Roland Orzabal

About Roland Orzabal

Who is it?: Musician, Singer
Birth Day: August 22, 1961
Birth Place: Hampshire, England, British
Birth name: Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana
Origin: Bath, Somerset, England
Genres: New wave, pop rock, synth-pop
Occupation(s): Musician, songwriter, producer, author
Instruments: Vocals, guitars, keyboards
Years active: 1979–present
Labels: Mercury, Eagle, Epic
Associated acts: Tears for Fears, Graduate, Neon, Mancrab, Oleta Adams, Emilíana Torrini

Roland Orzabal

Roland Orzabal was born on August 22, 1961 in Hampshire, England, British, is Musician, Singer. Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best-known as the co-founder of the band Tears for Fears. He is not only the main songwriter and vocalist of the band, but also a successful record producer for other artists. Together with his band partner Curt Smith, he has released hit albums like ‘The Hurting’, ‘Songs from the Big Chair’, and ‘The Seeds of Love’. Tears for Fears was one of the biggest pop rock bands of the 1980s, and they have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Unfortunately, Orzabal and Smith had a major dispute, leading to the former’s departure from the band in the early 1990s. However, he returned to the band with the comeback album ‘Elemental.’ Recipient of the Ivor Novello Award twice, Orzabal’s songwriting talent is well recognized by the industry. In 2014, he published his first novel, a romantic comedy, named ‘Sex, Drugs & Opera’. He is still actively involved with the band and recently toured North America with them. In 2017, the band played their first full-length UK concert since 2005 in London.
Roland Orzabal is a member of Singers

Does Roland Orzabal Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Roland Orzabal is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Roland Orzabal - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Roland Orzabal is 63 years, 2 months and 11 days old. Roland Orzabal will celebrate 64rd birthday on a Friday 22nd of August 2025. Below we countdown to Roland Orzabal upcoming birthday.

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Popular As Roland Orzabal
Occupation Singers
Age 63 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born August 22, 1961 (Hampshire, England, British)
Birthday August 22
Town/City Hampshire, England, British
Nationality British

🌙 Zodiac

Roland Orzabal’s zodiac sign is Virgo. According to astrologers, Virgos are always paying attention to the smallest details and their deep sense of humanity makes them one of the most careful signs of the zodiac. Their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is left to chance, and although they are often tender, their heart might be closed for the outer world. This is a sign often misunderstood, not because they lack the ability to express, but because they won’t accept their feelings as valid, true, or even relevant when opposed to reason. The symbolism behind the name speaks well of their nature, born with a feeling they are experiencing everything for the first time.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Roland Orzabal was born in the Year of the Ox. Another of the powerful Chinese Zodiac signs, the Ox is steadfast, solid, a goal-oriented leader, detail-oriented, hard-working, stubborn, serious and introverted but can feel lonely and insecure. Takes comfort in friends and family and is a reliable, protective and strong companion. Compatible with Snake or Rooster.

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Biography/Timeline

1970

Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath, Somerset. In the late-1970s, they formed a mod music group, Graduate, along with three other members. Following the release of their debut album, Acting My Age, the group disbanded and Orzabal and Smith went on to form Tears for Fears, a new wave/synthpop outfit directly inspired by the writings of the American Psychologist Arthur Janov.

1985

In 1985, Orzabal gained considerable press attention for his strained relationship with his father and a humorous cartoon was printed in the UK tabloid The Sun pertaining to this. The cartoon was later reprinted within the cover artwork for the Tears for Fears single "I Believe".

1986

As a Songwriter, Orzabal is a two-time Ivor Novello Award winner. His first award was in 1986 for "Songwriter of the Year" following the release of Tears for Fears' second album Songs from the Big Chair for which Orzabal wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks.

1990

In addition to co-producing most of Tears for Fears' records, Orzabal also co-produced Oleta Adams' album Circle of One (1990), following on from Adams' collaboration on the 1989 Tears for Fears album The Seeds of Love. The album reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in the US, and featured her transatlantic top ten hit "Get Here". Orzabal also co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love. As well as playing guitar and singing backing vocals on the track, he also appeared in the song's accompanying promo video.

1999

In 1999, Orzabal co-produced the Icelandic singer-songwriter Emiliana Torrini's album Love in the Time of Science, along with Tears for Fears associate Alan Griffiths. The pair also wrote two tracks for the album.

2001

Orzabal's talents as a Songwriter were recognised again after Michael Andrews and Gary Jules recorded the song "Mad World" for the film Soundtrack Donnie Darko in 2001. Their version was released as a single in 2003 and became the Christmas number one single in the UK that year, ultimately becoming the year's biggest selling single. The song was originally composed by Orzabal and was Tears for Fears' first hit single in 1982. In 2004, the song won Orzabal his second Ivor Novello Award, as the Songwriter of the Best Selling UK Single of 2003.

2014

Orzabal has written a novel, a romantic comedy entitled Sex, Drugs & Opera, published in 2014. It tells the story of a middle-aged pop star, Solomon Capri, who is semi-retired but is approached to take part in the reality show Popstar to Operastar which he sees as a way to rejuvenate his career and his waning marriage. The story was inspired by Orzabal's own experience as he was approached by the ITV show himself, though did not take part.

2017

Orzabal married his wife Caroline (née Johnston) at Bath Register Office in 1982. They have two sons, Raoul (b.1991) and Pascal (b.1994). Caroline can be heard singing the child vocal on the Tears for Fears song "Suffer the Children" from the band's debut album The Hurting, and also drew the "hands" cover artwork for the 1983 re-release of "Pale Shelter". In July 2017, Caroline passed away from natural causes. The remaining shows on the tour (co-headlining with Hall and Oates) were postponed, so Roland could mourn. Roland resumed the tour on September 14, 2017, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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