Squeeze & The Psychedelic Furs

Squeeze’s debut self-titled album was released by A&M in 1978 (after a three-song EP) at the height of the punk revolution, but its pop songwriting hooks and melodies hark back to the ‘60s British Invasion.  That album included the track, “Take Me I’m Yours,” followed by a cadre of   hits on the UK charts including “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Pulling Mussels From A Shell,” “Black Coffee in Bed” and “Labeled With Love.”  Squeeze’s hits “Tempted,” “Hourglass” and “853-5937” (from East Side Story) made their mark in the U.S. in 1981.

Squeeze disbanded in 1999 and reunited in 2007, releasing three new albums since then (2010’s Spot the Difference, 2015’s Cradle to the Grave and 2017’s The Knowledge,) as well as various solo projects from both Chris and Glenn. Aside from Difford and Tilbrook, Squeeze now features keyboardist Stephen Large and drummer Simon Hanson (since 2007) percussionist/backing vocalist Steve Smith (frontman for electronic band Dirty Vegas) along with pedal/lap steel guitarist Melvin Duffy (who joined them for the 2019 tour) and Owen Biddle, former bassist for The Roots WHO JOINED IN 2020.

The band’s “Squeeze Songbook 2019” tour featured opening acts like KT Tunstall, They Might Be Giants, X, Marshall Crenshaw, the Mavericks and Leon Tilbrook in selected cities and was widely praised by critics.  Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl even joined the band at the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville in September 2019 to perform percussion on “Black Coffee in Bed.”

Squeeze most recently toured across the U.S. in 2021 with HALL & OATES, being the first UK band to tour the US since the pandemic.

The Psychedelic Furs may not have invented rock & roll per se, but their influence since arriving on the post-punk scorched-earth landscape four decades ago has reverberated and resonated among all those who cherish the sweet-and-sour spot where rawness and romanticism meet. Born out of the UK rock scene and led by vocalist and songwriter Richard Butler, and his bass-wielding brother Tim, the Furs quickly developed as one of the premiere bands at college and alternative radio scoring a multitude of major hits with “Love My Way,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Heaven,” “The Ghost In You,” and “Heartbreak Beat” in all releasing eight studio albums, spawning several compilations, a boxed set, a live concert DVD and inspiring one of the most iconic motion picture soundtracks of all time.   Their latest release “Made Of Rain” became the Furs’ second highest charting UK Album ever and was prominently featured in the end of year “Best Albums” roundup in a multitude of publications worldwide. The Furs especially thrive live in concert having headlined the U.K.’s famed Glastonbury Festival, performing at sold out gigs at the California’s Hollywood Bowl and continuing to tour quite regularly around the globe.

The Psychedelic Furs remain Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass), Mars Williams (sax), Amanda Kramer (keyboards), Rich Good (guitar) and Zachary Alford (drums).