 808s & Heartbreak, The Weeknd used 'Pale Shelter' on 'Secrets' from Starboy, David Guetta sampled 'Change' for 'Always', and Drake used 'Ideas as Opiates' as the basis for 'Lust For Life'. Additionally, Ally Brooke Hernandez, Adam Lambert and Gary Jules have recorded popular covers of 'Mad World' and Disturbed tackled 'Shout'. Lorde also covered 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' for the 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' soundtrack, which Tears For Fears happily used as intro music during their live shows.

In 2021, the band was honoured with the Outstanding Song Collection Award at the Ivor Novello Awards. Tears For Fears classics remain prominent across various media, from The Wire and Donnie Darko to Straight Outta Compton and Mr. Robot. Orzabal and Smith remain as potent as ever, while a new generation gets ready to 'Shout' along with them.