Roland Orzabal

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Biography

Roland Orzabal is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and producer, most famously known as one half of the internationally popular outfit Tears for Fears which he co-founded in 1981 with Curt Smith. Born in Plymouth, England, Orzabal’s family moved to Bath when he was a child. As a teenager, he met Smith and the pair later formed the band Graduate in the late 1970s. The five-piece band released one album, 1980’s Acting My Age and found minor success in continental Europe, but disbanded soon after as Orzabal and Smith formed Tears For Fears.

The duo’s first taste of success was in late 1982 when their third single, “Mad World” reached #3 in the UK. Further hits followed, and the band’s debut album The Hurting reached number one in the UK. The band’s second album, 1985’s Songs from the Big Chair, was even more successful, spawning five UK Top 30 singles including the #4 hit “Shout” and #2 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”. Both singles reached number one in the US, as did the album which went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. After a four year hiatus from the spotlight, the duo returned in 1989 with their third album, The Seeds of Love which also reached number one in the UK, propelled by the hit single “Sowing The Seeds Of Love” which was a Top 5 hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

Despite their global success, Orzabal and Smith parted company in the early 1990s.
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  • EdYtuke

    Genious! [2]

    11 May 8:40am Reply

  • Akayz7

    damn his solo record is gold... unbelieveable how overlooked.

    7 Jan 8:49pm Reply

  • begoniaazul

    Genious!

    2 Dec 2012 Reply

  • IndefiniteCure

    Criminally overlooked and underrated!!

    28 Nov 2012 Reply

  • PAN_GROT

    Day by Day by Day by Day by Day :-))

    17 Nov 2012 Reply

  • PAN_GROT

    http://tearsforfears.ru/roland-orzabal-biografiya

    17 Nov 2012 Reply

  • Beocenter8500

    <3

    29 Apr 2012 Reply

  • psycontrole

    Kiiiiiiiiiiiill Loooove, kiiiiiiiiiill lo o ove!

    11 Dec 2011 Reply

  • killhannahowns

    Happy birthday Roland!

    22 Aug 2011 Reply

  • thaysfbtchhx

    <3

    23 Jun 2011 Reply

  • killhannahowns

    I'm guessing there is no chance of hearing Tomcats live, ever. And that ruins my life. [2]

    27 Apr 2011 Reply

  • chetbakerjr

    For the Love of Cain ..... the song is kicking my day ;) roland is a very underrated musician

    7 Mar 2011 Reply

  • coregamer

    I'm guessing there is no chance of hearing Tomcats live, ever. And that ruins my life.

    29 Jan 2011 Reply

  • Aniyah7760

    Hello... Get ready for upcoming New Year! Buy cool and CUSTOM stuff here for you and your family! Any types of T-Shirts, shoes, bags, posters and much more! [spam]

    4 Dec 2010 Reply

  • mirrorball95

    Brilliant musician, his solo album is immaculate. Please make another!

    14 Jul 2010 Reply

  • The80sFan

    OUTSTANDING musician and vocalist. He is definitely my favorite half of TFF, but Curt Smith is really quite talented as well. "Tomcats Screaming Outside" I purchased when it came out in 2001 and you had to REALLY search for it to find it since it was on a virtually unknown label and I saw ZERO promotion for it upon release.....a damn shame because it is a FANTASTIC album with many great tracks!

    11 Jun 2010 Reply

  • joelgmariano

    welcome to manila tears for fears,, Orzabal manians waited for almost a lifetime to see you,,,

    2 May 2010 Reply

  • lizzylane

    Cool glad someone agrees! Wish there was a Roland version of Mad World though! Have always wanted to hear him sing it.

    30 Apr 2010 Reply

  • Nodisguise

    Totally agree lizzy -- I really don't understand the way some people tag their music. On the plus side, 'Tomcats' is a fantastic album :D

    10 Mar 2010 Reply

  • lizzylane

    Why the heck is Mad World his top song, he doesn't perform it as a solo artist, Tears For Fears do. This is so wrong! There is no Roland version of it! I think some people are getting mixed up with Gary Jules version! :/

    19 Feb 2010 Reply
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