Columnist Spencer Patterson: Tears for Fears doubles back on reunion tour

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 8:44 a.m.

After going nine years without speaking, Tears for Fears founders Roland Orzabal and Curts Smith have discovered a new way to coexist.

"It's very different," Orzabal said. "In the early days we were kids, and our musical relationship stemmed out of our friendship. It's probably the other way around now."

That strategy seems to be working. For the past five years the British duo responsible for such smash 1980s singles as "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Shout" have worked toward a full-fledged reunion.

In September, Orzabal and Smith released "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending," their first Tears for Fears album together since 1989's "The Seeds of Love."

The two men appeared onstage together for the first time in more than 13 years at Andre Agassi's "Grand Slam for Children" benefit event in October at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

And now the pair are in the midst of a 20-date U.S. tour, which stops at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $40 and $60, with Dirty Vegas pencilled in as the show's opening act.

Whether Tears for Fears' comeback will continue beyond the last scheduled date -- Nov. 26 in Tucson -- remains to be seen, Orzabal said.

"We'll have to wait for the repercussions to start kicking in before we get any bigger," Orzabal, 43, explained in a phone interview from a Denver hotel room Monday.

"We've got to take every week as it comes. It sounds a bit strange, but there is an element of part-time about this," Orzabal said. "It's not like we are relying on this for income. So it's really a question of, 'Does this new phase fit into our existing lives? Is it comfortable? Is it fun?' "

Listening to "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending," it sounds as if Orzabal and Smith had fun creating new music in the studio. The disc features the same sort of pop sensibilities and lush arrangements that made 1983's "The Hurting" and 1985's "Songs From the Big Chair" two of the new-wave era's most enduring albums.

"Making music is the most fun part, starting with a blank canvas, coming up with new stuff," Orzabal said.

Still, the process proved to be a slow one, in large part because of the physical distance between the two. Orzabal lives in England, Smith in Los Angeles.

"It was very intermittent," Orzabal said. "We would only get together, say, for school breaks. I would fly my family in, have a holiday and then do some work with Curt (in L.A.)."

Despite that choppy schedule, and despite record-label difficulties that included the restructuring of Arista Records (the band ultimately moved on to New Door, a division of Universal Music), Tears for Fears ultimately persevered.

Orzabal sounds glad they did.

"We were tired of people saying, 'When are you gonna to get back together? When are you gonna do another album?' " he said.

"It's one of those things in life you either choose to face or you don't. And I would hate to go through life thinking, 'What if?' We've done it, and in a sense we've put all those questions to bed. Now we're concentrating on creating a great show."

Music notes

Changing the dial: This week Las Vegas hip-hop station Wild 102 (KWID 101.9-FM) went off the air. In its place: a Spanish oldies format broadcast statewide, and throughout most of California, known as "La Preciosa."

The new format is expected to feature catalog hits from the 1960s, '70s and '80s by such Latin artists as Vicente Fernandez and Juan Gabriel.

Clear Channel, which owns the station, launched Wild 102 in January 2003 in place of what had been contemporary hits format Kiss FM.

A Clear Channel spokeswoman for "La Preciosa" did not return a phone call seeking comment on the switch.

Topping the list: TV On the Radio, a genre-blending, experimental rock outfit out of Brooklyn, N.Y., captured the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize on Monday, an award Las Vegas band the Killers had also been nominated for.

A panel of high-profile judges, including comedian Jack Black, the Cure's Robert Smith and the Dixie Chicks, awarded TV On the Radio the prestigious honor for debut full-length album "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes."

TV On the Radio played Las Vegas on Tuesday night, opening for Omaha, Neb., dance-rock quintet the Faint.

The Killers' debut album, "Hot Fuss," was one of 10 finalists for the prize.

Romancing the fans: Warped Tour alums My Chemical Romance is scheduled to sign autographs at 4 p.m. today at Tower Records, 4580 W. Sahara Ave. The New Jersey-based rock band opened for Korn Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

For more information on the Tower appearance, call 364-2500.

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

Vocalist Sarah Brightman returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $52.50 to $131.25.

When the British native last performed in Las Vegas in March, she captured the event on CD and DVD, releasing both during the past two months.

New York City rapper Nas lands at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Sunday with support act the Chapter. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 21-and-over event. Tickets are $25 to $30.

Nas is set to release "Street's Disciple," his first album of new material since 2002's "God's Son," on Nov. 30.

On sale

Lionel Richie performs at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts on New Year's Eve. Tickets are $45 to $125 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Aladdin box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Danzig rocks The Joint on Dec. 28. Tickets are $25 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and Ticketmaster.

The Killers return home for a Dec. 30 show at the House of Blues, with opening act Louis XIV. Tickets are $22 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the House of Blues box office and through Ticketmaster.

Jill Scott plays the House of Blues on Feb. 18. Tickets are $37 to $60 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Queensryche has announced plans to perform its 1988 album "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety on Feb. 16 at the House of Blues. Tickets are $35 to $52 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues and Ticketmaster.

Something Corporate teams with Straylight Run, Armor For Sleep and Academy Is on a House of Blues bill Feb. 12. Tickets are $16 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.