The Tears
The Tears | |
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![]() The Tears performing atRoskilde FestivalinDenmarkin 2005 (L–R: Nathan Fisher,Will Foster,Brett Anderson,Makoto Sakamoto,Bernard Butler). | |
Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Alternative rock,post-Britpop |
Years active | 2004–2006 |
Labels | Independiente |
Past members | Brett Anderson Bernard Butler Nathan Fisher Will Foster Makoto Sakamoto |
The Tearswere an Englishrocksupergroupformed in 2004 by ex-SuedebandmatesBrett AndersonandBernard Butler,along with the formerDelicatessenandLodgermembersWill Foster(keyboardist), bassist Nathan Fisher, and Bernard Butler session drummer Makoto Sakamoto. The duo Anderson and Butler were a much anticipated reunion and music critics praised their first concerts and only album,Here Come the Tears.However, the project was short-lived as they disbanded in 2006, which allowed Anderson to focus on his solo career and the latter Suede's reformation in 2010, Butler became a full-time producer, and Foster worked as additional musician forthe Fratellissince 2008.
History
[edit]In 1994, when Bernard Butler walked out of Suede, they were the biggest new band in Britain.[1]He was pilloried in the music press and characterised as "demanding, difficult and egotistical" by Brett Anderson.[2]"When he left the band we pretty much hated each other as much as two people can hate each other," admitted Anderson in an interview withThe Times.[3]The pair parted company in July 1994 while recording Suede's second albumDog Man Star,which resulted in a major fallout due to musical differences and Anderson's hedonistic lifestyle. As Suede soldiered on and Butler forged a solo career, both with varying degrees of success, they continued to snipe at each other in the press.[1]Though Butler and Anderson had not spoken to each other for nine years,[3]Anderson claimed getting back in touch with Butler was not difficult. The band decided on being named after a line from aPhilip Larkinpoem,Femmes Damnées,[4]which ends with the line: "The only sound heard is the sound of tears".
The band played their first ever live show on 14 December 2004 at theOxfordZodiac.[5]Things went as expected for the "new" band, and most new songs were received well by those attending the first set of shows. When asked during a concert by a fan to playSuedesong, "The Drowners",Anderson replied saying," Did somebody say they wanted to hear "The Drowners"? You’ve come to the wrong gig, mate. "[6]
Apart from relatively minor reviews of the first clutch of live shows, The Tears' first press was a review of "Refugees", an interview with Anderson, and a poster inThe Sunon 15 April. The next major article was byAlexis PetridisinThe Guardian,which ended on an extremely optimistic note: "the pair seem artistically reinvigorated by each other's company. Anderson talks excitedly of Tears songs like the ballad Asylum, inspired by his father's struggle with depression, as having moved away from ‘Suede cliches or Brett Anderson cliches... it's not, you know, opiated fop territory.’"[1]
From the start, Anderson was insistent that the band would not be playing any songs by Suede.[7]Things would change over time, however, as the band ended up playing theB-side,"The Living Dead", to an enthusiastic reception, during an encore for their show at the Sheffield Leadmill in April.[8]In April 2005, the band's first single, "Refugees",was released. The single was a success and peaked in theTop 10in theUK Singles Chart.[9]
The album,Here Come the Tearsfollowed on 6 June 2005, which the album was recorded in secrecy during the entire of 2004. It was released to generally favourable reviews that helped solidify the duo's comeback.[10]However it failed to crack the Top 10 of theUK Albums Chart.[9]Anderson felt that the project was eclipsed by the curiosity in the reconciliation with Butler, saying: "...the story of me and Bernard getting back together again was far too juicy, and it overshadowed the music completely. I am proud of the record we made, but the obsession with us stopped us enjoying it."[11]In late June, the band played a set at theJohn Peelstage at theGlastonbury Festival.The second single from the debut album, entitled "Lovers",was released in June. Though a significantly lower charting than the previous single, it still managed to reach number 24.[9]
More than a month later, Anderson announced that he would release his long-awaited solo album in between the touring forHere Come the Tears,and the release of the band's follow up album. After playing several festivals including Glastonbury andT in the Parkalong with international gigs, the band announced a European tour with dates in October and November. However, the tour was soon cancelled and the band were dropped from their label.
In late April 2006, Anderson posted a message on the band's message board announcing the band were on temporary hiatus because "no one ever wanted this thing to get caught up within the drudgery of the whole tour/record/tour cycle anyway". In addition, he announced that he had completed hisdebut solo albumand that it would see light in early 2007, hinting that the second Tears record would most likely come after that. In August 2006, the band's official site and forum were closed. In 2007, Anderson admitted in an interview that The Tears were about to write their second album, however they decided to split because they were simply not enjoying it. Asked about a second record, Anderson replied. "The chance of there being another Tears record in the future is pretty good actually."[12]These hopes were short-lived, however when Butler announced his retirement from performing in 2008 to concentrate on producing.[13]Anderson later decided to become a full-time solo artist, releasing three solo albums before Suede reformed in 2010.
The band's drummer, Makoto Sakamoto, died on 21 August 2018 from an unspecified illness, as confirmed by Bernard Butler on Twitter.[14][15]
Members
[edit]- Brett Anderson– lead vocals
- Bernard Butler– lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
- Nathan Fisher – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Will Foster– keyboards, piano
- Makoto "Mako" Sakamoto – drums, percussion (died 2018)
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Here Come the Tears(2005) - No. 15UK[16]
Singles
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcPetridis, Alexis."Frankly I hated Suede".The Guardian.22 April 2005
- ^McCormick, Neil(8 October 1998)."The guitar man finds his voice".The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2018.
- ^abSegal, Victoria (23 April 2005)."Better the devil you know".The Times.Retrieved30 November2018.
- ^MacNeil, Jason."Ex-Suede Mates Form The Tears".Billboard.com.21 October 2004.
- ^Sutherland, Mark."Brett & Bernard stay together".BBC 6 Music.15 December 2004
- ^Sinclair, David."Pop: The Tears".The Times.18 December 2004
- ^Saney, Daniel."Suede's Anderson on new band".Digital Spy.7 March 2005
- ^"Treat for Suede heads!".NME.20 April 2005
- ^abc"Artist Chart History: Tears".Official Charts Company.Retrieved15 June2013.
- ^"Here Come The Tears - The Tears".Metacritic.Retrieved1 June2013.
- ^McNulty, Bernadette."The return of Britpop's lost boy".The Daily Telegraph.22 March 2007.
- ^Natoli, David (27 February 2007)."Brett Anderson: The Exclusive Interview, Part II".thetripwire.com. Archived fromthe originalon 4 May 2009.
- ^Leonard, Michael."Bernard Butler retires from performing".MusicRadar.23 May 2008
- ^"Bernard Butler on Twitter:" I'm so sad to share the passing of my friend, musical partner and hero Mako Sakamoto. Mako succumbed to illness on Tuesday. I don't know what I'm going to do without him. Please play his spirit loud with this piece He was the greatest ".Twitter.com.23 August 2018.Retrieved2 March2020.
- ^"In memory of Mako Sakamoto – Mull Historical Society".Mullhistoricalsociety.com.Retrieved2 March2020.
- ^abRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 550.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
External links
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