ROLAND ORZABAL

I did psychotherapy for about six years. I stopped going regularly when I'd finished 'Elemental,' which I think probably says something. I think I'm moving on.

I do a lot of vocal warmups, which are the same warmups I did when I was a kid, because I had a few classical singing lessons and stuff like that, so I know pretty much how I'm gonna be once I get on stage.

I do an awful lot of thinking but, I also do an awful lot of dancing.

All the serious bands, all the punks, came from Bristol.

I didn't marry someone timid and conservative.

I always thought I had a difficult childhood 'til I saw the film 'Angela's Ashes'.

I'm proud of the younger Roland. Very proud of some of the lyrics. They stand up today. I'm cool with it, though some of it is a bit painful.

Tears for Fears was always very personal, but at the same time, it was always big business, a lot of pressure.

My dad had been in the second world war, had electric shock treatment, suffered from anxiety and was abusive to my mum. I kept a lid on my feelings at school but, when I was 18, dropped out of everything and couldn't even be bothered to get out of bed.

When I became a parent I forgot about the part of myself which was very emotional, very dour a little depressed - but very good at writing emotional songs.

It was brilliant in LA. The kids were young enough for it not to disturb their education and it was an incredibly healthy lifestyle. The weather's so good that you're up every morning, walking in the canyons, playing tennis three times a week.

I think that definitely any trauma - whether it's childhood or later in life - affects you negatively, especially when it's suppressed, but there's so much of us which is already in place.

I think it's a shame that 'Woman in Chains' wasn't a hit at the time, although it's become one of people's favorite songs.

Bath was hardly known for its rock'n roll. We weren't part of the London scene or the New Romantics or any of that.

I tend to get quite close to the songs because I've always been the main songwriter.

Good, effective pop music isn't just verbal language. It takes a good physical beat to make you feel something.

Two decades later, Gary Jules sang 'Mad World' for the film 'Donnie Darko' and got the Christmas No 1 in 2003. That was probably the proudest moment of my career.

My voice has changed dramatically over the years.

When you write really good lyrics - and sometimes I did! - they are just a joy to sing.

I was halfway through writing a gothic, country house mystery when, out of the blue, I received an email inviting me to audition for the ITV show, 'Popstar To Operastar.'

I was, like, the guy who sat at the front of the class and did his homework and did everyone else's homework and got A grades.

Obviously, the big hits like 'Shout,' 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World,' 'Head Over Heels,' we play live, so there's nothing new about them to me.

Grief is a very strange thing. It can affect you in all kinds of ways. I lost a year. I've done a lot of therapy and it's great to be back on the horse.

I can do some vocals in England; I can come across to LA You can do various versions - replace this, replace that. You can use software that almost makes the record for you.

It's not good for you to be barred from traveling to certain places in your head because some skeleton is in the closet.