Tears for Fears [ tickets ] founding members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith have joined forces for the first time in 14 years, helming a collaboration titled "Everybody Loves A Happy Ending" and gearing up for a fall tour.

In its original incarnation, the band rode a late-'80s wave of success that peaked with a string of hits including "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Shout" and "Sowing the Seeds of Love." In 1990, Smith left the band to move from their base in England and start a family in New York. The Tears for Fears moniker remained active in the 90's, however, as Orzabal continued the band through three albums, none of which saw the sales success of the founding duo's combined efforts.

The pair's business ties over rights to their catalog eventually drew them back into conversation, according to a written statement from the band. Since the millennium, Smith had been doing local club dates around New York, and Orzabal had been pitching music projects in England. A test run writing together again proved immediately fruitful, creating a sense that they were picking up just about where they left off.

Says Orzabal, "That was the point at which we thought, hang on a minute ... Something must happen, because I hadn't done melodies like that for years."

Press material surrounding the release suggests that the band's melodic overtures to The Beatles' sound continue in "Happy Ending" as well.

"When we did 'Sowing The Seeds Of Love' we were doing Lennon," Orzabal said in a written statement. "And I would say the main influence for this album was McCartney. Because I think McCartney is the new Lennon."

The tour behind the album release kicks off Oct. 21 in New Orleans, and navigates clubs and theatres through Thanksgiving, with additional dates expected to roll out as further routing is confirmed.