What do you think?
Rate this book
Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death & Tears For Fears
**Read By The Author!**
A deeply personal memoir from founding member and primary songwriter Roland Orzabal of iconic English band Tears for Fears, known for their smash hits “Shout,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” and “Break It Down Again.” Weaving themes of identity, love, and the complexities of fame, Welcome to Your Life explores the formative experiences and complex worldview of a creator, his creations, and his personal life.
The digital audio edition of this book is read by Roland Orzabal himself.
Thirty million albums sold worldwide, 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a return to the stage and spotlight with their first new album in 18 years in 2022, followed by a sold-out global tour. Tears for Fears, and their unforgettable songs, have been part of the fabric of rock and roll for forty years.
Welcome to Your Life is a surprising memoir from co-founder, guitarist, and songwriter of Tears for Fears, Roland Orzabal.
Roland Orzabal, along with Curt Smith, formed Tears for Fears in Bath, England, in the wake of the punk explosion and at the dawn of New Wave. With their smash album Songs from the Big Chair, and songs like "Shout," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," “Head over Heels” they became mainstays of American radio and MTV, popstars beyond their wildest dreams. In Welcome to Your Life, Orzabal shares the story of his band, and also his life, a journey marked by massive fame, mental health struggles, a changing political and musical landscape, the creative and personal breakdown of Roland’s relationship with Curt Smith, the devastating loss of his wife, Caroline, and the road back to fulfillment as a man, father, and musician.
As any fan of TFF is aware, Roland’s songwriting is rich in imagery, especially mythological and astrological. Astrology is a lifelong passion and here, Roland uses astrology as narrative tool to underpin the storytelling, teaching readers the power of the stars and how his life has been moved by where he was in his astrological chart. A unique take on the memoir format, Roland Orzabal weaves together stories of musical and creative triumph with dark valleys of grief and drug addiction, stories he’s never shared before. As he reflects on love, faith, and recovery, Orzabal shows how the power of music can heal even the deepest wounds.
A must-read for fans of Tears for Fears, Gen-Xers, and those keen to embrace a story of resilience and creativity.
A deeply personal memoir from founding member and primary songwriter Roland Orzabal of iconic English band Tears for Fears, known for their smash hits “Shout,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” and “Break It Down Again.” Weaving themes of identity, love, and the complexities of fame, Welcome to Your Life explores the formative experiences and complex worldview of a creator, his creations, and his personal life.
The digital audio edition of this book is read by Roland Orzabal himself.
Thirty million albums sold worldwide, 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a return to the stage and spotlight with their first new album in 18 years in 2022, followed by a sold-out global tour. Tears for Fears, and their unforgettable songs, have been part of the fabric of rock and roll for forty years.
Welcome to Your Life is a surprising memoir from co-founder, guitarist, and songwriter of Tears for Fears, Roland Orzabal.
Roland Orzabal, along with Curt Smith, formed Tears for Fears in Bath, England, in the wake of the punk explosion and at the dawn of New Wave. With their smash album Songs from the Big Chair, and songs like "Shout," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," “Head over Heels” they became mainstays of American radio and MTV, popstars beyond their wildest dreams. In Welcome to Your Life, Orzabal shares the story of his band, and also his life, a journey marked by massive fame, mental health struggles, a changing political and musical landscape, the creative and personal breakdown of Roland’s relationship with Curt Smith, the devastating loss of his wife, Caroline, and the road back to fulfillment as a man, father, and musician.
As any fan of TFF is aware, Roland’s songwriting is rich in imagery, especially mythological and astrological. Astrology is a lifelong passion and here, Roland uses astrology as narrative tool to underpin the storytelling, teaching readers the power of the stars and how his life has been moved by where he was in his astrological chart. A unique take on the memoir format, Roland Orzabal weaves together stories of musical and creative triumph with dark valleys of grief and drug addiction, stories he’s never shared before. As he reflects on love, faith, and recovery, Orzabal shows how the power of music can heal even the deepest wounds.
A must-read for fans of Tears for Fears, Gen-Xers, and those keen to embrace a story of resilience and creativity.
Audible Audio
Published August 4, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 7, 2026
I think he’s quite a good writer. There are two things throughout that continually frustrated me.
1) He’s a VERY VERY STRONG proponent of astrology, but he seems to only treat its uncovered truths as hindsight. Throughout. All over. Something happens, and he looks at his charts afterward and exclaims, “Oh, *that’s* why that happened to me.” It’s as if he cannot look at his charts beforehand and see trends coming, so his revelations seem dishonest. He later throws in a little free will as a tepid given in life, to balance all the fate of astrology. However, there is a notable dearth of mindfulness—no “in-the-moment” assessment of whether he is culpable or capable of making any choices, whether he is exercising any emotional intelligence. It seems when you can blame so much on fate, you don’t really need emotional intelligence.
2) He messes with chronological order throughout. The reader has to fit all of it together, to make sense of events and perspectives, to make sure they all jibe with each other or whether there is a cognitive dissonance in his accounting. Is he even a reliable narrator? (I could give a big example, but it would be a spoiler.)
I still adore his music. Always will.
1) He’s a VERY VERY STRONG proponent of astrology, but he seems to only treat its uncovered truths as hindsight. Throughout. All over. Something happens, and he looks at his charts afterward and exclaims, “Oh, *that’s* why that happened to me.” It’s as if he cannot look at his charts beforehand and see trends coming, so his revelations seem dishonest. He later throws in a little free will as a tepid given in life, to balance all the fate of astrology. However, there is a notable dearth of mindfulness—no “in-the-moment” assessment of whether he is culpable or capable of making any choices, whether he is exercising any emotional intelligence. It seems when you can blame so much on fate, you don’t really need emotional intelligence.
2) He messes with chronological order throughout. The reader has to fit all of it together, to make sense of events and perspectives, to make sure they all jibe with each other or whether there is a cognitive dissonance in his accounting. Is he even a reliable narrator? (I could give a big example, but it would be a spoiler.)
I still adore his music. Always will.
August 13, 2026
Good writer, great music, amazing details and drama from his early life, and song inspiration and then on into the rise and the detailing of album creation — just far too much astrology; WAY too much! And always applied after the fact — he ditched his dying wife for a younger model, but that’s ok, he checked after and it was all in the motherfucking charts, yo!
August 7, 2026
I skipped over the astrology parts, honestly. Honest writing but the chronological thing drove me crazy, I just couldn't follow the story. Wait, I thought she died. She dies, there she is again, over and over. They live in LA, they live in England, they live in LA, they live in England without much discussion about when, or I missed it because I was so confused. It is good insight in to how the music is made and by whom. If you're a fan this will be of interest to you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With any autobiography, you're stepping into the author's world. In Roland Orzabal's case, I definitely expected a behind-the-scenes look at Tears for Fears. As a fan going back to their beginning, that was an exciting prospect. What I didn't know was what a huge part astrology played in his life.
There's nothing wrong with that belief system per se, but he really lays it on thick. From his early days to the present, he explains practically everything with how the various houses and planets factor into life. To me, it was too much of an explanation, and that detracted from the story of his work as a musician and his life overall.
Again, it's his story, and he can share it however he wants, but at some point the astrology content got so heavy it felt like a textbook on astrology. Considering all the stories that must go with having been half of a world famous band, I'd think more could have been focused on that. More touring, more creativity, more of how he and Curt worked together to create timeless music?
Roland Orzabal has lived an interesting life, as a talented musician and also as someone who had a difficult childhood and suffered loss as an adult. Those elements of his story were interesting, certainly, and we get some glimpses into his creative process but I would have loved more. I also would have enjoyed more insight into the ups and downs with Curt, but perhaps that was too sensitive of a topic?
Overall, the book is interesting. It was just way too astrology-focused for my tastes.
There's nothing wrong with that belief system per se, but he really lays it on thick. From his early days to the present, he explains practically everything with how the various houses and planets factor into life. To me, it was too much of an explanation, and that detracted from the story of his work as a musician and his life overall.
Again, it's his story, and he can share it however he wants, but at some point the astrology content got so heavy it felt like a textbook on astrology. Considering all the stories that must go with having been half of a world famous band, I'd think more could have been focused on that. More touring, more creativity, more of how he and Curt worked together to create timeless music?
Roland Orzabal has lived an interesting life, as a talented musician and also as someone who had a difficult childhood and suffered loss as an adult. Those elements of his story were interesting, certainly, and we get some glimpses into his creative process but I would have loved more. I also would have enjoyed more insight into the ups and downs with Curt, but perhaps that was too sensitive of a topic?
Overall, the book is interesting. It was just way too astrology-focused for my tastes.
August 22, 2026
I adore Roland. He wasn’t a crush back in the days of The Hurting and Songs From the Big Chair, but he definitely is now, after I’ve seen TFF several times in the last few years, and several times back in the day (including the Kansas City concert where Oleta Adams returned to perform with the band). (Kansas City, Missouri, that is, not Kansas like Roland kept saying.) I think The Tipping Point is a brilliant album, as good as their first two albums that put them on the radar.
All of that is to say that I’m a fan of Roland and.TFF. I am not, however, a fan of this book. The astrology was just over the top. And while I can respect that it is very important to Roland, it just didn’t work for me. The timeline was just impossible to follow. I get starting with Caroline’s death, since it was such a dramatic life development, but the back and forth throughout the rest of the book was just confusing. And as beautiful a lyricist as Roland is, the writing was very flat. Maybe that was a ghostwriter’s fault — I don’t know. But all the powerful emotions that go with the life Roland has lived, they just don’t come through here. I wish it were not so — I wanted to love this book. But it wasn’t to be.
All of that is to say that I’m a fan of Roland and.TFF. I am not, however, a fan of this book. The astrology was just over the top. And while I can respect that it is very important to Roland, it just didn’t work for me. The timeline was just impossible to follow. I get starting with Caroline’s death, since it was such a dramatic life development, but the back and forth throughout the rest of the book was just confusing. And as beautiful a lyricist as Roland is, the writing was very flat. Maybe that was a ghostwriter’s fault — I don’t know. But all the powerful emotions that go with the life Roland has lived, they just don’t come through here. I wish it were not so — I wanted to love this book. But it wasn’t to be.
August 12, 2026
Just a great memoir!! A lot of the reviews were turned off of the astrology connection sprinkled throughout the book but I found it very fascinating and a great look into how Roland views life, a life well lived too. I was never what I would call a hard core Tears for Fears fan, but I am certainly circling back around now to visit some of the newer material and some of the less commercially successful albums.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Without the astrology: 4 stars.
With the astrology: 2 stars.
It averaged out at 3.
Roland Orzabal knows how to write. He knows how to explain himself in a way that he expresses beautifully musically. A book however, not so much.
There’s a LOT of astrology here. A LOT a lot. He uses it as an explanation, a reason, and an excuse. He hides behind it both as a validation for not going deeper into the things readers want to hear about (TFF outside of the studio for instance), and as an enormous page filler.
His childhood was awful, and he goes into details about that, and Caroline’s death, but that’s really as deep as it gets. The split of TFF barely rates a few pages and it’s all very mild. For best friends, the whole thing comes off as odd.
I don’t know if I can recommend this book. Maybe read if when your planets align.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
All opinions are my own.
With the astrology: 2 stars.
It averaged out at 3.
Roland Orzabal knows how to write. He knows how to explain himself in a way that he expresses beautifully musically. A book however, not so much.
There’s a LOT of astrology here. A LOT a lot. He uses it as an explanation, a reason, and an excuse. He hides behind it both as a validation for not going deeper into the things readers want to hear about (TFF outside of the studio for instance), and as an enormous page filler.
His childhood was awful, and he goes into details about that, and Caroline’s death, but that’s really as deep as it gets. The split of TFF barely rates a few pages and it’s all very mild. For best friends, the whole thing comes off as odd.
I don’t know if I can recommend this book. Maybe read if when your planets align.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
All opinions are my own.
August 9, 2026
I am going to need to sit with this memoir for awhile to let my thoughts form fully, but I will say this: I am now thinking about having my astrological chart done. :-) As a long-time TFF fan, I enjoyed learning how the albums took shape as well as the origins of some of the song lyrics and was downright shocked to learn that - spoiler alert! - Roland is not in fact, a Virgo, too.
Although the book opens with a warning that astrology is discussed, the sub-title of "An Iconic Musician's Journey Through Grief, Addiction, and Recovery" is misleading. It never really felt like the author was fully comfortable discussing the personal aspects of his life (and what a life!), though it was important to do so to give context to the astrological references. I am glad that Roland Orzabal has found his happy ending and thank him for his decades of music that have been a soundtrack to my own life.
Although the book opens with a warning that astrology is discussed, the sub-title of "An Iconic Musician's Journey Through Grief, Addiction, and Recovery" is misleading. It never really felt like the author was fully comfortable discussing the personal aspects of his life (and what a life!), though it was important to do so to give context to the astrological references. I am glad that Roland Orzabal has found his happy ending and thank him for his decades of music that have been a soundtrack to my own life.
August 13, 2026
Excellent Read
I must admit that I am biased: First of all I am a huge fan of Tears for Fears Secondly I agree with a lot of Roland's beliefs and viewpoints expressed in his book. What I find refreshing is his honesty and bluntess in this autobiography. Something that is not often found in a work like this. You can skip the astrology parts if you're not into that. I wish every autobiography was this good. I wish him all the best in the future, after what he's been through. Reading this was a pleasure, in spite of some of the harrowing sections of the book.
I must admit that I am biased: First of all I am a huge fan of Tears for Fears Secondly I agree with a lot of Roland's beliefs and viewpoints expressed in his book. What I find refreshing is his honesty and bluntess in this autobiography. Something that is not often found in a work like this. You can skip the astrology parts if you're not into that. I wish every autobiography was this good. I wish him all the best in the future, after what he's been through. Reading this was a pleasure, in spite of some of the harrowing sections of the book.
August 28, 2026
What can I say, I love Tears for Fears, so I was already primed to enjoy Roland Orzabal's book and enjoy it I did. Yes, he skips around in time, didn't bother me. Yes, he does go into Astrology a great deal, but that didn't bother me because I was able to see how it informed his life. I loved that this talented man was able to share his life and still sound surprised by how it all turned out for the best, even the tragedies. Recommend if you're a fan, and even if you're not.
October 18, 2026
I didn't realise there was so much I didn't know about Tears for Fears! I remember their more well known hits but had no idea what happened to them, or mainly The Author, after that. But, for me I found it all a bit boring! The story dragged and the timeline jumped back and forwards so I didn't really know where in time I was. The Author has quite a sad story but without sounding too heartless I just couldn't get into it. And that's before I start on about the Astrology! Unfortunately, whilst I was looking forward to this, it wasn't really for me.
September 7, 2026
Roland Orzabal narrates the audiobook of his memoir; he has a great voice speaking and singing. Tears for fears is still one of the best bands, I really enjoyed this book, the astrology was interesting and fascinating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
I love a good memoir, and this was one that kept me engaged, consulting the stars, and constantly pausing to pop on Spotify for a specific song. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire experience.
Like many prospective readers, I was drawn to this memoir because of a lifelong love of Tears for Fears. The astrological connections were unexpected at first blush, but I really enjoyed these. If that's not your jam, don't worry; as Orzabal explains directly, you can easily make your way through this book while fully ignoring them.
Readers get insight into Orzabal's life through both chronological memories and incidents as well as returns to those most impactful moments. From his life in Bath to his marriages and children to various aspects of his music career and so much more, readers get to know Orzabal better as an artist and a person.
Was Orzabal's path predetermined in the stars? Your incoming answer to this is less important than your enthusiasm for an immersive read about an intriguing life.
I very much enjoyed this and have a whole catalogue of music to revisit, listen to, and think of fondly.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dey Street Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I love a good memoir, and this was one that kept me engaged, consulting the stars, and constantly pausing to pop on Spotify for a specific song. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire experience.
Like many prospective readers, I was drawn to this memoir because of a lifelong love of Tears for Fears. The astrological connections were unexpected at first blush, but I really enjoyed these. If that's not your jam, don't worry; as Orzabal explains directly, you can easily make your way through this book while fully ignoring them.
Readers get insight into Orzabal's life through both chronological memories and incidents as well as returns to those most impactful moments. From his life in Bath to his marriages and children to various aspects of his music career and so much more, readers get to know Orzabal better as an artist and a person.
Was Orzabal's path predetermined in the stars? Your incoming answer to this is less important than your enthusiasm for an immersive read about an intriguing life.
I very much enjoyed this and have a whole catalogue of music to revisit, listen to, and think of fondly.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dey Street Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
August 2, 2026
3.75
I’m a huge Tears for Fears fan. It’s so cool to learn the history of the band you love, understand their writing process, the events that inspired songs, and how those songs came to be.
Despite seeing so much success. Roland Orzabal’s life wasn’t easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Behind the fame and fortune, he had his own personal struggles. I guess the lesson, like most memoirs, is to persevere in spite of.
He forewarned that there’s a lot of Astrology talk. It’s another cool nugget to know about him and all the knowledge he shared. I however, do not have the basics to fully understand everything he said so it’s under appreciated from my perspective. That said, if you’re into birth charts and know your stars and planets etc., then you’ll enjoy those parts in this book. He connects every milestone and major event of his life to it.
I’m a huge Tears for Fears fan. It’s so cool to learn the history of the band you love, understand their writing process, the events that inspired songs, and how those songs came to be.
Despite seeing so much success. Roland Orzabal’s life wasn’t easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Behind the fame and fortune, he had his own personal struggles. I guess the lesson, like most memoirs, is to persevere in spite of.
He forewarned that there’s a lot of Astrology talk. It’s another cool nugget to know about him and all the knowledge he shared. I however, do not have the basics to fully understand everything he said so it’s under appreciated from my perspective. That said, if you’re into birth charts and know your stars and planets etc., then you’ll enjoy those parts in this book. He connects every milestone and major event of his life to it.
August 11, 2026
The book is “meh.” As others readers stated, the astrology topic is a bit much and confusing. I can read around it, but it was inserted into pretty much every aspect of the book and I started to lose interest. The timeline also jumps around. I still love TFF, but didn’t realize how dysfunctional Roland’s upbringing was; very sad.
August 11, 2026
Faith
I wrote an earlier Amazon only review on this book when I was 20 something percent in and I found some amazing insights and beauty that I just couldn't help share. Today I finished the book and found it to be better than I thought ever would be. It is filled with wonderful stories an interesting insights into the music business but mostly it's about a man who started with an interesting life and found his journey treacherous and ultimately marked by a faith that he didn't even know he had. If he reads this he might be almost as offended as if I would have called him a Torey or something similar, but I think his life and his stories are just beginning. God bless you, Roland, for sharing this lovely epic life. To be continued!
I wrote an earlier Amazon only review on this book when I was 20 something percent in and I found some amazing insights and beauty that I just couldn't help share. Today I finished the book and found it to be better than I thought ever would be. It is filled with wonderful stories an interesting insights into the music business but mostly it's about a man who started with an interesting life and found his journey treacherous and ultimately marked by a faith that he didn't even know he had. If he reads this he might be almost as offended as if I would have called him a Torey or something similar, but I think his life and his stories are just beginning. God bless you, Roland, for sharing this lovely epic life. To be continued!
August 23, 2026
Really fascinating read. The man has been through some seriously difficult times in his life and he expresses it well in this autobiography and in his music. I did read the astrology parts, though, admittedly, didn’t quite grasp all of it, nor did it pique my interest in the topic. Like many professional, successful, artists, he has genius in his genes.
September 30, 2026
First of all, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, as it is narrated by Roland himself. Hearing his story in his own voice really is the way to go in my opinion. The chapters are even introduced by snippets of his solo-album, which is a great album but still not available on the streaming services so little known.
As a fanboy since the early 80s, I'm quite versed in Tears for Fears lore, so the jumping through time bits didn't really irritate me as I already knew many of the broad strokes of his career and what TFF was doing at certain times or places. The amount of detail added to the familiar stories about how certain songs or albums came to fruition is great, as well as giving insights in his personal life he's usually not too keen on. I would have liked even more of that, but all in all it's very interesting for anybody interested in TFF's (and obviously Roland's) history. While I knew of his difficult relation with his father and the tragedy of his wife's illness and death, getting it first hand with all the details and emotions was pretty moving at times. Roland tells his story in a loose and conversational way, and it flows easily.
The astrology, well yes. It was in the subtitle and I already knew he was quite heavy into it, so it wasn't a surprise. The best I can say about it is that it offers an insight in his way of thinking and how he analyses certain traits or things or events, which is interesting in itself. But for an astrology-sceptic/denier like me (which didn't change even after his in-depth explanations) it's also a bit cringy at times and on the whole pretty unnecessary to make the story work. But it's his book, so he can do what he wants. I'm glad that I read it despite the occasional sigh and eye roll when he went on another mercurial tangent.
So yeah, for TFF fans it's an absolute must-read and from that perspective I would give it an easy 4 stars, falling short of 5 as I'm sure there is a lot still untold and it sometimes moves on very quickly from point to point while I would have liked a bit more depth. Looking just at the content without the TFF fanboyism, I rate it 3 stars because the astrology stuff is layed on so thick, it sometimes gets in the way of the actual story. Now can we get Curt to write his side of the story too?
As a fanboy since the early 80s, I'm quite versed in Tears for Fears lore, so the jumping through time bits didn't really irritate me as I already knew many of the broad strokes of his career and what TFF was doing at certain times or places. The amount of detail added to the familiar stories about how certain songs or albums came to fruition is great, as well as giving insights in his personal life he's usually not too keen on. I would have liked even more of that, but all in all it's very interesting for anybody interested in TFF's (and obviously Roland's) history. While I knew of his difficult relation with his father and the tragedy of his wife's illness and death, getting it first hand with all the details and emotions was pretty moving at times. Roland tells his story in a loose and conversational way, and it flows easily.
The astrology, well yes. It was in the subtitle and I already knew he was quite heavy into it, so it wasn't a surprise. The best I can say about it is that it offers an insight in his way of thinking and how he analyses certain traits or things or events, which is interesting in itself. But for an astrology-sceptic/denier like me (which didn't change even after his in-depth explanations) it's also a bit cringy at times and on the whole pretty unnecessary to make the story work. But it's his book, so he can do what he wants. I'm glad that I read it despite the occasional sigh and eye roll when he went on another mercurial tangent.
So yeah, for TFF fans it's an absolute must-read and from that perspective I would give it an easy 4 stars, falling short of 5 as I'm sure there is a lot still untold and it sometimes moves on very quickly from point to point while I would have liked a bit more depth. Looking just at the content without the TFF fanboyism, I rate it 3 stars because the astrology stuff is layed on so thick, it sometimes gets in the way of the actual story. Now can we get Curt to write his side of the story too?
September 22, 2026
Light on band details, heavy on the silliness of astronomy - not an equal split by any stretch.
October 1, 2026
4/5 - Finally finished this one (life got busy lol) but I really enjoyed this one! I have always loved the music of Tears For Fears since my youth, so it was super interesting to hear Roland's point of view. I never realized how much personal challenges he went through in his life. I really enjoyed the astrology tie-ins as well. Makes me want to learn more about it.
All in all, a great read!
All in all, a great read!
August 20, 2026
An absolute blast. I could not put it down. Read in less than two days. The astrology made it interesting, personal. Recommended
September 28, 2026
An endearing Memoir and exceptional Astrology!
«In my opinion, there is no better way of understanding the psyche, whether that’s in terms of character, behavior, or destiny, than through astrological means, simply because each planet represents a psychic force, an archetypal principle within us. It is far more precise and descriptive than any other model of the psyche.» ~p12
«In astrology the seventh house, among other things, is known as the house of the first marriage [..]. The ninth house is known as the house of the second marriage, and the eleventh house is known as the house of the third marriage. Any more than that and you should live alone.» ~p303
I took my time with Welcome to Your Life. Five days for a first reading, then another ten for a second, notebook in hand, pausing often to reflect. Welcome, then, to your life, Roland.
First, my sincere thanks to you, señor Orzabal de la Quintana, for championing a deep, Jungian form of PsychoAstrology while largely avoiding the usual astrological mumbo-jumbo and kitchen-sink nonsense. It is rare enough for a celebrated figure to interweave autobiography with astrological reflection; rarer still to do so with such consistency, clarity and genuine insight. For that alone the book deserves high praise.
When Tears for Fears began their rapid ascent, I was teaching history in the jungles of what was then Zaire. Later years in Saudi Arabia meant that music and faces only properly met for me long afterwards. While reading, I returned repeatedly to the entire catalogue. I remain especially fond of ‘The Seeds Of Love’, ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’ and ‘The Tipping Point’, but I thoroughly fell in love with ‘Raoul and the Kings of Spain’.
Welcome to Your Life is a layered memoir. It traces the fierce ambitions of two young men propelled into fame, their angry separation, their eventual reconciliation, and the deepening of both friendship and music. Most affecting is the harrowing account of Caroline’s decline and death, Roland’s raw and prolonged mourning, and his frightening struggle to overcome addiction. I’m very glad he has found love again, I wish Emily and Roland lasting happiness —and little Eula many bright solar returns.
«In my opinion, there is no better way of understanding the psyche, whether that’s in terms of character, behavior, or destiny, than through astrological means, simply because each planet represents a psychic force, an archetypal principle within us. It is far more precise and descriptive than any other model of the psyche.» ~p12
«In astrology the seventh house, among other things, is known as the house of the first marriage [..]. The ninth house is known as the house of the second marriage, and the eleventh house is known as the house of the third marriage. Any more than that and you should live alone.» ~p303
I took my time with Welcome to Your Life. Five days for a first reading, then another ten for a second, notebook in hand, pausing often to reflect. Welcome, then, to your life, Roland.
First, my sincere thanks to you, señor Orzabal de la Quintana, for championing a deep, Jungian form of PsychoAstrology while largely avoiding the usual astrological mumbo-jumbo and kitchen-sink nonsense. It is rare enough for a celebrated figure to interweave autobiography with astrological reflection; rarer still to do so with such consistency, clarity and genuine insight. For that alone the book deserves high praise.
When Tears for Fears began their rapid ascent, I was teaching history in the jungles of what was then Zaire. Later years in Saudi Arabia meant that music and faces only properly met for me long afterwards. While reading, I returned repeatedly to the entire catalogue. I remain especially fond of ‘The Seeds Of Love’, ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’ and ‘The Tipping Point’, but I thoroughly fell in love with ‘Raoul and the Kings of Spain’.
Welcome to Your Life is a layered memoir. It traces the fierce ambitions of two young men propelled into fame, their angry separation, their eventual reconciliation, and the deepening of both friendship and music. Most affecting is the harrowing account of Caroline’s decline and death, Roland’s raw and prolonged mourning, and his frightening struggle to overcome addiction. I’m very glad he has found love again, I wish Emily and Roland lasting happiness —and little Eula many bright solar returns.
Did Not Finish
November 11, 202611.9.2026
DNF@20%
Kindle/NetGalley [NLO]
Nonfiction/Memoir
Thank you to NetGalley, Roland Orzabal, and Dey Street Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF@20%
Kindle/NetGalley [NLO]
Nonfiction/Memoir
Thank you to NetGalley, Roland Orzabal, and Dey Street Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 7, 2026Roland is kind of a freak ngl
Gives a lot of new perspective on lots of my favorite songs. All the astrology is a bit lost on me but that doesn’t take away from the narrative. Time to go to Colorado and find Roland
Gives a lot of new perspective on lots of my favorite songs. All the astrology is a bit lost on me but that doesn’t take away from the narrative. Time to go to Colorado and find Roland
October 16, 2026
Easy read for a Tears for Fears fan. Roland is a bit of a nut, as a lot of artists are, but comes across as human with his share of personal trauma. I would have preferred a bit more of a deep dive into the music making process.
August 22, 2026
An, at times heart breaking story and one of musics most interesting bands with an easy to understand introduction to astrology that worked well for me.
September 30, 2026
Audiobook
Read
October 28, 2026Orzabal comes off as a very weird man, but not for the astrology. Not sure if I can explain. It's just in how he writes about his life.
I didn't mind the jumping back and forth in time because it was clear he was following themes and narrative arcs in his life, rather than laying everything out in strict chronological order.
Sections on addiction were harrowing and compelling.
A good read!
I didn't mind the jumping back and forth in time because it was clear he was following themes and narrative arcs in his life, rather than laying everything out in strict chronological order.
Sections on addiction were harrowing and compelling.
A good read!
August 30, 2026
While this was a beautifully written memoir, it was not what I was expecting. Roland is thoughtful and soulful, vastly different from what is expected of musicians and people in entertainment. He is heavily into astrology and the majority of this book is spent explaining the effect of his birth chart on his life. He does talk a lot about his relationship with Curt Smith, how they met, the music they made, breaking up & getting back together, but I still don’t feel like it was an intimate reflection vs. a detailing of facts that took place. I did really enjoy the peek into his relationship with Caroline. He clearly loved this woman deeply. Tears for Fears has been part of my life’s soundtrack since I was a young girl in 1985 and discovered Songs From The Big Chair, still heavily in rotation in 2026. Bonus: Roland narrates his audiobook. He has such a beautifully soothing voice.
September 29, 2026
This book is a mess! Orzabal glosses over really important moments in his life while giving absurd detail to things like the type of equipment in his recording studio. He spends several pages on near death experiences (though he’s never had one), tells the reader to Google things, and actually says that if you don’t believe in astrology, it’s because you’re ignorant. He treats himself as an expert in all things metaphysical and philosophical in a way that had me muttering about “know-it-all white men” repeatedly. The story itself is all over the place, and while he claims to see everything (through his astrological insight), he completely misses himself turning into a giant cliche when he marries a woman closer to his sons’ ages than his own and then fathers a child at 63. This book is disappointing in the writing itself, but also realizing that a man I had respected is a giant egomaniac who claims to have the inner knowledge of the world but hasn’t yet looked in the mirror.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews