18 Facts About Roland Orzabal

Roland Jaime Orzabal De La Quintana was born on 22 August 1961 and is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author.

Roland Orzabal is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears.

Roland Orzabal is a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams.

In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.

Roland Orzabal was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 22 August 1961.

Roland Orzabal wrote his first songs when he was seven years old.

Roland Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath.

Roland Orzabal continued recording under the Tears for Fears name, releasing the albums Elemental and Raoul and the Kings of Spain.

In 2001, Roland Orzabal released his first solo album, Tomcats Screaming Outside, under his own name.

Roland Orzabal co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love.

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

Roland Orzabal wrote the song "Mad World", recorded by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the film soundtrack Donnie Darko in 2001.

The song was originally composed by Roland Orzabal and was Tears for Fears' first hit single in 1982.

In September 2021, Roland Orzabal was awarded his third Ivor Novello Award along with Curt Smith for the Outstanding Song Collection by Tears for Fears.

In 1982, Roland Orzabal married Caroline Johnston, whom he had been dating since his teenage years.

Caroline Roland Orzabal died in July 2017 aged 54 after suffering from alcoholism-related dementia and cirrhosis, which came about after being diagnosed with depression.

Roland Orzabal's death led the band to cancel its remaining tour dates that year.

In 2020, Roland Orzabal married Emily Rath, a photographer and writer, in Aspen, Colorado.