Heaven Is Waiting
So, Richard Butler, tell me about the times when The Psychedelic Furs really lived up to their name. Those punky days when you released albums that were virtually unlistenable and played gigs that were utterly shambolic. How does it feel now that you're Big In America and have a pop single in the British charts? Richard Butler is not what expected. The quiet, long-framed figure resting easily in the armchair is a far cry from the controversial youth of old— and
he's smiling.
‘Heaven’ The Psychedelic Furs’ first single for nearly two years, is already their biggest hit. He's been living in New York for both those years and it's nice to be back. “I live in Soho, which is like a little village in Manhattan surrounded by concrete and glass. I love New York— although I prefer Britain. You always seem to miss it when you're away from it. Things change so quickly here. When I came back about six weeks ago there were all these bands in the chart that I’d never heard of.”
"People used to think that our name was pretty weird, but Kajagoogoo and Prefab
Sprout? That's outrageous." Richard talks at length on how he fears the nation is in the evil grip of Pop but isn’t "Heaven” just diluted Furry pop? “I don’t think so.” He retorts. "I think it was inevitable that we'd become more melodic. I mean, it would be pointless to do a wall of sound album, we’ve done that already. And 'Heaven' has quite a serious subject nuclear war— though I choose to talk about it in a general way. That's the way I write. Instead of saying there's an aeroplane in the sky, I say “There's a hole in the sky where the sun don’t shine.”
Richard is one of the few musicians who will talk freely about his lyrics, and he's got good reason to be confident enough to do so. David Bowie recently voted one of his songs. “Love My Way”, his third favourite single. “Yeah, David's quite a good friend as well as being a hero. He's been to a lot of our gigs, even the early ones in pubs in Britain. "The last time he saw us, which would have been in Australia I think, he said "You're getting better every time l see you. I must produce your next album'. But he said that last time.”
Even without Bowie, the Furs have gained a sizeable live following in the States. They
now look poised to break back into their own British market, making a dentin Evil Pop in the process. “It's ironic.” says Richard. "When we chose our name ages ago, we meant it to sound unaggressive when compared to all the other bands of the time. Now it's our name that sounds aggressive. Funny that.”
Watch out, Lotus Eaters.