The Psychedelic Furs: Live At The London Palladium 2025

Image courtesy of Sonic PR

Not many bands can attract a packed crowd on Halloween night, but for The Psychedelic Furs, it was barely considered a challenge. Since their formation in 1977, the British New Wave icons have established a legacy of dark romantic anthems; with classics such as ‘Pretty in Pink,’ ‘The Ghost in You,’ and ‘Heaven,’ the band continues to add to their legendary discography. They’ve now embarked on a European tour, just wrapping up their UK tour dates by performing to a sea of fans dressed as monsters, witches, and Louvre thieves.

Being alternative rock royalty, it’s only fitting that they chose to end their 2025 UK tour in one of London’s grandest West End theaters; the fully seated London Palladium brought a sense of intimacy and a lack of elbowing through a crowd to find a decent view. An alternative rock band performing in a space built for drama may have initially seemed like an odd pairing, but the decision worked beautifully: the acoustics were crisp, the atmosphere felt cinematic, and the band dominated the entire stage. With a discography spanning over four decades, it can be jarring to create a cohesive setlist that captures every era while also appeasing your diverse audience. Yet, the Furs managed it with ease; songs written forty years ago blended beautifully with melodies written five years ago. The setlist itself was a showcase of the band's evolution.

The set began with a positive note as the band strode in with confidence exactly when the set time stated they would - their punctuality just one of the many signs of their professionalism. Without hesitation, they locked into position and dove headfirst into their opener, 'Heaven,' which excited the crowd. Richard Butler’s live vocals were just as wistful as they were in the original 1984 recording; his ability to maintain and recreate his signature tone is nothing short of impressive. 

“Hello! Welcome to the London Palladium.” Butler greeted as the music faded. The audience’s excitement from the first song continues throughout the first half of the set list. It quickly becomes clear how captivating Butler is as a performer; he strolls along the stage with expressive hands - every gesture amplifying the drama in his delivery. Even after having performed live since the band's formation, it’s clear from every corner of the theatre that he’s having just as much fun as the crowd.

What made the show even more remarkable was how each member of the band had moments to shine. Beside Butler, both Rich Good and Tim Butler moved up and down along the edge of the stage, facing the strength of the wind machine as they powered through the guitar and bass during “President Gas.” Guitarist Peter DiStefano stole the spotlight during “The Boy Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll,” bringing out a violin bow against his guitar as the rest of the band fell silent around him. Drummer Zach Alford powered through “Wrong Time” with a strong kick, while keyboardist Amanda Kramer played with sharp clarity on “My Time.”

And this was only the first half of the set. 

Suddenly, a wave of gasps and cheers filled the theatre as the unmistakable xylophone notes of “Love My Way” began. While most of the crowd had remained seated throughout the first half of the set, everyone couldn’t help but to get on their feet the moment the song began - singing and dancing along to the tambourine’s rhythm in Butler’s hands. The energy continued through “In My Head,” “Run and Run,” and “Until She Comes,” but it surged again when their biggest hit, “Pretty in Pink,” began to be played. By that point, the Palladium was no longer a seated venue.

Pretending as though it was their final song, the band powered through “Heartbeat Break” before leaving the stage, acting as if they couldn’t hear the fans’ calls for an encore. Moments later, they returned (just as planned) to deliver captivating performances of “It Goes On” and “India.” As they took their final bows, they thanked their fans by tossing drumsticks, earpieces, and towels soaked in sweat into the audience: a fittingly chaotic farewell until the next time.

The set length felt just right - neither dragged nor rushed; a perfectly timed rhythm for a Halloween night in central London, leaving room for costume parties while still being the highlight of the holiday. In the end, it was a concert that was able to satisfy Furs devotees while also drawing in newcomers who were only familiar with their most popular tunes. A flawless finale to their 2025 UK tour.