View source for Tears for Fears

{{short description|English pop rock band}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Tears for Fears
| image            = TearsFearsRAH271017-28 (37982003406).jpg
| caption          = Tears for Fears in 2017.<br />[[Curt Smith]] (left) and [[Roland Orzabal]] (right)
| landscape        = yes
| background       = group_or_band
| origin           = [[Bath, Somerset]], England
| genre            = {{hlist|[[New wave music|New wave]]<ref>{{cite news|first= Ben |last= Rayner |author-link= Ben Rayner |title= Tears for Fears, Wings, Ella Fitzgerald: Reasons to Live |newspaper= [[Toronto Star|The Star]] |access-date= 18 March 2014 |url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/12/21/tears_for_fears_wings_ella_fitzgerald_reasons_to_live.html}}</ref><ref name="CoS"/><ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|first= Margo |last= Whitmire |title= Tears for Fears Try New Door |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date= 11 September 2004 |pages= 5, 60 |volume= 116 |issue= 37 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FRMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5}}</ref>|[[pop rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Gregory |last= Adams |title= Tears for Fears Treat 'The Hurting' to 30th Anniversary Reissue |magazine= [[Exclaim!]] |date= 2 August 2013 |access-date= 4 November 2014 |url= http://exclaim.ca/News/tears_for_fears_treat_hurting_to_30th_anniversary_reissue}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Joseph |last= Pryweller |title= Music: New Model Tears Hits the Road |newspaper= [[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |date= 13 February 1990 |access-date= 4 November 2014 |url= https://www.dailypress.com/1990/02/13/music-new-model-tears-hits-the-road/ |archive-date= 4 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104214644/http://articles.dailypress.com/1990-02-13/features/9002120089_1_orzabal-and-smith-tears-duran-duran |url-status= live }}</ref>|[[synth-pop]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Simon |last= Reynolds |author-link= Simon Reynolds |year= 2009 |title= Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984 |publisher= [[Faber and Faber]] |isbn= 978-0-5712-5227-5 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dK-F43T8V0wC&q=%22tears+for+fears%22+%22synthpop+artists%22&pg=PT327}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= Tears for Fears – Artist Biography |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tears-for-fears-mn0000019892/biography}}</ref>}}
| works            = [[Tears for Fears discography|Discography]]
| years_active     = 1981–present
| label            = {{hlist|[[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Gut Records|Gut]]|[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]|[[Fontana Records|Fontana]]|[[Universal Music|Universal]]|[[Concord Records|Concord]]}}
| website          = {{url|tearsforfears.com}}
| current_members  = {{ubl|[[Roland Orzabal]]|[[Curt Smith]]}}
| past_members     = <!--Only include official members here.-->{{ubl|[[Manny Elias]]|[[Ian Stanley]]}}
| spinoff_of       = {{hlist|[[Graduate (band)|Graduate]]}}
}}
'''Tears for Fears''' are<!-- See WP:ENGVAR for more details. Bands that originate from Great Britain use the plural terminology. --> an English [[pop rock]] band formed in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] in 1981 by [[Curt Smith]] and [[Roland Orzabal]]. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the [[Mod (subculture)|mod]]-influenced [[Graduate (band)|Graduate]], Tears for Fears were associated with the [[synth-pop]] bands of the 1980s, and attained international chart success as part of the [[Second British Invasion]].<ref>{{cite book|first1= Joanne |last1= Sujansky |first2= Jan |last2= Ferri-Reed |year= 2009 |title= Keeping the Millennials: Why Companies Are Losing Billions in Turnover to This Generation- and What to Do About It |publisher= [[John Wiley & Sons]] |page= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780470438510/page/66 66] |isbn= 978-0-4704-3851-0 |url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780470438510 |url-access= registration}}</ref>

The band's debut album, ''[[The Hurting]]'' (1983), reached number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]], and their first three hit singles – "[[Mad World]]", "[[Change (Tears for Fears song)|Change]]", and "[[Pale Shelter]]" – all reached the top five in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Their second album, ''[[Songs from the Big Chair]]'' (1985), reached number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], achieving multi-platinum status in both the US and the UK.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|title= RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Songs from the Big Chair |publisher= [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Songs+from+the+Big+Chair%22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair |publisher= [[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date= 20 February 2022 |url= https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/6110-1044-2}}</ref> The album contained two [[Billboard Hot 100|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100]] number one hits: "[[Shout (Tears for Fears song)|Shout]]" and "[[Everybody Wants to Rule the World]]"; both songs reached the top five in the UK, and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" won the [[Brit Awards|Brit Award]] for Best British Single in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|title= Tears For Fears |publisher= [[Brit Awards]] |url= http://www.brits.co.uk/taxonomy/term/236 |archive-date= 3 November 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131103094554/http://www.brits.co.uk/taxonomy/term/236}}</ref> Their belated follow-up album, ''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' (1989), entered the UK chart at number one and yielded the transatlantic top 5 hit "[[Sowing the Seeds of Love]]".

After touring ''The Seeds of Love'' in 1990, Orzabal and Smith had an acrimonious split. Orzabal retained the Tears for Fears name as a solo project, releasing the albums ''[[Elemental (Tears for Fears album)|Elemental]]'' (1993) – which produced the international hit "[[Break It Down Again]]" – and ''[[Raoul and the Kings of Spain]]'' (1995). Orzabal and Smith reconciled in 2000 and released an album of new material, ''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'', in 2004. The duo have toured on a semi-regular basis since then. After being in development for almost a decade, the band's seventh album, ''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]'', was released in 2022,<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Tom |last= Skinner |title= Tears for Fears announce first album in 17 years, 'The Tipping Point' |magazine= [[NME]] |date= 7 October 2021 |access-date= 8 October 2021 |url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/tears-for-fears-new-album-17-years-the-tipping-point-listen-single-3064771}}</ref> giving the band their sixth UK Top 5 album and their highest chart peak in 30 years and reaching the Top 10 in numerous other countries, including the US.

In 2021, Orzabal and Smith were honoured with the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for 'Outstanding Song Collection' recognising their "era-defining Tears for Fears albums" and "critically acclaimed, innovative hit singles".<ref>{{cite web|title= The Ivors with Apple Music 2021 winners announced |publisher= [[The Ivors Academy]] |date= 21 September 2021 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://ivorsacademy.com/news/the-ivors-with-apple-music-2021-winners-announced/}}</ref>

==History==
===Formation and influences===
Orzabal and Smith met as teenagers in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath, Somerset, England]]. Their professional debut came with the band [[Graduate (band)|Graduate]], a [[mod revival]]/new wave act whose influences included [[the Jam]] and [[Two-tone (music genre)|two-tone]] music.<ref name="consequence22">{{cite web|title= Tears for Fears' "Mad World": The Story Behind the Unexpected Hit |work= [[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |via= [[YouTube]] |date= 1 March 2022 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnwbbrI2DAc&t=775s |url-status= live |archive-date= 11 March 2022 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20220311/HnwbbrI2DAc |minutes= 12:55}} {{cbignore}}</ref> In 1980, Graduate released an album, ''Acting My Age'', and a single "Elvis Should Play Ska" (referring to [[Elvis Costello]]). The single just missed the top 100 in the UK, but performed well in Spain and in [[Switzerland]]. The band split in 1981. Shortly afterwards, Orzabal and Smith became session musicians for the band [[Neon (British band)|Neon]],<ref>{{cite web|first= Jonas |last= Wårstad |title= Naked Eyes – The Story |website= Discog.info |access-date= 17 August 2011 |url= http://www.discog.info/naked-eyes-interview.html}}</ref> where they first met future Tears for Fears drummer [[Manny Elias]]. Neon also featured [[Pete Byrne]] and [[Rob Fisher (British musician)|Rob Fisher]], who went on to become [[Naked Eyes]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Brian |last= Burlage |title= Revisiting Tears for Fears for the Anniversary of 'Songs from the Big Chair' |date= 23 February 2015 |newspaper= [[The Michigan Daily]]}}</ref> The pair continued working together, drawing inspiration from artists such as [[Talking Heads]], [[Peter Gabriel]] and [[Brian Eno]].<ref name="Noisey">{{cite web|title= How We Wrote Our First Record: Tears for Fears revisit 'The Hurting' |website= [[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |date= 22 January 2014 |access-date= 8 April 2025 |url= https://www.vice.com/en/article/youneedtohearthis-tears-for-fears-the-hurting/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Mark C. |last= Horn |title= Tears for Fears' Curt Smith on Finding Creative Balance |newspaper= [[Phoenix New Times]] |date= 17 July 2017 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/tears-for-fears-curt-smith-on-finding-creative-balance-9498468}}</ref>

Impressed by the [[synth-pop]] sound of [[Gary Numan]]'s "[[Are 'Friends' Electric?]]" (1979), Orzabal and Smith began to explore the possibilities of electronic music. Their new creative direction was assured upon hearing the work of bands such as [[Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]] (OMD), [[Depeche Mode]] and [[the Human League]].<ref name="consequence22"/><ref name="BBC20">{{cite episode|title= Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair |network= [[BBC Four]] |series= [[Classic Albums]] |station= [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]] |date= 14 February 2020 |minutes= 15}}</ref> The likes of OMD and [[Soft Cell]] had popularised the "duo" presentation within synth-pop, inspiring Orzabal and Smith to package themselves as a two-man unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/tears-for-fears-musically-we-feel-we-are-the-best-weve-ever-been-23058911|title=Tears for Fears: 'Musically, we feel we are the best we've ever been'|last=Russell|first=Will|date=13 November 2024|website=[[Hot Press]]|access-date=30 January 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250130172701/https://www.hotpress.com/music/tears-for-fears-musically-we-feel-we-are-the-best-weve-ever-been-23058911|archive-date=30 January 2025}}</ref> Orzabal was also influenced by post-punk band [[Joy Division]], whose music explored themes of suicidal ideation.<ref name="Noisey"/>

The duo initially adopted the name History of Headaches.<ref>{{cite web|first= Graeme |last= Marsh |title= Spotlight: Tears for Fears – The Hurting |website= [[musicOMH]] |date= 15 October 2013 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.musicomh.com/features/spotlights/spotlight-tears-fears-hurting}}</ref> Their eventual Tears for Fears moniker was inspired by [[primal therapy]], developed by the American psychologist [[Arthur Janov]], which gained tremendous publicity after [[John Lennon]] became Janov's patient in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|first= Dennis |last= Hunt |date= 4 August 1985 |title= Primal Scream Is Behind Tears for Fears |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |page= L2}}</ref> When Orzabal and Smith finally met Janov in the mid-1980s, they were disillusioned to find he had become quite "Hollywood" and wanted the band to write a musical for him.<ref>{{cite web|first= Len |last= Comaratta |title= Tears for Fears' Curt Smith: Back in the Big Chair |website= [[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |date= 6 November 2014 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://consequence.net/2014/11/tears-for-fears-curt-smith-back-in-the-big-chair/}}</ref>

As Tears for Fears, Orzabal and Smith intended to form the nucleus of the group and bring in surrounding musicians to help them complete the picture. Around this time they met local musician [[Ian Stanley]], who offered them free use of his home [[Multitrack recording|8-track studio]]. Stanley began working with the duo as their keyboard-player and, after recording two demos, Tears for Fears were signed to [[Mercury Records]] in the UK in 1981 by [[Artists and repertoire|A&R manager]] Dave Bates. Their first single, "[[Suffer the Children (song)|Suffer the Children]]", produced by [[David Lord (producer)|David Lord]], was released on that label in November 1981, followed by the first edition of "Pale Shelter" (produced by [[Mike Howlett]]) in March 1982, but neither release was successful.

===''The Hurting'' and first hit singles (1982–1983)===
The band achieved their first success with their third single, "[[Mad World]]", which reached No. 3 in the UK in November 1982.<ref>{{cite web|title= Official Singles Chart Top 75: 31 October 1982 – 06 November 1982 |publisher= [[Official Charts Company]] |access-date= 11 May 2015 |url= http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19821031/7501}}</ref> Their first album, ''[[The Hurting]]'', was released in March 1983.

The album, produced by [[Chris Hughes (record producer)|Chris Hughes]] and Ross Cullum, showcased guitar- and synthesizer-based songs with lyrics reflecting Orzabal's bitter childhood and his interest in [[primal therapy]].<ref name="Noisey"/> The album was a big success and had a lengthy chart run (65 weeks) in the UK, where it reached No. 1 and platinum status. It also reached the top 20 in several other countries and yielded the international hit singles "[[Mad World]]" (top 5 hit in South Africa), "[[Change (Tears for Fears song)|Change]]" (top 40 hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the [[Netherlands]], Poland and South Africa – their first single to reach the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]), and a re-recorded version of "[[Pale Shelter]]". All three of these singles reached the Top 5 in the UK.

Towards the end of 1983, the band released a new, slightly more experimental single, "[[The Way You Are (Tears for Fears song)|The Way You Are]]", intended as a stopgap while they worked on their second album. The single was a top-30 hit in the UK, but did not come close to matching the success of their three previous hits, despite a national [[Concert|concert tour]] in December of that year (captured on the ''[[In My Mind's Eye]]'' live video release). The single, which heavily featured sampling and programmed rhythms, was a departure from Tears for Fears' previous musical approach. In the liner notes to their 1996 [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] compilation album ''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'' they wrote "this was the point we realised we had to change direction", though the somewhat experimental style of the single continued to be reflected in their forthcoming B-sides.

===''Songs from the Big Chair'' and worldwide fame (1984–1986)===
[[File:Tears for Fears (1985 Polygram publicity photo).jpg|thumb|Tears for Fears in a 1985 publicity photo]]
In early 1984, they began working with a new producer, Jeremy Green, on their new single "[[Mothers Talk]]". However, the band were ultimately unhappy with the results and so producer Chris Hughes was brought back into the fold and the "Mothers Talk" single re-produced for release in August 1984. A departure from their earlier works, the single became a top-20 hit in the UK, but it was the follow-up single "[[Shout (Tears for Fears song)|Shout]]" (released in the UK in November 1984) that was the real beginning of the band's international fame.

"Shout", a top-5 UK hit, paved the way for their second album, ''[[Songs from the Big Chair]]'' (released in February 1985), which entered the UK album chart at No. 2 and remained in the upper reaches of the chart for the next 12 months. They did away with the predominantly synthpop feel of the first album, instead expanding into a more sophisticated sound that would become the band's stylistic hallmark. Anchored on the creative hub of Orzabal, Stanley and producer Hughes, the new Tears for Fears sound helped to propel ''Songs from the Big Chair'' into becoming one of the year's biggest sellers worldwide, eventually being certified triple platinum in the UK and quintuple platinum in the US (where it remained the No. 1 album for five weeks in the summer of 1985).<ref>{{cite web|title= Tears for Fears – Awards |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tears-for-fears-mn0000019892/awards}}</ref>

The album's title was inspired by the book and [[Miniseries|television miniseries]] ''[[Sybil (1976 film)|Sybil]]'', the chronicle of a woman with [[dissociative identity disorder]] who sought refuge in her analyst's "big chair", Orzabal and Smith stating they felt each of the album's songs had a distinctive personality of its own. The band had also recorded a track titled "The Big Chair", which was released as the B-side to "Shout" but was not included on the album.

The album's success came in conjunction with the array of hit singles it yielded: "Mothers Talk" (re-recorded yet again for its US release in 1986), "[[Shout (Tears for Fears song)|Shout]]" (No. 4 UK, No. 1 in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, [[Switzerland]] and a huge hit in other territories), "[[Everybody Wants to Rule the World]]" (their highest-charting UK and Irish hit at No. 2 and another No. 1 in the US and in Canada), "[[Head over Heels (Tears for Fears song)|Head over Heels]]" (UK No. 12, US No. 3, Ireland No. 5, Canada No. 8), and "[[I Believe (Tears for Fears song)|I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)]]" (UK No. 23 and Ireland No. 10).<ref>{{cite news|first= Bo. |last= Emerson |title= Tears for Fears: Dynamic Duo Keeps Lucky Streak Alive |date= 9 February 1990 |newspaper= [[Ottawa Citizen]] |page= D3}}</ref> Some regions even saw the release of [[Special edition|limited edition]] 10" singles for these hits, and a variety of double packs and picture discs in addition to the regular 7" and 12" formats.

Following the album's release, the band went on a world tour that lasted most of the year, playing notably at the ''Montreux Golden Rose Rock and Pop Festival'' in May 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Heather |last= Johnson |title= Classic Tracks: Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" |magazine= [[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |date= 8 January 2007 |url= https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-tears-fears-everybody-wants-rule-world-365857}}</ref> In September 1985, the band performed "Shout" at the [[1985 MTV Video Music Awards]] at the [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York.<ref>{{cite web|title= MTV Video Music Awards – Performers |publisher= [[MTV]] |access-date= 4 December 2011 |url= http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/archive/performers.jhtml|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070809040138/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/archive/performers.jhtml|url-status= dead|archive-date= 9 August 2007}}</ref> Also during the tour, Orzabal and Smith discovered an American female singer/pianist, [[Oleta Adams]], who was performing in a [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] hotel bar, and whom they invited to collaborate on their next album. Towards the end of the year, they released a video collection/documentary titled ''[[Scenes from the Big Chair]]''.

In February 1986, having completed the lengthy and exhausting Big Chair world tour, Tears for Fears were honoured at the [[List of BRIT Awards ceremonies#1986|1986 Brit Awards]] in London, where they won the Best British Single award for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World".<ref name="BPI">{{cite web |title= Brit Awards 1986 Winners |publisher= Brit Awards |access-date= 15 May 2011 |url= http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1986 |archive-date= 17 March 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20140317150025/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1986 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The band was also nominated for Best British Group and Best British Album, and Chris Hughes was nominated for Best Producer.<ref name="BPI"/> Tears for Fears performed the song at the ceremony, which became the final public performance of drummer Manny Elias who left the group shortly afterwards.

At the same time, the band was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Duo/Group and Favorite Pop/Rock Duo/Group Video Artist at the 1986 [[American Music Awards]] in [[Los Angeles]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0005158/1986/1/|title=American Music Awards (1986)|website=IMDb.com|access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref> performing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" during the TV show.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=news&p=69&item=T86:0369 |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720134024/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=news&p=69&item=T86:0369 |url-status=dead }}</ref> And in April, a remixed version of "Mothers Talk" was released in [[North America]], reaching the US Top 30.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tears-for-fears/|title=Tears for Fears &#124; Biography, Music & News|website=Billboard.com|access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref>

The same year, Orzabal and Stanley worked together on a side project named Mancrab and released a single, "Fish for Life", which was written for the soundtrack of the film ''[[The Karate Kid, Part II]]''. The track was written and produced by Orzabal and Stanley, and featured vocals by US singer/dancer Eddie Thomas, who was one of the dancers in the video for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World".

====Live Aid====
On 13 July 1985, Tears for Fears were scheduled to perform at [[John F. Kennedy Stadium|JFK Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]] for the [[Live Aid]] charity event. However, on the morning of the event, it was announced that the band (who had actually been billed to appear before they had even agreed to do so) had pulled out of the show. They were replaced by blues rock group [[George Thorogood#The Destroyers|George Thorogood and the Destroyers]]{{Broken anchor|date=2025-06-29|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=George Thorogood#The Destroyers|reason= The anchor (The Destroyers) [[Special:Diff/1277248310|has been deleted]].|diff_id=1277248310}}, which had a strong Philadelphia-area following. The official reason given for their non-appearance was that two of their backing musicians, guitarist [[Electric Guitars|Andrew Sanders]] and saxophonist [[Will Gregory]], had quit due to the expiration of their contract; they were replaced by Alan Griffiths on guitar and Josephine Wells on saxophone for the remaining bulk of the 1985 world tour. In place of appearing, the band pledged to donate proceeds from their concerts played in Tokyo, Sydney, London and New York.<ref>{{cite news|first= Damian |last= Corless |title= Calling out around the world... Remembering Live Aid |newspaper= [[Irish Independent]] |date= 12 July 2015 |access-date= 20 July 2015 |url= http://www.independent.ie/life/calling-out-around-the-world-remembering-live-aid-31364166.html}}</ref>

As a further donation, the band also recorded a slightly rewritten version of one of their biggest hits and released it for the British [[fundraising]] initiative [[Sport Aid]] in 1986, a sister project of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] in which people took part in running races of varying length and seriousness to raise more money for African famine relief projects. Sport Aid's slogan was "I Ran the World", therefore Tears for Fears released "[[Everybody Wants to Rule the World#Covers and re-releases|Everybody Wants to Run the World]]" (No. 5 in the UK and No. 4 in Ireland). Indirectly, the band were involved in the earlier Band Aid single "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" from 1984, which featured a slowed down [[Sampling (music)|sample]] from their song "The Hurting" (from their [[The Hurting|debut album of the same name]]) in the introduction.

===''The Seeds of Love'' (1987–1990)===
It was 1989 before the group released their third album, ''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' (on which Ian Stanley appeared for the last time as a member of Tears for Fears), at a reported production cost of over a million pounds.<ref>{{cite news|first= Stephen |last= Humphries |title= Singer sheds Tears for Fears |newspaper= [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date= 9 November 2001 |url= https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1109/p20s2-almp.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Fred |last= Shuster |title= Tears Leader has no Fears Exploring the Past |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Daily News]] |date= 8 December 1995 |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25029124.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191526/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25029124.html}}</ref> With Stanley and Chris Hughes having both left the project and the band early during the recording sessions due to creative differences, the album was written largely by Orzabal along with keyboardist [[Nicky Holland]] (who had toured with Tears for Fears on their "Big Chair" world tour in 1985). Moving from various studios and using various sets of producers over many months, the band ultimately decided to scrap the recordings and take the reins themselves with assistance from engineer Dave Bascombe. Much of the material was recorded in jam sessions and later edited down. The length of the production was difficult for the band's management company, which had financially over-extended itself in other business matters and was hoping for an earlier release date to pay off its debts.<ref name="JD">{{cite news|first= Jamie |last= Doward |title= Nursing a King-size hangover |newspaper= [[The Guardian]] |date= 4 August 2002 |access-date= 26 August 2012 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/aug/04/theobserver.observerbusiness8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Michael |last= Snyder |title= Tears for Fears Rehashes the '60s |date= 1 September 1993 |newspaper= [[San Francisco Chronicle]] |page= E1}}</ref>

The album retained the band's classic sound while showing increasing influences ranging from [[jazz]] and [[blues]] to [[the Beatles]], the latter being evident on the [[hit single]] "[[Sowing the Seeds of Love]]".<ref>{{cite news|first= Kim |last= Jae-Ha |title= Tears for Fears Partners Plant New Pop 'Seeds' |newspaper= [[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date= 5 February 1990 |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3983242.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924193653/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3983242.html |archive-date= 24 September 2015}}</ref> The second single from the album was "[[Woman in Chains]]" (a top 40 hit in the UK, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the US), on which [[Phil Collins]] played drums and [[Oleta Adams]]—whom Orzabal would later guide to a successful solo career—shared vocals.

The album was a worldwide success, entering the UK Albums Chart at no. 1, making the top 10 in the US and in numerous other countries, eventually going on to sell millions of copies internationally. The band set out on an extensive "Seeds of Love" world tour sponsored by Philips to start recovering the debt incurred during the recording process. The band's show in [[Santa Barbara, California]], in May 1990 would be captured on the ''[[Going to California (Tears for Fears video)|Going to California]]'' live video as the singles "[[Advice for the Young at Heart]]" and "[[Famous Last Words (Tears for Fears song)|Famous Last Words]]" delivered modest chart success.<ref>{{cite news|first= Cheryl |last= Wenner |title= Tears for Fears: Emotion, Rhythm and Meaning |newspaper= [[The Morning Call]] |date= 7 June 1985}}</ref>

A 64-page companion book, simply titled ''Tears for Fears – The Seeds of Love'', was released by [[Virgin Books]] in 1990 and offered extensive insight from Orzabal, Holland and Adams into the songwriting and production process for the album, as well as the musical scores for each track and rare promotional photographs from the era.

===Break-up (1991–1992)===
After ''The Seeds of Love'', Orzabal and Smith had an acrimonious falling out and parted company in 1991. The split was blamed on Orzabal's perfectionist approach to production and delays caused by Smith's jetsetting lifestyle and desire to slow down the pace of their work (Smith was also going through a divorce at the time).<ref>{{cite web|first= Felix |last= Behr |title= This Is Why Tears for Fears Broke Up in the 90s |website= Grunge.com |date= 14 August 2020 |access-date= 10 June 2021 |url= https://www.grunge.com/236824/this-is-why-tears-for-fears-broke-up-in-the-90s/}}</ref> Another factor in the break-up was the band's manager, Paul King, who declared bankruptcy in 1990 and was later convicted of fraud in 2004.<ref name="JD"/><ref>{{cite web|title= Ex-Tears For Fears Manager Jailed |date= 10 May 2004 |publisher= Music News |access-date= 26 August 2012 |url= http://www.music-news.com/shownews.asp?H=Ex-Tears-For-Fears-manager-jailed&nItemID=1353}}</ref>

Following the break-up, Orzabal retained the Tears for Fears name and released the 1992 single "[[Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)]]". The single was released to promote the band's greatest hits collection ''[[Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92)]]'', which featured every single to reach the Top 20, either in the UK or internationally, apart from the Sport Aid fundraiser. The album peaked at no. 2 in the UK, where it was certified double platinum, and also reached the Top 10 in several other countries, including France, Italy and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|title= Tears For Fears – Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) |website= Charts.org.nz |access-date= 7 November 2019 |url= https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Tears+For+Fears&titel=Tears+Roll+Down+%28Greatest+Hits+82%2D92%29&cat=a}}</ref>

===Solo era: ''Elemental'' and ''Raoul and the Kings of Spain'' (1993–1999)===
In 1993, Orzabal (still under the name Tears for Fears) released the album ''[[Elemental (Tears for Fears album)|Elemental]]'' together with longtime collaborator Alan Griffiths. Co-produced by [[Tim Palmer (record producer)|Tim Palmer]], it yielded the international hit "[[Break It Down Again]]" (top 20 in the UK, Canada, France, and Italy) and was supported with another successful world tour, including a college tour of the US where "Break It Down Again" reached no. 25. Although it charted considerably lower in the US than the previous two studio albums (no. 45), it still earned a Gold disc there for sales of over half a million copies.

Orzabal, still working with Griffiths and Palmer, released another Tears for Fears album, ''[[Raoul and the Kings of Spain]]'', in 1995. This album was a more contemplative work that delved into his own Spanish heritage and showcased a new [[Latin American music|Latin]] musical influence (Raoul was originally the name Orzabal's parents wanted to give him, and is also the name of his own first son). The album was not a commercial success by Tears for Fears standards, though minor chart success came via the single release of the title track (top 40 in the UK) and (to a lesser extent) the single "[[God's Mistake]]".

In 1996 a B-sides compilation album, ''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'', was released on Mercury, which included B-sides and some rare tracks from the successful 1982–93 period.

===Reunion: ''Everybody Loves a Happy Ending'' (2000–2009)===
Around 2000, the duo began talking again after Orzabal helped Smith with some routine legal paperwork.<ref>{{cite news|first= Aidin |last= Vaziri |title= Pop Quiz: Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears |newspaper= [[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date= 19 September 2004 |access-date= 15 August 2010 |url= http://www.sfgate.com/music/popquiz/article/POP-QUIZ-ROLAND-ORZABAL-OF-TEARS-FOR-FEARS-2724224.php}}</ref> Smith flew back to England (where Orzabal still lived) and they had dinner and decided to work on a new album together.<ref>{{cite news|first= Steve |last= Morse |title= Tears for Fears' New Disc is Back on the Right Track |newspaper= [[The Boston Globe]] |date= 20 August 1993 |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8241625.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201002/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8241625.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Rick |last= de Yampert |title= Tears for Fears Brings Tears of Joy |newspaper= [[The Daytona Beach News-Journal]] |date= 1 October 2004 |page= 10E}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= The KPCS Archive » 08 (1) – Curt Smith |website= Kevinpollakschatshow.com |access-date= 15 May 2011 |url= http://www.kevinpollakschatshow.com/archive/?cat=70 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110713144717/http://www.kevinpollakschatshow.com/archive/?cat=70 |archive-date= 13 July 2011}}</ref>

The songwriting sessions included Charlton Pettus (Smith's collaborator since the mid-1990s), and 14 songs were written and recorded in less than six months. After initially being signed to [[Arista Records]] by [[L.A. Reid]] in 2003, record company mergers and the departure of Reid led to the band opting to terminate the contract. The ensuing album, ''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'', was eventually released in September 2004 on [[New Door Records]] in the U.S. Two U.S. tours followed, and the 2004 tour included an unrehearsed guest appearance by [[Oleta Adams]] at the [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] show for a performance of "Woman in Chains".

''Everybody Loves a Happy Ending'' was released in the UK and Europe in March 2005 on [[Gut Records]], shortly after the comeback single "Closest Thing to Heaven" became the first Tears for Fears [[UK Singles Chart|UK Top 40]] hit in a decade. The promo video for the single was a colourful fantasy that featured Hollywood actress [[Brittany Murphy]] riding in a [[hot air balloon]]. The European releases of the album contained all fourteen tracks recorded during the recording sessions, while the US version only contained twelve. A brief tour of larger UK venues followed in April.

A live performance at the [[Parc des Princes]] stadium in Paris, recorded in June 2005, was released on CD and DVD in France and [[Benelux]]. Titled ''[[Secret World Live in Paris|Secret World – Live in Paris]]'', it was released on the [[XIII Bis Records|XIII Bis]] label in early 2006 and became a best-seller, with over 70,000 physical copies sold in addition to downloads. The CD contained a new studio song, "Floating Down the River", and a remastered Curt Smith/Mayfield track, "What Are We Fighting For?".
[[File:Tears for Fears 2008.jpg|thumb|Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith in 2008.]]

During this period, "Mad World" was re-recorded by [[Michael Andrews (musician)|Michael Andrews]] and [[Gary Jules]] for the soundtrack of the 2001's film ''[[Donnie Darko]]''; a 2003 single release of the song reached number one in the UK for three consecutive weeks<ref>{{cite web|title= Gary Jules |publisher= [[Official Charts Company]] |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2335/gary-jules/}}</ref> and won Orzabal his second [[Ivor Novello Award]].<ref>{{cite news |title= The Darkness scoop Ivor Novello award |newspaper= East Anglian Daily Times |date= 28 May 2004 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/the_darkness_scoop_ivor_novello_award_1_64997 |archive-date= 7 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160507102634/http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/the_darkness_scoop_ivor_novello_award_1_64997 |url-status= dead }}</ref> This version also reached the Top 40 in numerous other countries between 2003 and 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title= Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules – Mad World |website= Charts.org.nz |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Andrews+feat%2E+Gary+Jules&titel=Mad+World&cat=s}}</ref>

In 2006, ''Songs from the Big Chair'' was re-issued again by Universal Music. It included the rare piano version of "The Working Hour", which had previously only been available as a limited edition item.

In August 2009, the ''Raoul and the Kings of Spain'' album was also re-issued by [[Cherry Red Records]], featuring seven bonus B-side tracks from the time of its original release.<ref>{{cite web|title= Raoul and the Kings of Spain – Tears for Fears |publisher= [[Cherry Red Records]] |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=880 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2 February 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202164131/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=880}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2021}}

===2010–2020===
In April 2010, Tears for Fears joined the reformed 1980s group [[Spandau Ballet]] on their seven-date tour of Australia and New Zealand, before a four-date headlining tour of their own in Southeast Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan) and a 17-date tour of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title= Tears for Fears Concert – Perth, Australia |date= 22 March 2010 |url= http://www.curtsmithofficial.com/event/2010/april/17/tears-for-fears-concert-perth-australia |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100102064852/http://www.curtsmithofficial.com/event/2010/april/17/tears-for-fears-concert-perth-australia |archive-date= 2 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title= Tears for Fears 'Songs from the Big Chair' Released November 11, 2014, via Universal Music Enterprises |date= 29 September 2014 |agency= [[Business Wire]] |access-date= 20 July 2015 |url= http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140929005296/en/Tears-Fears-%E2%80%98Songs-Big-Chair%E2%80%99-Released-November}}</ref> In 2011 and 2012, they played dates in the US, Japan, South Korea, Manila and South America.<ref>{{cite web|title= Curt Smith – Official Site (2012 tour dates) |website= Curtsmithofficial.com |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= http://curtsmithofficial.com/events/ |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130618234800/http://curtsmithofficial.com/events/ |archive-date= 18 June 2013}}</ref>

In May 2013, Smith confirmed that he was writing and recording new Tears for Fears material with Orzabal and Charlton Pettus.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Patrick |last= Flanary |title= Tears for Fears' Arcade Fire Cover 'Kick-Started' New Recording |date= 22 August 2013 |magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |access-date= 9 September 2013 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tears-for-fears-arcade-fire-cover-kick-started-new-recording-20130822}}</ref> In August 2013, Tears for Fears released their first newly recorded material in nearly a decade, with a cover of [[Arcade Fire]]'s "[[Ready to Start]]" made available on [[SoundCloud]].<ref>{{cite web|title= TearsForFears |publisher= [[SoundCloud]] |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url= https://soundcloud.com/tearsforfearsmusic}}</ref> In 2014, the track was included on a limited edition 3-track 10" vinyl EP from the band called ''[[Ready Boy & Girls?]]'', released exclusively for [[Record Store Day]], which also featured covers of [[Hot Chip]]'s "[[Boy from School]]" and [[Animal Collective]]'s "[[My Girls (Animal Collective song)|My Girls]]". All three songs were recorded as "kick-start" projects as the band commenced work on their seventh studio album. In an interview on [[BBC Radio Devon]] in October 2014, Orzabal stated that the band had now signed to [[Warner Music Group]] and that around five or six songs had so far been completed for the new album.<ref>{{cite interview|first= Richard |last= Green |others= Roland Orzabal |title= Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears |work= The Richard Green Show, [[BBC Radio Devon]] |location= Plymouth, England |date= 18 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Tears For Fears |publisher= Warner Bros. Records |access-date= 15 January 2016 |url= http://store.warnermusic.com/warner-bros-records/artists/tears-for-fears.html |archive-date= 18 November 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151118210724/http://store.warnermusic.com/warner-bros-records/artists/tears-for-fears.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band's debut album ''The Hurting'', Universal Music reissued it in October 2013 in two deluxe editions. Deluxe editions of the band's second album, ''Songs from the Big Chair'', were released on 10 November 2014. On 12 November 2014, Tears for Fears performed "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" on ABC's ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'' TV programme.<ref name="CoS">{{cite web|first= Ben |last= Kaye |title= Tears For Fears perform the hits on Jimmy Kimmel Live — watch |website= [[Consequence of Sound]] |date= 13 November 2014 |access-date= 15 December 2014 |url= https://consequence.net/2014/11/tears-for-fears-perform-the-hits-on-jimmy-kimmel-live-watch/}}</ref> In mid 2015, the band began a series of live dates in the United States and Canada.<ref name="Billboard"/><ref>{{cite news|first= George A. |last= Paul |title= Just Like Old Times for Tears for Fears |newspaper= Orange County Register |date= 3 August 2012}}</ref>

In July 2016, the band played their first live dates in the UK in over ten years: the Newmarket Nights festival at [[Newmarket Racecourse]] on 29 July<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Rebecca |last= Monks |title= Tears for Fears to play at Newmarket Racecourse |magazine= [[The List (magazine)|The List]] |date= 18 December 2015 |access-date= 6 January 2016 |url= https://www.list.co.uk/article/77218-tears-for-fears-to-play-at-newmarket-racecourse/}}</ref> and a closing night headlining appearance at [[Camp Bestival]] at Lulworth Castle in Dorset on 31 July. The gigs marked the band's first UK festival appearances since [[Concerts at Knebworth House|Knebworth]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|first= Dan |last= Biggane |title= Bath's Tears for Fears to headline Camp Bestival 2016 |newspaper= [[Bath Chronicle]] |date= 9 December 2015 |access-date= 6 January 2016 |url= http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Tears-Fears-close-Camp-Bestival/story-28326500-detail/story.html}} {{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The band again toured the United States and Canada in September and October 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Will |last= Robinson |title= Tears for Fears working on first new album since 2004 |magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date= 16 June 2016 |access-date= 26 June 2016 |url= http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/16/tears-fears-new-album-2017}}</ref>

In 2017, the band toured North America with co-headliners [[Hall & Oates]],<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Ryan |last= Reed |title= Daryl Hall & John Oates, Tears for Fears Plot Joint North American Tour |magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |date= 2 March 2017 |access-date= 5 March 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hall-oates-tears-for-fears-plot-joint-north-american-tour-w469841}}</ref> and also played in Israel, at the [[British Summer Time (concerts)|British Summer Time Festival]] in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] on 8 July, and at the [[Rock in Rio]] festival in Brazil on 22 September.<ref>{{cite web|first= Selina |last= Begum |title= The Killers and Tears for Fears amaze the British Summer Time festival crowd in Hyde Park |website= The Up Coming |date= 9 July 2017 |access-date= 18 July 2017 |url= http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2017/07/09/the-killers-and-tears-for-fears-amaze-hyde-park-at-british-summer-time-festival-live-review/}}</ref> In a July 2017 interview, Orzabal stated that the band had collaborated with songwriter/producer [[Sacha Skarbek]] on their seventh album, ''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]'', and divulged several song titles from it including "My Demons", "[[I Love You but I'm Lost]]", "End of Night" and "Up Above the World".<ref>{{cite news|first= Chris |last= Callaway |title= Tears for Fears Could Be Nostalgic, But the Band's Future Is Bright |newspaper= [[Westword]] |date= 10 July 2017 |access-date= 18 July 2017 |url= http://www.westword.com/music/roland-orzabal-of-tears-for-fears-talks-ahead-of-fiddlers-green-concert-9002721}}</ref> In an interview with [[SiriusXM Canada]] the same month, Orzabal divulged that although the band had signed with Warner Music to release their new album (which had been scheduled for October 2017), Universal Music had then approached Warner Music about buying the rights to the album so that they could release it (Universal being the rights holders of the vast majority of the band's back catalogue).<ref>{{cite interview|first= Eric |last= Alper |title= Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears Interview with SiriusXM |work= That Eric Alper Show, [[Sirius XM Holdings|SiriusXM]] |location= Canada |date= 14 July 2017 |url= https://soundcloud.com/user-363476314/roland-orzabal-interview-with-siriusxm}}</ref>

Roland Orzabal's wife, Caroline, died in the summer of 2017.<ref>{{cite news|first= Laura |last= Barton |title= If there is a God, this is what he put us on Earth to do': the unlikely return of Tears for Fears |newspaper= [[The Guardian]] |date= 8 October 2021 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/08/tears-for-fears-reunion-interview}}</ref> Tears for Fears initially withdrew from the remaining shows on their pending North American tour, but they resumed the tour in September 2017 at the [[Crypto.com Arena|Staples Center]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|title= Daryl Hall & John Oates and Tears for Fears reschedule the Los Angeles and San Jose Shows |publisher= Staples Center |url= https://www.staplescenter.com/assets/doc/Hall-Oates_Tears-For-Fears_RESCHEDULED-DATES_FINAL-824ac08c95.pdf |archive-date= 29 May 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180529170038/https://www.staplescenter.com/assets/doc/Hall-Oates_Tears-For-Fears_RESCHEDULED-DATES_FINAL-824ac08c95.pdf}}</ref> During his late wife's illness, Orzabal began writing songs that appear on the 2022 Tears for Fears album, ''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first= Laura |last= Barton |title= Tears for Fears: 'It was five years of hell. I needed some respite from the illness, the dysfunction' |newspaper= [[The Irish Times]] |date= 11 October 2021 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/tears-for-fears-it-was-five-years-of-hell-i-needed-some-respite-from-the-illness-the-dysfunction-1.4696403}}</ref>

On 26 October 2017, the band performed a 65-minute live set at the BBC Radio Theatre in London for the [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2 in Concert]] series, which was broadcast on both radio and television (via the [[BBC Red Button]] service). The following night, the band played their first ''full-length'' UK concert since 2005, at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]]. Prior to this, on 12 October, "[[I Love You but I'm Lost]]" was released as a single from a new 16-track Tears For Fears compilation album titled ''[[Rule the World: The Greatest Hits]]''. In October 2017, the band announced an 11-date UK arena tour for April–May 2018, featuring [[Alison Moyet]] as the support act. However, the tour was postponed to early 2019 due to Orzabal's health problems following the death of his wife.<ref>{{cite press release|author= Celebretainment |title= Roland Orzabal back to old self after wife's sudden death |work= [[Associated Press]] |date= 19 February 2019 |access-date= 21 July 2021 |url= https://apnews.com/article/53210fb273dd460584e42ae97a05bfd6 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210610185558/https://apnews.com/article/53210fb273dd460584e42ae97a05bfd6 |archive-date= 10 June 2021}}</ref>

The band performed at further UK and European festivals in the summer of 2019, starting with the [[Hampton Court Palace Festival]] on 18 and 19 June, the [[Forest Live]] festival at [[Delamere Forest]] on 21 June,<ref>{{cite news|first= Barry |last= Ellams |title= Pop legends Tears for Fears roll back the years at Delamere Forest concert |newspaper= CheshireLive |date= 22 June 2019 |access-date= 9 August 2019 |url= https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/review-pop-legends-tears-fears-16469809}}</ref> and the Nocturne Live Concert Series at [[Blenheim Palace]] on 22 June.<ref>{{cite news|first= Jonathan |last= Yates |title= Tears for Fears announce Hampton Court and Blenheim Palace shows for 2019 – how to get tickets |website= MyLondon |date= 26 November 2018 |access-date= 16 December 2018 |url= https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/tears-for-fears-tickets-tour-15465880}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Tears for Fears join Kylie at Blenheim |newspaper= [[Henley Standard]] |date= 3 December 2018 |access-date= 16 December 2018 |url= https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/music/133573/tears-for-fears-join-kylie-at-blenheim.html}}</ref>

In February 2020, ''Songs from the Big Chair'' was the subject of an episode of the BBC series ''[[Classic Albums]]'' featuring new interviews with the band and all key personnel from the album's creation and subsequent success.<ref>{{cite episode|title= Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair |network= [[BBC Four]] |series= [[Classic Albums]] |date= 14 February 2020 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f8xc}}</ref> To coincide with the album's 35th anniversary, the 2014 deluxe boxed set was reissued by Universal Music, as well as a new 12-inch vinyl picture disc of the album.

In October 2020, ''The Seeds of Love'' album was reissued as various deluxe editions and returned the band to the UK Top 20.<ref>{{cite web|title= Official Albums Chart Top 100: 16 October 2020 – 22 October 2020 |publisher= [[Official Charts Company]] |access-date= 20 February 2022 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20201016/7502/}}</ref>

In November 2020, after a change in management, ''Everybody Loves a Happy Ending'' was made available through various streaming services for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|first= John |last= Earls |title= Lack of 'Happy Ending' contributed to Tears for Fears management split |website= Super Deluxe Edition |date= 26 November 2020 |access-date= 30 November 2020 |url= https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/lack-of-happy-ending-contributed-to-tears-for-fears-management-split/}}</ref>

===''The Tipping Point'' and ''Songs for a Nervous Planet'' (2021–present)===
On 12 June 2021, Tears for Fears released the live double album ''Live at [[Massey Hall]]'' (recorded in 1985) for [[Record Store Day]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Live at Massey Hall |website= Record Store Day |access-date= 21 July 2021 |url= https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/13687}}</ref> and in September, Orzabal and Smith were honoured at the [[Ivor Novello Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Tears for Fears land major career honour at 2021 Ivor Novello Awards |magazine= Retropop |date= 22 September 2021 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://retropopmagazine.com/tears-for-fears-2021-ivor-novello-awards/}}</ref>

On 7 October 2021, Smith appeared on the BBC Radio 2 programme ''The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show'' to introduce the band's single "[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears song)|The Tipping Point]]", the first track from their seventh album, ''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]'', released on Concord Records on 25 February 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Daniel |last= Kreps |title= Tears for Fears Return for First Album in 17 Years |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 7 October 2021 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-new-album-1236239/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Tears for Fears |work= The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show |publisher= [[BBC Radio 2]] |date= 7 October 2021 |access-date= 10 October 2021 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00108g3}}</ref>

In November 2021, Tears for Fears announced a summer tour of the US and UK to commence in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|first= Alex |last= Young |title= Tears for Fears announce 2022 Tour with Garbage |website= Consequence of Sound |date= 12 November 2021 |access-date= 19 November 2021 |url= https://consequence.net/2021/11/tears-for-fears-2022-tour-garbage/}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first= Matt |last= Doria |title= Tears for Fears announce 'The Tipping Point' UK Tour for 2022 |magazine= NME |date= 12 November 2021 |access-date= 19 November 2021 |url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/tears-for-fears-announce-the-tipping-point-uk-tour-for-july-2022-3093886}}</ref> The band had to cancel the tour before its completion, due to Smith suffering four broken ribs in a road accident in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title= Tears for Fears cancel remaining The Tipping Point UK tour dates |date= 15 July 2022|url= https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/20683171.tears-fears-cancel-remaining-tipping-point-uk-tour-dates-including-hatfield-house-show/}}</ref> Two further singles, "No Small Thing"<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Daniel |last= Kreps |title= Tears for Fears Go Back to Basics with New Song 'No Small Thing' |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 3 December 2021 |access-date= 5 December 2021 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-new-song-no-small-thing-1266325/}}</ref> and "Break the Man",<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Tomás |last= Mier |title= A Dystopian Labyrinth 'Breaks the Man' in Tears for Fears Video |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 10 February 2022 |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-video-breaks-the-man-1298189/}}</ref> were released before the album (respectively in early December 2021 and mid-January 2022).

''The Tipping Point'' received largely positive reviews from critics<ref>{{cite web|title= The Tipping Point by Tears for Fears |website= [[Metacritic]] |access-date= 3 May 2022 |url= https://www.metacritic.com/music/tipping-point/tears-for-fears}}</ref> and entered the UK Charts at number 2 while topping the UK Album Sales Chart, the UK Physical Albums Sales Chart, the UK Downloads Albums Chart, the UK Vinyl Albums Chart, and also the Scottish regional album chart.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tipping Point – Tears for Fears |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> It also reached the Top 10 in numerous other countries<ref>{{cite web |title=Tears for Fears – The Tipping Point |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/76d69/Tears-For-Fears-The-Tipping-Point |publisher=[[Ultratop]] |access-date=3 May 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> (entering the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number 8) and topped the US ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Top Alternative Albums]], [[Top Rock Albums]] and [[Top Album Sales]] charts.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith  |date=7 March 2022 |title=Tears for Fears' 'The Tipping Point' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/tears-for-fears-tipping-point-number-one-debut-top-album-sales-chart-1235040212/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

On 1 June 2022, a video was released for the song "My Demons" (the fourth single from ''The Tipping Point''),<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Connor |first=Gotto |date=18 August 2022 |title=Tears For Fears share striking video for latest single 'My Demons' |url=https://retropopmagazine.com/tears-for-fears-music-video-single-my-demons/ |magazine=Retropop |access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> and while the band was on tour, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" re-entered the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="UK">{{cite web |title=Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/tears-for-fears-everybody-wants-to-rule-the-world-0/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> and entered the [[Billboard Global 200|''Billboard'' Global 200]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tears-for-fears/chart-history/glo/ |title=Tears for Fears Chart History (Global 200) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>

In April 2023, Tears for Fears announced the second part of [[the Tipping Point World Tour]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=3 April 2023 |title=Tears For Fears Schedule 2023 Dates for 'the Tipping Point Tour Part II' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-announce-2023-the-tipping-point-tour-part-ii-dates-1234708292/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref> In June 2023, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" returned to the UK Singles Chart once again for an additional 22 week chart run, reaching its peak position at number 72 in September.<ref name="UK"/>

On 12 September 2024, Tears for Fears announced the release of the ''Songs for a Nervous Planet'' album, featuring eighteen live tracks, recorded on 11 July 2023 in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], during the band's Tipping Point World Tour, as well as four (or five in some limited editions)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/tears-for-fears-songs-for-a-nervous-planet.1209549/ | title=Tears for Fears - Songs for a Nervous Planet }}</ref> new studio tracks.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ragusa |first=Paolo |date=12 September 2024 |title=Tears for Fears Announce First Live Album Songs for a Nervous Planet, Reveal New Song "The Girl That I Call Home": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2024/09/tears-for-fears-live-album-songs-for-a-nervous-planet-the-girl-that-i-call-home-stream/ |magazine=Consequence of Sound |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Paul |date=12 September 2024 |title=Tears For Fears / Songs For A Nervous Planet |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/tears-for-fears-songs-for-a-nervous-planet/ |website=SuperDeluxeEdition |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> The cover art, described as "mixed media digital collage with AI being just one of the many tools used in the creative process", was criticized by some fans.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Abby |title=Tears For Fears Address Use Of AI For New Album Cover |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2281371/tears-for-fears-explain-why-ai-was-used-for-new-album-cover/news/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=Stereogum |date=22 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Tears for Fears described the cover art as "a vibrant artwork that evoked a sense of sci-fi, futuristic themes, and an escape from what is known".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geraghty |first1=Hollie |title=Tears For Fears defend use of AI in new album cover art |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/tears-for-fears-defend-use-of-ai-in-new-album-cover-art-3796039 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |work=NME |date=September 23, 2024}}</ref> Two of the new tracks were released as singles from the album before its issue: "The Girl That I Call Home" on 12 September and "Astronaut" on 4 October 2024. ''Songs for a Nervous Planet'' entered the Top 10 in the UK<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/tears-for-fears-songs-for-a-nervous-planet/|title=SONGS FOR A NERVOUS PLANET|date=7 November 2024|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref> (becoming the band's seventh UK top 10 album)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25022/tears-for-fears/|title=TEARS FOR FEARS|date=2 October 1982|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref> and the Top 40 in several other countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/album/Tears-For-Fears/Songs-For-A-Nervous-Planet-541984|title=Tears For Fears - Songs For A Nervous Planet|access-date=6 July 2025|website=Hitparade.ch}}</ref>

==Band members==
'''Current members'''
* [[Roland Orzabal]] – guitars, keyboards, lead and backing vocals, bass <small>(1981–present)</small>
* [[Curt Smith]] – bass, keyboards, lead and backing vocals <small>(1981–1991, 2000–present)</small>
'''Current touring band'''
*Charlton Pettus – guitar, keyboards 
*Douglas Petty – keyboards
*Jamie Wollam – drums
'''Former members'''
* [[Ian Stanley]] – keyboards, backing vocals <small>(1981–1987)</small>
* [[Manny Elias]] – drums, percussion <small>(1981–1986)</small>

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
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DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
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  id:vocals    value:red        legend:Lead_vocals
  id:guitar    value:green      legend:Guitars
  id:keyboards value:purple     legend:Keyboards
  id:drums     value:orange     legend:Drums,_percussion
  id:bass      value:blue       legend:Bass
  id:tour      value:yellow     legend:Touring/session
  id:lines1    value:black      legend:Studio_Album
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  bar:Roland text:Roland Orzabal
  bar:Curt   text:Curt Smith
  bar:Gail  text:Gail Ann Dorsey
  bar:Ian    text:Ian Stanley
  bar:Nicky  text:Nicky Holland 
  bar:Manny  text:Manny Elias 

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  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

  bar:Roland   from:start      till:end        color:guitar 
  bar:Roland   from:01/07/1987      till:end        color:keyboards width:7
  bar:Roland   from:start      till:end        color:vocals    width:3
  bar:Roland   from:31/01/1991 till:01/01/2000 color:bass      width:5
  bar:Curt     from:start      till:31/01/1991 color:bass
  bar:Curt     from:start      till:31/01/1991 color:vocals    width:3
  bar:Curt     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:bass     
  bar:Curt     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:keyboards width:7
  bar:Curt     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:vocals    width:3
  bar:Ian      from:start      till:01/07/1987 color:keyboards
  bar:Ian      from:start      till:01/07/1987 color:vocals width:3
  bar:Manny    from:start      till:01/05/1986 color:drums
  bar:Gail   from:01/02/1991 till:01/07/1996 color:bass      width:11
  bar:Gail   from:01/02/1991 till:01/07/1996 color:tour      width:3
  bar:Nicky     from:01/08/1987      till:01/01/1991 color:keyboards 
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 at:10/10/1995 color:lines1 layer:back
 at:14/09/2004 color:lines1 layer:back
 at:25/02/2022 color:lines1 layer:back
}}

==Line-ups==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" style="width:28em;"|Period
!scope="col" style="width:52em;"|Members
!scope="col" style="width:57em;"|Releases
|-
!scope="col"|August 1981 – May 1986
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals
*Curt Smith – bass, vocals
*Manny Elias – electronic drums
*'''[[Ian Stanley]] – synthesizers'''
|
*"[[Suffer the Children (song)|Suffer the Children]]" (1981)
*''[[The Hurting]]'' (1983)
*''[[Songs from the Big Chair]]'' (1985)
*''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'' compilation (1981–1986/1996) {{small|– seven tracks}}
*"[[Everybody Wants to Rule the World#Everybody_Wants_to_Run_the_World|Everybody Wants to <!-- This is not a typo -->Run<!-- Read the article about this single --> the World]]" (1986)
|-
!scope="col"|June 1986 – July 1987
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals
*Curt Smith – bass, vocals
*Ian Stanley – synthesizers

with
*'''[[Chris Hughes (musician)|Chris Hughes]] – electronic drums'''
*'''[[Manu Katché]] – drums'''
|
*''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' (1987/1989) {{small|– two tracks, "[[Woman in Chains]]" and "[[Sowing the Seeds of Love]]"}}
*''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'' compilation (1987/1996) {{small|– one track, "Always in the Past"}}
|-
!scope="col"|August 1987 – January 1991
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals, keyboards
*Curt Smith – bass, vocals, keyboards

with
*'''[[Nicky Holland]] – keyboard, synthesizers, backing vocals'''
*'''[[Luís Jardim]] – drums'''
|
*''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' (1989) {{small|– other tracks}}
*''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'' compilation (1987–1991/1996) {{small|– three tracks, "[[Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (song)|Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams]]", "My Life in the Suicide Ranks" and "Tears Roll Down"}}
|-
!scope="col"|February 1991 – July 1996
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass

with
*'''Alan Griffiths – keyboards, programming, guitars'''
*'''[[Gail Ann Dorsey]] – bass'''
*'''[[Brian MacLeod (American musician)|Brian MacLeod]] – drums'''
|
*"[[Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)|Laid So Low]]" (1992)
*''[[Elemental (Tears for Fears album)|Elemental]]'' (1993)
*''[[Raoul and the Kings of Spain]]'' (1995)
*''[[Saturnine Martial & Lunatic]]'' compilation (1991–1996/1996) {{small|– other tracks}}
|-
!scope="col"|August 1996 – September 2001
|
''Roland Orzabal''
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals, keyboards, bass

with
*Alan Griffiths – keyboards, programming, guitars
*Gail Ann Dorsey – bass
*'''[[Nick D'Virgilio]] – drums'''
|{{N/a|none}}
|-
!scope="col"|October 2001 – February 2006
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals, keyboards
*'''Curt Smith – bass, vocals, keyboards'''

with
*Nick D'Virgilio – drums
*'''Doug Petty – keyboards'''
*'''Charlton Pettus – guitar, bass, keyboards'''
|
*''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'' (2004)
*''[[Secret World Live in Paris|Secret World]]'' live album (2006)
|-
! scope="col" |'''March 2006''' – present
|
*Roland Orzabal – guitar, vocals, keyboards
*Curt Smith – bass, vocals, keyboards

with
*Doug Petty – keyboards
*Charlton Pettus – guitar, bass, keyboards
*Jamie Wollam – drums
|
*''[[Ready Boy & Girls?]]'' EP (2014)
*''[[I Love You but I'm Lost]]'' single (2017)
*''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]'' (2022)
*''[[Songs for a Nervous Planet]]'' live album (2024)
|}

==Discography==
{{Main|Tears for Fears discography}}
; Studio albums
* ''[[The Hurting]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Songs from the Big Chair]]'' (1985)
* ''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Elemental (Tears for Fears album)|Elemental]]'' (1993) 
* ''[[Raoul and the Kings of Spain]]'' (1995) 
* ''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'' (2004)
* ''[[The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)|The Tipping Point]]'' (2022)
<!--Do NOT add 'Songs for a Nervous Planet' here. This is a list of studio albums only.-->

==See also==
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart]]
* [[List of Billboard number-one dance hits|List of ''Billboard'' number-one dance hits]]
* [[List of Billboard number-one singles|List of ''Billboard'' number-one singles]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name|nm3028825}}

{{Tears for Fears}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Tears for Fears
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