Multi-million selling rock duo T’Pau return with ‘Be Wonderful’, out April 10th, preceded by lead single “Read My Lips” which arrives on March 20th. ‘Be Wonderful’ – T’Pau’s first album of original material since 2015’s ‘Pleasure and Pain’ – will be accompanied by an extensive headline UK tour throughout April.
T’Pau enjoyed huge global success in the late ‘80s with hits including “China In Your Hand” – which spent 5 weeks at UK No.1 in 1987 – and “Heart and Soul” – which reached No.4 in both the UK & US single charts – both lifted from their quadruple platinum No.1 debut album ‘Bridge of Spies’, which sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK alone. T’Pau enjoyed more success with the two subsequent Top 10 albums ‘Rage’ and ‘The Promise’, which produced several more Top 20 hit singles.
After originally splitting in 1991, T’Pau founder members Carol Decker and Ronnie Rogers reunited in 2013, and T’Pau have been a regular feature on the live circuit ever since where they annually rock big festivals such as the Isle Of Wight Festival, Rewind, Let’s Rock, W-Fest, Here and Now, Step Back, Ibiza Hardrock and Night of The Proms to name but a few.
So why the long gap between studio albums? “I hadn’t felt very motivated to write for the longest time,” admits Carol, who was born in Liverpool, grew up in Shropshire, and for the last 20 years has lived in Oxfordshire. “I started a different life with my husband and had a family to raise, so my head wasn’t in the same space. Then, in the early 2000s the 80s live circuit really picked up and I really haven’t stopped working live since then, having a lot of fun all around the world. I would still come up with song ideas now and again and record them on my iphone, and Ronnie is always writing and is very creative. Now the kids are in their 20s I finally had the time and head space so I could set my mind to it – and we finished an album!”
‘Be Wonderful’ was recorded at Rogers’ Up The Lane studio in Monmouth, south Wales, with Ronnie and Carol controlling every aspect of recording and production, something she says reminds her of the early days of T’Pau.
“In the late 80s we had a big label behind us and a big recording budget,” she recalls. “Obviously now we don’t, so we do everything in house, which means we have to be really creative like we were in the early days when we were starting out.”
New single “Read My Lips” is evidence of this creativity, containing all the hallmarks of T’Pau – driving guitars, huge drums, and Carol’s distinctive, strong vocals – but with a contemporary freshness to the production, and lyrics about self-empowerment in the modern world.
“Read My Lips is about pushing back and doing what you feel is right for you,” explains Carol. “There are always people who try to tell you what you should do, what you can say, what you can’t say, what is age-appropriate, and I’ve encountered some quite nasty people on social media being rude about my point of view, my opinions, my appearance, my music – there’s so much noise out there.
“So the song is really about overcoming your own self-doubt,” she continues. ”I’m still waiting for the day to come when I’m old enough to be wise! But you just have to dust yourself off, stand up and start again, and ‘keep your foot on the gas.’”
On the cover of ‘Be Wonderful’ is a photo of 10-year-old Carol, taken by her late Uncle in the late 60s. “I love that I’m posing for it, it’s not an accidental snap. I like the slight distraction in my face, what was I thinking?!”
Carol admits she’s wary of how a new album might be received after so many years away. “I’m looking forward to Be Wonderful coming out, but also quite nervous as I haven’t really stuck my head above the parapet for a while in terms of presenting a new album. T’Pau are privileged to still play our classic hits regularly, but it is nerve-racking to put out some new music, especially as the music business today is tougher than ever. So I’m feeling this mixture of nerves, hope and excitement!”
T’Pau ‘Be Wonderful’:
01 Read My Lips
02 Miles & Miles
03 Showdown
04 Casual Remark
05 Stupid Love Song
06 Be Wonderful
07 Echo
08 Run
09 World On Fire
10 Something
T’Pau ‘Be Wonderful’ UK Tour 2026
April 10 Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall
April 11 Basingstoke, Haymarket Theatre
April 12 London, Bush Hall
April 17 Holmfirth, Picturedrome
April 18 Sunderland, The Fire Station
April 19 Glasgow, Òran Mór
April 21 Chelmsford, Chelmsford Theatre
April 23 Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn
April 24 Liverpool, Hangar 34
April 25 Sale, Waterside Arts Centre
April 29 Milton Keynes, The Stables
Tickets here
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