Today we’re spending time texting and calling one another, reminiscing about great moments with Roland Orzabal! We’re so grateful and appreciative of his music and the time he has made for fans over the years. Time spent in his presence is a surreal and euphoric experience to say the least!
We’re also raising our glasses in his honour this weekend as we celebrate the one and only Mr. O and his music. Enjoy just a few of the great salutes to Roland from his fan family.
My memories of speaking with Roland always leave me speechless, filled with gratitude and often peacefully overwhelmed with tears of joy. I still remember, September 2011, I’m standing in front of Curt at the Wiltern during a show and we’re all singing along to the first lines of shout then Roland comes over and puts the microphone at chin level for me to sing along. Thank you, fellow fans that got that on video, I totally went all “out of body” and only the next morning did I comprehend what happened. In all my years following the band via fan teams and in person I had never seen him do that before. He went on to provide that incredible experience for others throughout this past decade. I’m so grateful so many of us have had a chance to “Shout! Shout! Let it all out!”
While ‘Shout’ is one of their most iconic songs, and certainly one I honour by standing still wherever I am (even at Starbucks, I put my drink down, stand up and sing that song), I find myself diving deep into Tomcats Screaming Outside as well as selections such as ‘Out of Control,’ the ‘Madness of Roland’ and several others, some of which I was told were leaked and we weren’t supposed to have. I have pulled these songs apart and reached down deep into them to understand and learn about the past and the present – I’m even a Frida Khalo fan now. I completed my junior thesis with the band’s music and continue to use their lyrics as a way of understanding this complex world. Their music is timeless and yet futuristic. Most of my life’s memories are attached to Tears for Fears. I was born just after they became a band and share a birthday “day” and “day after” with Roland’s niece and Curt’s daughter. While I do my best to keep a professional distance and chat/reach out only when necessary or prompted, they feel like extended family – music family. Outside of my faith (which I consider them to be part of) their music provides a comfort and a place of respite unlike anything else. I cherish every moment I’ve had with them via band chats, online conversations via social media and most of all, the opportunity to stand next to the stage and support them by showing up with the fellow fans who travel to be in their presence at these majestic shows. May the memories and fabric of life continue to be woven with their good words and incredible music! – Cheers to Roland, the band and their work! – Andye (TFF Travel Fan Team Moderator)
Many More Birthday Wishes and Fun Memories from Members of the Fan Family
This time of year is very special as it is the anniversary of meeting the band for many fans. Alex W. remembers her dad getting her out of school and driving her across the desert to see Tears for Fears perform on the Tonight show one fine September day. Every year on that very day 14 September, 2004 to be exact, they text each other a special message:
She writes, “To Children of the World” and he responds “and daddy’s little girl.” – fans will know these lines from ELAHE. She shared that with me recently and we both started crying. Her dad lives near me as do several other fans and that is also a great comfort.
Becky “Boom Boom” also called recently and we laughed long and hard at the time we went to Oklahoma to see the band with our fellow travel fans. She drove all the way from the southern most of Texas to the Dallas airport and picked us up. We spent two days at the Casino and that included running around in the middle of the night to capture cool pictures of the band’s name lit up brightly on the many marquees for the blog post. We also got a note from Curt that we were all to meetup the next day. We were beyond thrilled as we did a roll call and gathered fans for a band chat and book signing with Roland. He had just published Sex, Drugs and Opera: There’s Life After Rock and Roll. Such a great book and we had a blast chatting with them before the show. That was incredible and perhaps one of my favourite memories with respect to many miraculous trips to California in the name of their awesome music.
Alice E’s memories include her daughter’s pic from the Fox Theatre Oakland show in 2014. RO said to her, “My apple juice tastes funny.” Happy B-Day RO from Alice.
And the wishes continue! Be sure to post online and hashtag it #HappyBirthdayRFO
Desde Barcelona y con mucho amor, le deseo a Roland un feliz y bello cumpleaños, que lo más bello que ha tenido en su vida sea lo peor que lo pueda pasar en este año. Espero poder verlo pronto en Barcelona. Feliz cumpleaños – Nuria P. (Barcelona, Spain)
Happy Birthday to Roland! – Cindy W.
Roland, wishing you a very Happy Birthday from Tennessee. Cheers – Robin S.
Hi Roland, happy birthday. You are a great artist and thank for the your present: the music Tears for Fears! – Bimbomatto
Happy Birthday RFO! Wishing you happiness and health! – Wendy and Gwen (TFF UK)
Happy Birthday Roland! Your voice is so beautiful and so are your words…
– Kelly C.
Thanks for the music – Darren
Can’t wait for his birthday slightly nervous as I’ve sent a card just hope he likes it – Nathalie W.
Thank you for a wanderful show. Hope to see and hear you soon once again. Happy birthday. And if you had enough of cakes, we have a lot of hummus instead..
Yael Reches Hen-Tov (Israel)*There’s a great video that goes with this featuring Roland speaking to the audience in Israel. We’ll try to include it after it is sent to the archives.
Cheers everyone! Happy Birthday Roland, many happy returns!
*To view more birthday wishes, visit Facebook.com/KerfuffleofKooks where Travel Fans chimed in with love as well as The ‘Tears for Fears Fan Forum (without the drama)’ where more fans are sharing their love for Roland today.
-Andye, TFF Travel Fan Team
Follow: @TearsforFears @CurtSmith @PapaSFans (Twitter), @TearsForFearsMusic @TFFTravelFans (IG)
Tears for Fears Travel Fans 