The first show of their seven-date UK jaunt finds The Furs in tight form
The Psychedelic Furs at The Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, 22 October 2025
★★★½
The first show of their seven-date UK jaunt finds The Psychedelic Furs in tight form following a run of well-received North American dates.
Formed in London in 1977, The Furs’ mix of Roxy Music, Bowie and punk placed them towards the front end of the 80s new wave deluge. From darker musical beginnings, art school student Richard Butler and brother Tim eventually found international pop success when 1981’s previously Top 40-avoiding Pretty In Pink was co-opted by John Hughes to soundtrack his teen movie of the same name four years later.
Giving The Furs their only UK Top 30 hit, Pretty In Pink did much to open the door for them Stateside (where they relocated) and earned the band a prime position on every decent ‘Alternative Eighties’ compilation or playlist that’s followed.
Photo credit: Dave Freak
Sturdy Set
While Gary Numan opened for The Furs’ North American dates (yes, Gazza supported!), the UK run sees the Butler Brothers joined by Anja Huwe. Though not an instantly recognisable name, the visual artist/ musician previously fronted German goths Xmal Deutschland – a band currently currently enjoying a re-evaluation thanks to the rerelease of early recordings and the boxing of their 4AD label output.
It’s a brief set that leans on Anja’s solo LP Codes, but one that owes much to her brooding early 80s post-punk Xmal experimentations.
After a 15-minute delay, The Furs are quick to lay out their career highlights, dipping in and out of their back catalogue without a pause. Opener Heaven is bright, lightweight, and the band in 80s pop mode, and 1981’s President Gas still screeches with the measured urgency that defined their early releases. While Wrong Train – the first taster from 2020’s ‘comeback’ Made Of Rain – never quite feels like it’s leaving the platform, Ghost In You and Mr Jones soon put things back on track for a largely sturdy 75-minute set.
Setlist
Heaven
President Gas
Wrong Train
The Ghost In You
The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll
Mr. Jones
My Time
No‐One
Love My Way
In My Head
Run And Run
Until She Comes
Pretty In Pink
Heartbreak Beat
Encore
It Goes On
India
For more information and further tour details click here
Featured image and words by Dave Freak
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