In the wake of so many '80s artists embarking on tours without core members (Journey) or even with only one original member (Guns N' Roses), it's quite refreshing to see an '80s band practice truth in advertising. As British post-punk legends Psychedelic Furs prepare to play a brief series of shows in the States the week after Christmas, fans who attend can at least be assured that they'll be getting what they pay for. Lead singer Richard Butler still fronts the band, flanked by his brother, Tim, on bass and John Ashton on guitar, just like during the band's mid-'80s salad days.Of course, Def Leppard has retained a remarkably stable band lineup over the years as well, a few tragic straggles aside, but by and large such staying power remains frustratingly rare in bands of the '80s or earlier rock eras. That's why I find it noteworthy to celebrate the Furs, a band whose members certainly explored their own paths during a nearly decade-long hiatus in the '90s but also has the proper respect for its legacy to reunite properly and tastefully. I mean, the Furs without Richard Butler would drive a dagger into the hearts of the band's longtime, loyal fans. Let's hope they never have to find out how it feels to make the adjustment Journey fans were forced to make when Steve Perry made his exit from that band.
Album Cover Photo Courtesy of Columbia Records
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