Category: Welcome to the Tears for Fears Fan Travel Blog

Read all about the fun fan adventures from some of the world’s most dedicated fans. Tears and Kooks (Kooks&Orzies) travel throughout the year to spend time near the band. Through the efforts of the leaders in our fan family and by the grace of a higher power and the band we’ve managed to enjoy a number of awesome shows, been recognized by the band on several occasions and continue to enjoy one another’s company on and offline. Cheers!

Tears for Fears’ Travel Fan Quarterly Update Q3 2022

Dedicated to Tineka Rose’s mother who was a long-time fan of Tears for Fears. Her mother and family found joy listening to the band. Tineka and her family loved to play the albums on repeat. The band’s music helped their mother as she battled a serious illness. May her soul rest in peace and the family be comforted during this time.

The Bittersweet

After a very dreadful injury experienced by Curt, we’re grateful for the turnaround of late despite the shows that were halted. We learned from the BBC2 interview that Curt’s fall in the tour bus was the reason his ribs were fractured or broken. Scared us to pieces! Several of us spent quite some time in a state of prayer, adding his name and the band’s to prayer circles and envisioning him healthy and well again.  It was a lose-lose for both sides with the team having to cancel shows and local UK fans plus those from around the globe who flew in losing their opportunity to see the band after 3 years. Thankfully there were show refunds, and most important, Curt recovered!

Then Her Majesty the Queen passed away and services were scheduled during the same days as the Leeds Festival with the BBC and the long awaited Pryzm show in London. This led to additional cancellations. Several fans had already landed in London when many of these unexpected situations occurred. It’s the tough part about being a travel fan. Some issues are totally out of our control. The lesson we learned from this is to do our best to book hotels and options that have realistic refund policies. We also hope that band management can help us out with timely cancellation notices.

Big shoutout to Lady Tamara who, like many, pushed forward and made the most of the situation. She spent a memorable time throughout the UK with members of Libre Stone and the Tears for Fears fan family. She has a ton of amazing photos from her trip. She’s no stranger to the nation(s). She’s seen this and similar situations before. We’re so happy that she got to spend time in Peter Gabriel’s studio where Libre Stone album production has been underway. She also spent time with Radio Bath team members and members of Curt’s family. That is very rewarding!

Tamara with Dion and Gunner of Libre Stone

Another rewarding moment in the midst of some of the disappointment of the UK shows being paused were Daniella’s dolls. She designed this cute set of darlings with various scenarios detailing what things may have looked like behind the scenes. The popularity of the dolls was so intense she got requests to create a set for various fans. We love them and we appreciate the comfort these dolls brought during what for us was a very scary situation. We’re thrilled that Curt is well and look forward to all the good things to come in fan land.

More Honours

Though the 2022 Tears for Fears tour season seems to have come to a close, we got news of some unannounced pluses for the beloved pair and their pals. They were honoured and performed at the Deutsch Radio Press event this month. Throughout the night they were mentioned, applauded and praised by fellow bands, the media and the event hosts. Then there were a few more interviews, commentary about the Queen’s passing and additional appearances that took place in Europe.

Our favourite right now is the session they did with KCRW. In this iconic space, the band sang the first few songs from the set list of the 2022 tour. It was very touching and beautiful.

Long, Long, Long Time Video

On the 18th of August, we were gifted by the band’s new video. The response was incredible but much like the ILYBIL video, the band was just not in it. That upset some fans. They crave a good R&C dance scene and singing. Some fans were slightly militant about it, noting angrily that the video should have featured the guys. ‘Boys of Summer’ was void of their members but it’s still a great song and so is this one. We’re just happy to have a video but yeah, c’mon Roland and Curt, smile for the camera! Take us with you!

Song Anniversaries and Significant Moments:

The month of September is FULL of Tears for Fears anniversaries for the band and the fans. Some of the band’s best and most memorable concerts in the last 10 years have occurred in September. We’re also celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of Sowing the Seeds of Love and the 40th Anniversary of Mad World.

The 11th of September (2001) was the anniversary of the sacred Tomcats Screaming Outside – Roland’s solo album that was filled with timeless mega beats that are still a hit among those fans that have a copy. It’s very hard to get and when one does find it, it’s often attached to quite a price tag. It is indeed priceless so we understand. We have literally asked Roland for it to be re-released along with several solo pieces from Curt (to be put into an album of its own that some of us like to call The Genius Brain).

There was the 17 September (2011) show at the Wiltern where Roland began gifting the microphone to an audience member. The first one was Andye. This is also the commencement (2010) of the Tears for Fears Travel fans commitment to aim to go to as many shows as possible every tour.

Mike B., Pennie and her brother Danny Cricks spent time standing at the gate with fellow fans in line for HOURS to attend the TFF show.

To top it off, the 23rd of September is the day ‘The Working Hour’ showed up on the tour after being absent for yearrrrs thanks to saxman David Moyer of DDHorns. Mr. Moyer joined the band for several appearances including one that night at The Wiltern where fans were overjoyed to tears hearing that song live. It was an epic moment to say the least.

We also celebrated three birthdays. Curt’s gorgeous wife in August, then Diva Smith, Curt’s darling first child, celebrated a birthday on the 14th of September! You can get her music here. The third of course was last month on the 22nd, the Good Sir, Roland Orzabal began his 61st turn around the sun with lots of love and well wishes in tow.

What’s everyone up to right now?

Lauren is out and about. We saw a video of her this summer singing one of Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton’s famous ballads and it was so beautiful. We pray her schedule will be filled next year with Tears for Fears busiment. Carina’s schedule is filled with her band Puscifer. She was also at the #DRP22 ceremony.

Oleta Adams‘ tour has begun and several fans have their tickets, some having already seen her to start off the autumn months. Her summer tour was amazing and we look forward to supporting her upcoming shows as well.

Neil Taylor has lot of cool shares online and interactions. Be sure to check those out!

Raoul Orzabal’s art and work was featured in the Financial Times.

Libre Stone are super busy with their next album. Several fans and supporters were allowed to be in studio during some of the recording. The legend, Chris M. Hughes was also on hand. The band then had their first show as a group at Komedia in Bath. The audience was packed with top names including notable producers, travel fans and a young Mr. Raoul Orzabal.

Photo by Paula Smith featuring Jamie Wollam of TFF, Andy Carr of ABC, Julian Orzabal of Libre Stone, Chris Hughes the Legend, and Dion Smith of Libre Stone

Many thanks to Darren for providing live video from the show and big welcome to Chris Nichols and Danny Cricks as Libre Stone moderating team members. The band also did a Q&A available on YouTube. One of our favourite moments was in July when the band joined media member and Bath Radio icon, Dave Mason at Radio Bath for a great interview.  We’re excited about the future for LS! Gonna be a good one!

Many fans are still working on their thoughts from the tour, putting together summaries video collections and looking at their finances wondering how to do this again. It’s an ongoing question as we do our best to support the band. We’re hoping residency shows are on the list for the future. The band is busy with next year’s plans, more promotions, conversations and the World Cup FIFA collaboration with Lil Baby! Checkout the song here:

Lots of former fans still finding their way through the new material and material post SOL. That means lots of questions and surprised finds. In some groups, you’ll see people who are returning after the successful marketing of the The Tipping Point but are not aware of ELAHE, TSO, RATKOS or even Elemental. As shocking as it can be, we’ll continue to be patient and flood their threads with all the new info so they can sing along at the upcoming shows. There’s also the new fans in their teens and 20s who are discovering photos, interviews and information that many of us archived years ago. It’s exciting to see them discover it for the first time and share the moments when we were there for those super special events. The Tears for Fears fan family has grown to well over 1 million with over 47 groups on Facebook and multiple fan accounts on IG. The fandom may be close to 2M at this point. Cheers to the good years and those to come! Enjoy this great set from the summer and leave a comment for Mr. Javaruski – he’s one of us! More memories and fan fun moments to share in the coming months.

Thanks for reading!

-TFF Travel Fan Team

Follow: @tearsforfears @tearsforfearsmusic (IG) @curtsmith @therealoletaadams @thereallaurenevans (IG) @stone.libre/@librestone (IG) @papasfans @tfftravelfans (IG)

*Shoutout to Chris Wave for updating the Media Page featuring all TFF TV appearances available from 1982 to present day. There’s also the Band Members in the News that we’re updating.

Tears for Fears Travel Fans in Atlanta
Love this crew! Tears for Fears fans for life!

Nights to Remember – Talking About Tears for Fears with Fellow Fans

Mingling with fellow fans and getting their amazing fan stories and experiences helps bring us together. There’s nothing like finding a kindred spirit in Tears for Fears. Today, we focus on three major fans who have been following the band since the start. Enjoy their contributions that we’ve highlighted here in the archives.

A Moment in Maryland, thanks Stephen Marshall

Tears for Fears Making Maryland’s Night – Show with Chuck

Chuck is one of us! After attending a couple of shows he, like many of us, found it difficult to stop thinking about his euphoric experience. He reached out on Twitter to let Curt and we fellow fans know, he could not let that show go. It was etched on his soul. See more…

https://chuckearling.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-tour-at-merriweather-post-pavillion-june-19-2022/

Cindy “The Concert Chick” at Jones Beach SetList in Video Snippets

Cindy is a loyal soldier of sound. She has attended Tears for Fears concerts faithfully for YEARS! Always energetic, gorgeous and giving her all for the people, Cindy has created a beautiful video playlist of the shows she attends for all bands. A silent Sherlock in her own right, she knows how to find a good seat at a show. She gets in there and brings us a magnificent experience every single time. Her work is an absolute gift. If you miss a show, find out if Cindy went…she is the queen of recreating experience! Enjoy!!

Tour Synopsis from Lady Tamara

Lady Tamara is a logistics Queen. We were up til nearly 3am in the morning nightly during the tour but she was THE FIRST one downstairs in every city, checking in online and connecting with others. If a change to the schedule needed to be made, she was there to assist with solutions. She was there! A true travel fan indeed! She came ready and correct every day! Enjoy her blog!

“I’m downstairs and ready for this show!” – Lady Tam @ 11am ET 12 June, Alpharetta Ga.

TFF Fan Ambassador Stephen and the Lady of Logistics, Lady Tamara!
Select Here to Read

Sharon Foxx’ Fan Experience

May 21, 2022

I posted this pic of me in 2020 not too long after lock down. And while looking back, in the light of the toll Covid took on the world. I apologize if my quest seemed trite and insensitive. My goal to experience the band live and hear songs that provided the soundtrack to my life, was very high on my to do list. 

I made the decision to buy my ticket for the tour immediately after it was announced. I put the call out to friends and family and told them I would not wait for people to decide if they were going with me. My cousin Rey heeded the call in time to get his ticket and join me.

Day of the concert

MAY 21, 2022

I could say I’ve been waiting for this date since March of 2020. But I’ve actually been waiting since February 25, 1985. Happy the tour was making its way to my hometown of Cleveland. Blossom Music Center is actually a lovely lush outdoor venue outside of Cleveland. It was the second stop on the tour. As Rey and I made our way to Blossom, the heavens opened up and poured down rain, torrential, monsoon rain! We arrived and waited it out in the car, like quite a few other fans did. We made what seemed like the five mile walk from the parking lot to the venue. We took our seats and the anticipation continued.

After an incredible set by Garbage fronted by the great Shirley Mason and before the roadies set the stage for TFF, I introduced myself to the two guys in front of me. I humbly apologized in advance and told them that I would be clapping, dancing, cheering, whistling, possibly crying and definitely singing at the top of my lungs for at least the next 90 minutes or so. They both laughed and said, “Go for it!” House lights down and the band took the stage, Curt, Roland, Jamie, Charlton, Carina, and Doug.

The opening acoustic strains of “No Small Thing” filled the venue, the rain continued but, we were off! My personal highlights from “The Tipping Point” album were the rockin, “My Demons”, the soothing calm of “Rivers Of Mercy” and the fabulous “Long, Long, Long, Time”. “Pale Shelter” “Head Over Heels/Broken” were well worth the wait, BUT…“Bad Man’s Song” was absolutely incredible and is in my top 10 TFF songs. I could hardly contain myself!

My second concert was at Pine Knob in Michigan. My friend Rita and I decided to pack snacks, turn on some great music and take the three hour trip from Cleveland to Michigan. It was incredibly hot as about 30 of us with VIP access, got our swag and waited to enter for sound check. I sat in the first row about seven seats to Roland’s right. They went through usual sound check procedures. Curt and the Sound man discussed levels for I think, “Long, Long, Long, Time” Roland briefly joked about the heat, which was sweltering. They both took time to say hello and acknowledge us, but the focus of course was making sure, the front of house was ready for the show. 

We were introduced to the beautiful Lauren Evans who filled in for the amazing Carina. Where Carina’s voice is soothing like a cool gentle breeze, Lauren’s tugs at your heart while holding you in the palm of her hand with range and passion. She smiled and waved at me.

Again the concert was fabulous. I had great seats to Charlton’s left. He frequently came to the edge of the stage and played to the crowd. The kicker for all of us on that side, is when Curt made his way came over and several lines of EWTRTW! Yea baby!

The Pine Knob show took place well over four months ago. It’s taken me this long to process the visuals, the lights, the relentless pouring rain, the heat, the sweat, the music, the VIP experience, the meeting up of folks from the fan page, from both shows. It was all very surreal. Now when I listen to “Bad Man’s Song” and “Woman In Chains” from my favorite TFF album, “The Seeds of Love”, I still can’t believe I heard those songs live…just incredible! 

Seeing Curt and Roland enjoying performing live again and smiling at each other was really great. It seemed a very genuine love of both the music and each other. They were having big fun just like we were!

Like everyone else I was totally bummed to hear about Curt’s accident and the tour having to be postponed. Nothing can take precedence over the heath and well being of the band members. My heart goes out to all of those who traveled, sacrificed, saved up, bought tickets and made plans. I sent up a heart for those who said either due to finances, personal or other reasons they just weren’t able to see the show. I did understand I was fortunate to see not one but two. To those who moderate pages and went above and beyond to connect, get tour info out, and help is commune with others who love the band, Andye, Darren and Danny, thank you. All those who I met for the first time at both shows..too many to mention, most of you we are in pics together LOL, especially those who traveled across the pond. Those whom I’ve made close friendships with, that have gone beyond the fan groups. You all ROCK!

The music of Tears For Fears is a great example of how great music can cross cultural boundaries and connect people all over the world. I purposely haven’t listened to the three bonus tracks. Let it all evolve, Secret location and Shame(Cry Heaven), for two reasons; one, I missed out purchasing TTP special edition, and two, I’ll give those a listen when I return to earth and need “new” music from Roland and Curt!

Though as unfortunate as it was, the seemly negative childhood experiences of Curt and Roland pushed them to delve into their creative mind and compose thought provoking, melodic, personal music that we the fans, are the beneficiaries of.

With that I say thank you…

More to come! Be sure to follow the band – @tearsforfears on Twitter @tearsforfearsmusic on Instagram!

UK leg of the tour begins in just a few hours! Additional tickets are available for some shows.

-Tears for Fears Travel Fan Team

Give us a Minute…We’re Overwhelmed with Gratitude

The last time we were able to discuss anything, the Tears for Fears UK team had just arrived and were making their way through California including Concord while taking in sight seeing and fun iconic spots like The Golden Gate bridge. Other travel fans were on their way to Los Angeles for The Kia Forum and Chula Vista shows taking place in Southern California. In tow, was John Baker from Graduate and The Korgis, Julian Orzabal aka The Captain along with our New Orleans and Texas travel fan team members Dawn and Tania. Along with them, Bobby Bblaze, Roland the sequel and Andye the admin of whom they brought in from Atlanta. Let’s just say, incredible memories were made along the way and for the next 16+ days, Tears for Fears, The Graduate and Libre Stone fan teams came together to experience what one can only call The Great Bond. It was like Vegas all over again but with much cooler temps and lots of and family members and friends. To top that off, the teams together managed to get to Tampa, Florida where the festivities continued for another 4 days and from there to Atlanta and Charlotte.

These have been our seats every night, up close, 1st, 2nd and 3rd row, mostly first. Just enjoying this team and all their amazing energy.

To say we have some behind the scenes stories filled with fantastic fun and cool moments with the band and the newest member, Lauren Evans, would be an understatement. These men and women made our year! Photo of Curt is courtesy of BunnyLou Lady Tam who was by our side the whole time getting great photos and videos in a gentle non invasive way. We are so thankful!

We are also super overwhelmed, verklempt and steeped in joy that a few of us are undergoing medical attention. It was THAT much fun and very hard to pause abruptly. We were to continue on to Boston and the Lytham festival but for health reasons, we need to pause. We’re sitting on several VIP tickets right now and not sure what to do with them because we’ve already given out tickets to those who needed them. This has been a life changing experience and there’s no way we can “go back” to who we were before. Looking forward to sharing the fun highlights as soon as we literally stop shaking from this miraculous time together. Please…give us a minute. This is a musical high that has proven almost impossible to come down from any time soon… Imagine being on a cloud 10,000 feet in the air and there’s no ladder… We’re just in absolute awe. Big thanks to Curt for his attentiveness, Shirley Manson of Garbage and Lauren Evans for their incredible interactions. We owe John Baker and The Captain a follow up night on the town! So much appreciation! Big hugs to Danny, his spouse, The Curry Family, Steve Framption and Kim! Let’s do this again!

We have a ton of VIP bags from soundchecks! We love you Brit! Thank you for being so kind at every city!
Lauren Evans has joined the royal court of Tears for Fears as an additional Queen among angels. We adore her! Photo credit: erikaorzco

Woman In Chains – thanks to long time fan and Tears for Fears Convert attendee, Krisiti Wooten, now of NPR. Lauren has received nightly standing ovations. The crowd loves and adores her! Petitions have begun as well to keep a recording of her singing Suffer the Children. More to come…

Forever Fans of Tears for Fears in Phoenix and Denver

…plus snapshots from Concord and Mountainview California

Since the last synopsis, Tears for Fears have had 4 more amazing concerts. Many are saying these ones are even better than the first of the tour. Each night gets better and better and everyone remains in awe of that. The band performed in Phoenix, Denver and 2 areas in Northern California. You can revisit the tour schedule that was posted back in November for exact details on where they were. Loyal fans like, Joe Galluzzo who resides in Toronto attended. He flew in for the Phoenix show. His travel fan story is a heartwarming one. He writes:

My best friend and I since grade 2 share a lot of common interests and one of them is Tears for Fears. Both of us being 42 got into TFF at a young age because we had siblings who introduced us to the band. We both got hooked on Tears for Fears after hearing Head Over Heels. Our fandom for the band continued on through the years with Seeds of Love and Elemental. Break It Down Again was our song in 8th grade. And Raoul and The Kings of Spain stayed on loop while we studied for highschool exams.

We have been friends for 35 years and had never taken a vacation together. So…we decided to travel all the way to Phoenix from Toronto for the show. On our way there we were totally hyped up and excited about the show. After we got our merch, we got to watch the opening band Garbage. They were amazing! Then Tears for Fears came to the stage. They were fantastic from start to finish. Both Roland and Curt sounded great and Carina Round awed the crowd. I had to travel to Vegas after the show but I’m still buzzing from that concert. My friend Gene and I will cherish this moment and wait patiently for the band to return to Toronto so we can do this again!

We’re so happy Joe got to go to the show with his lifelong friend Gene. These two deserve the best. Joe has been to many shows and used to travel extensively during the early ELAHE years. He keeps in close touch and incorporates Tears for Fears into his daily life, proudly wears his tshirts and posts pictures of himself and the band from back in the day. He is the kind of friend everyone wishes they had. We love him dearly and we appreciate him being a member of the fan family.

The next day in Denver, our Lady Tamara travelled back to be with the fan family. Everyone was there including a lot of new people and some members of the band’s family. Roland noted during the show that he and Lady Emily finally had their family wedding ceremony. We learned, from his dear wife, that it took place at one of the former concert venues, Blenheim Palace in the UK. Just gonna go ahead and brag and say we did get to see more of the photos, not just the ones she posted…that wedding was nuuuhhhiiiiccce! They looked Ahhhhhmazing! We hope she shares some of what we saw. Everyone looked incredible! But we digress… Roland got a little verklempt during the show when he spoke about the wedding. He is very much in love with Emily and we are stanning for it in full support wishing them the happiest of days of ahead…and that he and his mother-in-law will agree that he does have a real job (concert joke).

They say when it rains at a wedding that the love will last forever. We are witnesses to that as some fans did have weddings where it poured and they are the tightest of couples with 20years together. Well, the love flowed at this show and so did the rain. Fan family members spent some quality time with each other at this event. They snuggled and sang along the whole time. However, in the back of the show, the reserved seats provided were pleasant but the crowd was very mixed in who knew the new album and who didn’t. Let us say right now, some of the experiences from that part of the venue proved that if you are a loyal fan who comes online and spends part of your day interacting with fellow fans…heed our advice. Do what you can to get VIP and other opportunities that will put you closer to other passionate fans that like to sing along. Drop the whole “I’ll just stay out of the way and enjoy the show from a far.” No. Throw yourself into the fray. Allow yourself to be loved and hugged. Get in there! Go ahead and take advantage of those seats in front of the band. Huge thanks to those who provided information about the different sections of the crowd and what it was like for them. The insight is very helpful.

We love that the teams that flew in also took time to go sightseeing and enjoy the city of Denver. Stephen and Lady Tamara shared a lot of great photos and experiences. We’re so grateful that we have such a beautifully connected team of fan family. These two concerts really brought a lot of people together.

The shows in Concord and Mountainview California areas brought in our dear friends from the Tears for Fears UK group and fan forum. Darren and Gwen were reunited with Stephen. The photos they shared are so perfect! Get in the forum and have a look at everything when you get a chance. The team enjoyed the VIP soundcheck and attended both shows before a fun car trip down to Los Angeles for this weekend’s events.

The thing that stood out at these shows was the grand consensus that the band sounds so incredible. The show is incredibly energetic and well done. The reviews and comments of praise are overflowing. Seems that VIP is going well also. Fans that do not have it are noting they wish they had as they love the unique merch. One fan noted that she wasn’t that pleased with the H&O/Tears combo VIP merch deal from 2017 so she skipped out on this one. However, she’s eager to get a hold of this tour’s so we’ve contacted some others to see if they can get her a package. She’s not the only one. Several are asking. We hope the VIP team can be of assistance in helping make this possible.

Meanwhile, other longtime fans are driving in for the shows. It’s been an epic road trip for several as they go from city to city to enjoy the concerts. Many special guests will be at the California shows and we expect that there will be tons of family and celebs present. We look forward to discussing it. Enjoy the photos from the fans travelling from all over to be together and support Tears for Fears.

Hope to have more photos and videos next week. We’re taking some days off to catch up on some sleep. We have not slept since last Friday and it’s beginning to hurt. Lol.

Cheers and thanks for reading, writing and reaching out along the way!

-Tears for Fears’ Travel Fan Team

follow the band online @tearsforfears on FB ad Twitter and @tearsforfearsmusic on Instagram

Tears for Fears Touching Hearts in Texas

Dedicated to Keanu and all the kids at the shows! May your light shine and your dreams take you to all the great stages of the world!

Keanu and his Dad “Bblaze” – long time Tears for Fears fan driving nationwide from show to show!

Despite the devastating news of the day, Tears for Fears stepped in as a comfort in Dallas. The band lit up the night along with the accompanying thunder and rain in the region. Fans flew in early, many knowing that the night might be sullied by torrential rain. VIP Soundcheck went unscathed but the wind and the rain made it impossible for concert attendees to stay on the lawn. The venue ushered in as many as they could to a safer area of the venue so they could watch…however, it has come to our attention that some were turned away and told they can get a refund.

Earlier, a fan noted that her assistant had sent a photo of a sign noting that the lawn seats were likely a no-go. If you have not gotten your refund or need assistance let us know. Happy to research that for you and perhaps connect you with others in the same situation. That is painful and unfortunate as we know many brought their kids in hopes of a family night out to watch the band live and in person. Don’t lose hope, Texas has been on the tour list for several tours. They’ll likely return and, of course, there’s the TFF travel fan team to help you get to the next concert destination should you like to try and see them this year!

The crowd was incredible! From the start, Tears for Fears Travel fans like, Bblaze and his son Keanu were present as were two other ROCSaTears, Becky and Carolyn. They were there for soundcheck and Roland noticed some of the Libre Stone shirts it the audience. He also seemed to light up at the familiar faces, recognizing fans he had seen many times, flying out to support the show. Soon after, fans began sending in photos of themselves with other fans, the fan family reunion was in full swing. Shoutout to the lady who came to the Winstar show in 2014. She and her husband made it to this one as well!

The effervescent energy of this show has shocked so many. One of the first things several fans have noted is how energetic Roland and Curt are on stage. They mentioned time and time again how animated everyone is and the entire concert is absolutely electric with euphoria. There were some solemn but soulful moments, such as when ‘Suffer the Children,’ was sung. Carina Round gave it her all as the majority of the room stood standing very still ensconced with her voice and perhaps out of respect for the lives lost that day. ‘Mad World’ was particularly precious and Curt tweeted about it after the show.

“That concert was the biggest therapy session I have ever seen,” noted Bblaze who has been driving nationwide to shows for more than decade. Others spoke up about how they felt healed and one lady said she was so touched, she walked home in the rain. Tears for Fears will do that to you. They always have music that suits the times…at the right time.

The next day fans travelled to a suburb just outside Houston called Sugar Land, Texas. This is the former home of one of the Travel Fan admin’s uncle, who introduced her to their music as a toddler. Shoutout to the late Uncle Hurley. This is especially important because there were MANY kids there with their parents getting to hear Tears for Fears live for the first time. These kids are likely to go on to take their kids to shows. They may even be front row for Diva Smith and Pascal Orzabal, who knows! Kudos to all the parents who had their mini-mes right beside them singing and dancing along. What a blessing to be able to share Tears for Fears music with the next generation. How exciting is that?!

The excitement at this show was from start to finish – from the time the fans arrived to the finale. Big props to Jamie Wollam for coming out in the lobby. The Curry Family and Tania M. were able to grab a photo with him. Jamie also went above and beyond as he always does. Very grateful for him and we appreciate him infinitely.

Soundcheck was superbly solid. The Houston show also gave fans a perk. Tears for Fears debuted the music video for ‘My Demons.’ Danny C., admin for a Tears for Fears fan groups online, marveled at it. He and others are super excited about its release…and what a treat to be able to see it first before anyone else.

My Demons Previewed in Houston

Fans noted that this specific show was filled with fans who had been supporting the band’s music since The Hurting. They were very much into the hits as shown on Marshall, of TFF UK’s video of ‘Head over Heels.” Fans sang that song with so much passion and rocked out to the “Broken” version ending as we all are known to do. That ending alone should land the band a spot in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Accoutrements

As mentioned, multiple times, one of the best things about these shows are the segues between the opening act and the commentary by Roland and Curt during the show. It has been verified that the music everyone is hearing are covers of the band’s songs during the segue. The songs were reproduced by a young man that Roland discussed during an interview. He goes by Brothertiger. In particular, he covered Songs from the Big Chair in its entirety – including the infamous line in ‘Listen’ that was deciphered during a BBC Song documentary on the band some years ago. There are three versions of the line, “Wrap me up a tikka chicken take-away” and “Cumpleanos chica, no hay cuperse.” The line is neither. It’s actually Swahili and …well, it does have to do with a chicken. Please be sure to watch that documentary for the correct line or find one of the travel fans, who may be wearing the slogan on a t-shirt.

The commentary from Roland was particularly funny – he’s been telling a lockdown joke that has left the crowd giggling and in stitches lol. We live for those moments. He could do a 30 min joke set before the show and we’d pay for that too.

Videos, photos and more trickled in slowly after this show. Fans were up bright and early the next morning loading tons to the fan generated TFF groups on Facebook and loading multiple videos and clips from the show to Instagram. Exhausted but happy, the Travel Fans are headed to the next show in Phoenix…many are already there. Let’s see what happens tonight!

Many thanks to Mr. Curry for the photos. Huge thanks to everyone who called and participated in the post-show discussions and superfan sessions. We had a lot of fun despite lack of sleep! Safe Travels!

-Tears for Fears Travel Fan Team

Follow @tearsforfears @curtsmith (@papasfans for fun travel news)

Tears for Fears Serenade Cincinnati & Cuyahoga

Dedicated to Stephen and Sean (TFF UK), Andrea M., Lady Tamara, Cathy, Laura O. and Sharon

Let us take a moment to thank the Almighty Universe that the band completed their first two shows flawlessly. Tears for fears spent the weekend in Ohio, first in Cincinnati (20th) and then Cuyahoga/Cleveland on Saturday (21st). Big thanks to the fans who helped fellow fans get VIP tickets and premium seats. Some fans literally gifted 2-3 seats to fans to ensure everyone that needed a ticket was able to get one. Fans flew in from all over the globe to attend this show. Big shoutout to the Tears for Fears Travel fans and fan forum members who came out in full force with the blue tees! What an incredible way to represent the soldiers of sound!

The goal of the synopsis is to give fans who are travelling and those who may not make it, a chance to understand what it’s like to follow a band from city to city out of love and support.

The trek to get to Cincinnati included a lot of flying and driving. Tamara drove from Nashville. Stephen and Sean flew in from the UK. Might as well let it be known that Stephen is the official Tears for Fears Fan Ambassador and Guest of Honour. He’ll be at every single show. We’re so honoured to have him representing us at each event. The teams battled the blazing heat, humidity and lack of shade during VIP check-in. It began at the specified time and then there was another hour or so of waiting around to be able to go in. The trek over to VIP was a bit much. Way too much walking if you’re injured or in any kind of pain. Not saying that injured individuals should think twice about this option but you need to know that there was a bit of walking at this specific tour stop. So, look at the maps and the distance from various points so you can plan accordingly.  We have quite a few people in our fan family of diverse abilities and so we may need to start hiring assistants to get from point A to point B if amphitheatres are going to be the norm. We’re not implying that the band need to provide it with VIP we’re just collectively discussing how we’re going to manage this in the future.

Once inside, fans were asked to line up single file in no particular order. So if you were the first one to buy a VIP pass, you may not necessarily be the first person in line. They are not numbered. Fans were then led into the amphitheatre where the band came out and welcomed them to soundcheck. No phones, no cameras, no media allowed. Just the fans and the band. Roland and Curt made some fun, warm and cozy conversation with the VIP audience. For several, they kind of wished this was the whole show, an intimate, fun cozy set with the band. And let’s just throw this out there…we’re here for it. If Tears for Fears wishes to have several shows a night in one city with under 100 people at a time…name your price!

After the soundcheck, which included Carina, Lauren will be on the east coast shows and half of the UK (so excited about her joining – heaven bless this tour), amphitheatre staff led the fans out of the area to wait for the show. This part was uncomfortable because it was hot. You couldn’t sit in the amphitheatre and wait for the show to start. You had to go in the heat outside unless you had a car to sit in. Given that many are flying in from around the world and getting dropped off by car services like Uber, it is very uncomfortable for them to sit outside. Not sure how to remedy that right now. So, bring a hat, sunscreen and whatever comfort you can get. Not sure why we can’t stay indoors but again, this is not a complaint and we don’t want this to detract from the euphoria that is Tears for Fears tours. The band members do not have a say in these types of decisions.

Merch table included a variety of new things that are not all on the official website. There’s the official Tears for Fears 2022 tour tshirt with all the cities. There’s a different version of the sun emblem long sleeve shirt and a few other items that you’ll have to attend the event to purchase or ask a fellow fan to buy for you. You may want to download cashapp so that fans can easily accept payment for the items you want and then have them mailed to you. Because there is so much new merch, buying one of everything meant we had loads of stuff to carry around into the amphitheatre. So, we let them know that this is a bit difficult. We can only bring in a clear bag that is 12x12x6 (see the official measurements on the venue page please – don’t quote us). But all that merch plus a breakable enamel Tears for Fears mug does not fit in that bag nor does that mug travel well in a busy venue with people dancing and singing. The venue understood our concern and said we could take our merch back to the car. Thank goodness!

After that, all was great! Venue opened, people got their seats and we had a blast!! Garbage as an opening act is incredible! Several fans reported they felt they sounded as amazing as an actual recorded album. Shirley Manson, their lead, wore an incredible ensemble and sounded as awesome as ever! We don’t have the full set list of songs she sang but many of the hits were performed (e.g. Stupid Girl, Only Happy When it Rains).

One of the biggest treats of the time between an opener and Tears for Fears is the music played in between. That usually consists of Stand or Fall, Ashes to Ashes and a few other cool songs. Fans noted they themselves were in such a state of euphoria that they don’t remember if any of these favourites were played on the sound system.

Tears for Fears Take the Stage…

The band entered the stage to ‘Stay.’ This worried some because here it is…that song is the most beautiful worrisome ballad outside of the other two worrisome songs which shall not be named (hint: fish and Sun). When people don’t know why something happens, they make something up. So here’s what we came up with… This tour is promoting the new album. Seven new songs are on this tour. The band opens with ‘No Small Thing’ which we knew was going to happen so what other walk out music were they going to use? ‘Listen’ would be ideal as a walkout and lead into ‘No Small Thing.’ However, ‘Stay’ it is… What we want fellow fans to try to do (and this will be difficult and may require supplements like a B-stress complex vitamin) is to not make assumptions or feel like there’s a hidden meaning in using that to start a show. Because right now, that’s how several feel. They’re worried the band is trying to give us a message. Here’s what we do know. The band said and expressed repeatedly how much this album meshed and reignited their collaboration and brotherhood. Let’s believe them and trust that ‘Stay’ was used because it’s a great lead in to ‘No Small Thing.’ *Update, fellow fan says they heard ‘Listen’ before the encore at this show…we’ll confirm.

The show then continued with several top favourites from The Tipping Point (see set list – thank you Lady Tamara and King of Cool Cuisine Posts in California). The show also included one or two quick conversations with the crowd. One led by Roland and another by Curt. Now…we usually get a little more than that and we look forward to it. But we also understand this is a concert, not a speech. So…we’ll gladly enjoy the music. But as we often say, they could come out and sit down and just stare and we’d swoon and scream. If they followed that sit down with a cup of tea and had a conversation we’d be all in it and ask for more.

Carina performed Suffer the Children in what has become a very special and anticipated part of the show. Carina’s approach to the song is so perfect. We’re not sure if Lauren will also be given the song to sing. Her professional singing career and from what we’ve heard so far on her published work make it clear she can handle anything. So…throw down the challenge to the band. Carina can keep STC and Lauren can tackle “Me & My Big Ideas” on this tour. We’ll bring the salts to revive all those who may faint.

At the end of the Cincinnati show, fan teams  headed on out pretty quick. The day had been long, the earlier heat had worn them out. Not much by the way of fan photos post show. But there were plenty before. Enjoy!

Day two in Ohio brought with it the other elements for which Tears for Fears are known. If you noticed, at least 2x a week since 2010 during a tour there’s a day where the city or skies above the venue experience The Sun, The Moon, The Wind…and The Rain! Cincinnati had the Sun and the Moon. Cuyahoga had the Wind and the Rain…it POURED! It was so bad, they had to delay VIP by one hour. No one was allowed in certain sections of the event area until 6:30pm. Fans were caught out in that mess and had to attend the concert completely soaked. So, we guess that it’s crucial to bring a poncho after all.

But once it cleared, fans lined up for merch and soon found their way to their seats. There was a sound check and all went well. It led to an incredibly beautiful clear night and the fan family came out tenfold to support the band. They sang at the top of their lungs and the energy permeated through to the band members themselves. Curt noted it on Twitter how loud the crowd was and that’s a good thing. All that love flowed out like a river! And that, dear fan family, was the show!

We do not know who the men are that recorded the concert with professional broadcast quality cameras. There was one on each side of the stage in Cincinnati. Perhaps there will be a concert DVD? We’ve seen that before but never actually saw anything come of it. We sure hope this time someone is putting together a reel we can buy. One thing we do want to note is that if you’re on the first or second row…it’s best not to hold up a camera in Roland’s face. We’re just going to flat out say it, it makes him uncomfortable. Several of us noticed it and have noticed it for years. It’s also kind of rude. He likes for fans to just enjoy the show…and in all honesty it’s hard to enjoy a show when you’re fiddling with your phone. So please keep that in mind. Let’s give them our full attention.

If you do have photos and snippets you want to share please let us know. We will not accept full video of a song from up close. You can email us or contact us via Twitter or Facebook. We’ll gladly add them with your name credit and include a page about you and your experience, if you’d like, on this site where we archive our fan life with Tears for Fears. Be sure to check-in before and after the show on Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram. Use hashtag #TFF22. We can’t wait to see and hug you in person! Safe travels!

-Tears for Fears Travel Fan Team

Follow @tearsforfears on Twitter, @tearsforfearsmusic on Instagram @curtsmith on Twitter (for fan shenanigans follow @papasfans)

*more footage from Ohio may be added at a later date. Some of the files were so large we couldn’t edit them in time. We don’t want to make people wait too long for a synopsis.

Tears for Fears Travel Fans Q2 Update

Dedicated to Lady Tamara and the Friday Night Fry Up Team who led us up to the day of the release. Their team and many at Radio Bath (i.e. Dave Mason) continued to play Tears for Fears’ music as well as provide amazing in-depth interviews with the band. We remain grateful for it. *Featured photo is Gwen of TFF UK with Roland and Curt at an event celebrating The Tipping Point’s release.

The album is a roaring success. It’s in the hands of a lot of long-time loyal fans as well as returning fans plus new ones and an additional generation of music lovers. The album came out at a very important time and right near the anniversaries of that which started it all.

The Tipping Point led to even more fans celebrating the band’s first official album under the name Tears for Fears – The Hurting – released the 7th of March in 1983. It is still being incorporated into events, sampled by so many artists and still being sung today- even in schools, choirs and important political movements. Alongside the new album, The Hurting has been highly discussed/mentioned in recent interviews by producers, podcast hosts and tweeted by fans, some of whom stateside noted they discovered it after SFTBC.

Unlike other albums and releases, we feel The Tipping Point was brought into the world in proper fashion. Huge thanks to Tears for Fears management’s marketing team or whomever on the management side that ensured this album was highlighted on all social platforms including sponsored hashtags. The best part of all the highlights and countdowns were the numerous interviews, Q&As and in-person events in which the band participated. From Graduate to present day, the interviews with the band touched on every nook and cranny of their history. This list may not have all the interviews but it does include some of the agreed upon top favourites!

Bespoke Interviews

The top favourites were Dave Mason of Radio Bath and Nihal Arthanayake of BBC radio 5’s as they gave listeners incredible listening experiences. If you haven’t heard them you missed out on an incredible moment!! Schedule time to dive into the replays tonight or sometime this week.

Listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/radiobath/tears-for-fears-album-special-the-tipping-point-part-1/

BBC’s Nihal Arthanayake conducted another stunner that is deep, well-executed and brilliant on every level. Mr. Arthanayake did his homework and research so thoroughly that he was able to touch on some of the even earlier beginnings of the band which prompted Roland and Curt to go even further with glimpses and descriptions of their childhood that went far beyond knowing that Roland was appreciative of Curt’s voice after hearing him singing a song by Blue Oyster Cult. It goes MUCH further than most interviews. There are so many new pieces of info and memories shared than previous years. It’s certainly worth the listen.

Additional gems include the following and don’t miss out on Drummer Genius Jamie’s interview on The Real Hope podcast noted below.

Sunday Morning on CBS:

Good Morning America

The Colbert Show

Break the Man Debut with Band Q&A on YouTube

TFF articles

France:

GQ

Creative Independent

Vulture:

Reset Podcast

Kyle Meredith

Newsweek

Full Cry

https://recordcollectormag.com/issue/february-2022

Pocket Mags

Zoot

Dreams of Children

Tape Op

Audacity: (Facebook)

Associated Press (AP):

BBC

Classic Pop Magazine:

Deezer:

iHeart Radio – Inside the Studio:

Irish Times

Another from Irish Times

Metal Talk:

Music Week:

New York Times

NPR:

Nostaligie

Parismatch:

PurePopForNowPeople

Record Store Day Podcast:

SiriusXM –

Spin Magazine:

Sodajerker:

The Afterword:

The Independent:

The Post:

The Real Hope Podcast (featuring Drummer Genius Jamie)

The Star: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2022/02/11/tears-for-fears-discuss-the-long-road-to-the-tipping-point.html

Tidal:

Variety:

Vertigo: (may be over)

Virgin Radio UK:

These interviews have been extensive and while most of us hardcore folks know these answers to the questions, we did learn something new with each one. Yes, we knew Roland heard Curt singing a song by Blue Oyster Cult but we learned more about their interactions prior to Roland hearing him sing and the things that led up to the blessed day these twin flames kindled their bond of musical brotherly love.

It’s worth it to listen to each interview twice – they’re THAT good! It’ll take you a month but if you’re a loyal lover of music you’ll be glad you did. Lots of good stuff!! (There were also podcasts and newspaper articles (i.e. Songcraft and Sacramento Bee newspaper))

The Arrival…

The Tipping Point released right on time. We got it at midnight Friday the 25th – same day as SFTBC in 85. Like New Year’s Day, we watched it come into existence starting in The Philippines with Joyce from the Tears for Fears Phils Kook group and eventually to the states with Andye.

As part of the release, several fans got to hear more than just the singles at events. In addition to NST, TTP and BTM, fans heard the remaining songs from the album. At a Q&A in Hackney, several fans got to ask questions including Tears for Fears Fan Forum members Gwen and Darren. Both of their questions were referred to on separate occasions not long after the Q&A. Darren’s ended up in the newspaper. Certainly a really cool moment compared to the last time one of our fan conversations made headlines (i.e. Q1 2019 Andye and Curt re: some discomfort Curt was having – of which we learned more about in the subsequent interviews of 2021 and 2022 and the backstory to the song Stay – track 10 on TTP. That conversation, of course, will go down in history like SK and FOW – insightful, but let us lay it to rest. We’re focusing on these guys’ loving future together).

Thankfully, in this process we learned that the two angels were not fighting but moreso they, in the end, were not excited with what they were working on. Musical “speed dating with some of today’s most notable musicians” did not produce the results and quality they wanted. This lack of satisfaction with the early songs led to conversations with one another and the two had a sit down in Curt’s beautiful and blessed house with their acoustic guitars. There, they began these miraculously sublime songs – ‘No Small Thing’ being one. The two bonded and deep dived into all the feels. The result, with the help of Charlton plus a few others, we, the fans, were gifted with 13 songs. Each one is performing a ton of emotional surgeries virtually for fans who were longing for the band’s healing voices. In the fan forum, testimonials about how The Tipping Point is getting followers through some tough times are peppered throughout the comments. Their voices are the medicine we need.

The spot where the healing began…beautiful!

The mental image of fans resting with their eyes closed, headphones on while the lyrics mend their hearts, minds, past and present hurts is a phenomenal scene. Tweets, posts and videos discussing the magnificence of it all made it clear that the magic and blessing of the band is still as strong as ever. CDs plus several of the colourful vinyls sold exponentially leading them to the #1 and #2 spots on a variety of charts for a little over two weeks. Some fans don’t even own a record player but bought the LPs anyway. Thank you Chris Hammond, Matthew Stewart and others for sharing your vinyl photos.

The reviews have continued to pour out the praise!

DJs from back in the day to present spent a lot of time discussing the album. One of the best online dedication events was with Jake Rudh. His Transmission show was hours of Tears for Fears music videos including Graduate plus TFF peers like Kate Bush and Yaz/Alison Moyet. He even played ‘Russians’ by Sting/The Police. Imagine being at a video party with a big screen and every gem from the decade’s UK based bands playing alongside deep cuts by Tears for Fears and Graduate. It was incredible!!!! Thank you DJ Rudh!

Fan Interactions/Band Chats

As mentioned, the band took time immediately following the release to hang out with UK fans. And when you think it’s all over…it’s not over…it’s not over ::takes a bite out of this tangerine::. Tears for Fears went further by partnering with various records stores and dedicated music locations. They met up with fans AGAIN, answered questions, signed autographs and got to meet even more of their loyal base ahead of the tour. It should be noted that hundreds have bought, not one ticket, but, as we encourage, multiple so they can follow the tour from start to finish. The band will see a lot of their dedicated Travel Fans in the audience. Maybe we’ll all fill up our gas tanks at the same station along the way. Big shoutout to Darren, Gwen, Stephen and team for getting out to these UK events and ensuring the soldiers of sound are well represented.

There was also a chance to chat with Curt on Reddit. Sadly if you didn’t already have an account, your questions did not appear. But we suggest holding on to your account in case there’s another Reddit chat opportunity. Listen: https://reddit.app.link/3fVKoq1V4nb

Tim made good on the listening party opportunity. We got to sit with Curt and thousands of fans on Twitter and go over each track together with backstory information on every song. It was an amazing hour! Tim made good on his word – Twitter Listening Party

Tears for Fears also hosted their own “Twitter Q&A” by allowing us all to send in questions. One of the highlights was learning about the lone woman in BTM. She does represent the fact that some people will go along just to get along. BTM is a powerful song that we hope will be used in anthems to come as the globe pushes for more equality on multiple levels including women having more of a say in healthcare laws that pertain to issues that only women are forced to deal with due to biology (e.g. ovarian cancer, etc.).

Reactions to the album have prompted several to dedicate themselves further to the band. Lady Tamara got a TFF license plate and a new tattoo. Body art seemed to be the most popular way to show one’s love for the band. Others made their own merch in addition to that which was provided by the band.

All while the album was being celebrated, lots of other cool things were going on simultaneously. Charlton and Michael Wainwright celebrated a birthday, Jamie joined A&F Drums. Oleta Adams started her 2022 tour and several fans got to see her and get their merchandise signed. We also learned that Doug Petty put together some piano arrangements of the band’s work and Curt mentioned they’d likely be releasing that in the future. We expect a residency show to accompany it where we can dress to the nine’s and listen in a grand theatre setting. We’ll likely nag them to pieces until this actually happens because…well…that’s kinda what we do. We were swept off our feet with the BBC Piano Room show and there’s no way on earth we can settle for just that one occurrence. We can’t wait for more.

Watch Tears For Fears Play Three Songs With The BBC Concert Orchestra

If you somehow have to miss this tour, more shows have been added for the fall. There’s a Banquet Interview and Q&A to come. It is sold out but we do have some spare tickets. Contact us on Facebook or Twitter if you need them. Also, if you didn’t hear back from the band personally, that doesn’t mean they didn’t see what you said. The response to the album and all that went on was INTENSE and overflowing. They sent out a thank you. See these kind words from the band…

The Returning Fans

As mentioned, the band’s management’s marketing teams brought in a ton of returning fans. Some mentioned their fandom kind of dropped off after Seeds of Love. And the headlines around the band’s album have all been about a “comeback” as if the band has been hiding away in some cave for the last 20 years…and we know that’s not true. The band has been touring almost annually since ELAHE was released. So at the top of the Tears for Fears’ Travel Fans accounts you’ll find a summary and guide that helps new people and returners.

Examining the Music

As much as we want to move forward and not hold the band to their early hits so we can enjoy all that they are providing for us in the present and future, it’s hard not see Rick Beato’s video on Everybody Wants to Rule the World. He’s done another featuring Tears for Fears but this one specifically really touched our hearts. EWTRTW hits different…it has a universal power that has been blessed. Mr. Beato really digs in and lays the song out in layers. It’s like looking at the anatomy of something great. Enjoy this. Leave him a note and let him know you appreciate it! He’s fan like the rest of us.

Curt reminded us that 1 April is the original Tears for Fears Live Concert Day. Tears for Fears had their first show at Moles 40 years ago this year. That’s the age of many of us (or close to it) in the Toddlers for Tears for Fears sub group. We were running around in our little dresses, short pants and tiny t-shirts singing the words all wrong. Meanwhile an amazing review was written and was preserved. So grateful for this wonderful digitised keepsake.

More Amazing Artwork

Another piece of fine artwork was created during this time. We thought it was a unique one time thing but apparently the artist made several copies. Lady Tamara and others were able to get one and it is stunning!

That nearly sums it up for Q2…there’s lots more and you can find it on the Tears for Fears Travel Fan & Kooks page and the Fan Forum. Also checkout a new group “The Tears for Fears Gratitude and Appreciation Group” on Facebook. We’re looking forward to partnering with them on a cool fan generated project. Big thanks to The Curry Family and the Tears for Fears Fan Forum for all their work to ensure everyone got an album, the deluxe set, Raoul’s new artwork and so much more during this time. Members and the Curry family went above and beyond to make sure that teams got tickets, travel accommodations and so much more. The Tears for Fears Travel fan team has distributed all the tickets except the VIPs which will have to be picked up at Will Call with the designated ticket holders. We’ll be having additional meetings and logistics discussions along the way. We’ll be tweeting along the way. We do not expect to do any M&Gs with the band this time around but if you see “Roll Call” on our Twitter or Facebook accounts get in touch right away to check-in for a fan activity.

So what’s next? The live shows! See you in a few weeks! Big thanks to management and the local authorities for making it possible for more people to attend the shows. Thanks to you, our readers, for reading! Be sure to follow the band on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. They’re also on TikTok.

@tearsforfears on Twitter | @tearsforfearsmusic on Instagram | Tears for Fears on Facebook – use the official account. Follow the travel fans excursions @papasfans on Twitter and ‘Tears for Fears & Kooks’ on Facebook

–Tears for Fears’ Travel Fan Team

Tears for Fears Travel Fans’ Quarterly Update

Dedicated to the birthday week lovelies, Lady Wilder Smith and Young Lady Vivi Orzabal, plus dedications to the Curry family and Radio Bath who have been super supportive of the band and Travel Fans worldwide!

!!SO MUCH GRATITUDE!!

We got more than we asked for or expected from the band in the fourth quarter. The new music, more new merch, great notifications, email, reminders, tour schedule and the requested ticket options were incredible to say the least. These gifts were followed by a number of truly impactful and touching interviews with Roland and Curt. Big shout out to Gwen of TFF UK for often making sure we had those interviews as soon as we woke up. As far as the year goes, we had a ton of great gifts from the band’s families as well. Be sure to revisit their music and art noted in the Q2 & Q3 updates of this site. Shoutout to the Curry family for providing some great pieces from Raoul Orzabal’s artwork. Truly extraordinary! Also, big high fives to the families who bought their children tickets to the shows! There were lots of cool photos of kids getting their concert tickets for their birthdays and as holiday gifts. Proves how multigenerational the band is as we’ve noted for several years now.

The Second Single

Most of you have already heard it and play it often. For those that haven’t, it’s called ‘No Small Thing’ and as much as it has excited many, it has also flustered some. Thankfully, for most it was a “wow, they went there, good on them” moment. Not going to sit here and act like everyone embraced it immediately. After watching and reading comments for several days after it was released, here’s what several of us noticed. There were a number of men who said they didn’t “get it.” They questioned why the band did not (in their opinion) produce a “catchy pop song with a hook.” Dudes, since when have Tears for Fears produced music for superficial reasons? For some of us, we feel just producing pop for pop’s sake is a cheap distraction. Instead, the guys gave us a rich and bold song that acts as a mirror to look at ourselves – be we the problem or part of the solution (and or, may we dare say, the picked on – which in itself can make one think of how one can improve one’s situation). The song shows us who we are as a global community. This is what Tears for Fears have done so eloquently, in their way, for years.

It’s a very strong song and just like Darren Hull, moderator of the Tears for Fears Fan Forum says, (paraphrase) “get a good headset and have a listen – it makes all the difference.” And it does. The song is what you’d want in a strong smart global leader. If humans could embody this song, we’d be close to Utopia.

It came at a very auspicious time, as with The Tipping Point. The 3rd of December is a very tough day for a few fans. It’s the anniversary of family members’ passing, our condolences. The song thankfully comforted several of those individuals experiencing loss and we’re all just taking a moment to accept we’re in the middle of a world at a crossroads. We hope the band will include this song on the tour. We all need a moment of reflection as we enjoy our freedoms – or what’s left of them. *Several pieces of imagery in the song feature photos that coincidentally reflect recent laws that have caused major issues for some citizens or in some cases were created to protect the freedoms of others. The reactions that followed the song’s release revealed a lot about certain individuals – some of whom we may need to just stay away from because the root of their “anger” was inequality and that’s not the way of TFF or their music. Thankfully, as the weeks went on, posts emerged noting how people play the song daily, or in the morning and how it is the first song on their minds at the start of their day…and, by miracle, a lot of former critics said… “We get it now and we love it!” Thank goodness.

The Tickets & The 2022 Tour

We examined things that went well with the ticket buying process and things that may need to be addressed. The prices for the tickets ranged from the low $100s up to $495 before taxes and fees. The higher end tickets included some great incentives such as VIP entrance, lounges for some venues and the beloved soundcheck plus other gifts. This coincidentally matches a request made back in 2019. So that was a good thing. Many feel this offering will make up for the absence of meet and greets due to Covid. We can add this to what went right as we kind of got what we asked for two years ago. We got a presale code that allowed us to buy our tickets ahead of others. We did not have to fight with scalpers who often bought the tickets for $150 then drove the price up 300% on a third-party site. This also removed the need for those desperate to be able to see the band, from going bankrupt purchasing third party seats only to find out that some of them are not even valid tickets. It also eliminated the pain of sitting in a Ticketmaster waiting room one hour early only to still find that premium seats were completely gone. So we got a deal this year, gifts and great seats all for one price. Now let’s pray Covid and all its complicated restrictions are removed by then so we can go to the shows with ease and little to no anxiety.

So, what went wrong? Some fans reported they didn’t get the code until late at night. We don’t know why and we should really investigate what happened. Some thought they could only use the code once which meant they bought one ticket with the code and then fandangled a way to get tickets to other shows when they should have been using the same code for every venue. Many of us were online trying to explain to others and hopping on calls throughout the day to show other fans they can use the code and go to more than one show.

But overall, that code saved us! Would really appreciate that becoming a standard with the band and the ticket distributor.

A lot of us bought a lot of extra tickets because some just weren’t able to get tickets at that moment. We do recognise there was some sticker shock for some. Looking back at prices, $400 is the highest we’ve ever paid for a show in the past and that was 2017 when the guys tagged along with H&O (Shaky Knees $1000 each tickets were the exception as that was a 3 day festival with free beer all day). Knowing this, we have, as mentioned, purchased extra tickets. We distributed some already to those we knew needed a few more days. Here’s what tickets are left that we know of. They are all for face value, no one is selling for higher than they paid.

Reach out to us on Facebook if you need one of these. We’ll get you in touch with the original purchaser.

2 Orchestra seats for Atlanta

2 VIP for Cincinnati

1 extra non-VIP for Cincinnati

2 VIP for Cuy OH

1 extra non-VIP for Cuy OH

2 left side orchestra non-VIP San Diego (on hold)

2 center for Los Angeles

1 right center Los Angeles

2 VIP Irvine TX (Dallas)

2 extra Irvine

2 VIP Tampa

RSVP to the Show

Right now when you search Tears for Fears + city of the show you plan to attend on Facebook, it should produce an event page where you can note you’re attending. The purpose of the event pages are to help fans connect and travel together if they wish. These are fan generated event pages meant for fan generated fun.

Annual Holiday Song

Curt’s WamU video in Psych 3: This is Gus is the holiday song this year and it was so damn good, people took cold showers to calm down after watching it. That ice cream though… If you haven’t seen the new Psych movie featuring Curt and all his pals, you need to go watch it. It’s funny and you’ll be rewatching the ending if not the whole movie at least three times. It’s delicious! Here’s some behind the scenes chatter on it – minus Curt though, damnit – where is he in this!? And who is serving ice cream sandwiches?

More Music:

photo by Wiley Price of SLA

TFF Alumni member, Oleta Adams, had a great start to winter. She was featured in a holiday parade and also performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and IN UNISON choir. It was absolutely beautiful! Be sure to catch her on tour in spring 2022.

Michael Wainwright also has a new holiday song called ‘Don’t It Feel Like Christmas‘ and we’re super thrilled! Be sure to get your copy of that!

Libre Stone released a beautiful enriched black vinyl of their latest album Mark of Cain. It’s a real beauty. Like a black stallion horse, it’s got power and is an awesome album for a road trip. We’ll definitely be playing it as we get around town.

TFF for a Good Cause

The UK’s largest independent music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins uses music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses, disabilities and feelings of isolation. They are currently partnered with the band on this marvelous piece of art. It’s the audio from EWTRTW. The music therapist within the travel fan team, Deb, would be able to better explain how powerful music therapy is for patients. This is another amazing way to salute the band all while participating in a wonderful cause. It looks like all are signed and you can also choose framing depending on which option you pick. Be sure to have a look.

Next Steps:

So now, we count down to the 25th of February, an auspicious date. This is the day that the new album is released (and coincidentally the same date that the band’s SFTBC album was released in ’85). The Tipping Point will be available in full and our merch will be released from SandBoxLLC. If you haven’t purchased it, please do not hesitate because the album and merch might all be sold out by that time. Go ahead and grab your tour couture and garb now!

Also take time to listen to the interviews. There are many and they are so important to understanding the roots of the band if you have, for some odd reason, never done that deep dive. You will love them more and feel closer to your fellow fans as we surge forward in support of the band’s extremely healing work. Here are a few of the ones that really stood out:

Consequence of Sound

Consequence of Sound – a second one

#474 Greatest Music of All Time Podcast

NME

SDE – on how Tipping Point unlocked the whole album

Tape Op

The Creative Independent

The Stereogum

Rolling Stone

The New Cue

Rocksonteurs

Retropop Magazine

Ken Bruce – BBC2 (all week featured Curt Smith from 2-7 Jan, 2022

My Turning Point

Fans’ Reality

We have to understand we have a bit of a threat on our hands. While many are so eager to get the vaccine and said they’ll get as many vaccines as necessary, some people can’t do that. For medical reasons and more, some just aren’t physically able to take the current Covid vaccine. There’s also questions about the health and safety of vaccines and how many are too many. Therefore, a lot of Covid testing has to take place if current venue rules stay in place. Prior to the show, those without the vaccine(s) have to be tested and if they are positive they are mandated to rush away and isolate. What a heart crushing and horrible thing to endure. If you are for whatever reason testing positive (Vaccinated or not) you can’t enter most venues as of now – we hope that as this virus goes away the rules will change. Because, here’s the deal, you spend all that money on a great seat, you’ve got your tour couture on and all of the sudden you can’t even enter and are sent away like an outcast? We get it…health and safety first. We want everyone to be able to get to the show and actually get in. So, for now, consider isolating and testing two weeks to a month prior to the show. Make sure you’re in best health (take your vitamins, exercise, sweat in a sauna, eat more veggies, etc.) and ensure that you are travelling with healthy people. If you have to take a flight, be sure to wear a mask or maybe rent a car, disinfect it and drive to the venue yourself. Our goal is to get to the shows and actually enter, Covid free and spend the summer together.

Meanwhile, please know that we’ve got some great moderators out there in a few groups. Shoutout to the fan forum for providing a free ticket opportunity recently. The Travel Fans were approached by Live Nation for a ticket giveaway but as with all things we get band permission first before conducting giveaways in their name. We’ll let you know how that goes. Right now, interacting with fellow fans on Facebook and Twitter is enjoyable. Yes, sometimes there’s a lot of repeat information and often the same songs and photos show up but the moderators have been great about deleting things that were previously posted. The Travel Fan team and the TFF Fan Forum will continue with the Tears for Fears Tuesdays #TFFTuesdays. We’re chatting and happily highlighting cool things from the band. Be sure to join in and interact with other fans!

Be good to yourself, be good to each other! Thanks for reading! Have a great new year!

Follow @tearsforfears @curtsmith @jameswollam @stone_libre @realoletaadams @papasfans @radiobathDAB

The Tipping Point …A Summary of the Single’s Release

Dedicated to Shaun Smith and the Friday Night Fry Up team at Radio Bath! Thank you for making release day a two-day party! THAT was awesome!

It’s been an exciting three weeks to say the least. First Tears for Fears win an Ivor Novello award on the 21st of September 2021. Then we get a single release of Tipping Point from the anticipated album whose title the majority of us who huddle daily had solidly confirmed as early as 2017…and really, there was hinting of it prior to that. Music writers were discussing in depth by 2017. Many of us have had a sixth sense about the album. For example, we took one look at Curt’s tweet featuring Cinta Vidal and her gallery and said, “That has a Tears for Fears feel to it…possibly the cover artwork?” And what do you know? There it is…

Artwork by Cinta Vidal

Many thanks to Robert for confirming our prediction the morning of the release! We were right!

Much like Libre Stone featuring Captain Julian Orzabal, Roland’s brother’s band, the guys came correct with it by having not only the CD ready but all merch in place plus the video. All dropped simultaneously and we lept on that immediately. Note that they obliged us by having their names down the side of the sleeve. They know we LOVE that! We always want the name of the band on as much merch as possible. Represent!

One of many official items in the merch store…

There’s also the Super Deluxe option which includes the colourful vinyl and the cd plus the bonus tracks.

Standard copy will include:

  1. No Small Thing
  2. Tipping Point (the single)
  3. Long, Long, Long Time
  4. Break the Man
  5. My Demons
  6. Rivers of Mercy
  7. Please Be Happy (revised since we last heard it sung by Roland)
  8. Master Plan
  9. End of Night
  10. Stay (revised since we last heard it)

Deluxe copy will include:

All of the above plus ‘Let It All Evolve,’ Secret Location,’ and ‘The Shame’

That Video! It was directed by photographer and director Matt Mahurin. Many thanks to David Wild for that confirmation.

Two of the first radio stations to announce that they would play the single from the album were Radio Bath in Curt’s hometown and BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball Breakfast show. Zoe had Curt as a featured guest. From what we learned from him, he was able to join the broadcast from his home in Los Angeles. While he and Zoe spoke, fans from all over the globe tuned in awaiting this moment. Fans as far away as Malaysia were tuned in and kudos to them. High five to everyone stateside who stayed up almost 48 hours planning and prepping for the moment. By 5am ET, we not only heard the new song, but had purchased our merch and shared the release on a number of Tears for Fears fan huddle spots (e.g. Tears for Fears Travel Fan page, Tears for Fears Fan forum, Tears for Fears Peru, etc.). From Facebook to Twitter and beyond, the Tipping Point single was spreading like wildfire to much praise and adoration. The random few who dared to deny its excellence were quickly shut down by numerous people including some negative guy who thought he was special because he had 10K followers on YouTube. That lackluster count was also shut down and he was left looking like a clown. Everyone else has not only applauded the Tipping Point but are writing about it within media and corporate circles.

Messages reflect that the band is multigenerational

“A fair number of corporate leaders in various industries got in touch with me by phone and text noting how much they loved it – including one from a certain famous soda company. I heard from colleagues past and present and made sure to share it with fellow media peeps. However, I do hope they are remaining vigilant in their entertainment news beat and will reach out to the band or management without prompt. I also plan to gently check-in with producers to see if they have any interview plans.” – Andye

Meanwhile, the print media in music has jumped right on it. The best thus far is The Guardian interview, first shown to us by Gwen of Tears for Fears UK. Take a moment to read it. It is important.

More articles featuring the band’s release:

Rolling Stone

NME Japan

Spotify has them on the cover of the Legends category playlist.

“Omgahd, Like Where Have They Been?”  RIGHT HERE, THEY NEVER LEFT! PAY ATTENTION!

The number of people coming out of the woodwork on Instagram with this question is astonishing. The good thing is none of those people self-proclaimed to be their number one fan…cause if they did we’d need to have a serious intervention to bring them off that high horse. The band has been producing music and they have given us all kinds of treats and music since ELAHE. Curt was kind enough to re-release Mayfield AND put together an incredible bundle for us with candy and keepsakes. He even put a full long-sleeved shirt in some of the bags. If you go to shows you’ll see people with yellow bands on their arms, lanyards that say VIK and they’re probably carrying a bag of Skittles because that is the official unofficial candy of Tears for Fears. He also had several events in L.A. and was a featured guest at Brit Week 2012. There was also this album ‘Deceptively Heavy,’ online chats and promotions around his frequent appearances on Psych with James Roday and Dule Hill. Roland joined Twitter for a few years and released Sex Drugs and Opera: There’s Life After Rock n’ Roll which included a book signing at the Winstar Hotel show in Oklahoma. Then, there were 2 Record Store Days where we got ‘Ready Boys & Girl,’ Massey Hall Toronto concert. There was also The Greatest Hits with ‘I Love You But I’m Lost’ and ‘Stay.’ That’s not something to ignore, it was fresh new music! They did this ALL WHILE caring for their families – with pets, two children each, getting their now young adults to University and helping them with their careers in music and art/design. Roland’s wife passed and he somehow pushed through the tears and found a way to create steeped in grief. No, they haven’t gone anywhere. We’ve all been walking side by side this whole time…which brings us back to the article.

If you note, the article describes how the band is living their life all while managing a music career. Meanwhile, in fan land, several of us are hilariously in our “between concerts routine” …like birds on a wire we’re perched and ready with our packed bags, checking the time for the daily Tears for Fears fan huddle hour online, checking Twitter for official band member tweets, and putting away travel money so we can leap up and get to a show at the drop of a hat.

The Family Is on a Roll!

As mentioned in the quarterly update, Libre Stone’s album has arrived in the mailbox of many and fans are loving it! Be sure to join in the fun!

Andye has put this playlist together featuring not just (the) ‘Tipping Point’ but also the aforementioned that the band released since 2013. There’s also Quarterboy – Roland’s son Pascal’s music as well as ‘Bet’ by Curt’s eldest daughter Lady Diva Smith. Be sure to purchase their music and enjoy the Spotify Playlist so the analytics behind it all will capture our enthusiasm for their music. The algorithm will work that into featured areas of the site and more will begin to listen to it as well. It has also been advised by fan forum moderator and members that it sounds even better when you listen with a good set of headphones…like, the real deal headphones. Try it and see the difference for yourself.

What’s next? Curt is going to be on Psych 3 singing “Thong Song” with Mr. Hill. Get your cold water ready…just kidding. Seriously, Curt will be on Psych 3: This is Gus (The Sequel to the Sequel). The movie streams on PeacockTV on the 18th of November, 2021. Peacock is currently free but you can get a premium membership that is so worth it! Check it out!

Courtesy CD/Silver Kitty Twitter

And of course, the band noted that additional concert information and plans will be coming up in some weeks…so, watch their space, this space and subscribe to their site so you don’t miss out. We’ll be here with summaries but it’s always great to see that email in your inbox from Tears for Fears!

For those in the Tears for Fears Fan Forum, there will be a t-shirt coming out soon. It looks really good. We’ll discuss that more when the purchase link is ready. Thanks for reading! Enjoy your band merch! *Little tip – that merch might release before the cd…if it does then you’ll want to make two separate orders. One for the merch and another for the cd. Read the fine print when you purchase.

Thanks again,

Tears for Fears Travel Fan Moderator Andye

Follow @tearsforfears (TW) @tearsforfearsmusic (IG) @curtsmith (TW) @stone_libre @LibreStone (IG) @pascalorzabal (TW) @papasfans (TW) @tfftravelfans (IG)

Another BIG THANKS to David and Mr. Mahurin as well as Shaun Smith and team at Radio Bath!!!

Tears for Fears Tour 2022

As of the 15th of July, the remainder of the tour is cancelled. The September show however is still on…

*Curt has sadly hurt his rib, he is injured. We’ve learned it is impossible for him to sing in this very painful condition. We pray he can breathe better and take the time to heal. Due to this injury, several shows in the UK were cancelled and refunds are being issued. We continue to lean on the information from Alison Moyet, the venues (and the band when they are able to post). We as a fan team are beyond worried for them and wish them the very best as well as a full recovery for Curt so he can get on with this life. How sad to be paused like that. We can’t wait to see him in good spirits and dancing around again. Please see the shows with an asterisk that have been cancelled.

Featured Event: Tears for Fears at The Lytham Festival

(Alison Moyet and Natalie Imbruglia took care of this show on behalf of the band. It was amazing! See Alison’s social pages for video and more).

This festival now has a part II that includes a day for Tears for Fears. We are happy to note that our dear Alison Moyet is going to join them as an opener as will Natalie Imbruglia known for her song ‘Torn’ which is such a perfect “festival” song. Go ahead and envision yourself sipping Mimosas with that song being played. But can we take a moment and also say how excited we are about Alison Moyet being with the band again? Can this just be forever? Alison Moyet with TFF as much as possible please! We definitely want to her to be at the elusive fan conference alongside Michael Wainwright, Michael Magno and other amazing artists. But we digress, let’s stay focused on this event.

Date: Saturday, 9 July, 2022
Location: Lytham Festival in Lancashire
Hotel Suggestion: Hy Hotel on Clifton Street
Buy Tickets here

For those that have issues getting around you may want to spend a little more and get the garden pass so you can sit down and not stand the whole day. Have a look at this video to understand the space and see the scan of the area.


What to know about this show…why is it special? It’s in an absolutely beautiful place. Try not to want to up and move there once you arrive. It’s near the sea! The sea! Those of us residing in landlocked areas rejoice! The breezy air and enjoyable environment alongside their new music and presence will make this one of those really nice memorable shows. It’s on motherland turf for the band in many ways. Family and friends will be there. Get your tickets and prepare for an excellent weekend!

Tour 2022 Dates & Tickets – Announced on Friday 12 November, 2022

Logistics: (if you don’t care about saving money, getting insurance and have no Covid questions, skip to the tour dates below)
Prepare to attend shows prior to and after the festival as well as enjoying the new music from the upcoming album The Tipping Point (get your merch now on the site). You are also encouraged to wear Libre Stone and or Tears for Fears merch at the shows in order to be identifiable by other fans. The band has noted that with our subscription we can get the artist’s presale ticket options so we hope everyone has taken care of their signing up. Otherwise you can use the other option or buy the tickets on Friday the 19th of November. You can access the direct ticket sales through the site, so we’re not going to list that information this time because the band has already provided it on the official site. Below are the links to each place plus hotel and flight suggestions. We will likely meet up at each place and travel together.

Dose of Reality – we hope we can erase this part of the update in the next 3 months. However, let’s talk about Covid. Due to its highly contagious nature, it’s likely the band is not doing a meet and greet. So if you’re attending shows with the sole purpose of some band time…let’s be real. Go for the music alone and the opportunity to celebrate the band with fellow fans. Do not even bother asking us if we’re going backstage. We’re not asking nor expecting any opportunities like that. (Please note that the UK has lifted their Covid restrictions as of February 2022. The band’s management arranged a number of appearances by the band including a Q&A where fans were able to take photos and speak to Roland and Curt without restrictions. It was quite nice. We don’t imagine anything like that happening in the United States.)

The shot… some of us can tolerate it and others can’t due to allergies. For those that can’t handle it, please, buy 3 take home tests. Use one in advance to make sure you can get your results with ease or you can take a test at some of the venues if you schedule your test in advance with the venue. If you’re following the whole tour and need continued Covid testing, let Andye know. She is working to ensure all fans have as much info as possible so they don’t get to a show and get turned away due to lack of required documents.

Post-Surgery – if you’ve had a hip replacement, are on a cane or dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome and are worried you’ll have issues getting to your set, arriving, etc. contact Andye so she can work with you to help you get in touch with the accessible service. We’re not spring chickens anymore and we can’t walk a football field to the parking lot and back.

Flights – we’re going to suggest going with Delta for all travel during the US leg of the tour due to their Covid policy which seems to accommodate all the various conditions one might be in during these questionable times. They also offer credit for flights if things go wrong. The link we provided is directly to the Sky Miles program. You need to save yourself some money and collect points. They come in handy when you least expect it. You’ll have options to use the sky lounge and relax between long layovers. You’ll pay less for flights by adding your points and using upgrades.

Get the Insurance – remember when the band had family illnesses? Remember when certain festivals cancelled? Remember Covid? Oh wait, Covid is still here. Yeah, get the insurance. You never know if you’ll need to call the airline and say, “I need a refund because…” It’s about $10 extra dollars but you’ll feel safer and be less upset if this sickness causes us any other issues. We can only hope none of us, nor the band gets sick. Insurance (ticket and flight) will save you a lot of money in the long run. Expect to pay about $1000 total if you attend every single show and get the insurance on flight and tickets. Not a bad deal given you’ll get back the $5,000+ you’re spending on flights and tickets.

Q&A Sessions:

26 Jan, 2022 – Virtual Artist Confidential featuring Tears for Fears – performance and interview event is hosted by 80s on 8’s Alan Hunter and 1st Wave & Volume Host Lori Majewski. To enter, email rsvp@siriusxm.com and include Tears for Fears in the subject line of the email and include your full name, valid email and cell phone number in the email. Must be sent in by the 25th of Jan. Only 40 people can join. Must be a U.S. resident and 18 years of age.

21 February, 2022

Rough Trade East presents a In-Conversation with Tears for Fears at EartH Theatre Hackney. Tickets went on sale on the 21st of Jan. Many UK based travel fans were able to get tickets. We have requested a virtual participation ticket. If they allow it we’ll let you know.

MAY 20, 2022

RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER seating chart

CINCINNATI, OH

Hotel (You can stay at the venue’s suggestion on the Kentucky side or you can opt for accommodations further out – this seems to be the best for the money and the location. We’ve tried this brand and it was actually very comfortable, clean and neat).

MAY 21, 2022

BLOSSOM MUSIC CENTER seating chart (at the time we did research on this location, we noticed their site was not up to date)

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH

Hotel Country Inn and Suites is owned by the Radisson. This specific location is closest to the venue. We’ve also tried this brand and it was very nice and well maintained.

MAY 24, 2022

THE PAVILION AT TOYOTA MUSIC FACTORY (this venue is offering Covid testing on site, you’ll also be expected to carry a clear plastic PVC bag vs. a purse. The reason they want it clear is to keep from having to touch the items of guest.)

IRVING, TX

Hotel – this is the Marriott that is closest to the venue. *You’re going to want to stay at this location – take our word for it!

May 25th, 2022

** this show was announced the week of 17 Jan. TFF in Houston, Texas. Tickets are on sale on the Tears for Fears site in the tour section. Location: Smart Financial Centre at Sugarland.

MAY 27, 2022

AK-CHIN PAVILION (We noticed this site is already selling tickets before the actual presale of the band – but through a marketplace or third party – you may want to go straight to the Tears for Fears website vs. relying on this site if you’re looking for early options. We’ve gone that route before but only at the last minute to accommodate additional travel fans. Not ideal.)

PHOENIX, AZ

Hotel – This is the Hilton and it’s in the same area as that the venue. It’s in a gorgeous location so if you can take advantage of the break between the Texas and AZ shows, explore the area. Tears for Fears Superfan Lael should be available to assist you.

MAY 29, 2022

LEVITT PAVILION (This looks like a very festival type atmosphere with a huge lawn and open air, no cover. It has a beer garden and lots of food. Might be fun for a family outing and enjoying the show. Gorgeous area and surroundings!)

DENVER, CO

Hotel – This hotel is the closest we could find. It’s a Courtyard by Marriott and again, one we’ve tried in the past. It was very convenient.

JUN 1, 2022

CONCORD PAVILION (we couldn’t find any safe sites and info for this show just yet – wild!)

CONCORD, CA

Hotel – This is a Crown Plaza Hotel. We found cheaper and closer ones but they didn’t have great reviews. The last thing you want after a great show is go back to an uncomfortable hotel. We don’t play that in the Tears for Fears Travel Fan world. This hotel is about 5 miles from the venue. .

JUN 2, 2022

SHORELINE AMPHITHEATRE – this venue is all about the premium experience. You may want to sign up in advance and see what perks are available for VIP seating experiences.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

Hotel – this hotel is in the heart of Silicon Valley and it is gorgeous. Right there near the venue. Very comfortable and extremely convenient!

JUN 4, 2022

THE FORUM – The band has played here before. In a recent intereview, Roland noted that they’d be playing the Hollywood Bowl. We think he meant The Forum. Those of us who bought season passes to the Hollywood Bowl… smh.

INGLEWOOD, CA

Hotel (Guys, it’s L.A. – we have so many favourites it’s impossible to list them all – if you’re looking to stay near the venue, then go with the linked suggestion – but we’re likely gonna take a few days at one of our favourites be it Loews Santa Monica or “elsewhere.”)

JUN 5, 2022

NORTH ISLAND CREDIT UNION AMPHITHEATRE

CHULA VISTA, CA

Hotel – this is a Best Western near the venue. We’ll likely change this.

JUN 9, 2022

ITHINK FINANCIAL AMPHITHEATRE

WEST PALM BEACH, FL

Hotel – this is a Hampton Inn not far from the venue. The whole area is gorgeous, be sure to read all reviews and remember this is also the city of SunFest where the rain and “hot” stage caused cancellations of the show. Get the insurance for this show due to the weird weather which causes havoc.

JUN 10, 2022

MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPHITHEATRE

TAMPA, FL

Hotel – something a little swank for us!

JUN 12, 2022

AMERIS BANK AMPHITHEATRE – if you get in early for this show, be sure to check out the Avalon. It’s an eatery and lovely shopping area with a movie theatre and great food. This is Andye’s neighbourhood. If you have any questions, reach out to her on Twitter @andyeisthenews. If you’re looking to enjoy any tourist attractions – remember that Atlanta traffic is famous for a reason. Downtown is about a 30 min drive from this location on the weekends. You’ll want to arrive early if you’re not staying near the venue.

ALPHARETTA, GA (this is an Atlanta suburb)

Hotel

JUN 13, 2022

PNC MUSIC PAVILION – the Charlotte show is about 4 hours from the Atlanta location. Be ready to wake up early and get there to avoid any issues because it’s a Monday and you might encounter traffic.

CHARLOTTE, NC

Hotel

JUN 15, 2022

DTE ENERGY MUSIC THEATRE CARKSTON

CLARKSTON, MI

Hotel

JUN 16, 2022

HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATRE – CHICAGO

TINLEY PARK, IL

Hotel

JUN 17, 2022

RUOFF HOME MORTGAGE MUSIC CENTER

NOBLESVILLE, IN

Hotel (really nice place to stay after a long day of driving and dancing! This is a Fairfield Inn and Suites)

JUN 19, 2022

MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION

COLUMBIA, MD

Hotel (VIP option available that is related to the show)

JUN 21, 2022

MANN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Hotel

JUN 22, 2022

LEADER BANK PAVILION – this venue is in such a beautiful place. Boston is a gorgeous city. Lots of fans there including Deborah G. We hope to be able to do a small reunion there as we did in 2017 after the tour.

BOSTON, MA

Hotel – the Hyatt Regency in this location is just gorgeous!

JUN 24, 2022

PNC BANK ARTS CENTER

HOLMDEL, NJ

Hotel

It’s Curt’s 61st birthday – be ready to sing Happy Birthday to the Good Man Mr. Smith

JUN 25, 2022

NORTHWELL HEALTH AT JONES BEACH THEATER

WANTAGH, NY

Hotel (preferred hotel)

JUL 1, 2022

QEII ARENA

TELFORD, UK

Hotel (it’s in walking distance from the venue)

Transport

JUL 2, 2022

LONGLEAT

WILTSHIRE, UK

Hotel

Transport – TBD – this place is a wildlife sanctuary and offers transportation for tourist purposes. It’s best to call them yourself and let them know your plans so they can decide what is best for you. There is a train station not too far away but you know us, we prefer you’re safe and sound in a car that can pick you up and drop you off at the gate. Enjoy this video of the property to get an idea of what it’s like to visit. Maybe stay an extra day as you’ll have time between shows.

July 5th, 2022

Tears for Fears announced this show in February after literally tweeting out to fans and followers the question, “where in London would you like to see us?” Fans responded as did Royal Albert Hall. The final location was the O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire. Tickets went on sale the 23rd with a pre-sale code given by the band/management. General sale was 25th of February, the day of The Tipping Point’s release.

JUL 5, 2022

WADDESON MANOR

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK

Hotel

Transport (use a car service to get there if you can)

JUL 7, 2022

UTILITA ARENA

NEWCASTLE, UK

Hotel

Transport – this is Blacklane, an awesome private transport service that offers a variety of ways to get around the area. We’ve used this in past travel and it was awesome to say the least!!

Band contributor, Phil Collins the great, was recently at Utilita. Adam of TFF Atlanta got to see him the other night. Check out this video of Genesis performing together at the venue. See what your experience may be when you arrive for Tears for Fears.

JUL 8, 2022

FLOORS CASTLE

KELSO, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 9, 2022 *Cancelled

LYTHAM FESTIVAL (please see featured concert at the top of the page)

JUL 12, 2022 *Cancelled

THE INCORA COUNTY GROUND

DERBY, UK

Hotel (This is one of the first brands we tried when we began following the tours over 10 years ago. It is not our preferred hotel, but this is the closest to the venue.)

Transport

JUL 14, 2022 *Cancelled

MILLENNIUM SQUARE

LEEDS, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 15, 2022 *Cancelled

WARWICK CASTLE

WARWICK, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 16, 2022 *Cancelled

SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE

SCARBOROUGH, UK

Hotel (this is not close at all, nearly 12 miles from the venue but we can’t seem to find anything up to par that is closer)

Transport (you’ll need to take a car to get there, this company offers private transportation. If you’re not local to the area, you don’t need to be fumbling around in the dark after a show. You need a car service to come and get you and take you back to the hotel/BB so you can get a good night’s rest especially if you’re going to the show the night before)

JUL 19, 2022

CHEWTON GLEN

NEW MILTON, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 20, 2022

THE SPITFIRE GROUND

CANTERBURY, UK

Hotel (this is a tough one, we suggest connecting with one of the TFF UK Travel Fans attending this show and and see what their recommendations are)

Transport (not sure if Blacklane services this area but they have been super helpful to us and can likely help you get to this location)

JUL 22, 2022

THE 1ST CENTURY COUNTY GROUND

HOVE, UK

Hotel – TBD – unable to find anything closeby

Transport

JUL 23, 2022

CARDIFF CASTLE

CARDIFF, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 24, 2022

HATFIELD HOUSE

HATFIELD, UK

Hotel

Transport

JUL 26, 2022

POWDERHAM CASTLE

EXETER, UK

Hotel

Transport

Post-Tour Rest, Pause and Party…

September 18th, 2022

Pryzm and Banquet Records host the band at 5:30 GMT for an intimate show. Tickets also come with an LP. View more on the site. These tickets go on sale the 2nd of March, 2022.