MUSIC

House of Blues presents The Psychedelic Furs.  

If you sit and talk to many of the alternative rock artists dominating today’s music, you’ll find that many of them pay homage to the legendary “new wave” bands that emerged in the early 1980’s. Prominent among those bands was a group called The Psychedelic Furs. Led by singer and songwriter Richard Butler, along with bass playing brother Tim, the Furs won over fans and critics alike by combining poetic lyrics, innovative rhythms and melodies driven by an aggressive, punk desperation.

Through it all, the band scored major hits with "Love My Way," "Pretty In Pink," "Heaven," "The Ghost In You," and “Heartbreak Beat” in all releasing seven studio albums, several compilations, a box set and a live DVD. Throughout The Furs reign, critics routinely compared the group’s enigmatic sound to an impressive slew of art-rock icons including David Bowie, The Velvet Underground and The Doors, as well as to punk progenitors, The Sex Pistols. Growing heavier and more guitar-oriented in their later releases, The Furs have since been regarded as a musical icon that bridged the gap between early punk and the alternative hard rock and grunge that would rise during the 90s.

And if that weren’t enough of a musical legacy, the Furs also paved the way for a whole new generation of music artists to follow in their footsteps and in the process, assured themselves a nearly legendary status.

The band went on extended hiatus in the early 1990s, with the Butler brothers going on to create the band “Love Spit Love” along with guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer. Love Spit Love released two albums and enjoyed some chart success as well.

After spending most of the decade apart, the Butlers and Ashton reignited The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train." Since then, lead singer Richard Butler has released an eponymous solo album produced by Jon Carin, and has hinted at the possibility of a new Psychedelic Furs album.

These days, the band continues to tour around the world. The current Psychedelic Furs touring lineup remains Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass), Rich Good (guitar), Mars Williams (saxophone), Amanda Kramer (keyboards), and Paul Garisto (drums).