THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS
The Psychedelic Furs are still-surviving class of 1977, post-punk royalty – built by rock ’n’ roll brothers, Richard and Tim Butler. After success throughout the 80s and taking a long break in the 1990s, Richard and Tim relaunched The Furs in 2000, triumphantly capturing the return on live set Beautiful Chaos.
And unlike other famous rock brothers, they’re still speaking to each other.
“I love the guy, he’s very important to this,” says frontman and lyricist Richard, 64, of bassist younger bro Tim, 61.
“The history of this band goes right back to us, besides being brothers, sitting down and saying, ‘let’s form a band’.
“A lot of people apparently have problems having siblings in a band. I’ve never had a problem like that with Tim.”
The Gallaghers, The Kinks’ Ray and Dave Davies, The Everly Brothers all famously didn’t, or don’t, get on. But the Butlers have unexpected forbears.
“I think the Osmonds got on really well,” laughs Richard. But The Osmonds didn’t number David Bowie among their fans or receive a song from Bob Dylan, as The Furs did in 1984.
“We didn’t really like it,” says Richard. “And even if we had, it wouldn’t have fitted with what we were doing”
Sticking to their guns has brought dividends. Made Of Rain, the Furs’ new album – their first original release in 29 years – is ravishing and
The Furs back in 1982 captivating. “It took a while to get the solidarity of this band, doing a lot of great live shows, and reaching a point where you think it would be great to be doing new stuff,” says Richard. How different is he now to the guy who started out in the 70s?
“I don’t drink as much. I think I’ve learned some good life lessons,” he reflects. Despite his band’s name, Richard was never into psychedelic drugs. “Not at all, I think I didn’t like the out-of-control element. If you can go into those things with confidence you can probably have a good time. But I never did that.”
In 2006, he made a self-titled solo album inspired by his late Communist dad. “He engendered the feeling of equality among people. His atheism also coloured my way of thinking about things.”
In 2020, Richard is both a senior rock star, an established respected painter and father to now adult daughter, Maggie Mozart.
While growing up she benefited practically from The Furs globetrotting success.
“She used to come on tour with us a lot. She must be one of the most travelled kids in the world,” he says.
“I wanted her to see Australia when she was six, America when she was eight, nine and 10. It was great having her along.”
■ Made Of Rain is out today.
JOY DIVISION
Reissued (on crystal clear vinyl) to mark its 40th Anniversary, Joy Division’s second album is forever shadowed by the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis, exactly two months before its original release. The themes and dilemmas ice-picked open, raw and unbounded, in the likes of Isolation and Decades are unmistakable but the superlative sonic skills of late great producer Martin Hannett were crucial in sealing this mighty album’s legend.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
The ninth album from the Grammy-winning go-to girl for raw and unvarnished confessionals doesn’t disappoint.
Age, wisdom and motherhood impact on the piano-primed songwriting. From near-ecclesiastical proclamations to stealthy exercises in self examination, human life in a multitude of manifestations is here. A stately and steely approach keeps steroid pumping at bay – this is in-your-face and upfront rock pop with tenderness and insight.
FONTAINES D.C.
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I don’t drink as much. I’ve learned some good life lessons
The Dublin outfit caught on like a forest fire with their awardwinning, gritty debut Dogrel. Success and the fallout from it help fuel the tough but sensitive tunes here – transmissions from the front line of a collective in a storm. The glowering, slow, circular riff of You Said adds space and texture to serrated edges, while forlorn trad influences guide Oh Such a Spring, a winning contrast to the title track’s slam-bang glam. A suitably imaginative advance.