Rock fans know Richard Butler as the raspy, wonderfully nasty voice of the Psychedelic Furs. His poetic words, the band's New Wave blare, have produced such standards as "Love My Way," "The Ghost in You" and "Pretty in Pink," the song that inspired the Molly Ringwald movie of unresolved teen angst. But on April 18th, Furs fans will hear another side of Butler, on his solo, self-titled debut (to be released by Koch Records). It's an exquisite, lower-key affair, dealing with the issues of middle age.

"In the past couple of years, my marriage broke up and my father died," the British-born Butler says from his home in upstate New York. "It was very difficult stuff to go through. Those two events definitely informed the album."

As R.E.M. did on Automatic for the People, Butler and collaborator Jon Carin (Bryan Ferry, Pink Floyd) made the shock and sadness of losing a loved one and finding oneself adrift in the disorienting modern world a sonically gorgeous affair. Butler's vocals are gentler than on Furs records, and Carin's soundscapes are quietly disorienting.

"There was no grand plan for me to sing quietly and have a sparer production when we began to work at Jon's studio about two years ago," says Butler. "But with the dark subject matter, it seemed appropriate that I sing in a softer way. These songs didn't need to be shouted."

"Nothing's Wrong" finds Butler whispering, "You're pissing on yourself/Scared of yourself/Just lay down," over a backdrop of what sounds like a sampled church choir. Coupled with his repeated assertion that "There's nothing wrong, trust me," the track plays like a plea to a scared child, a dying parent, or yourself, when blind panic is the reigning emotion. On the album's first single, "Good Days, Bad Days," Butler longs to "give back everything I won" and "unmake every bed that I laid down on." In "California," old Caroline makes an appearance, and she's hardened a bit since she was pretty in pink.

Butler plans to support the CD's release with a series of intimate solo shows, starting in March, but he says that this won't get in the way of the Psychedelic Furs recording a new record.

"Tim [bassist and brother Butler] and John [guitarist Ashton] from the Furs, are starting to write new tunes as we speak," Butler says. "Hopefully, we'll start recording them this year."

Butler is also an accomplished painter -- his work "Girl With a Map" doubles as the CD's cover. "I had a very successful show at the Casola Gallery [in Peekskill, New York] this past summer," Butler says, before adding with undisguised pride, "Moby was there and bought one."

He's also tickled by the sale of limited edition Psychedelic Furs T-shirts that have recently been brought to his attention. "They're going for, like, eighty dollars," he says, chuckling. "I thought that was a bit much. But I found out the same company is also selling Clash, Ramones and New York Dolls T-shirts. I think that means we've become sort of classic."

Richard Butler tour dates:

3/20: Chicago, Abbey Pub
3/21: Cleveland, Beachland Ballroom
3/22: Toronto, Lee's Palace
3/24: Hoboken, NJ, Maxwell's
3/25: New York, Canal Room
3/26: Philadelphia, World Cafe
3/31: Seattle, Crocodile Cafe
4/1: Portland, OR, Dante's
4/3: San Francisco, Great American Music Hall
4/4: Las Vegas, House of Blues
4/6: Los Angeles, Key Club
4/7: San Juan Capistrano, CA, Coach House
4/8: Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern