If you were a teen-ager, she could be your mom.

''Before I die, I want to see Robert Smith,'' fawned Richelle Kellen, 37, of
San Jose. ''If I was on my deathbed in the hospital, this would be my final
wish.

''He is God. He is adored. Just ask anyone here.''

Kellen, along with her 16-year-daughter, Amber, stood in a line 1,300 people
long Sunday to catch a glimpse and maybe an autograph of the Cure and Smith,
its lead singer, at a Campbell music store. Mom wore a comfortable summer
dress and packed a
camera. Amber came decked out in black T-shirt, heavy on the dark red
lipstick and packing an
attitude.



The Cure, for those in the dark -- and we don't mean those dressed in black
-- is an alternative rock band from England. The group has been around for
nearly two decades and used to play music so depressing that rock writers
called it the voice of
the gloom
generation.



But as middle age arrived for the musicians and many of their fans, they've
become a tad more cheerful.

Tonight, they perform at the San Jose Arena, and word of their stop at the
Tower Records on Bascom Avenue was broadcast this weekend on local radio
stations. Some fans hoped the group might offer an impromptu concert in the
parking lot, as
Metallica did at Tower's South San Jose store two months ago -- drawing
10,000 people, messing up rush-hour traffic and causing fits with the police
and City
Hall.



But Campbell police said there would be no concert, that store officials
promised to turn the group back if it even brought a guitar along. Only
autographs were promised, yet dozens began lining up shortly after dawn. 

''They're so down,'' said Judy Salcido, 15, of Milpitas, which means deep to
most of us.

When she listens to the group, Judy closes her eyes and catches ''their
feelings.'' 

''They are a little old,'' she said of the band. ''Maybe that's why so many
of these old people are here.''

Old people (translated, folks in their late 30s) were indeed there. Such as
Don and Linda Henderson, a married couple in their late '30s with a
resemblance to Ward and June Cleaver.

''Our kids don't care for the Cure,'' Don Henderson said. ''I listened to
them when I was a kid, so we dropped our kids off at the movies, said, 'What
the heck. Let's see if we can meet or at least see them.' ''

The Hendersons just missed Smith's back-door arrival shortly after 6 p.m.,
which drew a rush of fans and warnings from beefy security guys to stay well
back.

''Can we wait two hours, hon?'' Don Henderson asked his wife. 

''For Robert Smith, you bet,'' she replied.

Now, what would the kids say?

Well, I went to Tower in Campbell.  I waited in line for almost 6 hours and
luckily I got in just by a hair.  They only let 5 more people in behind me.
But meeting the
Cure was very interesting.  By the time I got to meet them, they all looked
very tired.  Jason looked really bored.  He was just sitting there with his
hand on his cheek.  You had to practically beg just to get an autograph out
of him.  Roger was in a pleasant mood.  He was smilling and talking to
everybody.  I talked to him more than anyone.  Robert looked tired also and
was pretty shy.  He wasn't really talking very much.  Probably because there
was a mob of screeming girls around him.  Simon was also very shy.  When I
asked him if I could get a picture, he put his head on the table and covered
his face with his arms.  But overall, it was fun.  I got autographs and
pictures of everyone and a picture of me and Robert together.  It was well
worth the wait in line. 

Can't believe they came to this place:campbell!
a dj from KOME and the band, or just robert,went to TACO BRAVO
across the street and got burritos!
they signed from 6pm to 8,but actually just cut the line off at the door
at eight oclock. i know people who finally got signed at 10!
at about 7.30, the radio announced there were abot 2500 people there.

My excitement reached a peak yesterday when I heard that The Cure was 
actually going to do an in-store appearance at Tower Records in 
Campbell.  I would have made the journey straight there immediately, 
but unfortunately I had to pick up my sweetie at the airport (I'd take 
him over Robert Smith any day - sorry RS).  By the time I made it to 
the store there was an estimated 2,000 people there all wanting a 
glimpse of the spider man.  There were all types, ranging from the 
completely obsessed to the mildly interested.  I spent the 2 hours in 
line making friends and amusing myself with the wide variety of 
entertaining characters that appeared at the scene with the same motive 
as mine.  All I wanted to do was see that the man who, for the past 13 
years, forced emotion to pour out of me like water from a faucet, the 
man who made my continuous battles with depression somewhat cheerful.  
I went into the other end of the shop hoping to get a glimpse but all 
my eyes could see was a few tufts of black hair poking up above the 
displays the store put up to keep things from getting out of control.  
I went there with high hopes of getting an autograph, perhaps even a 
photo.  I didn't get any autographs :(, there were too many people for 
RS to satisfy in too little time.  I went away slightly disappointed 
with my hopes quite deflated.  However, I didn't go away empty handed, 
a very nice man that worked there took my camera in and shot a few 
photos for me.  I also met some interesting people that have similar 
interests as I, people with real lives, high goals and dreams.  Good 
luck to them.  And to all of you, have a great time at the shows this 
week!