The Psychedelic Furs Story, Part III

(from The Psychedelic Furs Information Service)

With the music press and a highly successful tour behind them THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS re-entered the studio with fresh material the fruition of which was a demo which was recorded on the 21st of April 1980, the tracks laid down were:
SO RUN DOWN,
SOAP COMMERCIAL,
SUSAN'S STRANGE.
A gig was arranged at High Wycomb Town Hall on 30th April (which was video'd by TIM POPE who appeared more recently to film the successful "LOVE MY WAY" video).

With the idea of releasing a budget priced E.P. comprising the aforementioned tracks, the FURS went into the studio on May 1st. MARTIN HANNET who had previously produced JOY DIVISION and THE INVISIBLE GIRLS was chosen to produce and mix the tracks, which after extensive rehearsals included DUMB WAITERS.

Each track was mixed but on final listening the FURS decided to shelve the E.P. idea. This was due to the overall sound achieved. The FURS considered the drum sound too reminscant to that of JOY DIVISION. They felt the overall sound was not akin to the infamoous FURS "wall of sound". However these four tracks were sent to America where SOAP COMMERCIAL and SUSAN'S STRANGE were included on the American album. In the U.K. the MARTIN HANNET version of SUSAN'S STRANGE was included as the B side of MR JONES 7" and SOAP COMMERCIAL as the B side of PRETTY IN PINK 12". Unfortuantely the versions of DUMB WAITERS and SO RUN DOWN have not been heard since!!!!

On May 23rd THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS realised a long-time ambition of theirs, to play to an Irish audience. After shipping problems with their equipment en route to Ireland they played two memorable gigs in Dublin and Cork to ecstatic audiences!!!!

They returned to London, continuing to rehearse before their first major European dates, the first of which was on 30th May at a large studio complex called PLANKE in Belgium.

After all this arduous dashing about a day off was planned in the form of a trip to Paris, however, a difference of opinion between themselves and the hotel management over a playful romp on the rooftop resulted in the FURS leaving to find a more understanding residency............ Whilst in Paris THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS played a one off gig at a very expensive disco in the centre of Paris' red light district called LES BAINES DOUCHES. The gig was a disappointment to the FURS because of the poor sound quality.

After this brief flirtation with Europe it was back to England for a well earned rest before the long Summer Daze tour.

The tour had originally been scheduled to start at Hull Wellington Club on 5th of June and culminate around the 20th, but a last minute working visit to the United States was arranged in the middle of the tour, so after their Nottingham gig on the 17th of June they jetted off to "THE BIG APPLE" to the play the "MUDD CLUB" in NEW YORK from the 19th to the 26th. They returned excited and triumphant after their first crack at the American market, but loyal as ever continued with their rescheduled tour in Britain ending on the 5th July at THE FACTORY in Manchester.

After all this hot footing around the FURS took a much needed break for two weeks, time wasn't wasted, because it was back into the studio on August 27th for the long awaited follow up to "SISTER EUROPE". IAN TAYLOR was at that helm producing (he had also contributed to the first album on PULSE and WE LOVE YOU). The outcome of this session was:
MR JONES: - later to become their next single.
NO TEARS: - which turned up on TALK TALK TALK in a different form.
SO RUN DOWN: - which was shelved despite being considered by some to be as good if not better than the version used on TALK TALK TALK!!!!!!
These songs received their final mixings from the 3rd to 5th of September.

MR JONES was first performed to the general public at a live gig on the 14th September at the LEEDS SCIENCE FICTION FESTIVAL. This was followed by still more rehearsals followed by a gig at the London LYCEUM on 21st SEPTEMBER. The sound quality was poor but a good time was still had by all!!!!

Two days later THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS returned to AMERICA this time for a full scale tour.

During their absence MR JONES was released in the U.K. with a picture cover inspired by a RENÉ MAGRITTE painting. The single made an appearance in the top 100 singles chart but due to Radio stations usual apathy toward anything "UNUSUAL" the single wasn't played on the airwaves and consequently disappeared without a trace.........

On the 16th November THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS returned with a stream of successful American dates behind them and in high spirits. They started almost at once writing tracks for their second album "TALK TALK TALK". They finished 1980 in style by demoing five new songs from 22nd December right up until Christmas Eve. The five songs were: -
PRETTY IN PINK
SHE IS MINE
ALL OF THIS AND NOTHING
INTO YOU LIKE A TRAIN
FIVE INTO ONE*
*FIVE INTO ONE later appeared as the B-side of DUMB WAITERS re-titled DASH.

1981 started with yet more demos recorded on the 6th and 7th of January this was followed by a short break in which time THE FURS were photographed by ANDREW DOUGLAS, these photos were later used for the inner and outer sleeves of "TALK TALK TALK". On the 26th of January there was a dress rehearsal at Shepperton studios, there was one small problem however, because Vince had suddenly contracted a tummy bug so LES MILLS (the band's manager) RICHARD BUTLER and DUNCAN KILBURN all had a go on drums!

Due to Vince's unfortunate illness the Nottingham gig on the 27th was cancelled but they did make a personal appearance to apologise for their absence.

Vince still had not completely recovered by the 28th and 29th January when the FURS played "THE MARQUEE" however the gigs went ahead with an ill Vince on drums. The shows both sold out, and the second show was much better than the first, because Vince was much recovered. More problems arose with the support band who wouldn't play on the second night.

Ever busy the FURS recorded their 3rd JOHN PEEL session on February 2nd. The tracks aired were: -
INTO YOU LIKE A TRAIN
ON AND AGAIN
ALL OF THIS AND NOTHING

Two days later THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS returned to the studio to start recording "TALK TALK TALK" then titled "RAP". They continued recording until the 13th February when they stopped to play their rescheduled gig at Nottingham ROCK CITY.

DON'T MISS NEXT ISSUE FOR ANOTHER EXCITING INSTALLMENT OF "THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS" STORY..........

THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS INFORMATION SERVICE
Tony Linkin

Many thanks to André Huckvale for providing scans of the original articles, and to Bradley Stuart Berlin for all the great photos.