Tears for Fears’ Curt Smith Talks Love, Politics and Revenge

Curt Smith, Tears for Fears co-Founder, walked away at the height of his renown in 1991 because he “was not comfortable with [his] level of fame.  I didn’t think it was healthy for me.  I came to realize that money doesn’t buy you
happiness.”  


He is back to touring with TFF, but has stayed grounded — so grounded, in fact, that he’s willing to give K Street Kate the low-down on some major concerns in his life.

His first love is his family. 
“My family is the most important thing to me.  Since I’ve had kids, my priority levels have changed.  It used to be music #1, but when my family came along music shifted to #2.”

He has personal political power.
“DC is a fascinating place, but what I [find] sad [is] the huge poverty gap there as DC is a beacon of power.”  
*Smith became an American Citizen so he could vote (for Obama) and use voting as a personal power.  He describes himself in half jest as a “liberal puke.”

He thinks revenge is sweet.
 “We met [the late actress Brittany Murphy] when she was engaged to Jeff Kwatinetz (TFF’s manager). We met at Jeff’s birthday party and she was a huge fan.  She split up with Jeff, and we were still with Jeff, but didn’t like him very much.  So to piss him off we had her in our video.  There was nothing he could about it.”

He promises his band has a lasting legacy.
“Not trying to blow my own trumpet, but my feeling is anything of quality takes time. We were very adamant in taking our time until we got the best album.”

*Marlene Hall contributed this post.