Tears for Fears singer appears at tribute band gig

Curt Smith (centre) purchased a ticket to watch tribute band, Close to Tears, play at The Fleece in Bristol

A Tears for Fears tribute act have said they were amazed to see the synth-pop band's co-founder attend one of their gigs.

Close to Tears had been performing at The Fleece in Bristol on 8 August when they spotted Tears for Fears singer Curt Smith in the crowd.

The tribute band's lead singer, Andrew Bevington, told BBC Radio Bristol it was "just amazing" and "the best thing in the world".

In a post on Facebook, the cover band wrote that the night had been made even more special as it was Smith's last night in the UK, before he returned to the US where he now lives.

Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal founded Tears for Fears in Bath in the early 1980s and released their first album, The Hurting, in 1983

Mr Bevington said they noticed the bassist and singer in the crowd and admitted that it had been "nerve-wracking" to play in his presence.

Asked whether he thought about asking Smith on stage, Mr Bevington said he did not do so out of "etiquette".

"We didn't announce he was there, we didn't know he would come, and we assumed he was just having a pint with his family," said Mr Bevington.

"He's a very private man and an ordinary guy. It didn't feel right [to ask him on stage]. Maybe next time he joins us. That would be amazing", he added.

Mr Bevington said Smith's brothers often attend their gigs and were included on the guest list, but despite that, they all purchased tickets.

"He was over for a birthday party and for him to come along it was just amazing. I've seen him a number of times but had never met him."

Mr Bevington said the iconic 80s singer joined them at the bar for drinks after the gig, where the band thanked him for coming while they chatted and took photos.

"They say never meet your idols, but it's not true in this case. The man is a legend," Mr Bevington said.

Andrew Bevington (left) from Close to Tears said meeting his idol, Curt Smith, had been "amazing"

Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal founded Tears for Fears in Bath in 1981 and released their first album, The Hurting, in 1983.

They achieved international acclaim with the release of their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, in 1985.

Hits like Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Shout reached number one in the billboard charts.

About 40 years later, the duo are still making and performing music, with their latest studio album, Tipping Point, released in 2022, and performances expected in Las Vegas in the autumn.