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Introduction

I first saw/heard the Psychedelic Furs when they supported Iggy Pop in 1980 when I was a young and impressionable teenager. Initially it was the music that I was drawn to but I then became engrossed by the lyrics. The lyrics changed throughout the Furs years from a fairly abstract form to a more symbolic form - but always there remained recurring themes.

Throughout the years that the Furs recorded they were always regarded as a "cult" band as opposed to a mainstream one. It was only when they recorded "Midnight to Midnight" in 1987 that they actually broke through to into the mainstream. This was short-lived and ironically was lyrically and production-wise their poorest record.

Butler’s best lyrics are a mixture of seediness (It Goes On - Talk Talk Talk), angst (Sometimes - World Outside), glamour (So Run Down - Talk Talk Talk), darkness (Wedding - Book of Days), sarcasm (Backs/Radio - The Psychedelic Furs), sensitivity (Until She Comes - World Outside), cynicism (I Wanna Sleep With You - Talk Talk Talk), awareness (Green- Love Spit Love) and they combine at times to provide a very heady mix of thought provoking visions which are often disturbingly close to the bone. Butler uses his word play to paint pictures which constantly change form mood to mood - from one listen to next. If you like pretty love songs and an uncomplicated life (and want to keep it that way!) then this band is not for you. Not that the Furs can’t write catchy tunes - if you have a listen to Love My Way (Forever Now) you’ll be sucked in by its melody and radio-friendliness, but behind the facade is a biting cynicism which pokes fun at the "cattle-mart" type nightclubs ("There’s an army on the dancefloor / It’s fashion with a gun my love"). In short his lyrics are brilliant!

The Furs never sold the masses of records as an active band that they deserved (certainly in the UK), but they have an excellent and timeless back catalogue which I believe will go on selling for many years to come. Their fans and admirers make up a pretty impressive list:-

Bob Dylan’s daughter got her old man to write a song for them to record ("Clean Cut Kid" - which they turned down (the cheek!) because it wasn’t written in their style.

Counting Crows have a live acoustic recording of "The Ghost in You" on one of their B-sides.

Buffalo Tom also do a live acoustic version of "Heaven" on one of their B-sides.

Robin Hitchcock (of Soft Boys fame) does a cover of "The Ghost in You"

Elvis Costello has an acoustic version of "Pretty in Pink" that he sometimes plays when he’s touring.

David Bowie has always since the early days expressed a desire to produce them.

Paul Weller has often been quoted as saying that he couldn’t understand why the Furs didn’t sell more records.

Other admirers include the Wonderstuff, Pop Will Eat Itself and The Mission (John Ashton guitarist produced singer Wayne Hussey’s former band "Sister’s of Mercy").

American grunge band "Sponge" got Richard Butler to sing backing vocals on one of their songs.

Dave Allen (producer of "Book of Days") names them as one of his favourite bands.

When the Furs split up in 1992 I was not totally surprised but felt a bit down - it was as if part of my teenage years had disappeared with it….Then from the ashes Love Spit Love arose. Thank fuck….age doesn’t mean anything - after all who was it that said "Time is was it's made"?

Dave FurNo

"You didn't leave me anything / That I can understand

Now i'm left with all of this / A roomfull of your trash"

- Richard Butler