Tag: Concerts

Tears for Fears’ Travel Fans Quarterly Update – Q1 2023

Happy Tears for Fears Day 2023!

While Tears for Fears are busy with their calendar plans, we’ve got some time to put the kettle on and chat amongst ourselves plus celebrate milestones and anniversaries of Tears for Fears’ amazing music. That’s what we’ve been doing this quarter.

As mentioned previously, the new album brought a lot of new people and a lot of longtime fans from ‘83 and ‘85 back into the fold. Because people are catching up with all the interviews, week after week, there are newcomers who repost or remind us of things that happened pre-tour season such as this lovely video below from the Sirius XM interview and Q&A. To find out how this took place and how people were chosen you can search the archives using the keywords SiriusXM, Becky or Danny and it should show up for you. Let us know if you can’t find that information. It’s a great interview featuring new fans and those hard core folks who were there in the early days with the band. Enjoy the rewatch!

Anniversaries

Big Shoutout to Danny Cricks of the Tears for Fears Travel Fans, Fan Forum and TFF Florida who took time to help lead the online anniversary celebrations and birthdays. Coincidence or not, the band often followed behind his reminders. Danny didn’t just celebrate albums, he went deep with specific song celebrations. Now that’s fan love! Here’s what we’ve been celebrating with him this quarter.

Birthdays

  • Ian Stanley – 28 February
  • Charlton Pettus – 16 February
  • Lauren Evans – 3 February
  • Nicky Holland – 20 February
  • Michael Wainwright – 6 March

Music Milestones

  • Songs from the Big Chair– 25 February, 1985
  • Tears Roll Down (Laid So Low) – 10 February, 1992
  • The Tipping Point – 25 February, 2022
  • Break the Man – video released on the 10th of February 2022

Today we celebrate The Hurting, the album that started it all!! This is the official Tears for Fears Day and always will be! The Hurting is still available for purchase although some of the recent remastered deluxe options have sold out (if you have one, you better keep it). You can buy a copy of the remastered CD from Amazon, Walmart and music stores. The remastered one has extended versions of several songs so be sure to pay close attention to the version you purchase so you can get the all the goodies!

You can stream and in some cases buy the remastered album here from these sources. As a courtesy we ask that you make a purchase of the album first. Artists are not able to make what they are worth via streaming services alone.

Apple  

Spotify

Amazon

Record Store Day 2023

Speaking of days, Record Store Day will feature Tears for Fears’ Saturnine Martial and Lunatic on vinyl! It’s a UK release so TFF UK and Fan Forum Moderator, Darren, is looking into what he can do to ensure global fans get an opportunity  to buy this. More details to come.

Psych Night on Hallmark Channel

Big thanks to the Hallmark Channel and Peacock/NBC for re-airing Psych episodes featuring Curt Smith. Fans got to enjoy two throwbacks – Shawn 2.0 season 5 episode 8 and Clue from Season 7 episode 5. We tweeted and chatted while watching these episodes – still a little squeamish from Curt’s encounter with the panther among other things. We also remembered the cast members showing up at one of Curt’s events in November of 2010, pineapple in tow. That was an awesome night that has been documented here in the archives. Fans and followers of both Psych and Curt noted they are ready for another Psych movie with more Curt Smith and company including a duet with his daughter Lady Diva Smith. We’re still waiting on Psych on SNL with musical guests Tears for Fears. That petition is not dormant.

What music does Tears for Fears listen to regularly?

So there’s Record Store Day but have you heard of Recommendations Day? Well, along with the fan generated Tears for Fears’ (TFF) Tuesdays (first initiated by Lady Tamara of TFF “Nash” Nashville and the Tears for Fears Travel Fans), the day is now followed by “Tears’ Picks” on Thursdays. On this day, we listen to music the band loves or recommends. It’s not highly advertised nor have we thrown down a hashtag but we’ve noted some of their favourites and will be enjoying those on Thursdays. So far, we’ve listened to Curt’s daughter, Diva Smith’s song ‘Bet,’ Pascal Orzabal/Quarterboy’s 4 tracks available on bandcamp, Apple music, Spotify, etc. and Kimbra who released a new album in January of this year. *Pascal is one “L” – just to clear the record.

Will there be a Tears for Fears tour 2023?

There’s been some chatter from some anxious people who want to see tour info – notably some of it has been from those who do not actually join the tours but love to live vicariously through the many thousands who do. There’s also several who said, “Geez, I hope they’ll return to the USA one day.” Remember Roland’s joke from Shepherd’s Bush. It will remind you that most of the band (including him) have homes in the states. In addition to basking in the fact that they actually have homes in your country, Roland noted they will continue to do stateside tours as they have been almost consecutively since 2005. Along with a big dose of patience, remember, there’s a handful of UK shows to address including Pryzm. Let patience and understanding be our personal theme this year. Once they’ve solidified their calendar and plans, the information will be distributed and those of us who can make it out will move forward.

Oleta Adams’ will be in concert this month and next. Her upcoming show at the Folly Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri is on the 11th of March (this Saturday) at 8pm. She’ll have another show on the 14th of April in San Antonio, Texas. Be sure to keep up with her website so you don’t miss a beat!

Jamie’s in the News!

Be sure to catch Jamie Wollam’s interview in Drum Club Magazine Italy. It’s a great read!

Band Family News

Raoul Orzabal’s art prints are for sale. His latest work was shared this week and it is spectacular. Several of us own pieces of his art and it is worth every penny. These pieces work well in any home or office. Learn more about how to obtain one for your place by visiting his website.

Captain Julian Orzabal, Dion and team continue working on their music. Be sure to join them on Facebook for the latest updates. If you haven’t bought your copy of their previous album, don’t hesitate. It’s great for road trips, commutes and hanging out with friends. Really good stuff!

Price of Fandom

Whether the band tours this year or not, we want to re-emphasise how awesome it was to have the VIP options in 2022. They reminded us of the VIP Fan Experience app we worked on in 2019. To those who helped with user research on that app, let’s be clear, the app was a prototype produced by Andye the Moderator but no confirmation from Tears for Fears was given as to whether or not they, Tears for Fears, used this specific prototype to design last year’s VIP options for the tour. Several Tears for Fears fans were involved in testing the app prototype and answered questions to help create the final iteration. The semi-completed prototype was then sent to a band member in 2019. Coincidentally, several of the same features and merch perks were available through their VIP partnership with On the List Presents during the US tour in 2022. These features made it affordable to attend more than one show and we are grateful to Tears for Fears for it!

Tears for Fears’ friends, Duran Duran, our sibling band, also had a very interesting offer for their Ibiza trip for fans. It, too, had similar features to the app. They used the option to book accommodations plus concert tickets, etc. which created a unique upscale fan experience. Much like the features on the app we designed, which featured a Duran Duran option, the Ibiza event included a complete show package from start to finish. Again, we have no proof that they used or were inspired by the VIP app concept. For both bands it was a first in our living memory of having a more curated VIP fan experience where we got great seats, merch and so much more with each ticket! We are truly grateful! We sure hope they continue with these types of packages because it helps with seating. Let’s say that one more time.

WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL! WE SURE HOPE THEY CONTINUE WITH THESE TYPES OF PACKAGES BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH SEATING! aka – for heaven’s sake, please keep the VIP option!

In a coming mini-documentary (TFF Rockumemories of 2022) we note the price of the VIP tickets for 2022. It was more economical If you purchased a ticket using the Tears for Fears presale codes through their site than it was to purchase directly from the venues’ options. A ticket in the same section as the VIP specified tickets (usually the first 10 rows center, right and left), could easily end up being $900-$1700 per ticket depending on the venue. We have receipts forbid someone want to argue. We took this tour very seriously and kept all the documents. While we’re not aiming to discuss “money,” or wag fingers at venues because that is just rude, we do want to say that Tears for Fears’ VIP made this tour extremely affordable compared to what the venues had in mind. We need these VIP options!

Does Tears for Fears have an app? Why didn’t they take the app prototype and use that to manage the VIP part of the tour? Answer: The prototype provides an idea, a suggestion. It’s not a one stop solution for ticket purchases and tour management. Apps also require a dedicated development team. Perhaps their management has devs but their resources were not used to build and maintain such a thing. The app would also require an api that allows the venue to distribute the tickets. Most venues are managed by Live Nation and Ticketmaster – and we all know how that experience can be. No shade on Ticketmaster but it is what it is right now. For some of us, it’s not the most enjoyable purchasing experience. So, we rely on presale codes to get tickets. It would cost a pretty penny to keep an app maintained and it may not really solve the issues and nuances that come with fandom. Not everyone wants to fly on Delta, not everyone wants to use a commercial hotel. So it may not be an efficient tool in the long run. But we had fun putting it together and we’re grateful that the concepts were used by both bands no matter where they got the idea. Other companies have been providing similar services for years so the app idea nor its features were 100% unique. We just wanted to have something for us so we can have a way to go to more shows than just one. Currently another fan member in the forum is looking to build a Tears for Fears ticket app for her school project.  So if you want to play around with that and see what it’s like  to be a part of user research, find her on the fan forum. Her name is Paola Fernanda. Her app is not affiliated with the band, but again, is a school project.

Tears for Fears’ Travel Fans Rockumemories

Yes, we made a rockumentary featuring moments from the tour and a lot of songs that were featured in 2022. We do not have licensed music for it yet and that is the hold up. We may have to release it as it is and put one of those “we don’t own this music” disclaimers at the top. Still, it has to go through a lot of approvals. We look forward to sharing that when all the legalities are done. Again, thanks everyone that provided photos, videos and so much more. It helped make Tears for Fears  – The Tipping Point Tour aka “The Healing Tour” memories some of the best yet to come!

Shoutout to Shannon Green’s kids. Shannon is a member of the Tears for Fears Fan Forum. She recently found her son singing Shout in its entirety and recorded it. If you’re a member of the fan forum, use this link to revisit that fun moment. If you’re not a member, you can join today via Facebook. There is no fee associated with joining the forum.

Shoutout to Michelle “Shelley” for getting one of the false Roland Orzabal accounts removed. She went out of her way to get Facebook and Instagram to remove the fake account which is among several that are actually requesting money. Roland would not do that. Huge thanks to all those behind the scenes, admins and others going out of their way to protect the band. You are seen!

Thanks for reading! More to come as we get the info! Cheers.

Tears for Fears Travel Fan Team

Always follow: @tearsforfears (FB & TW), @tearsforfearsmusic (IG), @curtsmithofficial (FB), @curtsmith (TW), @realoletaadams (TW)  @officialoletaadams (IG), @thereallevans (IG), and @jameswollam (IG)

@kerfuffleofkooks (FB) @papasfans (TW) – for information pertaining to Tears for Fears Travel Fan activities and life.

Going Into Q1 with Gratitude for Tears for Fears

Dedicated to The Curry Family and David Bowie’s team of musicians and friends

This week is a memorial honouring David Bowie. Hardcore fans of Tears for Fears understand why that is important to us. Many of those fans are ones who keep Ashes to Ashes, a song the band covered some years ago originally written by David Bowie, on repeat. It’s one of the best parts of Saturnine Martial & Lunatic. Over time, we’ve come to find Bowie fans at concerts, interacting with us online and virtually swaying alongside us during the recent memorial shows. One of those great musicians interacting is icon Kitten Kuroi, who is coincidentally a friend of the award-winning Lady Lauren Evans, Tears for Fears’ most recent band family singer. Kuroi was featured in the 2022 Bowie celebration curated by the honourable Mike Garson. Bowie teams make up one of the many beautiful mosaic roots of our fandom. They are strong foundations that have influenced us, bringing unity to our team in our quest to collectively and respectfully promote and celebrate the work of amazing musicians. Huge thanks to each of them for the ongoing interactions and online friendships.

We’re also grateful for Jack and Dawn Curry who went above and beyond to ensure that fans actually made it to shows in 2022.They helped ensure each one had spectacular seats. When we looked at our meticulous archives and documents, we saw that collectively, the travel fan team mod and in-kind supporters Jack and Momma D, purchased well over 32 VIP ticket packages for fans. They assisted with travel expenses, accommodations, dinners and hosted several warm gatherings throughout the tour. The comfort and ease of the 2022 tour season was due to these aforementioned contributors and their efforts will not be forgotten.

The list of really cool moments in 2022 is long and some of the favourites that we’ve seen include not just concert moments but extra special experiences that happened between shows. Given that we already have documented highlights through last October, let’s focus on the fun from Q4.

Curt Was Healed!

If Curt’s ribs breaking wasn’t the scariest thing that happened all year, we don’t know what was. Curt gave details of his injury during an interview on the BBC one morning. Learning that his injuries originated on the tour bus where he was literally sent flying after a false stop, was devastating to hear. The fact that he even tried to sally forth and keep going despite being in pain was a sacrifice we’re glad he discontinued. The wait and worry was fairly intense o\n the fan forum and in numerous Tears for Fears dedicated groups on Facebook (which now equal over 45 individual ones…). We’re so happy that this is behind us and that he was able to go to the UK and Europe to participate in additional interviews and appearances including the Deutsch Press awards as discussed in the previous update.

Holiday Song

Nearly every year Curt has released a holiday song. This year we got something quite special during Hanukkah. As mentioned in a previous post, Mad World has been used by at least two synagogues in the states during Shabbat service. Most recently, it was featured at IKAR LA, where well-known artist, Hillel Tigay, is the Chazan/Cantor and music director. The video of their Havdalah service featured the song and Curt loved it. He was invited to join them and did so on the 16th of December for Kabbalat Shabbat. For many observant Jews in the fan team, this was extra special and several noted that the occasion officially solidifies Tears for Fears’ music as a perfect accompaniment to prayers. Andye is contemplating writing a book about how much the band’s music has been important in spiritual journeys and healing for so many fans. But let’s let her get through the mini-documentary first.

The Mini-Doc

So, we took every photo given to us, those we collected and captured on tour plus videos and sandwiched them all together in chronological order. We have nearly an hour of photo slides so far if not more. It’s a lot. Next steps include a lot of fonting and finding licensed music to add to it. We had hoped to have it sent out by the 28th of December, but the task is huge and there are just a few people that actually have the time to maneuver through the technicalities of the project. We do not have an ETA on the completion, but it’s been a lot of fun going through all the memories from every show during the 2022 tour season. We’ll be sure to start sharing more BTS photos on Facebook and Instagram.

The World Cup

At the start of the quarter, we learned that the band would be featured in the Budweiser Beer sponsored World Cup Song collaboration with Lil’ Baby. It was a surprise song. As with anything Tears for Fears touches, the song was pretty darn cool and had a lot of new listeners and positive reaction videos from some who were completely new to the band. This, in turn, brought new people into the fold. Gen Z was already on board but now there are even more. Is that why it seems the band is more active on TikTok than Twitter now?

New EWTRTW Video

The band released a new version of Everybody Wants to Rule the World. It’s a compilation of clips from the history of the band on the road (looks like clips from a previous documentary). The video has an emphasis on imagery from the ‘Rule the World’ – Greatest Hits album that was released in 2017. However, we’re wondering why this was created when the band already has an EWTRTW video. Perhaps we missed a memo. Either way, it’s awesome and we love it. Nice to see all the concert footage again.

The Mystery Box of Merch (now sold out?)

Just as the year closed, the band’s U.S. store offered a mystery box of merch that includes three items. The box could be purchased by anyone regardless of location it seemed. If anyone had issues ordering it, let us know. But if you’re in the U.K. you should have been able to get a hold of one regardless of it being from the US. store. It was $35 plus shipping and a limited time only offer so no clue when and if such a thing will be available again. We know a few people that have already purchased two. Danny, let us know when it arrives!

The Tipping Point is #1

Classic Pop Magazine released a list of their top favourites for 2022 and yes, agreeably so, The Tipping Point is number one! We were told the band was flattered and thanked the magazine. Let us also say thank you Classic Pop Mag, from a fan perspective, for taking time to recognise that superlative album – very likely their best yet – and that says a lot because we all know they have produced so many hits that are timeless. They have the Midas touch in music! *Thank you, Martin Slade and Danny Cricks, for sharing the photo from the magazine.

About those NFTs

So, the tour packages included an NFT. In the rush and fit of all, we didn’t bother to look at the tax laws around NFTs at the time. So, those of us, as mentioned, who purchased quite a few, in hindsight panicked thinking we were clueless to how much tax we owe on these. However, there is no price tag on the NFTs in the Ticketmaster and LiveNation account. So likely we don’t owe anything. But you’ll want to refer to your tax advisor. From what we can see, one does not owe taxes on the NFTs according to a few tax documents we read.

Band Family & Alumni

Wilder Smith, Curt’s youngest daughter turned a lovely 21 on the 27th of December. Curt also published the URL to her new website. Not sure if she’s taking commissions but we’ll wait it out cause we’ve got some things we’d love to get a quote on and in production for the future.

Little Lady Genevieve (Vivi) Orzabal also had a birthday on the 28th. We wish her a great turn around the sun and lots of love.

Jamie’s daughter Bayley had a birthday on the 20th of December and it’s noteworthy that a lot of longtime fans also had birthdays this month. It was truly a band family and fan birthday extravaganza! Many happy returns to Eileen I, Sheila SheShe, Andye the Moderator and so many more.

Libre Stone sent out a loving note of thanks to fans who supported them this year. That was super sweet!

Supporting singer Lauren’s song “This Could Be” got a lot of air play in December and was trending. Congrats to her on that! Her voice is also featured in New Amsterdam’s Season 2 Episode 6 singing a rendition of “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” It is quite moving! Be sure to check that out on Netflix.

The Smith household got a new puppy named Twiggy. Twiggy looks a lot like sister Ivy Smith and the late Bella Smith of their Vizsla family of dogs reportedly of Hungarian hunter dog descent. That’s admirable. It’s a beautiful dog and Wilder has posted several photos of herself with the sweet new baby. Curt also mentioned sweet Twiggy in his New Year holiday message on the 31st of December.

Oleta Adams wrapped up her 2022 tour in December, but has more shows scheduled for March and April. She’s so loved and sought after, rightly so! Very grateful that many of us got to see her again this past year.

We’ll wrap this up with a shout out to those who took the Tears for Fears Pilgrimage. It does exist. Many fans go to the city of Bath every year and take a photo at several iconic spots including Moles where the band had their first show and brother Shaun Smith did the lighting. They go by Roland’s old home above the pizza parlour and take a walk near Snow Hill. Our lady Tamara got a great extra tour stop this year.  She spent some time with Libre Stone, Radio Bath’s Dave Mason and the fan family stars like Stephen Marshall. Tamara is an amazing Tears for Fears Super Fan and we’re beyond grateful for all of her contributions in 2022!

To say we are grateful for all the amazing things that took place in Tears for Fears’ fan land last year would be an understatement. Despite illness, surgery, treating cancer and dodging Covid, the fan family showed up and showed out! Tears for Fears fans bought a record number of seats at the sold-out show at the Forum in Los Angeles and showed up in droves for every show on the tour…even the ones that got cancelled! Fan family gathered together at local pubs and sang together at nearly every event. Tears for Fears fans are some of THE MOST loyal and dedicated individuals. Let’s keep it going!

Thanks for reading!

TFF Travel Fan Team

Follow the band @tearsforfearsmusic IG, @tearsforfears FB & TW, @curtsmithofficial on FB, @curtsmith TW, @tearsforfears TikTok @thereallaurenevens, @realoletaadams, @jameswollam IG, and @papasfans (travel fan team information)

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

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 – Perfect in Padova

To say the Tears for Fears tour part I was fun is an understatement. Not only did people attend more than one show and in some cases literally follow them like loyal soldiers of sound, the band was warm, kind and caring from start to finish. It gives us a lot of hope about part II which begins in just a few weeks! Get ready to sing, go over the set list and show up! Arrive early, meet with fellow fans and make some of the best memories of your lives with Curt, Roland and team leading the way! We’re so excited as fans to have this opportunity to follow the band around. Don’t take our word for it…check out these videos and photos from Padova (Padua), Italia! These fans had a blast!

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Curt Smith #curtsmith #tearsforfearstour2019

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Berlin’s Beloved Night with Tears for Fears

Our friends from Germany did not disappoint when capturing great moments in the show. The Good Man Mr. Smith was kind enough to snap pictures and share the journey with all followers. We’re so grateful! This is dedicated to Ronnie, Mathias, the Tempodrom staff and the Good Man himself, Curt Smith. We’re super grateful for all that has been provided from the show. To our friends in Germany who were able to somehow get tickets at the last minute, good on you!

Rough Translation: It was worth the wait: Fans had to wait for it for nearly 30 years. On Saturday night, Tears for Fears played a concert again at the sold out Tempodrome.

Curt took some great photos as did several other members of the band. We’ll focus on Mr. Smith’s snapshots of beautiful Berlin. The city has seen a lot! And to think they had to wait all those years for a show…you know several of them have got to be suffering from Superfanitis…somebody send those fans some extra merch, they’re gonna need it! May this post help them remember the magical moments of the return of TFF to Berlin. Enjoy! Cheers!

Really great close up of the stage from Mr. Olsen.

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#trearsforfears #berlin#20mintostart #:-))))

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EWTRTW

SOL

PALE SHELTER

CHANGE

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCNFOpgzew/

MAD WORLD

CREEP

Head over Heels

Compilation (SOL, ADVICE)

SHOUT

Another Angle

Great photos from fellow fans. Be sure to say hi, leave them a message on their pictures. If you choose to share them be sure to note the photographer.

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#tearsforfears#berlin

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Bidding Adieu to Berlin

Thanks for watching and reading!
-Tears for Fears Travel Fan Team

Snippets From San Diego – TFF 2017

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Skipping ahead to the San Diego show while fellow fans finish sending in photos and posting. We haven’t a lot of commentary or detailed tales of how we got there and what hotel we stayed in. This tour has been different and long…very long. So, we’re just getting to the point…the music. This post is not much different. We’re sharing some snippets from the show that were shared by many.

MVP of the night is Yara for suffering through the glitches in the ticket system. The amount of work that goes into getting to a show can be unspeakable at times and so any delays at the finish line can send some people into a flat out meltdown. Kudos to all who kept their cool. Heaven knows we want to be at these shows. It’s not a pastime for us, it’s a pilgrimage so we work double hard to make sure as many of us that spend time chatting together online every single day as we have done since 2004 (and some of us before that) get into the venue. Sometimes Lady Carolyn goes as far as to just hand out tickets. This year she literally grabbed security and said help me find someone to give this ticket to…on the second row center. I mean…come one now. We take this very seriously and we could literally do this for a living and not burn out or tire…I’ve spent 34 years listening to this band and I’m not even 40 yet! This is our yearly reunion so for goodness sake, Ticketmaster, AXS, etc…solutions please to these ticket woes!

High Five to all the fellow fans who came out to San Diego and sang with passion to all the songs. Did anyone else notice the magic on Head over Heels? Was that not the remastered version come to life or what? Wow!!!!!! and that crowd…super awesome!

*Dedicated to Yara and that Sd Guy who shared it all! Thank you both!!

Candids of Curt and Roland

and the baby!

EWTRTW

Change

Was gonna add Pale Shelter but someone in the audience was chatty 😦

HOH

Wait, play that again! Whaaat, whaaaat? The Broken version for HOH? Don’t tease, TFF! Keep it up and consider a do over where it wasn’t done before!

Thanks, Yara!!! (Everybody knows Yara! She’s been following for years. She’s a TFFDDer)

Shout

Thanks for reading!
-Andye, TFF Travel Fan Team Moderator

Another Hit for Tears for Fears at an iHeart Festival (Sept 2016)

Wow, what a show!!

tff-iheart

One of the many things that stood out were the number of people at the event who tweeted and repeated “I had no idea they sang that song!” iHeart put a face to our legendary Rock gods for those who’ve merely been “listening” without devotion. People all over the world were watching online, listening via the iHeart app (sponsored by Tmobile and Twix) and the awestruck faces were priceless as people made the connection. Those folks were outnumbered by the numerous hardcore fans singing with passion and a sway in their step. The crowd was very mixed in age. Seemed to feature a myriad of generations from older teens to grown-ups getting into the groove. They may not have been standing for all of the stars that weekend but people stood up for Tears for Fears and they showed their respect for a few more minutes after the set was over. THAT was epic!

ROCS taking out ear tech…crowd is screaming and applauding…

There is a lot of material from that night including Instagram clips of fans recording the songs to mark the majestic fact that they witnessed it in person as well as YouTube clips that captured the evening. We were told the show will rebroadcast on CW next month. You’ll get to see all of the featured stars and of course experience the magic that is Tears for Fears. It was an excellent set! Huge salute to the fans and audience that stood up and honoured our favourite band of all time.

Photo Highlights

 

EWTRTW

Mad World

Head Over Heels

Sowing the Seeds of Love

Shout

 

Social Highlights *Instagram

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#shout #tearsforfears #iheartradio

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And who can forget the Billboard interview that followed?!! HA!!! What did the Good Sir say? Watch and hold on to your big chair, don’t have a drink because it’s a chocking hazard.

tffjoke1

Be sure to say thanks to all these great contributors! We’ve connected with quite a few. More to come! We’re on standby for fans who have travel info questions. You can email us on Facebook. We’ve had quite a few inquiries about age requirements for shows and meeting up. It looks like most people are with their spouses and families so we won’t hassle everyone to gather for group photos. We’ll plan something when we’re not so rushed.
-TFF Travel Fan Team

Tears for Fears Concert Highlights – Silver Legacy Casino Reno 2016

Well, that was one heck of a good time this past weekend. Huge thanks to all the travel fans, online party peeps and loyal interactive loves of the band who watched online and tweeted about it. Another grand thanks to all who posted videos and pictures. Hope everyone was able to access the video and found the travel fan notes useful. We had a good time all around. You can see pre-show sound check and other clips via Tears for Fears Instagram.

One of many neat shares from the band over the weekend…

Please enjoy these videos from Friday’s show at the gorgeous Silver Legacy Casino in Reno. Lots of funny and cute things happened between ROCS during this show. Toward the end of the (during Shout) Roland runs underneath Curt to the other side of the stage. It may not be a big deal to others but it was another fine example of how cute they are. Speaking of cute, the Reno front row crew on Shout were awesome! Listen to them having a blast during Shout. We’re giving them the superfan MVP for this show!

Break It Down Again

Mad World

Head Over Heels (be sure to leave her a thank you…very sweet set of fans)

Shout

More Clips from Reno
Head Over Heels
Pale Shelter Angle 1
Pale Shelter Angle 2
Shout

*Had planned to combine both the Reno and Las Vegas show material but Las Vegas’ was so over the top, despite being a standard 5-song festival set, it really needs its own post. Stay tuned for those clips and feel free to share the link to the blog post on your personal pages and with other fans. If you decide to use the photos from any of our Travel Fan publications be sure to give credit out of respect to those who have travelled and spent their hard earned cash to provide and share their experience with everyone.

Thanks for reading!
-TFF Travel Fan Team