Roland Olarzabal (left) and Curt Smith of Tears For Fears.

The 1980s was an era of great transformation in pop music. While rock continued to hold sway among lots of fans, R&B, soul, punk, rap, and other genres were slowly gaining interest and following among many other enthusiasts in search of new alternatives to the traditional musical types.

One of the most popular acts among this new breed of talents that dominated that decade was Tears for Fears, of the sensational English duo Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. They not only altered the face of popular music of the ’80s, they also transcended generations and ultimately emerged as one of the biggest and best-loved groups of the post-MTV era.

Local music fans will enjoy a thrilling blast from the past when Tears for Fears invades the local concert scene with the enduring sound of the ’80s during its major concert on May 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Billed as “Tears for Fears Live in Manila!,” the one-night musical presentation from Ovation Productions is the Philippine leg of the four-city Southeast Asian tour by the celebrated duo, which also includes Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It immediately follows its seven-date tour of Australia and New Zealand this April.

Tears for Fears was formed by teenagers Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith in their home city of Bath, Somerset, England, in the early ’80s, where they played as session musicians for the band Neon before making their professional debut with the mod-influenced band Graduate.

When the Graduate was dissolved, the tandem formed a group that eventually became Tears for Fears, a moniker inspired by the Primal Therapy developed by American psychologist Arthur Janov, who suggested “tears as a replacement for fears.”

Orzabal and Smith were swept into the musical limelight through their 1983 debut album, “The Hurting,” a sophisticated collection of inward-looking, synthesizer-based pop songs that included “Mad World” (their third single and recently covered to enormous UK success by Gary Jules), “Pale Shelter,” and “Change,” which were all Top 10 hits in Britain. They achieved greater success with their second album, “Songs from the Big Chair,” released in February 1985.

The band has sold more than 22 million albums worldwide, including over 8 million in the US alone.

“Tears for Fears Live in Manila!” is produced by Ovation Productions and sponsored by ETC Entertainment Channel, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, RJ 100.3 FM, ABS-CBN, and MYX.

It is also supported by Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, Magic 89.9, Monster Radio RX 93.1, U-92, 90.7 Love Radio, 97.9 Home Radio, 95.3 FT, NU 107, 96.3 Easy Rock, OptimaSignsolutions, and Focalcast Network.

Tickets are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Department Stores.

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Ryan Cayabyab offers summer classes

Enrollment to The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab’s 23rd summer classes is now open. The school, located at the lower level of Robinsons Galleria, is also open the whole year round for individual music lessons in voice, piano, guitar, violin, drums, and workshops for children, pre-teens, teens, and adults.

“We’ve been training our students how to discover their own style, to establish their own identity as singers and musicians,” says Cayabyab.

This way, a singer can make a song of his own. He will not be bound by formulas in interpreting a song or musical piece. To Cayabyab, the artist’s craft matters more. Mastering it will bring him many hours of musical pleasure. It will give a performer the foundation he needs to last in the business for years.

In line with this, the school offers the following courses from April 12 to May 28: Muzikgarten, which teaches kids aged four to seven rhythm and movement, singing, acting and instrumental ensemble. The class meets for one hour, five times a week. The 14K Program, original training workshop, is developed and designed by Cayabyab himself. It includes ensemble singing and dancing for children aged eight to 12. It offers basic music theory and instrumental ensemble. One-hour classes are held five times a week. Muziktheatre offers classes in acting, voice and movement for those aged 13 to 17.

Classes are five times a week for two hours each.

Another course offered is “Discover Your Voice: A Holistic Approach to a More Confident Vocal Expression,” a workshop for singers and non-singers aged 18 and above. It is conducted by Clarissa Ocampo, who holds a Masters degree in Voice Performance from The Julliard School of Music in New York. Workshops are set May 29, June 5, 12, 19, and 26, July 3, 10, 17, and 24, with the culminating event on July 25.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on April 9 go to contractor-tenor Eric Cruz, former actor Romeo Vasquez, former actress-beauty queen Josephine Estrada, Mario Tan, Borgy Marcos-Manotoc, Mayette Flores, Eliseo “Boy” Saulog, Pacita Blanco, Glo de Leon, Elenita M. Renosa, Au Au Sevilla, Tribune lifestyle editor Dinah Ventura, Khayecee Aboloc and Dino Imperial of Star Magic, MB’s Daisy Lou Talampas, and Juan Pablo Puyat Bondoc.