Oct. 29th

"Just a short note for all Italian fans who live in Rome. The MTV Italian channel said that The Cure will perform live with lots of Italian (Elisa and Carmen Consoli) and International guest stars in a show that will be aired the same day of the MTV Europe Music Awards. (18/11/2004)."

Updates: "Hi, I've called the Mtv Infoline this morning and a gentle girl told me that The Cure will play with other artists in the afternoon 18th before
the real MTV Awards ceremony. It will be a free concert and they still don't know the place (it will be a square)."

"MTV LIVE IN ROME (18 nov 2004 Roma, Colosseo) there will be a free concert with many bands and The Cure too!"

(Thanks Cristiano, Carmine and Roberta)

(Thanks Andrew)



"I have something for sale on ebay in the UK cure fans might be interested in - an original Fender VI bass. Very rare in the UK!"

(Thanks Phil)



"I'm not sure of you've been informed about this or not, but you can vote for your favourite album at www.mtv2europe.com
- Disintegration and Boy's Don'y Cry are on the list.

(Thanks Damien)

Oct. 28th

"There was a short 3 minute interview with Robert, nothing interesting came out of it only that Tim Lovejoy said 'you're going to be playing you're new single' before correcting himself 'sorry its a track from the new album, Never'. He also commented on Robert being the only person to perform on the same Top of the Pops show with two different bands. They closed the show with Never and I can honestly say the sound was absolutely awful. And Robert must of had a cold or something cause his vocals were almost spoken throughout and there was no passionate ending like on the album version of the song. Disappointing after last weeks Jools Holland performance which was perfection."

(Thanks Tom)


"Just got back from watching the Tim Lovejoy show.
 
The Cure played "Never" live and then played a cracking version of 10.15 Saturday Night after the show had finished.
 
Just wanted to let you know a few things..
 
- after 22 years of watching them live I finally got to shake Roberts hand!
 
- I spoke to Perry who said that they are "pencilled in" for a gig in the UK at the start of December. He said he honestly didn't know where or when!
 
- I also spoke to Jason who said he didn't know when they would play in the UK next.
 
- I also chattted to Tim Lovejoy and got the impression that many people were unhappy about the fact that they played Never as they were expecting either Taking off or Boys Don't Cry.
 
- The band didn't come to the after show for some reason.
 
- Robert was also interviewed and came across really well. He seemed happy but told a few of us that he was embarrased by the whole thing!!!"
 
(Thanks Anonymous)



"Just wanted to let you know that when Billy Corgan was in Seattle yesterday, he mentioned on the local radio station 1077 The End that Robert will be appearing on one track of his solo album.  No mention of what the song was called though, sorry!"
 
(Thanks Eric)



"I just found this on the website from French radio station where THE CURE recorded a 'Black Session' a few weeks ago:

http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-inter01/emissions/lenoir/

BLACK SESSION ____ 06.déc.'04 20h > 22h ____
C'est Lenoir créait l'événement musical du mois d'octobre en recevant The Cure pour une black session exceptionnelle à plus d'un titre...Enregistrée à la Maison de Radio France le vendredi 15 octobre à 18h30, elle sera diffusée le lundi 6 décembre de 20h à 22h."

(Thanks Fabien G and Dennis)



The Cure Live In Session
Legends of rare stature, The Cure are truly timeless. With their new, self-titled album winning them a new generation of fans, the five-piece brought their fiery, profound and influential music to the Xfm studios. To hear the Xfm live session, go to: http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=multimedia&id=45228

(Thanks Nina)



(Thanks Yohichi)



"There is a feature article on Abbey Rosen Holmes (The Cure's lighting designer) in the October edition of Lighting Dimensions magazine.  It focuses on the lighting design for the Trilogy and Curiosa shows.  Includes 8 full stage color photos of the band performing durring some of the more impressive lighting/projection effects."  

Anyone have scans of the article/photos?

(Thanks Joe)



"My name is David Fargier. As you may know, I’ve just written a book about The Cure, called « After the rain… ». The ideas that motivated me to carry this project through were independence and sharing with fans.

Independence because I wanted total freedom to choose not only the texts but also pictures and graphics. To convince myself that it was possible, I couldn’t have found a better example to follow then The Cure themselves

Sharing, because after being assured by a few people that my work could be of interest to others, I wanted to have the book translated into other languages and to distribute it via the Internet worldwide to enable the greatest number of people to have easy access to it.

After a few thousand of hours of work, a lot of discussions, hundreds of emails exchanged with other people who share my passion, a real international team was build up to help me reach my aim.

We’re not at the end of the road yet, because we can only publish a translated copy of the book if we get minimum number of orders, but we’re full of hope. To take that kind of financial risk, we need you to support our project and help spread the information widely. That’s why we now kindly appeal you to help us make this book known.

« After the rain… » Editions Vents d’Orage. 140 coloured pages, 23,5 X 23,5 cm , rigid cover. Contains a complete biography from 1979 to nowadays, review of every album, selection of the best French press articles, portrait of the lead-singer Robert Smith, enlightened by about sixty photos, rare or unreleased. Released in French, English, German, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, via the Internet site www.after-the-rain.com (pre orders by cheques or Paypal system)"

(Thanks David)



"Just had to mail you about the incorrect identification of those national guitars on your news page. Ok I've been collecting national guitars for 15 or so years and own 12 of them(different models of course!). Robert Smith bought his national from Fat Rick in denmark street in about 88. He used to work in Vintage and Rare from where I have bought many guitars. Robert did indeed have one requirement when buying guitars 'it's gotta be black!'. Anyway the guitar on ebay right now is a wooden bodied National Westwood 77 which is one of the most common nationals and probably the least valuable.  Robert Smith's guitar he bought in 88 is a modified(different bridge and tuners to make it more stable) reso-glass 1963 National Val-Pro 88 also known as a Newport 88. A much rarer and more valuable guitar all together. I have the exact same guitar and paid £1000 for it from music ground in 1990. There is no such thing as a '1960's National Val Pro black "Glenwood 99'  Glenwoods are totally different shaped guitar, never came in black (they were green red or white) and had a tremolo arm. 100% not what Robert plays. If anyone wants to learn about Nationals this is a pretty good webpage with all the models explained including the unique bridge transducer. http://www.provide.net/~cfh/national.html "
 
(Thanks Phil)



"Taking off video had its debut in MTV Brazil yesterday. They had this brief Cure bio stuff before the video, with the usual "influenced by"
(Bowie, Siouxsie, Joy) influenced who (a few brazilian bands, Pumpkins, Hot Hot Heat) and the "definitive album" (head on the door!). In the end, the VJ just sighed out loud... an approval?"
 
(Thanks BACO)

Oct. 27th

WHO NEEDS FLU SHOTS WHEN RHINO HAS THE CURE!

Highly Anticipated Cure Reissue Campaign Begins With Expanded, Remastered THREE IMAGINARY BOYS December 7

LOS ANGELES - Twenty-five years after The Cure began their global pop invasion with their debut disc, THREE IMAGINARY BOYS, Rhino Records gives the album its first-ever U.S. domestic release with a deluxe two-disc edition loaded with previously unreleased tracks. THREE IMAGINARY BOYS will be available December 7 at all retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $18.98.

The album marks the kickoff to Rhino Records' revitalization of The Cure catalog. Each title will receive a sonic upgrade and be released as a
deluxe double-disc set featuring the original album on one CD and numerous rarities on the other. In addition, each release will come with a 16-page
booklet filled with photos and tour memorabilia from the personal archives of vocalist Robert Smith, as well as a track-by-track commentary and notes by U.K. music scribe Johnny Black.

Cure fans have long clamored for THREE IMAGINARY BOYS, an energetic 1979 U.K. debut which features "10:15 Saturday Night," "Grinding Halt," "Fire In Cairo," and a quirky rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady." The band's debut U.S. album, Boys Don't Cry, featured many of the songs on THREE IMAGINARY BOYS along with singles like "Jumping Someone Else's Train" and "Boys Don't Cry." The Rhino reissue offers the original U.K. album with an added previously unreleased instrumental ("The Weedy Burton"), as well as a 20-track bonus disc which includes the additional tracks from Boys Don't Cry, previously unreleased studio and home demo versions, live renditions, and other curiosities. In total the package includes six previously unreleased songs, eight previously unreleased versions of songs, and 17 tracks never before available on CD.

Johnny Black's liner notes, which make use of extensive and exclusive interviews with Robert Smith, provide fascinating insight into the making
of this classic album. One interesting story tells how The Cure managed to get the album recorded with virtually no budget: they simply snuck into
Morgan Studios at night once the Jam had finished their sessions, and, using the Jam's gear, recorded through the night till dawn.

It's been almost three decades since a 17-year-old Smith formed The Easy Cure in Crawley, England. Despite various lineup changes, The Cure have
forged an ongoing career highlighted by an astonishing run of artistic and commercial successes, including chart-topping hit singles, gold and
platinum records, countless awards, critical acclaim, and an international fan base that follows the band with religious fervor. They have secured
their place in music history by shaping modern rock as we know it today.

#####

THREE IMAGINARY BOYS

DISC ONE
1. 10:15 Saturday Night
2. Accuracy
3. Grinding Halt
4. Another Day
5. Object
6. Subway Song
7. Foxy Lady
8. Meathook
9. So What
10. Fire In Cairo
11. It's Not You
12. Three Imaginary Boys
13. The Weedy Burton *

DISC TWO
1. I Want To Be Old (SAV Studio Demo 10/77) *
2. I'm Cold (SAV Studio Demo 11/77) **
3. Heroin Face (Live In The Rocket 12/77)
4. I Just Need Myself (PSL Studio Demo 1/78) *
5. 10:15 Saturday Night (Home Demo 2/78) **
6. The Cocktail Party (Group Home Demo 3/78) *
7. Grinding Halt (Group Home Demo 4/78) **
8. Boys Don't Cry (Chestnut Studio Demo 5/78)
9. It's Not You (Chestnut Studio Demo 5/78) **
10. 10:15 Saturday Night (Chestnut Studio Demo 5/78) **
11. Fire In Cairo (Chestnut Studio Demo 5/78) **
12. Winter (THREE IMAGINARY BOYS Studio Out-Take Cassette 10/78) *
13. Faded Smiles (aka I Don't Know) (THREE IMAGINARY BOYS Studio Out-Take
Cassette 10/78) *
14. Play With Me (THREE IMAGINARY BOYS Studio Out-Take Cassette 10/78) *
15. World War (on early copies of BOYS DON'T CRY album 1979)
16. Boys Don't Cry (Single‹also on BOYS DON'T CRY album 1979)
17. Jumping Someone Else's Train (Single-also on BOYS DON'T CRY album 1979)
18. Subway Song (Live In Nottingham 10/79)
19. Accuracy (Live In Nottingham 10/79) **
20. 10:15 Saturday Night (Live In Nottingham 10/79) **

* Previously Unreleased Song / Instrumental
** Previously Unreleased Version

Still no mention of 'Killing An Arab', though it could just be unlisted, for obvious reasons. You can see the Sell Sheet for 3IB at The Ideal Copy.

(Thanks Jason and Chris)



"I don't know if everyone is aware of this, but I came across what looks like a Cure special on my TiVo.  It is a half an hour program titled "Cure: The End of the World" and it is on a music station that I am not so familiar with called Trio.  I am from Orange County, CA.  This show is scheduled to air on 11/2 at 4:30 p.m."

I'm guessing this will just be the Making of TEOTW video from MTV.

(Thanks Shauna)



"The canadian music chanel 'much more music' is going to air the cure "mmm bio" at 10pm this friday. there will be a repeat of the show the following
sunday at 2pm. this is what the website has to say about the band:

"The Story of...The Cure
The Cure has gone on to be one of the most enduring and popular bands that emerged in the immediate aftermath of punk rock in the late '70s. Led
through numerous incarnations by guitarist/vocalist Robert Smith, the band became notorious for easily bouncing between their slow, gloomy dirges to
some of pop's most catchiest songs. With 2004 marking the 25th anniversary for the alt-rock legends, MMM offers up The Story of...The Cure - featuring Bill Welychka's exclusive interview with Robert Smith, and containing rare and archival footage."

all of this is a repeat i believe. they've been showing this 'bio' back before they even had a 'bio' segment and it was called 'the story of'. but i'm happy because the vhs i had it on was eaten. so happy cure friday everyone."

(Thanks Velvetcure, Iqbal, Kathy)



"In case you haven't heard from anyone yet.  99X in Atlanta is releasing a new Live X CD.  Robert Smith did the cover art and there is a live version of Taking Off on the album.  You can get more info at 99X.com"

Actually, it's a solo version of 'Taking Off' that Robert did in his home studio.

(Thanks Rebekah)



(Thanks Stephen, David, Marco, Brandon)



The Cure - 'Taking Off'
(Tuesday October 26, 2004 4:26 PM )
 
Released on 18/10/2004
Label: Geffen
 
It’s poppy, and it’s romantic, but it’s no "Friday I’m In Love"; it’s not even one of latest album "The Cure"'s standout tracks, so it’s hard to see what purpose this crow’s-footed, jangle-by-numbers single fulfills other than a contractual obligation designed to draw the HMV-frequenting masses to the far more intriguing long player.
 
As a brisk tempo is set by the featherlight drums and cheery 80s synths, in comes the familiar swirly, echo-chamber guitar like a long-lost college mate doing his infamous windmill dance while holding a pint of snakebite, followed by dear old Robert Smith, sounding more than ever like Angela Lansbury.
 
You suspect he’d much rather be pontificating about mortality, existentialism and the pensions crisis than “Tonight I climb with you/Tonight/So high with you/Tonight/Oh I’m so alive with you” yet he does so with a grim determination as if to prove rumours about him going to bed at 10.30pm with a Daphne Du Maurier novel are wholly unfounded.

6/10     by Anna Britten

(Thanks Andrew)



"From the same label that brought us "15 Imaginary Songs," Equinoxe is set to release a brand new Cure tribute called "Our Voices." The release
date is expected to be in October, and the track list is:

01. Lizard Smile - Burn
02. ShamRain - Charlotte Sometimes
03. Silvery - Other Voices
04. Sanguis et Cinis - Friday I'm In Love
05. Floodland - A Forest
06. [f.e.v.e.r.] - Disintegration
07. Bloodflowerz - Inbetween Days
08. EverEve - Cold
09. The Unpleasant - Plastic Passion
10. The Fair S. - The Walk
11. One Last Fix (ex-Meridian) - Lovesong
12. Cine Muerte - Close To Me
13. Stereoskop - Primary
14. Prayers For Rain - Just Like Heaven
15. Second Skin - Pictures Of You
16. Volstad feat. Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell) - Apart
17. Marina Sirtis - Wailing Wall

CD 2:

01. Tanzwut - Lovesong
02. Violet - Kyoto Song
03. Unto Ashes - The Drowning Man
04. The Escape - Seventeen Seconds
05. Neon Dream - The Caterpillar
06. Illuminate - A Night Like This
07. Curious - Siamese Twins
08. Ikon - A Strange Day
09. Lethargy - Pictures Of You
10. Psyche - Faith
11. Celluloide - Three Imaginary Boys
12. Final Selection - One Hundred Years
13. FGFC820 feat. Rexx Arkana (Bruderschaft) - The Hanging Garden
14. Sjukdom - Kyoto Song
15. Terminal Choice - Boys Don't Cry
16. Icon Of Coil - Killing An Arab
17. Midnight Configuration - The Hanging Garden.

Wait a minute...Troi from Star Trek:TNG is doing a cover of Wailing Wall? I've GOT to hear that! : )

(Thanks Rust)



"FYI - the November edition of the German edition of Rolling Stone Magazine comes with a "Top 500 records of all time" special.

The Cure get five mentions (each spot comes with a mini-review of the album in question)

#164 "Seventeen Seconds"
# 184 "Disintegration"
# 373 "Pornography"
# 416 "The Cure" (what? ;-))
# 467 "Head On The Door"

the only acts who have more records in the Top 500 are The Beatles, Led Zep (six each), REM, Rolling Stones (seven each), Elvis Costello, Neil
Young (eight each), Bob Dylan (ten)."

(Thanks Carsten)

"Couple things from launch at yahoo; charlotte sometiemes video was ranked number 21 on their 25 scariest videos list. you can also watch
and vote for alt.end on this weeks "dig it or dis it" poll."
 
(Thanks Elyse)

"I caught the acoustic version of 'A Forest' during the Dave Ramsey talk show yesterday. In the last few months, they've played 'Friday I'm in Love' and 'High'. "

(Thanks Patrick)

"Just a bit of a quote from Billy Corgan in an article about his new poetry book in the 10/26 Ottawa Citizen:

"The Cure, look at what's going on with the Cure now. The Cure have been so good for so long that at some point people go, 'OK, you're great.' And all those years of Robert (Smith) being made fun of in interviews, it's all going away now. It's all done. So it's all adding up, and for me it's kind of the same thing. The work at some point surpasses the wild Billy, pain-in-the-ass-caricature that at some point I turned into."

(Thanks Lenore)

"From the October 2004 issue of Men's Health (a US magazine) an article about how women are increasingly choosing to raise a family with or
without a husband:

"...I don't want to be with someone who isn't into watching 'The Big Lebowski' [a Coen Brothers movie, starring Jeff Bridges] for the fourth time, who has no idea that Johnny Cash and the Cure are cool all over again."

(Thanks Bevon)

Oct. 26th

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041026/325/f5bhp.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3955289.stm

"John was a huge musical influence on my life. Robert recently said that he was a 'life blood' So, I'm remembering the years from 1978 onwards that I used to listen to the radio in the dark on a school night in my bedroom, walls covered in posters of the bands that he was playing on the radio, from 10pm - 12 each night. Hoping my parents wouldn't hear me as I recorded such great 'Peel' sessions broadcast by the likes of The Cure, SLF, The Smiths, The Clash, The Ruts, Joy Division, The Undertones, Siouxsie, Bauhaus, Altered Images, Slowdive and so many more great and important bands. From Punk, Alternative, Indie....it's impossible to name them all. I was lucky enough to meet him about 10 years ago whilst in the South of France at a music conference. He was drinking a can of lager at 10am and I told him that he was a huge influence on my life. He thanked me and took another swig of lager!
 
John Peel RIP."
 
(Thanks Chris)

(Thanks Pietro)

Oct. 25th

"Just a quick note to advise fans of the upcoming Cure specials on MTV (for Australian Foxtel & Optus subscribers)

Sunday November 14th - MTV (times are EDST)
---------------------------------------------------
12pm: MTV Icon - The Cure
1pm: MTV Unplugged - The Cure
2pm: MTV Live - The Cure
2:30pm Making the Video - Taking Off
3pm Collections - The Cure

MTV Icon also plays on November 8th (11pm), 10th (7pm), 13th (5pm)

(Thanks Dave and Zanna)



"Check out this link : http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicCharts/us_singles.html
(This is purely sales from Nielsen Soundscan and not the Billboard Hot 100 which includes both sales and airplay)"

(Thanks Andrew)

"My band is playing a cure tribute show this Saturday, Oct 30th, at the Blue Note Lounge in OKC.  I was hoping you could post this link, http://www.thesilentissue.com/ and help us get the word out.  We are only a three piece, so we will be playing earlier material for the most part." 

(Thanks George)



"Friday I'm in love has entered the UK itunes Music Store Top 100 songs chart at No.92."

(Thanks Andrew)

"WEA is releasing Jimmy Page & Robert Plant's "No Quarter: Unledded" on DVD this Tuesday. Robert Plant writes in the booklet: "With Hossam
Ramzy's and Ed Shearmur's diligence in arrangement with the Egyptian Ensemble and London Metropolitan Orchestra respectively and Michael Lee, Charlie Jones and Porl Thompson providing the foundation, "No Quarter" proved to be an incredibly exciting and emotive adventure." Porl
Thompson is featured in quite a few of the performances on the DVD."

(Thanks Rust)

Oct. 22nd

"The Cure appeared live at the 'Taratata' show playing 'Taking Off' and Boys Don't Cry'. The show will probably be aired on the 11th or 18th
December on the German broadcasting station SAT.1. The Cure entered the show area already when the showmaster will still into a talk with Ronan Keating, and that was all the time interrupted with cheers and applause for the waiting Cure members, although the fans brought up a maximum of discipline not to spoil the interview; but of course that wasn't easy because 3/4 of the audience were Cure fans. Between the songs Robert was invited for a talk, too. Teh showmaster asked him questions like what he thought about newspaper articles saying every week that he has died. Robert replied that the most ridiculous death he was told to have died was jumping into an empty swimming pool. And that in former times he bet that he could get round a hotel only by climbing from one balcony to another. He admitted to really have done that. "But that was Robert number 1," he smiled, "he probably fell off the balcony."
And he was asked what he did to make his nephews and nieces draw the pictures on "The Cure", e.g. if he begged or forced them to draw them.
Robert replied smiling that he has got them in a little dark room at home.
 
There was a rumor that he might sing "Nothing Compares To You" in a duet together with Dolores O'Riordan, but it remained a rumor. At the end of
the show, the band appeared on stage for the 'final' together with all the other artists."
 
(Thanks Christian H.)

"Sascha, Friend of mine, was at the "Taratat" taping today and told me via Phone Cure played "Taking off" and "Boys don't Cry" there."

(Thanks to u-a-b-f at Cure Concerts)

"I got info concerning the cure gig in the "taratata" show. The broadcast is scheduled for December this year. Unfortunately I don't know when, but as soon the TV Show Magazine is out, we will know it.
It should be something special, then the show (a french one) is famous for the exeptional Live Performance of each Band/Singer."

(Thanks Reto)

(Thanks Federica)





Update: "In response to Dave's 10/22 mail.
 
Sorry to say that Dave, you mislead us with this red (beautiful though) National "Newport 88 "...
 
Here is the real thing if you really want to ape Robert Smith : a 1960's National Val Pro black "Glenwood 99". You'll note the price difference
(these model were National's top-of-the-ladder).
 
National guitars are pretty difficult to identify, and even if the one shown in the link below is considered by the seller as a "Newport 88", this is something I totally disagree with. But who cares ? This IS the REAL thing !!! Here are the facts :
 
A good Cure fan should always remember what P. DUBREUILLE - a French luthier who made guitars for Robert and Porl - said about Robert's
guitars : "if they are not black, he sends them back to the factory...". You may see one of these guitars on the DVD "Making The Cure" : in fact
it's the one Robert uses on "The Promise". To give you more details and proofs about Robert's black guitars, also remember Robert used a red
Gretsch "Tennesse Roses" (WMS-era) before choosing Grestsch black "Silver Falcons" (Bloodflowers-era).
 
As for this National (see link below), I'm quite sure Robert would have a go for this one especially because it's the exact clone of the one he's been using for 15 years (since Disintegration, as far as I remember). You may admire this model on the "Trilogy" DVD, and it will give you a better idea...
 
Only remaining trouble : I wouldn't write all this if I could buy it (I'd better keep my mouth shut... These are rare bloody models, especially in this perfect shape !). But my banker won't agree this time (At least he was kind when I bought a white one about 10 years ago) !
 
Sorry to get technical, but these might be useful guidelines, were you interested in getting one of these :
 
1) Never forget that National Val Pro didn't use trussrods, and that the neck may have warped during the last 40 years... which make them case
unplayable guitars and surely worth nothing but leaning in a collector's glass cabinet. Be careful if you want to invest and make sure the neck is straight !
 
2) These guitars' bodies were made of Reso-Glass, not wood. You might be surprised (or even disappointed) if you expect them to sound like a
usual Fender or Gibson.
 
3) Never buy a National without it's original case. These case are just as beautiful as the guitar they held... it would be a shame to miss it !
 
Enjoy the picture !
 
http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=555083"
 
(Thanks Dave and Lina)

"Rage (ABC) will be airing the video for 'Taking Off' tonight (22/10) just before midnight - EST."

(Thanks Zanna)

"MTV Portugal will be showing, next Sunday 24th, starting at 2 pm, many Cure specials, including Fanography, All Eyes on The cure, MTV Icon,
Rockumentary, Making a video and MTV Live."

(Thanks Claudio)



CD ON - Eur 23.95
CD Wow (Germany) - Eur 17.99
CD Wow (UK) - £10.99
Play (UK) - £12.99
Amazon (Canada) - CDN $25.99

(Thanks Dennis, Jan, Andrea and Iqbal)



"This is IVAN VALLS (aka. spanishcure), as i told you in an old e-mail, our Forum (in spanish), HISPACURE.TK is now the NEW OFFICIAL THE CURE FAN CLUB in SPAIN supported by UNIVERSAL MUSIC SPAIN.

Next saturday 23th October we'll have a really special THE CURE Party in Valencia (Spain), in a disco Called REPUBLICCA.

In this party we'll present the new singles and videos TAKING OFF and ALT. END and we'll have a really special contest to win many exclusive
the cure promotional stuff (t-shirts, cd singles, stickers, posters, etc.).

The party will start at 0.30 am and we'll have the collaboration of the official spanish DEPECHE MODE FAN CLUB (LOSTMYSELF DM FAN-CLUB), they will present the new DEPECHE MODE REMIXES ALBUM (1981 - 2004), So we'll have a really special THE CURE VS. DEPECHE MODE PARTY !!!

And one more thing: the people who print this flyer will have FREE ENTRANCE at the disco's door . . . so it's a perfect moment to celebrate
our new official fan club (hispacure.tk) in a great disco with the best music, gifts and all Totally FREE . . .

More info: www.hispacure.tk

and

www.iespana.es/spanishcure/republicca.htm "

(Thanks Ivan)

"Robert is quoted on an article today on italian national Newspaper Repubblica about the U2 new album being available on new special edition's Ipod: "Non verremo fuori dalla crisi se non cominceremo a rendere disponili le nostre canzoni via internet a prezzi popolari", ci aveva detto Robert Smith dei Cure alla presentazione del nuovo album della band, appena qualche mese fa. http://www.repubblica.it/2004/j/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/u2ipod/u2ipod/u2ipod.html"

(Thanks Federica)

Oct. 21st

Update - They also did 'alt.end'.

(Thanks Andrew, Chris, Cherry Tree and Stephan)



"Kirk McLeod has done a solo piano and vocal version of "Boys Don't Cry" on his album "So Piano." It's quite a nice reading, and very different
than the usual pop-punk versions that you come across frequently."

(Thanks Rust)

"THE A.M. is said to be between the glamour of ROXY MUSIC and the new wave of THE CURE by Les Inrocks, while CLOVER seems to be closer to THE CURE and THE CRANBERRIES for Longueur d'Ondes, two music magazines here in France."

(Thanks Fabien G)

"Just wanted to let you know that The University of Penn's Philadelphia station 88.5 XPN recently had a list of the Top 885 songs of all time.
Anyway, The Cure made the list with at least two songs that I know of; at #414 with Pictures Of You and at #203 with Boys Don't Cry."

(Thanks Andrew)

"This is interesting. I'm not sure I've ever heard any of the Manics mention The Cure at all before. http://www.manics.co.uk/04/lists/james.php"

(Thanks Kitti)

"Found a little write up about Micheal Dempsey in the December 2004 issue of Guitar World's Bass Guitar magazine (with Sid Vicious on the cover).  In an article called "50 Greatest Punk Rock Bass Lines".
 
"36. "Killing An Arab"
The Cure
Bassist:  Micheal Dempsey
Album:  Boys Don't Cry
 
Dempsey's bass line makes this song about killing a random stranger seem both catchy and meanacing.  The Cure's first single, "Killing An Arab"
reveals how the band's yin-yang tendency to swing between gloomy dirges and pop sensibilities were present from the start.  Dempsey left the Cure shortly after completing their first album to join the Associates.  His replacement, Simon Gallup, is still in the band."
 
(Thanks Amy)

"I'm a teacher - and the kids watch this kids-news station called Channel 1 - its a closed circuit tv program provided at most public schools.  We watch it during homeroom.
 
Anyway - they always have music playing throughout the program - and before and after commercials.  They played the intro to alt end leading out to a commercial break!  HA!
 
I was sitting at my desk grading papers and heard that - and was like - did I just hear that?  Too funny.  Well, they are TRYING to reach the kids....  the kids had no clue of course though."
 
(Thanks Christina)



10.21.04 Houston, TX The Engine Room
10.22.04 Austin, TX Emo's
10.23.04 Dallas, TX Good Records (in-store)
10.23.04 Denton, TX Hailey's
10.26.04 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
10.27.04 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
10.29.04 San Diego, CA Epicentre
10.30.04 Pomona, CA The Glass House
10.31.04 Los Angeles, CA The Mayan (Special Halloween show with costume contest)

Oct. 19th

(Thanks killingtime aka Kristy and Lenore)




"Hi.  Just to report on a short interview i caught on sunday, if you haven't had a run-down yet.  This was on UK tv (Channel 4) and was a promo for the new single.  Robert was on his own and looking typically uncomfortable but talked happily enough about the US tour and the bands involved, and the process of creating albums and music with The Cure.
 
Highlight was the response to the question about hobbies outside of making music (in response to him saying that the mian reason the output of The Cure had slowed over the years was that he had developed a life outside the band).  Astronomy was Robert's big interest and he explained that he had moved out of london 10 years ago in order to get a clearer view of the night sky.  He also lives very close to the famous astronomer-type Patrick Moore and shares the same curry-house (they can squint at each other across the restaurant)!   Quite amusing when the female presenter asked him if he was therefore into star-signs, and Robert pointed out that no, that was astrology..."
 
(Thanks Rich)



"Taking off has been pushed back until begin of december (www.thecure.de). No exact release date yet, no reason why :-(

Also there is an interview with Robert in the german (only interview) magazine "Galore". Nothing new as it happened in May this year. Unfortunately I don´t have a scanner."

(Thanks Guido)



"Robert was on an MTV2 commercial last night. The screen just read Robert Smith "labels," with him saying: "You see, I'm so anti-label culture. It really is one of the things that drives me around the bend. Clothes have become like a defining thing. Clothes are rubbish. Designers are idiots. I'd rather be dead than wear a designer label. I honestly think that people who wear designer clothes are just fools. They really are. And the whole thing, to encourage people ... looking like everyone else, wearing what everyone else is wearing, is the antithesis to everything that you should aspire to. You should just buy [or try] to be an individual, not to wear the same as everyone else."

This was on during Subterranean with Interpol as guests (repeated tonight at 1 a.m. CST). Host Jim Shearer asked: You guys did Curiosa this summer, handpicked by Robert Smith. Was it a good time?
Paul Banks: It was a great time. It really was a lot of fun.
JS: Did you get to hang out with him at all?
PB: Yeah, we did, we played poker with him. (Another band member adds, "Poker and blackjack.") 'Cause he taught me how to play poker. (Someone says, "He's a shark!") 2-card draw poker which is like an easier way if you're going to play with 10 people. We had a big card party a couple of occasions.
JS: So with 10 people, who would all play?
PB: It was us, some of the guys from Mogwai, him, the manager from The Cure, a few other people. (Someone says, "Michael, his bodyguard.")
JS to Carlos D: Did you play because I heard you don't gamble?
C: I watched, I didn't participate. Robert actually did try to get me to play on several occasions. He tried really hard.
PB: Robert really wanted you to participate.
C: I was really trying to convey to him just how sad it made me that he was trying to get me to do something that I was staunchly opposed to. Because it's Robert Smith, so I think many people would compromise their morals for Robert Smith, but I wasn't prepared to, but it hurt nonetheless that I wasn't able to do that."

(Thanks Lenore)

"According to NME the Cure feature on the cover of a new NME special edition magazine 'Goth'. Apparently in the shops now although I've yet
to see it. More at http://www.nmeoriginals.com/archive.php?show=1097708400"
 
(Thanks Ian)

Oct. 18th

"The Sympatico high-speed broadcast of the Toronto Curiosa show is up.Try http://speed.sympatico.ca/msn/startcast/music/concerttour/index.html#   It does say 'member exclusive' for Sympatico high-speed customers, I'm not sure if others can hack it or not, but it's certainly interesting for those customers. I'm watching it as I type this, it's streaming at 500k and is very high quality!"

Update: "You can see the entire show opening this url (http://events.startcast.com/events/10/B0028/code/media/asx.asp?part=13&bitrate=500_v)
with windows media player. "

(Thanks Francisco, heather the buzzard and Jen)



Two Days with The Cure in Paris
 
Le Grand Journal
 
The Cure's visit to Paris started on Thursday 14th with the taping of Le Grand Journal TV show at 2 PM at Canal+ studios.  I couldn't attend but
got reports from a couple of people and just watched a tape of the show which aired last night.  The show is usually live but this particular one was taped to accommodate the two guests: Robert and 60s/70s French singer Sylvie Vartan.  Robert was wearing a nice black suit that looked very much like the one he wore in the Cut Here video.  Among the usual trivia and recurring questions, the most interesting statement was that "possibly after Christmas" the band would start touring Europe (believe it or not).  And now we know that Robert's favorite French wine is Meursault.  (No pun intended?)  After the show he was as usual very nice and stayed for a long time chatting with fans and signing autographs.
 
Les 20 ans de Canal+
 
Canal+ was the very first privately held TV channel to be launched in France on Nov. 4th, 1984.  With the exception of a couple of free daily shows at lunch and dinner time, you need to own a box and pay a monthly fee to watch their programs.  So they refer to their viewers as "subscribers".  To celebrate their 20th anniversary, they had rented out Le Zénith in Paris on Thursday evening and invited 4,000 of their subscribers to a private show with lots of special guests and the entire staff and TV stars that had gone through the station for the past twenty years.  Gates opened at 7 PM sharp.  Those without a ticket had no trouble finding one for a few bucks or even for free.  The audience was seated except for maybe 100 of us standing next to the set (which took up most of the pit).  We had to go through a two-hour(!) documentary on the history of the channel played on five giant screens before the show started at 9 with Placebo.  Among the rest of the performers: Les Rita Mitsouko & Vanessa Paradis, Juliette Greco & Feist, Calogero & Passi, Henri Salvador, Youssou'Ndour & Neneh Cheery, Keziah Jones, Rachid Taha, Saian Supa Crew, Mickey 3D & Jane Birkin and IAM.  They usually played only one song, some of them two, with six duets in all.
 
The Cure came in a little before 11 and started with Taking Off.  Robert was still wearing his suit and I believe that Roger and Perry were also wearing theirs.  We knew what was coming next because Robert had already mentioned it (off-camera) to the fans at the Grand Journal taping but it
was still stunning to see Placebo come and join them on stage for a version of If Only Tonight We Could Sleep...  with three guitars, two basses, one keyboard, a drum set and one tambourine!  Robert and Brian Molko started with alternated singing and joined voices for the end of the song.  I'm sure it happened other times but the only time I can remember seeing The Cure playing with another band on stage was with the Cranes in 1992, I think in Liévin, France, when Alison was sick and Robert played her vocal parts with his guitar.  Anyway, the Canal+ show will air on Nov. 4th for subscribers only and there should be a rerun for us non-subscribers sometime around Christmas.
 
Black Session chez Lenoir (Friday)
 
Jeez, what a mess!  I knew it would be quite a challenge getting in without an invitation but I never imagined there would be so much adrenalin in the air before the show.  The lucky winners of the France Inter radio station draw had been told to come at 5:30 PM for a show scheduled to start an hour later so I showed up at the Maison de Radio-France at 4 and found about thirty people already there, including one guy that had been there since 10 AM and had started a waiting list he intended to hand over to security once all of the rightful guests had been allowed in.  I dutifully registered.  However, one stern woman clearly in charge of the whole thing repeatedly came outside to tell us that there was no chance whatsoever that anyone not invited would get in the 250-seat studio and please go home now.
 
Meanwhile, the crowd started gathering very slowly and since rehearsals were not over, although the band had been there since 3:30, the doors
opened late.  Security let people in only five at a time and checked their names against a list (which started out being incomplete but was rectified later, causing more confusion) based on national ID cards or passports.  One poor guy that had only a social security card (not a photo ID) was rejected and sent home.  I went in just in case I was on the guest list (apparently wasn't but I never knew for sure) and went back in line.  The process took forever and the show had already started even though there still were winners being checked in.  At some point the woman in charge came back outside and asked for the last winners to come in.  Once they had been through, she counted a dozen extra people, including lucky me, and let them in the building, bypassing the lengthy check in and wristband process, and directed them to the studio.
 
There was more security there, asking those with a backpack to go check them at the cloakroom.  I had one so I had to, while others were getting
in to the sound of the End of the World.  Just when I came back and was about to enter the studio, the fire department decided that the place was packed enough already and that they would not allow anyone else inside as per safety regulations.  We were eight or nine in that situation, right outside the door, hearing the muffled sound of the band playing.  Someone alerted that same woman and she came over and discussed it with the head of security and then had to apologetically ask us to leave!  One guy lost it then and started yelling that he had an invitation and had just been stalled at the cloakroom and that this was just the most messy thing he had ever seen (nobody denied that) and just stormed out.  The others were politely asked to leave again.  So they did.
 
I told the woman that I had friends inside and was there anywhere I could stay and wait for them and she motherly told me, as I was the only one left (never ever give in), that I could just wait right there outside the studio door.  After maybe five minutes some girl came out, went to the cloakroom and simply left.  I asked if I could maybe just get in instead, please?  One friendly security guy asked me to wait a while and in the end ushered me in.  I was shocked to see that at least three or four seats were empty.  But I had finally gotten in after missing (only) 30 minutes of a 90 minute show!  I won't complain in any way for myself -how could I?- but what about the folks that were asked to leave when they were right outside the door of the studio?  That's got to be the most heartbreaking thing to ask a fan, especially after having been led to believe that you had gotten in at last.
 
Well, I entered the studio during Taking Off, settled down and then enjoyed the show with glee.  I had not witnessed the problems with The End of the World (they had to start over three times until they got it right! - Robert's fault, he said himself) but the rest of the show seemed pretty tight to me, with a great rendition of Primary.  The studio was shaped like a small college indoor square amphitheater (if that makes any sense) which you entered at the top of very steep stairs.  I was told that right before the beginning of the show, Robert had climbed those stairs up from the stage while people were still getting in late and just surveyed the whole place from the top while bewildered fans passed him by on their way down, wondering whether this was a very well-done clone or the real thing.  He looked amused, smiled, and got back down to start playing.
 
Here's the full setlist:
 
Plainsong, High, A Night Like This, The End of the World (started three times), Charlotte Sometimes, Lovesong, Taking Off, Primary, Jupiter Crash, Us or Them, Closedown, Before Three, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, A Strange Day, alt.end, Disintegration
 
Encore 1: (not played) M, Play for Today, A Forest
Encore 2: (played) If Only Tonight We Could Sleep..., The Kiss
Encore 3: (not played) Going Nowhere
 
The show was 1 hour and 30 minutes.
 
And I must add that The Kiss was simply brilliant.
 
(Thanks Olivier)
 


"My friend and I went to Canal + Studios with a friend of us to see Robert. Here is my testimony :

Robert was absolutely GREAT  and on top form  !!!!!!!!!!!!! He wore an EXCELLENT BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL make up and his hair was like it was in the best days of The Cure carreer, like in 1991/1992. He was really slim, much more than in the 2004 pictures, he actually looked like he was in his best days. He even seemed younger than he used to be since 2000 !!!!!!

I was really STUCK IN ADMIRATION (“just like the old days”). He was very vivacious, very funny. It was quite a delight to see and hear him
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was really cute !

The emcee asked him what he thought about fashion. Robert answered that he wasn’t really into it, and that he would be more probably the opposite. He told “Look, i’m wearing the same old clothes i wear since 20 years  ...”

The emcee tried to trap him saying The Cure brought a new fashion, its own. And that Curefans looks like him. Robert old “It depends on what you are meaning by “fashion”. I’ against stylist’s fashion. I think you’ve got to make your own style, to be original.”

Later the emcee tried to provocate Robert, saying “ We will now see what will b fashion for the next summer, won’t we Robert ?”

I booed with some others, the emcee.

The emcee asked Robert why he said many times “this is the last album we’ll make” in inerviews for years. Robert answered he wants to think this is the one. He wants everybody in the group think it is too. As he don’t want people to consider one album as the one before the next. He wants veryone to consider a Cure album for what it is, not as a serial making.

He added “This album is the best today. I hope the next will be good too”

Aside by that he didn’t talk at all about the next album. Maybe she’s right, but i didn’t hear what Muriel heard, about Robert talking about waiting some more for the next album.

Robert told about the tour. He told The Cure have made a US tour last summer and that they will probably make a european tour wth some dates
in France but not before the 1st of january.

When the broadcast programme was over, we all ran to Robert. I asked him an autograph and I told him “Robert ... I wanted to say that I completely agree with what you told about fashions” .

He answered me “Thank you. It’s great ! But that’s something very dificult to say in Paris”

(meaning Paris is one of the fashion cities)

Robert was very calm. He took the