May 29: In Remembrance

Remembering Mars Williams on his birthday today and he would have been 69 years old.

Even after all these months I still can't believe he's gone. And although Mars is sadly not here anymore, his music will always be with us to keep his memory alive forever.

We all love and miss you Mars. <3

The Ghost In You Ad

Here's an advertisement for the Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost In You" single, with lyrics included.

Blog Of Days: Fifth Anniversary Special [Part 2]

Photo: Matthew Reeves

This is the second and final installment of celebrating the fifth anniversary of my blog. This one is going to be very special because there is another anniversary I want to celebrate. In 2014, ten years ago, something happened that would change my life. I became a fan of The Psychedelic Furs.

Well, actually, it happened in November of that year but I want to talk about it right now because it is so important to me. I never thought I would find a band that would have an impact on my life and made me who I am today.

On one of my previous posts I wrote about how I discovered them but I will talk about it again here. Growing up my parents would play 80s music and I think the first Psychedelic Furs song I ever heard when I was a kid was "Heaven". Then, when I was about 14, I remember hearing "Love My Way" and loving it, and in my late teens to early 20s I started liking "Sister Europe" and "The Ghost In You". In the Autumn of 2014, all of a sudden, The Psychedelic Furs entered my mind and I decided to check out their other music. I bought a greatest hits album, and after two listens, I fell in love and became a fan. After when it happened I never knew what it would bring for me in the coming years, and I realized I had finally found a band that gave me a special connection.

The first Psychedelic Furs CD I listened to.

So years before I got into The Psychedelic Furs, the first band that I became obsessed with was Green Day. Nowadays I still love them and they are my second favorite band (the first being The Furs of course!). But the thing is, I got into them at the wrong time. I was 12 to 13 when American Idiot was extremely huge, and my parents wouldn't let me get that album and the previous ones. The three ways to listen to Green Day's music were the radio, watching the music videos on TV, and downloading songs that were safe to listen to. Eventually years later I was allowed to get their albums and hear the songs I wasn't able to listen to before. I thought to myself that if I was an adult during that time I think Green Day would be my main favorite band. Or not, who knows.

From my teens to early 20s there are a few other bands I got really into, like 30 Seconds To Mars, The Smiths, and Tears For Fears, but here's the thing: With Green Day and those other bands, even though I loved their music (and still do), they didn't give me that connection I mentioned. You would hear people say a certain band changed their lives but it wasn't happening to me. And then The Psychedelic Furs appeared. They are the only band that changed my life and even helped me in so many ways. Before I got into them, I felt like I was not good enough and stupid at times. And me being the youngest of three, I had always felt my older siblings were the perfect ones and I'm the messed up one. Even though it's not really true, I couldn't help feeling like that. But after I got into The Psychedelic Furs, their music made me feel better about myself and gave me so much comfort throughout the years. I honestly don't know what my life would be like if I never found them, and I can't imagine it at all. And not only did The Psychedelic Furs change my life but through their music so many special moments happened as well, which I'd never thought would ever happen to me. As of today I saw The Furs five times in concert and they are the number one band I've seen the most. And at those concerts I was lucky enough to meet guitarist Rich Good twice and was able to give The Furs a letter. They were the happiest times of my life and I will always cherish those wonderful memories.

Photo: Peter Noble

Even though I'm absolutely proud to be a fan of The Psychedelic Furs, I have to admit, as a fan in my 30s, there are days where I would question myself if I am really a true fan or not; because I feel like you have to be a true fan if you discovered The Furs during the '80s. Even when I went to those concerts or me being on the PFurs fan page on Facebook I felt like I'm the only young fan out there in the world, and I get worried there would be some older fans who look down on the younger fans such as myself. But why should I worry about it? The important thing is that I love The Psychedelic Furs and their music is timeless. It has no expiration date, and I know the band loves seeing a new generation of people discovering their music. It's the only thing that matters.

I can't believe it's been ten years now and it doesn't even feel like it was that long ago. But they were such incredible years and I will never, ever forget them. With all my heart, I want to thank The Psychedelic Furs for being a part of my life all these years, for their music, and for all the fantastic memories they have given me. I wish I can think of more words to say but I am absolutely grateful. <3

Thank you for reading part 2.

Photo: Matthew Reeves

Gavin Rossdale on The Psychedelic Furs

On the website Consequence Gavin Rossdale, the frontman of the post grunge band Bush, was chosen to list his 10 favorite albums by British artists and the interesting thing is that The Psychedelic Furs' first album was included! Here's what Gavin had to say about the debut:

"Well, I had to include that because that first record, Psychedelic Furs, was one of the first albums I had as a kid. It's one of those records that I know backwards, start to finish. I don't talk about Richard Butler enough, because I think he's one of my favorite singers. Really, just an amazing band. It's one of those brilliant records where, and it's true with all of these records, I put them on and they just take me to a better place, you know what I mean? Just transports me — and that's when music beats life, and it helps you against all the struggles that we're forced to endure. So just an amazing record, an amazing band.

"And [Richard Butler's] a really good artist as well. He's a painter. I had a chance to buy one of his paintings. I was in New York a few years ago, and I dunno why I didn't get it. I'm really, like, dumb. He's excellent. I gotta find one."

And Gavin talked about his favorite song on the album, which is "Sister Europe":

"That big song in there for me was 'Sister Europe.' I grew up with my sister, and so having a song about the 'sister of mine' and all part of the scene that we're in and the young punks and the kind of cool things that were happening in London… I have deep memories for that band."

Promo Photo #3

I recently discovered this promotional photo and if I am correct, I believe this one was from 2001 to promote either Greatest Hits or Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live. The picture of The Furs was taken by Michael Halsband.

Concert Ads #46

On November 7, 1981 The Psychedelic Furs performed at the Imperial Cinema in Birmingham, England during the Talk Talk Talk tour, and A Flock Of Seagulls were the openers. Tickets were £2.50 in advance; £3.00 on the night of the show.

Songs (via SetlistFM)

1. Into You Like A Train

2. Mr. Jones

3. Fire Engine

4. Dumb Waiters

5. Pretty In Pink

6. It Goes On

7. Soap Commercial

8. All Of This And Nothing

9. Sister Europe

10. President Gas

11. Imitation Of Christ

12. Forever Now

13. So Run Down

14. Pulse

15. India

15 Years

On this post I would like to congratulate Rich Good for being the guitarist of The Psychedelic Furs for 15 years.

In the mid 2000s when Rich used to be in The Pleased, the band was the opening act for The Psychedelic Furs and I think at the last show The Furs invited Rich to join them on doing a cover of the Roxy Music song "Virginia Plain".

Then in 2008 original guitarist John Ashton left The Psychedelic Furs and so later The Furs' manager called Rich Good. At first Rich thought The Furs wanted him to design a website or a poster but the manager asked Rich if he would like to be the new guitarist of The Psychedelic Furs; and has been since 2009.

Thank you so much Rich Good for your contribution, for your music, and for Made Of Rain. Congratulations!

Credits to photographer.