The Psychedelic Furs

Words by Rob Nicholson 

The Psychedelic Furs have been touring since the late 1970s, except for a hiatus in the 1990s. Brothers Tim and Richard Butler have always been at the helm of the band as well as the founders Love Spit Love. Throughout their career, the Furs have continued to develop and progress. They seem to have had the ability to keep their sound fresh, while at the same time familiar and relevant.  

I met Tim and Richard back in the early to mid 1990s during my stint as the afternoon drive guy on WCHZ in Augustine, Georgia when were promoting their new project at the time called Love Spit Love. The name was inspired by a live art exhibition protesting recent cuts made to the National Endowment for the Arts. When I was with them, I could clearly see that they are typical of brothers who have worked together for a long time. I also picked up on an artistic connection between them that you don’t always see with other brother-based acts.

Who has not had an experience of hearing the Furs on a dance floor in some night club? Or better yet, on a soundtrack to a movie or television show? Most notably might be “Pretty in Pink” the title to the John Hughes film of the same name, also heard on “Gilmore Girls.” Or “Love My Way” which appears in “Call Me by My Name”  and “The Wedding Singer.” More recently, “The Ghost in You” has been featured on “Stranger Things,” as well as the film “This Is Where I Leave You” starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda.

The reviews for the Psychedelic Furs’ eighth — and most recent — album, “Made of Rain,” have been great with songs including “The Boy that invented Rock and Roll,” “Hide the Medicine,” “This Will Never Be Like Love” and “Wrong Train.”

The Psychedelic Furs continue to tour and release new music, and their live shows are as powerful as they ever were. They will be at Florida Theatre May 16 with Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. For more information or tickets, visit floridatheatre.com.

To watch the full interview, click here.