Tears for Fears, an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, achieved international success during the Second British Invasion. Emerging from the remnants of their previous mod-influenced band Graduate, they became associated with 1980s synth-pop. Their music resonated with audiences worldwide, propelling them to chart success.
1970: Primal Therapy Influence
John Lennon becomes a patient of Arthur Janov, the developer of primal scream therapy in 1970, which would later influence the band name Tears for Fears.
1979: Gary Numan Influence
Orzabal and Smith were influenced by Gary Numan's synth-pop sound in 1979, inspiring their new electronic direction.
1980: Graduate Album Release
Graduate released their album, "Acting My Age" and single, "Elvis Should Play Ska" in 1980.
November 1981: Suffer the Children Release
Tears for Fears released their debut single, "Suffer the Children," in November 1981.
1981: Graduate Disbands, Orzabal and Smith Join Neon
Following Graduate's dissolution in 1981, Orzabal and Smith joined Neon as session musicians.
1981: Tears for Fears Formation
Tears for Fears was formed in Bath, England in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal after the break-up of their previous band, Graduate.
March 1982: Pale Shelter Release
Tears for Fears' second single, "Pale Shelter," was released in March 1982.
November 1982: Mad World Release
"Mad World," Tears for Fears' third single and first major success, was released in November 1982.
1982: Start of Compilation Period
This year marks the beginning of the period from which Tears for Fears compiled B-sides and rare tracks for their 1996 album "Saturnine Martial & Lunatic".
March 1983: The Hurting Release
Tears for Fears released their debut album "The Hurting" in March 1983.
1983: The Way You Are Release and Tour
Tears for Fears released "The Way You Are" in late 1983 and toured nationally in December.
1983: The Hurting Release
Tears for Fears released their debut album, "The Hurting", in 1983, which topped the UK Albums Chart.
August 1984: Mothers Talk Release
Tears for Fears released "Mothers Talk" in August 1984.
November 1984: Shout Release
"Shout," which marked the beginning of the band's international success, was released in November 1984.
1984: Sample Used in Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
A sample from Tears for Fears' song "The Hurting" was used in the introduction of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984.
February 1985: Songs from the Big Chair Release
Tears for Fears released their second album, "Songs from the Big Chair," in February 1985.
May 1985: Performance at Montreux Golden Rose Rock and Pop Festival
Tears for Fears performed at the Montreux Golden Rose Rock and Pop Festival in May 1985 during their world tour following the release of Songs from the Big Chair.
July 1985: Withdrawal from Live Aid
In July 1985, Tears for Fears withdrew from the Live Aid concert due to the departure of two backing musicians. They pledged to donate proceeds from other concerts instead.
September 1985: Performance at MTV Video Music Awards and Discovery of Oleta Adams
In September 1985, Tears for Fears performed "Shout" at the MTV Video Music Awards and discovered Oleta Adams, who they later invited to collaborate on their next album. They also released a video collection/documentary titled Scenes from the Big Chair.
1985: Songs from the Big Chair Release
The band's second album, "Songs from the Big Chair," was released in 1985 and achieved international success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200.
1985: Nicky Holland Tours with Tears for Fears
Keyboardist Nicky Holland toured with Tears for Fears on their "Big Chair" world tour in 1985. She would later co-write songs on The Seeds of Love album.
February 1986: Brit Award Win and Manny Elias' Departure
In February 1986, Tears for Fears won Best British Single for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" at the Brit Awards. The event also marked drummer Manny Elias' final performance with the band.
1986: Release of "Everybody Wants to Run the World" for Sport Aid
In 1986, Tears for Fears released "Everybody Wants to Run the World" for the Sport Aid charity initiative.
1986: American Music Awards Nomination and "Mothers Talk" Remix Release
In 1986, Tears for Fears were nominated for awards at the American Music Awards and released a remixed version of "Mothers Talk" in North America.
1986: Brit Award Win
In 1986, Tears for Fears won the Brit Award for Best British Single for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
1986: Songs from the Big Chair Yields Hit Singles
In 1986, the album Songs from the Big Chair spawned several hit singles, including re-recorded versions of "Mothers Talk," along with "Shout," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Head over Heels," and "I Believe." These singles achieved significant chart success internationally, with several reaching number one in various countries.
1989: The Seeds of Love Release
"The Seeds of Love," Tears for Fears' third album, was released in 1989 and debuted at number one on the UK charts.
1989: Release of The Seeds of Love
In 1989, Tears for Fears released their third album, The Seeds of Love, after a lengthy and expensive production process.
May 1990: "Seeds of Love" Tour and Going to California Live Video
In May 1990, during their "Seeds of Love" world tour, Tears for Fears recorded a live performance in Santa Barbara, California, which was later released as the Going to California live video.
1990: Paul King Declares Bankruptcy
Tears for Fears' manager, Paul King, declared bankruptcy in 1990.
1990: Knebworth Festival Performance
Tears for Fears last performed at a UK festival at Knebworth in 1990 until their return in 2016.
1990: Orzabal and Smith Split
Following the tour for "The Seeds of Love" in 1990, Orzabal and Smith split.
1990: Release of The Seeds of Love Companion Book
A companion book for The Seeds of Love, offering insights into the album's creation, was released in 1990.
1991: Orzabal and Smith Part Ways
Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith parted ways in 1991 due to creative differences and other factors, including Smith's lifestyle and issues with their manager.
1992: Release of "Laid So Low" and Greatest Hits Album
In 1992, Orzabal released "Laid So Low" to promote Tears for Fears' greatest hits album, Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92).
1993: Release of Elemental and Subsequent Tour
In 1993, Orzabal, under the name Tears for Fears, released the album Elemental and embarked on a successful world tour.
1993: Elemental Release
Roland Orzabal released "Elemental," his first solo album under the Tears for Fears name, in 1993.
1995: Raoul and the Kings of Spain Release
In 1995, Tears for Fears, led by Roland Orzabal, released their album "Raoul and the Kings of Spain." The album explored Orzabal's Spanish heritage and incorporated Latin influences. While not as commercially successful as previous albums, the title track and "God's Mistake" achieved moderate chart success.
1995: Raoul and the Kings of Spain Release
Orzabal released his second solo album as Tears for Fears, "Raoul and the Kings of Spain," in 1995.
1996: Saturnine Martial & Lunatic Release
Tears for Fears released a B-sides compilation album, "Saturnine Martial & Lunatic," in 1996. It featured B-sides and rare tracks from the period between 1982 and 1993.
1996: Saturnine Martial & Lunatic Release
Tears for Fears released their B-sides compilation album, "Saturnine Martial & Lunatic," in 1996.
2000: Reunion and New Album Plans
Around 2000, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith reconnected and decided to collaborate on a new album together, marking the reunion of Tears for Fears after a period of separation.
2000: Orzabal and Smith Reunion
Orzabal and Smith reunited in 2000.
2001: "Mad World" Cover in Donnie Darko
Michael Andrews and Gary Jules re-recorded Tears for Fears' "Mad World" for the film Donnie Darko in 2001.
2003: Initial Signing and Label Changes
Tears for Fears initially signed with Arista Records under L.A. Reid in 2003, but label mergers and Reid's departure led them to terminate the contract before releasing "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending".
2003: "Mad World" Cover Success and Award
The 2003 single release of the "Mad World" cover reached number one in the UK and won Orzabal his second Ivor Novello Award.
September 2004: Everybody Loves a Happy Ending Release
In September 2004, Tears for Fears released their album "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" on New Door Records in the U.S., following label changes and the departure of L.A. Reid from Arista Records. Subsequent tours included a guest appearance by Oleta Adams.
2004: Paul King Convicted of Fraud
Paul King, former manager of Tears for Fears, was convicted of fraud in 2004.
2004: Everybody Loves a Happy Ending Release
Tears for Fears, now reunited, released "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" in 2004.
March 2005: UK/Europe Release and "Closest Thing to Heaven" Success
"Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" was released in the UK and Europe in March 2005. The single "Closest Thing to Heaven" became their first UK Top 40 hit in a decade, accompanied by a music video featuring Brittany Murphy.
June 2005: Live in Paris Recording
Tears for Fears recorded a live performance at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris in June 2005, which was later released as "Secret World – Live in Paris".
2006: Songs from the Big Chair Re-issue
Universal Music reissued "Songs from the Big Chair" in 2006, including a rare piano version of "The Working Hour".
2006: Secret World – Live in Paris Release
"Secret World – Live in Paris" was released on CD and DVD in 2006, becoming a best-seller. It included the new studio song "Floating Down the River" and a remastered track "What Are We Fighting For?".
August 2009: Raoul and the Kings of Spain Re-issue
The album "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" was reissued by Cherry Red Records in August 2009 with bonus B-side tracks.
April 2010: Tour with Spandau Ballet and Southeast Asia/US Tour
In April 2010, Tears for Fears toured Australia and New Zealand with Spandau Ballet, followed by a headlining tour in Southeast Asia and the United States.
2011: Tears for Fears continues touring
Tears for Fears toured several countries including the US, Japan, South Korea, Manila, and South America in 2011.
2012: Tears for Fears continues touring
Tears for Fears continued their tour of several countries including the US, Japan, South Korea, Manila, and South America in 2012.
May 2013: New Material Confirmation
Curt Smith confirmed in May 2013 that new Tears for Fears material was being written and recorded with Orzabal and Charlton Pettus.
August 2013: "Ready to Start" Cover Release
Tears for Fears released their first new recording in almost a decade, a cover of Arcade Fire's "Ready to Start," on SoundCloud in August 2013.
October 2013: The Hurting Re-issue
Universal Music reissued "The Hurting" in deluxe editions in October 2013 to mark its 30th anniversary.
2013: International "Mad World" Success
The "Mad World" cover achieved international chart success between 2003 and 2013.
October 2014: Signing with Warner Music Group
Roland Orzabal announced in October 2014 that Tears for Fears had signed with Warner Music Group and were working on their seventh studio album.
November 2014: Songs from the Big Chair Re-issue and TV Performance
Deluxe editions of "Songs from the Big Chair" were released, and Tears for Fears performed "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in November 2014.
2015: US and Canada Tour
Tears for Fears toured the United States and Canada in 2015.
July 2016: First UK Live Dates in Ten Years and Festival Appearances
Tears for Fears played their first UK gigs in over a decade in July 2016, including festival appearances at Newmarket Nights and Camp Bestival, their first in the UK since Knebworth in 1990.
October 2016: US and Canada Tour
Tears for Fears toured the United States and Canada again in 2016.
July 2017: Touring, Album Collaboration, and Label Discussions
In July 2017, Tears for Fears toured North America with Hall & Oates, played in Israel, London, and Brazil. Orzabal revealed collaboration with Sacha Skarbek on "The Tipping Point" and mentioned label discussions between Warner Music and Universal Music.
September 2017: Resumption of North American Tour
Tears for Fears resumed their North American tour in September 2017 after initially withdrawing following Caroline Orzabal's death.
October 2017: I Love You but I'm Lost release and UK tour announcement
In October 2017, Tears for Fears released the single "I Love You but I'm Lost" as part of their new compilation album, Rule the World: The Greatest Hits. The band also announced an 11-date UK arena tour for April-May 2018, which was later postponed to early 2019 due to Orzabal's health issues following his wife's death.
October 2017: Planned Album Release
Tears for Fears' new album was initially slated for release in October 2017.
2019: Summer festival performances in UK and Europe
In 2019, Tears for Fears performed at several UK and European festivals in the summer, starting with the Hampton Court Palace Festival on 18 and 19 June, the Forest Live festival at Delamere Forest on 21 June, and the Nocturne Live Concert Series at Blenheim Palace on 22 June.
February 2020: Classic Albums episode and reissue of Songs from the Big Chair
In February 2020, Songs from the Big Chair was featured in an episode of the BBC series Classic Albums, which included new interviews with the band and key personnel involved in the album's creation. To celebrate the album's 35th anniversary, Universal Music reissued the 2014 deluxe boxed set and released a new 12-inch vinyl picture disc.
October 2020: Reissue of The Seeds of Love
In October 2020, Tears for Fears reissued their album The Seeds of Love as various deluxe editions, which returned the band to the UK Top 20 charts, showcasing the enduring popularity of their music.
November 2020: Streaming debut of Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
In November 2020, following a change in management, Tears for Fears made their album Everybody Loves a Happy Ending available on various streaming services for the first time, expanding their digital presence.
June 2021: Release of Live at Massey Hall and Ivor Novello Awards
On 12 June 2021, Tears for Fears released the live double album Live at Massey Hall, recorded in 1985, as part of Record Store Day. In September 2021, the band was honoured at the Ivor Novello Awards, recognizing their impact on music.
October 2021: Introduction of The Tipping Point single
On 7 October 2021, Curt Smith appeared on the BBC Radio 2 programme The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show to introduce "The Tipping Point", the first single from their upcoming seventh album, The Tipping Point, released by Concord Records.
November 2021: Announcement of US and UK summer tour
In November 2021, Tears for Fears announced a summer tour of the US and UK to commence in May 2022. Unfortunately, the band had to cancel the tour after Roland Orzabal suffered a road accident resulting in four broken ribs in July 2022.
2021: Ivor Novello Award
Orzabal and Smith were honored with the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection in 2021.
June 2022: Release of My Demons video and chart re-entry
On 1 June 2022, Tears for Fears released a video for their song "My Demons", the fourth single from The Tipping Point album. During their tour, their classic hit "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" re-entered the UK Singles Chart and made an appearance on the Billboard Global 200.
2022: The Tipping Point Release
Roland Orzabal's songwriting during his wife's illness contributed to the 2022 Tears for Fears album, "The Tipping Point".
2022: The Tipping Point Release
Tears for Fears released their seventh studio album, "The Tipping Point," in 2022.
April 2023: Second part of Tipping Point World Tour announced
In April 2023, Tears for Fears announced the second part of their Tipping Point World Tour, continuing their live performances and engagement with fans worldwide.
July 2023: Songs for a Nervous Planet live recording
On 11 July 2023, Tears for Fears recorded live tracks for their album Songs for a Nervous Planet during their Tipping Point World Tour in Franklin, Tennessee. This album includes eighteen live tracks and new studio tracks, showcasing the band's continued creativity and performance energy.