The Cure
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The Cure is one of the remaining existing popular Post Punk Band in the world. Their most biggest released album is, Disintegration.
Contents |
Members
Robert Smith
Porl Thompson
Simon Gallup
Jason Cooper
Former Members
Lol Tolhurst
Michael Dempsey
Matthieu Hartley
Phil Thornalley
Andy Anderson
Boris Williams
Roger O'Donnell
Perry Bamonte
About
"Robert Smith" and "Laurence Tolhurst", two of The Cure’s founder members, first meet at St. Francis Primary School in Crawley, but begin to greet each other only after a few years. Robert Smith grew up in working-class Crawley, Sussex, a suburb of London. Students at Notre Dame Middle School in Crawley, Sussex, headed by "Robert Smith" on piano, "Laurence Tolhurst" on percussion, Michael Dempsey on "bass", "Marc Ceccagno" on lead guitar, and "Alan Hill" on bass guitar formed a band called, "The Obelisk" in April 1973.
In 1976, Marc together with Robert, Michael along with two other classmates from St. Wilfrid's Catholic Comprehensive School formed a new band name, "Malice". Later on Marc left the band to form a new band called "Amulet". In 1977, the remaining memberf of Malice changed their name to "Easy Cure". Robert and Micheal were joined by Laurence and "Paul Thompson", on lead guitar. By early 1977 the fledgling group had won a nationwide 'Battle of the Bands' style competition held by German-owned major label Ariola-Hansa that would have led them to a recording contract.
Following a controversy and incompatibilities in 1978, their contract under Hansa Recording Company was dissolved. In that same year, Paul was kicked out from the band, the remaining trio Robert, Laurence and Michael soon changed their name to The Cure. Later that month the band recorded their first sessions as a trio at Chestnut Studios in Sussex which were distributed as a demo tape to a dozen major record labels. The Cure were quickly signed to Chris Parry's new Fiction label.
Although Robert and Chris have different opinions about the look and the choice of the songs, in 1979 they release the single "Killing an arab" and their debut album Three Imaginary Boys, which earn a larger success than in the foresights and present The Cure to the public. A further two non-album singles, "Boy's Don't Cry" and "Jumping Someone Else's Train" were released, as well as a couple of sideline recordings with "The Obtainers'. "Boys Don't Cry", the single, was a minor success in the USA, and led to 'Three Imaginary Boys' being re-tuned and re-named Boys Don't Cry.
Michael left the band at the end of the year, and "Simon Gallup" on bass and "Matthieu Hartley" on keyboards joined. In early 1980 the 4-piece Cure embarked on an exploration of the darker side of Robert's songwriting, and emerged with the minimalist classic Seventeen Seconds, along with their first bona-fide hit single "A Forest.". It is the band's bona fide UK hit single which chartered at #31 on the charts.
After a long tour, which ends with 24 concerts in Australia, Matt leaves the band, not accepting the control exercised by Robert on it. Remained a trio, The Cure issued the single "Primary". The band then set out on a second global trek, named "The Picture Tour," during which they released the non-album single "Charlotte Sometimes." After the released, the band were due a break.
But a break was not on the agenda. Instead, at the start of 1982 The band returned to the studio to produce an album entitled, Pornography which was released in May 1982. The album chartered at #9 on the UK Top 10. An intensely volatile tour ensued, and the single "The Hanging Garden" was released just as Simon left the band.
The Cure continued to redefine themselves in 1983 with the groovy electronic dance of the single, "Lovecats" which became the band's first single to claim UK Top 10 status, reaching #7. Meanwhile Robert has taken the place of Banshees guitarist and follows them in tour, freezing the Cure activity. In December Japanese whispers, the collection of singles and b-sides of the former two years, is released.
In May 1984 Robert leaves the Banshees, because unable to carry on all the activities he was involved and released The Cure's next album, The Top was released. It features the single, "The Caterpillar". The world album Tour saw the band expand to a 5-piece, with the addition of "Andy Anderson" on drums and "Phil Thornalley" on bass, and the return of "Porl Thompson" on guitar. But for a number of reasons, come the end of the tour both Andy Anderson and Phil Thornalley had left the band. "Boris William" on drums and a returning "Simon Gallup" on bass replaced them.
This new incarnation started work on 1985's The Head On The Door accompanied by the single, "Close To Me". 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.
Their ninth album, [[Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me was released in 1987 and features the singles, "Why can’t I be you?", "Catch" and "Hot Hot Hot". The album contains 17 songs. With the arrival of "Roger O'Donnell" on keyboards, the 6-piece Cure travelled the world from July to December on the wildly successful "Kissing Tour", enjoying 4 more hit singles along the way.
In 1988, the band had a few well deserved months off. On reconvening for new demos, it became obvious that Lol Tolhurst's increasingly tenuous position in the group had soured beyond recognition and his departure was sadly inevitable. In May 1989 they release their next album, Disintegration which chartered at #12 on The Billboard 200. It features four hit singles, "Lullaby", "Fascination Street", "Lovesong" and "Pictures of You". The lyrics for the title-track "Disintegration" were written by Robert on the night of his 30th birthday. Many fans agree on considering it the best Cure album.
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. In that same year they released their compilation album, Mixed Up supported by the re-mixed singles "Never Enough", "Close To Me" and "A Forest". The album landed at #13 on the UK Albums Chart and #12 in the US Charts.
With over 27 million albums sold, The Cure's achievements on every level have been incredible. Yet whereas even the most creative of bands both past and present have invariably completed their best work during 'the early years', The Cure continues to released more hit albums and singles and even doing a world tour.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Brit Award | Best British Group |
Chart Toppers
| Year | The Billboard 200 | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 35 | Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me |
| 1989 | 12 | Disintegration |
| 1990 | 14 | Mixed Up |
| 1992 | 2 | Wish |
| 1993 | 42 | Show |
| 1996 | 12 | Wild Mood Swings |
| 2004 | 7 | The Cure |
News
Tours & Concerts
2008 Tours
Mar 14, 2008 Sportpaleis Antwerpen, Merksem, Belgium
Mar 16, 2008 Konig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
Mar 18, 2008 Ahoy Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Mar 20, 2008 Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom
May 09, 2008 Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia, United States
May 10, 2008 The Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United States
May 12, 2008 Agganis Arena at Boston University Boston, Massachusetts, United States
May 14, 2008 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 15, 2008 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario Canada
May 17, 2008 Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois, United States
May 19, 2008 Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, Missouri United States
May 21, 2008 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison Colorado, United States
May 23, 2008 The E Center / E Center / E-Center West Valley City, Utah, United States
May 25, 2008 Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Washington United States
May 25, 2008 Sasquatch! Festival, George, Washington United States
May 26, 2008 General Motors Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
May 29, 2008 Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara California, United States
May 31, 2008 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California United States
Jun 03, 2008 Cox Arena, San Diego, California, United States
Jun 04, 2008 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Jun 06, 2008 American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas United States
Jun 08, 2008 Austin Music Hall, Austin, Texas, United States
Jun 09, 2008 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas, United States
Jun 11, 2008 Saint Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida United States
Jun 11, 2008 Blue Line Theatre, Tampa, Florida, United States
Jun 13, 2008 BankAtlantic Center / Bank, Atlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, United States
Jun 15, 2008 The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth Georgia, United States
Jun 16, 2008 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Jun 20, 2008 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Jun 21, 2008 Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York, United States
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Carnage Visors | Elektra |
| 1985 | Close To Me | Elektra |
| 1986 | Quadpus | Elektra |
| 1990 | Pictures of You | Elektra |
| 1991 | Love Song | Elektra |
| 1991 | Lullaby | Elektra |
| 1992 | Friday I'm In Love | Elektra |
| 1996 | Strange Attraction | Elektra |
| 1998 | Wrong Number | Polygram International |
| 2001 | Cut Here | Universal International |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Influences
Trivia
- On August, 13th 1988 Robert marries Mary Poole, his girlfriend since the school years.
