About Me
Through more than 20 extravagant years and 20 extraordinary albums The Cure have done it all in their own unmistakable way. Free, independant, wilful, The Cures achievements on every level have been incredible.
It all started in 1976 as Easy Cure, formed by Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) along with schoolmates Michael Dempsey (bass), Lol Tolhurst (drums) and local guitar hero Porl Thompson . They began writing and demoing their own songs almost immediately, including such seminal classics as "Killing An Arab" and "10:15 Saturday Night". In 1978 the Easy was dropped, along with Porl, and an eager trio known simply as The Cure were quickly signed to Chris Parry's new Fiction label.
In January 1979 "Killing An Arab" was released to great acclaim, followed soon after by the debut album 'Three Imaginary Boys'. As the band toured extensively around the UK, the singles "Boys Don't Cry" and "Jumping Someone Else's Train" were released. Michael left the band at the end of the year, Simon Gallup (bass) and Matthieu Hartley (keyboards) joined.
In early 1980 the 4-piece Cure embarked on an exploration of the darker side of Robert's song writing and emerged with the minimalistic classic 'Seventeen Seconds', along with the first bona-fide hit single "A Forest". After an intense world tour Matthieu left the group, and in 1981 the trio recorded an album of mournful atmospheric soundscapes called 'Faith', which included the successful single "Primary". After another global trek took place with The Picture Tour, during which the band released a non-album single "Charlotte Sometimes". In 1982 The Cure went back into the studios and their increasingly ugly fascination with despair and decay culminated in the unrelenting soundscape of 'Pornography'. An increasingly volatile tour ensued and the single "The Hanging Garden" was released just as Simon left the band. After pushing the limits of excess, Robert decided to distance himself from what he felt the group had become, and to lighten up again.
Rejuvinated, the now 2-piece Cure released their first disco single, the cheesy "Let's Go To Bed", and during the making of the accompanying video forged a coulourful and lasting relationship with director Tim Pope. The band continued into 1983 with the groovy electronic dance of "The Walk", followed by the demented cartoon jazz of "Lovecats". In 1984 'The Top' was released, a strange hallucinogenic mix, which contained the infectiously psychedelic hit single "The Caterpillar". The world Top Tour saw the band expand to a 5-piece set, with the addition of Andy Anderson (drums), Phil Thornalley (bass) and the return of Porl Thopson (guitar). The new Cure sound was captured live for the album 'Concert'. Andy and Phil left soon after the end of the tour and were replaced by Boris Williams (drums) and another returnee Simon Gallup (bass). This new incarnation started work on 1985's 'The Head On The Door' with a very real sense that something's happening... The vibrant hit single "In Between Days" was followed u by "Close To Me", and the ensuing world tour paved the way for the massive success of the singles collection 'Staring At The Sea' in 1986. That summer saw the band headline the Glastonbury Festival for the first time, and a year of extensive gigs and festivals was crowned by Tim Pope's live concert film 'The Cure In Orange'. In 1987 The Cure brought out 'Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me', an immense double album of extreme diversity and extraordinary stylistic range. With the arrival of Roger O'Donnell ..boards the 6-piece Cure travelled the world on the Kissing Tour, enjoying 4 more hit singles along the way.
The wonderfully atmospheric 'Disintegration' was released in 1989 and despite being a work of brooding grandeur and power, it too gave rise to 4 hit singles. The awesome Prayer Tour that followed, with the band back down to a 5-piece following the departure of Lol Tolhurst, included some of The Cures best performances to date and was captured live for the Album 'Entreat'. In early 1990 Roger O'Donnell left the group and was replaced by long-time band friend Perry Bamonte, just in time for a series of headlining european festival shows including the band's 2nd Glastonbury. The album 'Mixed Up' was released, supported by the re-mixed singles "Never Enough", "Close To Me" and "A Forest" and in 1991 The Cure at last won some long overdue home recognition with a Brit Award for Best British Group. In 1992 they recorded 'Wish', a richly diverse multi-faceted guitar driven album. It spawned 3 fabulous hit singles, and the glorious Wish Tour was a world-wide sell out. The sheer power of the shows inspired the release of two live works later in 1993, 'Paris' and 'Show'. Immediately after the tour ended, guitarist Porl Thompson left the band again (but this time with a smile!), and The Cure headlined the XFM Great Expectations Show in London's Finsbury Park as a 4-piece. The band also contributed "Burn" to the film "The Crow" and covered "Purple Haze" for the Hendrix tribute album 'Stone Free'. In 1995 Jason Cooper took up residency behind the drum kit after Boris williams unexpectedly quit and Roger O'Donnell rejoined ..boards. Work on the next album was interspersed with recording "Dredd Song" for the film 'Judge Dredd", and headlining several major european festivals including the 25th Glanstonbury. 'Wild Mood Swings' was released in 1996 and went straight into almost every top ten around the world. The Cure hit the road once more with The Swing Tour, their biggest to date and released 4 more singles. 'Galore', the follow up singles and video compilation to 'Staring At The Sea', was released in 1997, after which work began in 1998 on a variety of projects, including "More Than This" for the "X-Files" album, and a memorable appearance by Robert Smith on "South Park"!
In 1999, the band completed the recording and mixing of their latest, and many feel greatest album 'Bloodflowers'... followed in 2000 by the world-wide Dream Tour.
