"Well, Today 25th of December Studio Brussels always have the Timeless 100. Best songs of all times, voted by the listeners of the radio station. For many years The Cure were within the Top 10 until last year. They were kicked out of it then and were at number 11. But this year they made it back into the top 10, on number 9. (probably something to do with the very loyal fans over here and voting more than allowed :)

They phoned with Robert but we only heard Robert saying a bit about it and saying that Fight probably was about the only rock song they ever made along with A Forest so he isn't really surprised that it's A Forest that is in this list.

If you want to know how the rest of the list looks like you can visit www.stubru.be and in the right corner you can switch to English... and if you surf a little i bet you can find the list(probably is on the main-page for a few more days...)"

(Thanks Deborah and Johan)

Best Single: Cut Here was #21

Best Band: The Cure was #16

(Thanks Martin)

"In the Dutch Top 2000 of all time The Cure has two positions.

At number 82 (!!!): a forest and at 1102, Close to me.

Not bad for a cult band. You can see it at www.radio2.nl "

(Thanks Mark)

(Thanks VAGELIS)

"After the tenth week of rotation CUT HERE took FIRST PLACE in charts of RADIO MAXIMUM 103.7 (http://www.maximum.ru/charts.asp)

(broadcasting to Moscow and Saint Petersburg and online at http://www.maximum.ru) .

You can vote for it at: http://www.maximum.ru/charts_voting.asp

That's great! Thanks to everyone for support!! "

(Thanks to Alexey from the Russian The Cure Fan Club)

The Cureheads xmas party

December 29th

@ The Garage, Highbury, London.

(The Ex-" Town & Country 2")

Early Doors 6pm ( Onstage 6.30 pm )

Xmas Presents, Mince Tarts, Pyrotechnics.

There will also be an auction of Cure memorabillia in aid of "The BBC Children in Need Charity" Including one of Robert's old CCP Ice Hockey Shirts & several other special bits & bobs.

(Thanks Gary)

"In the Christmas issue of NME (Dec. 22/29, page 51), in the Strokes article, there's a mention:

What do you think the secret is to your songs? What's the process you go through?

Julian: "I listen to something and it sticks to my head. It could be a chord or a chorus. It could be The Cure or Brian Wilson, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Nirvana... The song will sort of linger around and I'll just play the same part until it sinks deeper... once it starts to become a song I'll take it to the studio and try to come up with all the different parts. Then I'll take it to the rest of the band... the final song ends up sounding very different from the first version of it."

(Thanks Liza)

(Thanks Lisa)

"There is a contest going on right now at mtvla.com that takes you and a friend to london, you get to hang out with Robert, go to the studio and he gives you and autographed guitar.

The thing is that you have to answer a question, which is:

Robert Smith acted in a movie in 1980 that was directed by a pretty strange director who in 1993 directed a new yorker with a very important role in a trilogy of unreleased movies in which he shares the screen with the daughter of a famous rocker who´s band performed a concert in new york that was part of a serires of shows in which the cure participated in two monhts after in london. what is the name of this type of shows? how did you get to the answer?

(Thanks Enrique)

"i just read this little article about the cure in the current issue of ice magazine. http://www.icemagazine.com/digital/dd_177.shtm

OFF-TOPIC WITH THE CURE Formed in the late '70s, the Cure created a phenomenon equal to the Dead with its fervent fans incorporating its music into an unmistakable fashion/lifestyle/psychological aesthetic, albeit black vs. tie-dye. The Cure: Greatest Hits (Elektra) celebrates the band's legacy with a single disc that features two new songs and a limited-edition package that includes a second disc of acoustic versions. Rather than plug the new release, though, the Cure's mastermind/frontman Robert Smith chats about his strange relationship with painting. How did you get started on painting? I was torn at school between art and music for a while. But when I was being honest to myself, the romanticism of poetry and painting is that they are done in isolation and I thought for a while that was the way I should go. But when I was very honest with myself about the age of 16 I think, I realized I actually liked people's company too much to be a writer and to be isolated. I've always painted in a way that's very primally expressive. My paintings are not generally about anything other than what I'm feeling at the time. And yet, strangely enough, I'm drawn to art that's technically very accomplished. I much prefer looking at paintings by people who can really paint. What do you like to work with? Oil, because it's tactile and I like to get my hands dirty and because it falls over into the other thing I like doing, [which] is sculpture and two, the way oil comes off the page at you. Who are the painters that inspire you? I don't think I'm inspired by anybody. It's one of those things; I love doing it, but I'm actually not the slightest bit interested in the history of art. I think art, in the sense of figurative art, has been diminished hugely by modern art. I fucking hate modern art. I think it's difficult to learn how to draw. It's one of those things; it's easy to learn how to play an instrument, but I think it's very, very difficult to play an instrument well. I think you have to kind of be inspired. I don't think I can play an instrument well. I think I can do certain things well in the field of music. I think it's the same with art. I can do something, I can paint something and think, "Fucking hell. It's really good. It was really good doing that." And at the end of it, probably two days later, I can just chuck it away because it's rubbish. I'm not concerned with the value of what I'm doing in the way I am when it comes to the music the Cure makes. I'm very aware of the fact that I want there to be an audience. I want the audience to react to what I do musically and I want the audience to get something out of it. By Colin Devenish

*there is a little comic strip at the bottom of page 16 (the robert smith make-up kit)

*celebrity best/worst gifts...robert's worst... page 118 AND THE WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? Robert Smith of the Cure: "The worst, I'm loathe to say, but it's probably quite easily things my mum makes me. She makes me jumpers every year. Some years she's really good and actually defined a look I had for about five years. Last Christmas, she made me a bright red one and the worst part is, I feel obliged to wear it. We videotaped Christmas and I have to endure this everlasting visage of myself getting drunker and drunker on Christmas day in a bright red jumper. It's one piece of footage I hope never enters the public domain. But she means well, so I feel bad, but I feel fairly certain she won't read this publication."

***we also had a little article about the cure in the december issue of Pulse! magazine, (which can be found now ~for free at tower records stores), with paul mccartney on the cover.

*article on page 25 http://pulse.towerrecords.com/contentStory.asp?contentId=4328

(Thanks Jaime)

THE CUREHEADS SEEKING MUSICIAN

Wanted: 1 Guitarist. - LEAD, RYTHM & 6 STRING BASS (Baritone)

Male Or Female.

No Time wasters-

No Ego maniacs-

No Wasters-

No TeeTotallers-

No Strats-

You must be willing to learn at least 30 Cure & 10 Banshees songs in your own time; for now.

Willing to rehearse regularly in London ( and split costs).

Not Money Motivated ( You will not earn hundreds for your playing in fact a lot of our fees go to charity)

Own transport preferred but not essential.

Must have current Passport (Not been deported or convicted in The USA)

Must have own good Equipment at very least:

2 guitars ( sugestionsTelecasters, JazzMasters,Starfire or similar, No Stratocasters or Kramer type guitars)

Must be willing to play 6 string bass ( we can supply)

Boss effects- Flanger,DD3/5,Phaser,Chorus, OD, Dist

Good solid well serviced amp- (suggestions : JC130/160, Line 6, any twin Chorus combo)

You will be a talented guitarist who can play dirty as hell, then play spiraling chorused riffs, then pick sweet fat round melodics on the 6 string bass. You've maybe played with The Cure several hundred times at Orange in your bedroom. You may have never played a note to an audience outside of your bedroom but you know that given the chance you could cut it with The Cure. You may have played with 5 hundred bands none of which have ever appreciated your Porl Thompson Riffs or your Perry Bamonte overdrives.

You'll not mind giving you weekends up to play all over Europe or Using most of your work Holiday to Tour The USA or Brazil. We dont want whiners. To tell the truth every guitarist we've had has ended up causing us problems with Ego & laziness, eventually. This is why we are laying everything out in black & white. We're asking for a lot of commitment, it's hard work to begin with, but if you love sharing good music with enthusiastic audiences & dont mind not being able to take all the credit (from The Cure) then you'll travel the world with us & get drunk for free in some great places amongst freinds you never knew that you had. If this prospect doesnt excite you then please dont contact us but good luck in whatever you do.

Auditions will take place in London ASAP from Sunday 22nd Dec. To book an audition. EMAIL - gary_ash@yahoo.com Telephone- 07802 222 922

Website www.thecureheads.com

(Thanks Gary and Good Luck!)

Germany - 'Hits' was down to #58 in it's 3rd week and down to #77 in it's 4th week.

France - 'Hits' is #22 in the french Fnac Stores chart.

(Thanks Simon and David)

"Like almost everywhere else GH has not been promoted at all here in Finland. But last week there was articles about The Cure and GH in many news papers and even on the main commercial TV channel's text pages. I heard from a friend who works at a big record store that Universal had sent press infos to all the main papers. That's a good way of getting free advertisements!"

(Thanks Antti)

'Hits' in Peru:

"I am Ytalo from Peru, i wrote before, i managed a cure page at http://www.geocities.com/lagrancura called The Big Cure and feel glad because after a long wait, the Greatest Hits cd its available at Peruvian record stores, also the Peruvian newspaper EL COMERCIO, the most important here, has recently published two articles one the last saturday on its free magazine SOMOS, which is a review of the Greatest HIts, (which has been released here yesterday), and Today they have included a 1 page article about a reuters information related with the new album and the projects for the new year.

Also there is a new cure competition at mtv latino, which has recovered its image, because it seemed they had forgotten the release of the Greatest Hits."

(Thanks YTALO)

"After the ninth week of rotation CUT HERE took SECOND PLACE in charts of RADIO MAXIMUM 103.7 (http://www.maximum.ru/charts.asp)

(broadcasting to Moscow and Saint Petersburg and online at http://www.maximum.ru) .

You can vote for it at: http://www.maximum.ru/charts_voting.asp "

(Thanks Alexey)

"The Get Up Kids played "Close to Me" at their show at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday the 18th.

From the Washington Post: "...the band finally broke loose on some cover versions when James Dewees' keyboards signaled the hook that began a slinky version of the Cure's "Close to Me."

(Thanks Rust)

"not for the easily offended ...

Go to http://www.chickenhead.com/features/vatican/ and follow the "grooving" link on the left hand side - you'll be in a for a curetastic treat!!!!!"

(Thanks Ronan)

There will be no updates today, in honor of the worldwide premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. There is nothing else that matters today. Forget about Curespottings and all of this Christmas business, and get out there and see what is sure to be a modern masterpiece. The world will return to normal tomorrow. : )

Show N°7.01

67’ special

Wednesday, 26 of December at 6.55 PM (in France !)

Around his piano, Jools Holland meet The Cure (Club America, This is a lie)

Repeats on Wednesday, 26 of December at 0.30 PM, and Thursday, 27 of December at 7.40 AM and at 11.55 AM.

(Thanks Bob)

"some intersesting news about The Cure live in 2002. In the German MTV show 20 years MTV (each week another year) w. Markus Kaffka on Sunday the broadcast a review on this part was 1989 and they showed Lullaby and Kaffka sayed that The Cure will play next year at1 or 2 german festivals!!!"

(Thanks Dirk)

" http://www.thenitmustbetrue.com/gorfain/gorfain.html

link to an interview w/ Eric Gorfain, who recently released a string-quartet version of Radiohead's OK Computer. he has apparently recorded a Cure string-quartet tribute which will be released next year. "

(Thanks Daniel)

"Yesterday the Brazilian newspaper Zero Hora published in its Arts & Leisure supplement, the last line of Robert taken from Brain Molko interview with him, as the "quote of the day":

i'm still with mary only because she has ever been incredibly tolerant towards that fire in me. i only live for the music, the rest has no importance.

There's a small picture of Robert along with it."

(Thanks Antonio)

"There must be a Cure fan at Channel 9. Flynn mentioned that they played A Letter To Elise when Australia declared after their 2nd innings, but they also played a bit of Lovesong when the commentators where chatting before the test even started on the first day. I normally hate cricket, but I may have to watch it a bit more this summer."

(Thanks Jo)

And finally, yes it is a dark day here in N.O. Congratulations to the Rams and all of their fans. You beat us and you deserved the win...but the playoffs are just around the corner, and revenge will be oh so sweet.... : )

(Thanks Gary)

"The brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo has an article today about bands that will be performing in Brazil in 2002. The list goes from Pearl Jam to Roger Waters, and... the list also includes Cure, and according to the newspaper, "between August and November", at Via Funchal. But as many other rumours, I don't believe this one as well."

(Thanks BACO)

" I found a VERY very roughly translated interview on the messageboards on the placebo site. it was posted by someone named lulu. http://www.thebsh.com/intro.htm

BRIAN : It's interesting to be the other side, it's the 1st time i play the role of the journalist. When i was a kid, i used to watch you on tv, to read your interviews. Now I ask you some questions. What is your oldest memory ?

ROBERT : My father had a video camera super-8 and he used to film us a lot, ma mother, my sister, and i. and i saw all the films. I am born in 1959 and i grew up in Blackpool, in north-east england, at the border of the see. There are a lot of films where i can be seen running like a crazy man, with some asses in the back. my 1st memory is : seeing my sister eating worms, and to be honest, i dig them up and she ate them. i was about 3 and she 2. And my mother punished me. i must be one of the few times i had been hit. i remember also the smell of the asses. One of my 1st memories is bound to the noise of the sea. When i left london 10 years ago, i was ready to go anywhere but somewhere near the sea.. I wanted to be able to wake up and hear the sea. It's bound to my childhood, to pure happiness, to innocence. I love the music and the perfume of the sea. so i moved in the south of england and i feel myself completely different. In london i had a feeling of hate against the whole world.

BRIAN : as asphyxiated ?

ROBERT : Yes, and now i breathe. the noise of the sea comfort me. i live in london during 10 years, and at the end i was wasted. a human rags. i lived in a basement, like in a roman polanski film, the walls crumbling, yelling in the 3rd floor, i was always tense. after a year spent far away from london, i was completely transformed. because i left the past behind me, i left the temptations. i live in a lost place, neart brighton. brighton became a in-place, but it's still a pleasant town.

BRIAN : What frightens you most ? for me, i'd say to get imprisoned because of a drug affair. because of my size, some would abuse of me, as they would be bored. i couldn't stand being raped in a cell.

ROBERT : i hope you don't think about that too often ! i don't like flying. each time i get in a plane, unless i'm completely drunk, i wonder if it's gonna be ok. i did a lot of stuff in my life, to push away my limits, to test myself, but i don't know if i could parachuting. Actually, i'm afraid to die. you are afraid to suffer on a long time. i'm scared that everything stops. during the 80's i was afraid to become crazy, because i burned my neurones. i was afraid to wake up one morning and don't recognise anybody anymore.

BRIAN : musically and visually, is david bowie also a part of your 1st memories ?

ROBERT : I was immediately fascinated by the character, like a lot of people of my generation. i discovered him with "starman", end 72 - early 73, i was about 13-14 years. Each of my friends who were interested in music, were talking :"have you seen the weird guy yesterday night on tv ?" he personified another world. when you are 14 you feel a frustration. bowie, showed us that a fanciful world existed. i have been obsessed during 2 or 3 years. and then, i bought "heroes" and i criticised it because i began to have my own opinion. it was weird, like to question his own parents. but i turned away from david bowie.. the punk movement began in 1975-76 and that's what attracted me. but when i heard "earthling" in 1997, i came back to bowie. I was really moved to play with him for his 50th birthday in new york. he left a message on my answerphone. As my phone number is not listed, nobody knows it, i thought it was a joke from a friend. i left a message on his answerphone : " i'll call you back, i'm not sure". but deeply in myself , i was euphoric.

BRIAN : do you share his fascination for internet ?

ROBERT : concerning the downloadable music, i think the debates are far away from the essential, that is to say that the artist have to be always paid for his work. otherwise, he can't live. the problem is that music is too expensive. it's a naive vision to think that internet is free: there's always somebody who pays, somebody who get the money, somebody who owns the infrastructure. offering your own music freely is playing the game of the big business groups. the money gets to those groups. internet is simply a new way to distribution. in the states, some artists don't even own their own work.

BRIAN : would you be ready to be in the stock exchange, like bowie ?

ROBERT : no. when i talked about it with him, we disagreed on almost every point. actually i had drunk too much and i was quite aggressive. but i'm not naive. Cure at the beginning hadn't any manager, so i learnt to analyse the contracts, to discover how people would try to cheat with us. that's why we decided not to sign another contract with a major company after this "greatest hits".

BRIAN : chris parry has never been your manager. but with his label "fiction" he did a great job with and for you.

ROBERT : at the beginning, he was the only one believing in us. i think the 1st song on the cassette was "10:15". and in the 10 first seconds he wanted to sing us. he was incredibly enthusiastic. at this time, we couldn't ask for more. even if our friend believed in us, it was hard to let us be known. i wanted a small label, i wanted a only one interlocutor i didn't want to be said : "this one doesn't work here anymore". we had no written engagement. we knew that if something went wrong, we could shake our hands and go away. so, the end has been a little disappointing. our new album "bloodflowers" had no hit and some found it wasn't that good. it's hard to know that your label isn't enthusiastic anymore. i had already suffered from the critiques about "galore" 3 years before. the single "wrong number" didn't get the sucks it deserved, except in the USA, no radio played it in UK. i even wondered if it wasn't a conspiracy ! that's what killed the band as a pop band. so i decided to give up this part of the band. when we re-recorded "just say yes", i was unable to sing, that's why i ask Saffron (singer of republica) to do it. i was unable, i had tears in my voice.

BRIAN : people tend to think that somebody like you doesn't have any stage fright.

ROBERT : in the studio, everything is based on the emotional. In general, I don't sing on the demos. Sometimes, I'm really a crap in the studio. If I drank too much, I can't articulate and when I'm in a bad mood, or when I'm tired, I sing like serge gainsbourg ! the 1st recording is rarely good. For "bloodflowers", it's one of the rare times it worked quickly.

BRIAN : most of your videos have been directed by tim pope. Did he have a special vision, a visual interpretation in harmony with your universe ?

ROBERT : when we met, we had the feeling we've have known each other for a long time. He succeeded to bring to evidence he human side we tended to hide. He did a great job for cure.

BRIAN :at the beginning you had an image of darkness, of obscurity, of decadence, of perversion, of despair, and then you wrote love songs, more pop, with a certain sense of humour. Is there something in particular in the origin of this evolution ?

ROBERT : the 1st album doesn't enter in this logic. It was born during we were at school, I don't consider it like a personal album, but like an album made in community. Until "pornography", I was in a vicious circle. The inspiration was endless we were about 20, we were at full tilt. During the tour we were wondering who would die 1st , we abused of everything. . weirdly, I was happy to live in the excess, it was an obsession, I had forgotten everything else. But at the end, we couldn't stand each other anymore, it was really violent, we didn't see each other during a year and a half. Then I went on holiday with my wife Mary to a walk ride on the north of England and then I realised, while suffering because of the physic efforts, that I didn't want to abandon everything. Chris parry, the boss of our label fiction, had been very important in that matter as well. I had written the demo of "let's go to bed" which could have been in "pornography" with its very slow gimmick. And chris said : "come on, do a pop song". And I answered, "ok, but not under the mane of cure". But he refused it. He said that a posteriori, in then years, I would understand why. He were ten years older than us, he had a real clear global vision. Then I worked with siouxsie and the banshees and I developed that pop thing, with "lovecats" and "the walk". Without it, I wouldn't have dared it. The problem is, that with "pornography", we were stuck into this image and people around us wanted to see in me that very dark person. It was a horrible period of my life.

BRIAN : do you feel responsible for the gothic movement and all those ridiculous aspects ? I often laugh at this trend, because we have been sometimes reproached of being Goths and that really gets to my nerves. We are not crows !!! (I don't know how to translate that last sentence, it may be a typically French expression)

ROBERT : that's weird, we've never been a goth band, in the sense that there are no pictures of us with a crucifix or anything else. We were instead a band in raincoats ! the banshees are gothic, in the real meaning of the word. I don't have any gothic album. I hate the sisters of mercy. During the 1st interview I made for this "greatest hits", the journalist questioned me about that gothic side. I went crazy; "with songs like lovecats, let's go to bed, show me what's gothic in it, listen to friday I'm in love ! a gothic band wouldn't do songs like that !" but anyway, I like the Goths, they're lovely. If you forget their morbid fantasies, their belief that they're gonna die if they stay too long under the sun, they can be really funny. Have you ever been in mexico ? the best Goths can be found there. When you se them from the stage, you think they wear Goths clothes; all in black, and when you meet them, you realise they wear shorts of every colour and they have tongs on their feet !

BRIAN : what do you think of the neo-metal ? slipknot, limp biscuit, linkin park ....

ROBERT : I like some part of guitars. The problem is that, with this kind of bands, I don't like the voices. It's like with the gothic band they believe they have to conform into an aesthetic, to scream the same way. It's a kind of rebellion which is normalised, mainstream. The real rebellion is the one which doesn't fit in definite form, which goes off the stray of the beaten tacks, individually, not collectively. And I got the feel that the neo-metal is horribly cynical. I suppose that those guys live for their bands, they really believe in it, but they must be too dumb to understand they're victims of a huge marketing plan. I know a little of that because my nephew makes me listen to some stuff. "fuck you, motherfucker, blablabla". and I say : "ok, do you have the t-shirt?" slipknot, they look like alice cooper, but they can't hold him a candle to him. That sense of theatrality, cult of pain, of degradation..... and then they go back home and everything is alright.

BRIAN : So, what do you listen to for the moment ?

ROBERT : my favourite band, this last few years, except yours, of course, is mogwai. I had a small correspondence with their leader steward. I said him that "young team" was one of the best debut album ever, he thanked me, etc. and one day I talked about hem to the nme, the journalist interpreted my words and put them on their site. I try to explain steward that was wrong, but he stopped writing me. They have energy, spirit, you can hear it in their music. It's full of power, a band that believes in those values.

BRIAN : thanks to the cartoon "southpark" you were given some goods points, for your nephews. You saved the planet !

ROBERT : and stan at the end says : "desintegration, the best album ever !" I didn't know how it would be. They send me a video cassette, the one where they discuss whether the dog is gay or not. I really laughed, but at the same time I found it ignoble. They sent me something to read, I trusted them. I had the script, but there were some blank/ space to keep the surprise. They didn't want anybody to know, they wanted to shock. When I saw myself, I found it surrealistic. I would have liked to be more implicated in the project.

BRIAN : for the "greatest hits" how did you manage to select the songs ? Did you set a poll or a vote among the fans ?

ROBERT : that's what the label wanted, but i only accepted to promote this album only if i could chose the songs and if a second cd could be offered with the best of. they agreed. because to add up 2 songs isn't enough. the idea to make an acoustic album came after. I thought that, as a fan, i would like to hear the songs played differently. i was the only one who really wanted that acoustic album. we are the 1st band which had required a free cd with a greatest hits. the majors will hate us because now, people will want a free cd with every best of. artists will also hate us because they will have to create something more. until now, best of were only for the money. i know that in the states, they wonder how we manage, financially speaking : they don't know what the word "free" means. that was the only way so i could look at the fans directly in the eyes. then we met, the 5 members of the band. we had 10 songs in common. i wanted that this "greatest hits" was a commercial success, but i didn't want to put away what we did in the beginning. "a forest" has never been a hit, but it would have been a pity to let it aside, if this song could please the fans and the band. so i abandoned to impose some of my favourite songs, like "a letter to elise", "charlotte sometimes" and "hot hot hot". i wanted that this cd would make a "whole", something complete. a lot of people asked me why we didn't choose "killing an arab" of the 1st album. what i don't like is that they think we didn't dare after the 11 september events. this song is pursuing me because of its title. the gulf war, the terrorist attacks in the sates.... that's the n° 1 of the anti arab songs. if i could change only one thing, i would go back in the past, that day at school, when i chose the title and i'd change it. but i'd keep the song.

BRIAN : How many times did you think to stop ?

ROBERT : the band formed in school had exploded. the next trio, the one that made "pornography" split up. After the tour of "disintegration", i was truly about to give up everything. i was on my knees, i thought i had to take my distances with all that. so i stayed at home a few months. after "galore" in 1997, i thought it was over. but i feel really better with the band today than 10 years ago.

BRIAN : there are some artists for who the music is as much essential than to breathe or eat, they create constantly, they can't help with it. i think you are a part of this kind of persons.

ROBERT : it's not always simple to assume, i realise i'm still with mary only because she has ever been incredibly tolerant towards that fire in me. i only live for the music, the rest has no importance.

(Thanks CGamel)

Guardian article 14/12/01

Dom Joly (British Comedian, Trigger Happy is a UK comedy programme)

From the ages of 18-23, Joly tried to be Robert Smith and he calls the Cure's Pornography "my ultimate indie album". For a spoof documentary going out on channel 4 on December 28, Being Dom Joly, he managed to get Robert Smith to pretend to be his best man.

"He was totally into Trigger Happy, which was so cool. We went for a drink afterwards and he was such a nice bloke. I was thinking 'I can't believe I'm havng a drink with Robert Smith, my hero.'

"Then we ended up here, which was even more incredible. I had to hide the photos of me looking like him. We were chatting and drinking for hours, and I was thinking, 'This is just too cool.' Then it turned at about four in the morning. I was thinking; 'I wish Rober Smith would leave, I've got to get up in the morning!'"

part of an interview by Will Hodgkinson

(Thanks Deborah)

"The hebrew website for Tower Records in Israel (www.top-10.co.il) promotes the GH album the main page of its music section. (following is a rough translation):

"A superb collection for the cure, who have been playing since 1978, which undoubtly makes them one of the Dinosaur-Bands of rock. The collection outlines all the work of the group and contains all it's greatest hits, such as "Friday I'm in Love", "Lovesong" and more. The album includes two new tracks, "Cut Here" a new single out recently and "Just Say Yes" with Saffrom from Republica. Pay attention, the album is out in a special edition with a bonus disc containing acoustic versions of all the tracks, for the price of a single disc."

The album is sold online for 75nis (about 18$). There is no sales ranking for this, but it is not in the listing of the top-10 (occupied by quality albums such as the Backstreet Boys greatest hits and the latest Britney :(

The album is presented at a prominent location with all the new CDs at all Tower stores in Israel. The DVD is listed online as well but I am not sure if it is in stores already."

(Thanks Uri)

(Thanks Dan)

"Curiosity has found a new guitarist last week. He's called Fabrice and he's very good guitar player !! The band feels better and better and will play live again...soon....very soon...!!!

Curiosity prepare some great exceptionnal songs for the next show and promise that they will play in Belgium but also in Germany, Poland and maybe somewherelse....."

(Thanks Vincent)

"I actually let myself be talked into seeing 'not another teen movie'...and im kind of glad i did. because there is this scene where inbetween days is being played.. it sounds like it is being covered, but either way i shouted, 'its the cure!' reeely loudly. and then i smiled slightly. "

(Thanks Lane and Jim)

"After Australia declared in the 2nd innings of the First Test match (cricket) at Adelaide, when Channel Nine went to break, they played some of Letter to Elise!"

(Thanks Flynn)

"on the news show on German TVchannel RTL2 they had a report about the air & style snowboard contest where they used "Burn" as background music."

(Thanks Martin)

"None of the Media Plays in Niagara and Erie Counties (in NYS) are carrying the DVD, and neither is the Music4Less in Niagara Falls or the Borders in nearby Cheektowaga (the last two thankfully at least have a listing for it). I haven't checked any of the independent stores in this area yet, but I'm kind of wondering why I should have to. What's wrong with this picture? Why don't any of the major stores have it?"

(Thanks Shawn)

And here's an explanation on the situation:

"The dvd from what i understand was not only under bought by most companies but shipping and distribution was screwed up...i got mine yesterday...and i work in that stupid retail industry...lol..many people aren't putting it out cause they don't know better so i would encourage all people and fans looking to ask to check back rooms...that is where i got mine even knowing the store had three before I left my office...it is not done well..many best buys from what i understand did not even buy it...so knowing we bought a decent amount for a music dvd...any fye/record town/camelot should at least be checked out as huge best buy didn't even order it...just food for rumor thought...but it is a mess...some stores had it last week and some just now..."

I ordered mine from Deep Discount DVD and it has been backordered and will not ship before the 18th. I've heard from others who have ordered on-line and they haven't received it either. I've never had this much trouble getting a DVD release from a major label.

"I just wanted to inform you that The Cure's Greatest Hits video wasn't hard to find in Salt Lake City, UT. I noticed the video stated there was only 18 songs with 6 accoustic hits. Well after I started watching it, it seems that Close To Me was missing and is not the 7th song of the video. It appears before the two other missing videos not listed towards the end- Caterpillar and Pictures of You for a total of 20 Songs plus 6 accoustic.. I heard those were hidden tracks on the DVD, but they are on the VHS."

(Thanks Daniel G)

"This is a short translation of an article today at vrt-text (flemish television):

the cure to play festivals next year, after the farewell tour last year, robert smith has got what he wants: a solo album, a greatest hits and some new material, the cure will play next year some festivals."

(Thanks Stephan)

"Hi, i got this letter from the organizers of the Bizarre-Festial in Germany..

People can send a list with their 5 favourite bands which they wish to see at the festival on 16.-18.August 2002 to this email: wunschbands@bizarre.de

the survey closes on 15.02.2002

last time they managed in fact to get a couple of the most wanted bands, so maybe it'll work with The Cure too :-) "

(Thanks Sascha)

World - 'Hits' is #126 on the Tower records Top 1000 albums chart.

Italy - 'Hits' is out of the Top 50 albums chart.

Ireland - 'Hits' is out of the Top 30 albums chart.

Belgium - 'Hits' is #12 on the Ultratop 50 albums chart.

Austria - 'Hits' is #61 on the Top 75 albums chart.

(Thanks David)

"I don`t know if any of you saw the latest `Dorothy Perkins` adon TV recently? I can`t get the similarities out of my head to `In your house`. There are currently 2 different ads out, so keep watching. Maybe it`s just me, and I had one of those braindead moments, but I swear it sounds just like `In your house`....anyone else saw it?"

(Thanks Heinz)

The Cure back from retirement with new songs

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- It was perhaps the shortest retirement in rock 'n' roll history.

British rock band the Cure mounted a farewell tour last year to promote what it billed as its last album, and had such a blast playing for more than half a million people in North America and Europe that it now hopes to return to the road in 2002.

Retirement at age 42 just never suited the Cure's leader, singer/guitarist Robert Smith, whose gloomy songs about death and despair have transfixed fans since the Cure released its first single in 1978.

"The swan song was actually me ... saying the group's going to end," Smith told Reuters in a recent interview. "It can go on for as long as it wants now."

Indeed, he had been threatening to end the Cure since 1987, long before it reached its stadium-friendly peak with the 1992 "Wish" album. Then, as sales and output declined, he began to consider the Cure franchise a hindrance to reaching a wider audience. Last year's tour made him realize he should keep the Cure alive for hard-core fans.

Now somewhat energized, Smith spent the first third of 2001 starting work on a solo album, the middle third recording with the Cure, and he has just released a Cure best-of album that fulfills his contractual obligations with London-based Fiction Records.

The "Greatest Hits" album features 16 Cure nuggets on one CD, as well as two brand new tunes, "Cut Here" and "Just Say Yes." A bonus CD offers acoustic versions of those 18 tracks, recorded along with the new pair this past summer.

'Pleasant rhymes'

Even though Smith had the final word on the track listing, he considers the songs a poor representation of what the Cure stands for, since he primarily opted for commercially successful tunes. Ideally, he would not have included such early ditties as "Let's Go To Bed" and "The Lovecats."

"Lyrically it's pretty poor, the greatest hits. To me, it's simply some pleasant rhymes," he said. "It's not really bursting with ideas."

Smith was surprised that Fiction approved "Cut Here" for release as a single. It deals with the 1997 suicide of Billy Mackenzie, vocalist with the Associates, which also recorded at Fiction. "It's not the usual pap that gets played on the radio," he noted.

He would prefer to be remembered for the group's dark songs, the ones that inspire Cure fans to dress in black and sport deathly face makeup like their idol. Two of the group's three bleakest albums, "Pornography" (1982) and last year's supposed swan song "Bloodflowers," are not represented at all, while "Disintegration" (1989) accounts for two of the tracks.

"I think there should be a companion not-greatest hits, really," he said.

The group's first single, the oft-misinterpreted "Killing An Arab," did not make the cut either, not because of post-September 11 sensitivities but because Smith does not consider the existentialist tune to be very important.

While Smith has not made any concrete plans, "We've got a tentative idea of how things might happen next year, which will include some festivals in the summer. But everything changes with us."

The Cure's lineup changed every few albums. He expects the personnel to be the same as it was for "Greatest Hits," "Bloodflowers" and its 1996 predecessor "Wild Mood Swings" -- Simon Gallup (bass) Perry Bamonte (guitar), Roger O'Donnell (keyboards) and Jason Cooper (drums).

Free agent

Some things will be different: Smith is reveling in life as a free agent and has no desire to sign another deal, having been signed to Fiction since he left high school some 23 years ago. (Fiction had a web of licensing deals outside Britain, including Elektra in the United States).

In recent years he had become increasingly disillusioned with Fiction: It was acting more like a faceless major label than a small independent one but with none of the associated marketing and distribution clout that big companies offer.

"It's not me being bitter," he said. "I actually don't mind. If we're not going to be played on TV or get played on radio very much, there's nothing I can do about it. I don't mind.

"But I don't see why I should be handing over a huge amount of control and money to a bunch of people who aren't really doing anything to help me."

Attempts to seek comment from Fiction via an Elektra spokeswoman were unsuccessful.

In the future, Smith hopes to make Cure music like he did in the old days: record singles and EP's one month and release them the next, rather than spend six months making an album and then wait another six months for it to come out.

This guerrilla strategy will hopefully mean fewer bureaucratic hurdles.

"The crux of it for me is I'm in my 40s now and I found I was having to go to people who are in their 30s to ask their permission to do things, and that cannot be right. That's why I wanted out! It's just an age thing."

But what happens when he's 60 and dealing with thirtysomething executives?

"I won't be," he groans. "Please don't tell me that I will."

E-Online and the NY Daily News also picked up the story:

"Just found this on eonline...

WISH GRANTED: After announcing they were officially over, The Cure reportedly coming out of retirement to tour again in 2002. "

"found a bit on the cure in Mitchell Fink's gossip column....here's the blurb:

Remember the Cure's much-heralded farewell tour? You should. It was only last year. Well, a funny thing happened on the Brit band's way to retirement. Apparently, the Cure had such a blast during their farewell sojourn -- mounted to promote what was also billed as the group's last album -- that they've decided to return in 2002.

Retirement at age 42 never suited the Cure's lead singer/guitarist Robert Smith, whose gloomy songs about death and despair have transfixed fans since the band's first single in 1978. "The swan song was actually me saying the group's going to end," said Smith. "It can go on for as long as it wants now."

(Thanks naphti, Ed, irreverent_1, Rick, Rasmus, DBL, Christopher, Shannon, Craig, Melanie, Dayna, Peter, Brett, Scott, George, Brandon, Keiri, Adam, Erik, Daryl and Van)

* Brazilian Laws dictate that a double album must sell as a double album

* The Brazilians like the US, pay publishing royalties per track, not per item, so there will be a higher than normal publishing royalty for the record company to pay. Add that to the additional manufacturing cost of the second disc and the record company cannot afford to absorb all of these costs by pricing a double as a single.

* For the above two reasons Brazil made a decision not to release the limited edition, but are now reacting to fans demands to make the limited edition available.

* Our Brazilian office have found a way of making the double album a two for one price and retailing at a slightly higher price than the single album, not the full double album price.

* The Brazilian retail system does not work on a sale or return policy like other markets and so the concept of swapping one version of a CD for another is not something they could handle.

* The Brazilian office never planned to mislead the fans, in fact they made their original decision not to release the Ltd Edition because they felt that it was too expensive for the fans. We have exhausted all possibilites and now therefore have two choices, either let the Brazilians release the limited edition at a reduced double CD price to satisfy consumer demand or stop them from releasing at all, leaving fans who want the acoustic CD with no option but to buy an import at much higher prices.

So there you have it. What do Brazilian fans think about this? Should they release it or not? Any ideas you have on this will be passed on to Polydor and the band.

UK - 'Hits' has dropped out of the UK Top 75 Album chart.

France - 'Hits' is down to # 23 in the Best Of chart / down to # 14 in the Fnac stores chart.

Greece - 'Hits' is up to # 8 in the greek charts.

Poland - 'Hits' is down to #48.

Europe - 'Hits' is down to #32 on the European album chart.

World - 'Hits' is up to #4 on the Virgin Megastores Top 30 chart.

(Thanks David, Vagelis, Darek, JP, Fab G, Simon)

"Q magazine in the UK and Ireland gave the DVD of GH 4 stars - very good for them - and Golden Dics in Ireland are advertising GH as part of their Christmas television campaign, showing a clip from CuT HEre."

(Thanks Ronan)

"You would not believe the trouble I had getting the DVD today... I went to Best Buy (usually very reliable), and they didn't have any copies of the DVD on display, and it was after 9pm on the day of the release! After finding an employee who was prepared to "search in the back", which is usually fruitless at these kind of stores, my luck turned around and I got my DVD. It seems that unless you're in the market for The Grinch or Britney Spears you're out of luck. Clearly the Cure has a limited market in the US, so it would help, as I pointed out to the sales guy in Best Buy, if they'd simply stock the shelves when the DVD arrives, since most Cure fans expect to by releases the same day. Is there such thing as a casual Cure fan? Hardly. I hope you got yours OK."

(Thanks Simon)

"I just returned form picking up the dvd at a local best buy-and the shelves were empty, so i went to ask if they had anymore in stock (thinking that they were already sold out of course)...the lady returned and said that they were only given a total of 5 copies, but yet they never even put them out on the shelf until i asked- just a bit bizarre i guess."

(Thanks Melanie)

"I called Media Play in Niagara Falls today, and despite the fact that today is the release date, they still do not have it in stock, nor do they even have a listing for it. I was told though that I could check back tomorrow when they get a new shipment in."

(Thanks Shawn)

"Curefest is shaping up nicely. Several famous names have joined in the tribute to 25 years of The Cure. We weill announce them as they confirm. We have set up a website with all the latest info. Tickets are selling extremely quickly. So get to www.musicnonstop.co.uk to get yours soon. Already over 3000 people have visited the website. There are several groups who have booked from The USA, JAPAN and MEXICO already, so visit the message board to arrange travel partners from wherever you are: www.geocities.com/curefest2001"

(Thanks Gary)

"If you go to the Song Selector Menu, on menu A type 13 on your remote this will play The Caterpillar, go to menu B and type 13 this will play Close To Me (remix) and on menu C again type 13, this will play Pictures of You."

(Thanks Miked_C)

"Yesterday, MCM (a French channel, www.mcm.net) broadcasted an interview of Robert in its programme called "JDM". Ive just seen the end of the interview. However, the video of the interview is available on their website (in French of course, link hereafter). It deals with the GH but also with Robert's solo album. Robert explained that there was a lot of malicious gossips regarding the possible collaborations. However, he said that there will be 2 or 3 collaborations which will surprise fans.

http://www.mcm.net/news/?NewsId=25494 "

(Thanks Frederic)

(Thanks Dan)

"Just thought I'd share an article written about the Greatest Hits CD. It appeared in the Las Vegas Weekly dated November 22-28, 2001. It was penned by Marco Brizuela and is quite funny. The article is as follows:

"Rampant drug use! Mudslinging with contemporaries! Rumors of the bands demise! The Cure's history is full of enough delicious stories to fill five episodes of VH-1's 'Behind The Music,' although time has certainly tempered much of the peripheral as well as the creative energy that seemingly gave every song in its catalog a signature. "Even the bitter feud with New Order - dating back to lead singer Robert Smith accusing them of lifting the bass line from 'A Forest' for the foundation of 1985's 'Sunrise' - seems to have softened with time. 'Cut Here,' the first of two new studio tracks finds Spanky and Our Gang merely lifting Hooky's bass playing style from New Order, with a rhythm appropriated from - themselves? It may seem like a stretch, but listen closely - you may notice the rhythm sounds just like a heavenly song the band wrote back in '87. 'Just Say Yes' feature exotic siren Saffron (Republica, anyone?) sneering the lyrics word for word, right along with Smith. "This collection of greatest hits with two new songs is only of interest to completists and the extremely casual fan wanting a career-spanning sampling of its popular songs. With the far more inclusive Staring at the Sea and Galore retrospectives still available, why whip out the magic plastic for this truncated collection? Why, the bonus disc of acoustic versions, you silly ghost of '120 Minutes' past! The disappointment there lies in the band's assembly line attitude in churning the hits out, as well as the electric-acoustic guitar giving each song the 'professional rock band' sound. "Hopefully Smith will realize, at this point in the band's career, that going back to the well with such an increasing frequency may tarnish the luster of the band's reputation. If only tonight we could sleep knowing Smith would lay the band to rest on a night like this."

Pretty funny article if you ask me. It seems to have escaped Mr. Brizuela that if Robert did not have input in this greatest hits package the record company would have put out their own version - and without any additional new songs and/or the acoustic versions."

(Thanks Andy)

"I was watching VH1's Top Twenty Videos and they always tell a little bit about the artist after they play the video. After they played some video by some Shakira somebody, LOL, they said that Shakira grew up listening to The Cure."

(Thanks Dan)

Australia - Alternative Albums chart #5 (debut at #3) / Australian Single chart #8 on debut (The single has been getting great reviews in the Australian press.)

France - G.H. is up to # 8 in the FNAC stores chart (fnac.com) / G.H. is up to # 15 in the french best of charts (chartsinfrance.com)

UK - 'Hits' is down to #72.

Austria - 'Hits' is down to #58.

Italy - 'Hits' is down to # 44

Ireland - 'Hits' is down to # 27

Belgium - 'Hits' is up to # 8

(Thanks David, Fab G and Gary)

"Cut Here" being played in its entirety at the American Airlines Center in Dallas during the second intermission of the hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and the Dallas Stars on Dec. 5. "

(Thanks Tim)

"If you have the november 22nd edition of rolling stone, you've probably already read this (the one with bob dylan on the cover).

pop sweetheart leona neass (i know i spelled that wrong) lists her five favourite albums in her collection, which included bob dylan, sinead o'conner, joni mitchell, and the cure, disentegration!! "they're incredible pop song writers... one of the first bands i ever really got obsessed about..."

(Thanks Caro)

"Look at the ad that's in the front page of Audiogalaxy.. there's a picture of Morryssey along with it...

Hey The Cure fan

If you like classic British Alt. Rock you should check out the newly released the Best of Morrissey. For more info and MP3s click here."

(Thanks Antonio)

Sharring the Cure with Robert Smith!

It's not every day that you get a chance to talk to an icon. There are some things a writer looks forward to, and the day you get to talk to an individual that has changed the face of his art is a good day. The Cure lead the charge of what Robert Smith still calls alternative music. They weren't punk, they weren't pop, they weren't heavy metal. The Cure were the alternative. Robert Smith is an idol who never wanted to be, a man who for a long time lived the unknown life, feeling like an animal in the zoo.

Here is my conversation with Robert Smith. Fans should find it interesting, and for those who are on the fence, I'm sure this interview will shed a lot of light on just who he is.

At this point in your life and career, do you dislike doing interviews?

I suppose that over the years I've been subjected to some pretty awful interviews, but over that time I've also done some pretty wonderful interviews as well. My problem with short interviews is that you can never really get into it. I prefer something where you spend a couple of hours or a couple of days with someone.

I know, and when they were setting up this interview and I realized that I'm not really given much time, it's hard to figure out where to start. So I was wondering all night, 'What hasn't Robert Smith been asked?' And I don't know. (we both laugh)

Well, then, this will be a short interview.

I hope not.

Okay, good.

Is doing interviews now easier than they had been in the past?

Well, since these are based around the Greatest Hits, it's easier. Part of doing a new album promotion, you have to instill into everyone that it is a great album. You have to try and convince them of this at all costs. With the Greatest Hits, I can start off with that taken for granted. I can actually talk about anything because I'm not constrained. It's nice that I don't have to bang on about the same old thing. I'll tell you the worst thing about doing an interview today, though, is the fact that the transcript is on the internet within about fifteen minutes. So I have to think of endless ways to say the same exact thing. I'm stretching my vocabulary a bit. (we both laugh)

When you went into the Greatest Hits, did that title make it easier or harder to put the album together?

I was happy to be constrained [by the title], because if I had to pick sixteen songs that I thought well-represented the band, it would have been more daunting. So to be limited to singles gave us an easier starting point. It was still tough deciding what was going to be left off. I think it might be a odd position for a band to actually have too many hits to fit on one cd. We ended up leaving off some of my favorite Cure singles. I did have certain criteria that had to be met because then the album would have just been my favorite songs. And that would have not been fair to the creative spirit of a Greatest Hits album, which are most often the band's most popular songs.

With a Greatest Hits compilation, in the long run it's an album that introduces new fans to the group who don't really know where to start, as you'd suspect that diehard fans already own the album and only buy it for the few new songs.

You have an interesting point there because I suggested very strongly to the labels that there should be a companion cd to this Greatest Hits in the near future that would give the listener more insight into the band. Because I think you are right, and if you only listen to this you get a very weird picture of what The Cure is. These songs have been a big part of what we've done, but it's not everything we've done.

Do you own another artist's Greatest Hits?

I have a Jimi Hendrix hits record. It wasn't hit singles though, it was some guy at the record label deciding what was the best Hendrix songs and I disagreed with that. There were four or five songs that weren't on there that should have been, and I know everyone says that about every artist's greatest hits albums. Most, by the time you get to track eight, you've run out of hit singles and the rest are just up to the person's taste. Someone somewhere has to make that decision. For us I would have felt better with a title maybe like Anthology and we could have chosen other songs, but then again a lot of the songs on the Greatest Hits would have made it on that record too. There are key songs in the history of the band that didn't make it on there because they were never made singles. I'm crying out to have the other side represented on another cd.

My first greatest hits was the Doors. And that album doesn't give you a clear picture of who the Doors were. I bought it because I was a teen and I heard they were this rebellious group, but I was disappointed by that album. So you hear it now with some knowledge of the group and I feel like that album sounds like a wrestling match between hits and art.

True. And with us every single had a B-side that was really good, but was different and reflected the other side of who The Cure was. So a lot of people only got to know the A-Sides not the B-sides. We wanted people to listen to the other side and really get drawn into the band. So the trouble with doing just the A-sides or a complementary B-sides album is that you are always trying to find a way to really represent the band away from just what was on the pop charts.

And on the other hand, here you are trying to quickly sum up your whole career with this one album in some sense. It has to be maddening.

I don't think it's the right time to do it. I haven't resigned with any of the majors so I guess it's signaling the end of my twenty year contract history. I wanted to spend some time as a free man. I could have opted out of working on the album because it was going to be put out either way, but I wanted to be involved and make something I'd really be proud of. I suppose putting the new songs and the bonus disc with the acoustic songs makes the whole package a bit more exciting for fans.

So you aren't pursuing a contract right now. Do you just want to sit back and relax?

Yeah. I'm taking a risk that the Greatest Hits will do well. (laughs) I actually want to do things more spontaneously. I don't know for how long, I guess it depends on how much I enjoy the freedom. I think the reason is that the past few years has really ground me down. Now that I'm in my early forties, I'm having to speak to people who are younger than me and getting their permission to do things, and that doesn't sit very well with me. I didn't mind when I was in my twenties and I had to ask someone in their forties because I could pretend that was how the world turned, but there is something wrong with my needing to get permission from a youngster. (we both laugh)

What is your view of the music industry itself, I mean, do you want to be out of it because of the business of it, or do you truly need a break from music?

It's just that the length of time that everything takes gets to me. The internet makes everything instant. The fact that you can finish a song and put it directly on a web site is amazing. The technology is there. It's incredible to me the time it takes for a release. I knew the Smiths' album's schedule six months in advance. I just fancy downing something different and quicker. I also like the idea of not worrying about what I do and don't do around a release. There are things you are obligated to do. The problem is that you do all the work and they just do fuck off. (we laugh) I just want to see what it is like out there without worrying about who I might upset. Maybe we'll do something with The Cure that isn't an album release. Maybe we'll just make music as a way of getting things out there. It'll be interesting to see what works and models will work for us to get our work out there. If it doesn't work, then maybe we'll have to go back to the regular way of distribution. Deep in my heart I think the music business is corrupt and wrong. But I'm not naive enough to think that I can single-handedly change it. I've given it a go and fought on the behalf of artists and had some small victories. I was able to change some certain established rules and to show them those rules were archaic. It was a bit of a struggle, and it's more of a struggle when you aren't as commercially successful. So I kind of feel like I've done my bit and I'm ready to spend a bit of time being my own man.

Nothing drives me crazier to find that great artists are releasing an album today, one they finished a year or two ago, and are already working on new material that no one will get to hear for a few more years.

The way of artists has shifted far too much toward commerce. Everything is driven by sales and it is wrong. The idea that you have to make money from everything you do is insane. The record industry has forgotten that. It's peculiar. This is another reason why I want to take my chance now, because the five major labels are trying to corporatize the entire internet. If I don't do it now, I may never have my chance.

I'll never be able to wrap my head around the music industry. It's frustrating.

I agree. There is a lot that doesn't make sense. I suppose you just get used to it. But there is this searing realization that it's not the only way. Around the time of the Bloodflowers album, I felt that we could have made that so much better had we been left to our own devices. I felt very constrained by the slowness of everything and the ponderous nature of everything. I wanted it to get out there, but it was exactly one year from the day that I finished the final mix to when it hit the streets, which was ludicrous.

Do you think that ten years ago you would have enjoyed all the publicity that artists get today?

When we started, we were an underground band and went around the world three times in support of the first four albums. And we played to a lot of people in small places. We were constantly on tour or in the studio and we made quite a lot of mistakes and not many people knew about them, and we grew as a band and were able to make mistakes. By the time we started to enjoy our success, we were ready for it and we kind of knew what was what. And we were kind of mysterious. It's impossible to do that now and it's a shame really. It's here to stay and it makes me sit back and I wonder, 'Do we really need to know all of this?' I find myself hankering for the days when no one really knew who we were. And the fact that everything I say will get posted on the web means I can't get away with telling lies anymore. (laughs) I can't contradict myself anymore whereas I used to contradict myself from one interview to the next and no one was any the wiser because fans could only get one version. Now they get every version and are like, 'No, he's a liar.' (laughs) On a lot of levels that there is that much information out there, common sense dictates that eventually you are going to run out of things to say, but even beyond that point people still want more. I think it all ends up being gibberish.

A lot of new bands really find themselves struggling with that sort of thing because they don't have anything to talk about. I think about The Cure in comparison to bands today and, aside from the actual music, the biggest difference is the fact that there was a mystic around you and that doesn't happen today.

Exactly. We used to do literally one interview per country with our first four or five albums and at the time I thought that was too much. (laughs) The thing is that if I'm not out there saying something, then someone else is going to take that place. It's kind of like a wave and you can't hold the sea back. We have opted out because we've been relatively quiet. In the '80's I was in the band day in and day out, but as the years have gone on, and now for me to remain relatively enthusiastic about the band, I find that I need it to occupy less of my time. So I'm not as much a part of that world as I used to and I'm not competing as much as I used to. I'm more relaxed in the fact that I know if I'm doing something I enjoy then someone somewhere in the world will enjoy it too. I'm satisfied with that.

Do you think the loss of superstars today is that artists seem too human?

I think there are superstars today, but they are overexposed. And we just end up finding out they are just crap. All the legendary figures have begun to fade. I think if you are totally honest and you see these people today, you wonder how in the hell did they ever get on. They're not that special. I think in the past that once you got to a certain level you'd stay there. The struggle was getting there. Now once you get there you have to keep reminding people how you got there and that is hard. It's rare in popular music that artists get better with age. We do. (laughs)

There was something you just said a moment ago, that you are satisfied that someone somewhere will enjoy what you are doing if you enjoy it. Does it blow your mind in a way to know that? I mean, someone right now, I'm sure of it, is listening to The Cure.

When I'm out with the band it is driven home most just how much I have effected people. Whatever I'm doing day or night, I am made aware that we are a special band. It gives me all different kinds of feelings, most are good. When I was younger I found it to be a lot more difficult to deal with and struggled to come to terms with it. But when it's a one to one and someone tells me how much they appreciate what I do, it's nice. When I first started out, maybe as a defense mechanism, I told myself that I didn't care what people thought, but it was a bit disingenuous, because deep down I rationalized that if I didn't really care then I wouldn't be doing it. You don't manufacture records for mass consumption if you don't care. I think I felt that way early on during a period where I felt like no one liked us, but the opposite of that, when we peaked I thought there were too many people who pretended to like us.

At your peak and the peak of other artists who put their soul in there music, is there a weird feeling where you wonder what people like you for? The hit single or you as a complete artist?

Well, I think a lot of artists want to have people just like them. I think success is on the menu. When I started, I never thought that through. I wanted to do well, but I never thought we'd be successful. When it started to happen I kind of like dealt with it in my own ways but I think it reached a point in the late '80's where I went a bit funny. I mean, you are just stared at all the time like an animal and it gets weird. It was often good fun, but there was not a period of time that I can say I truly enjoyed. It was a strange experience, but I wouldn't want to have to live through it again. It's great being popular, but you cross a line where it becomes natural where it goes along the line of being a phenomenon. The stage isn't a natural human home. I started to lose my mind because we'd be on stage singing songs to sixty thousand people and I just thought, 'Something is wrong.'

It's not natural, you can put the numbers in the hundreds of who has ever been in front of a crowd like that. You put me on stage like that and I'll collapse from fear.

I used to collapse from beer. (we both laugh)

Are you able to walk the street and go about your business?

Not really, it's still strange for me. It's never kind of tailed off. It is kind of flattering that we still attract an overly affectionate audience. I still have people who camp outside. I've been in the same place for ten years so the locals don't pay it no mind anymore, they just sort of mutter under their breath. (laughs) But I don't think that has to do with me being in The Cure. If I want to go out and see a band in London, there are people in the audience who are Cure fans because I'm drawn to music Cure fans are drawn to. But it's awkward and people will turn around and just stare at me like a secondary attraction. I'm going out for a drink after there is always someone who will act obnoxious. It's become natural for me because you get to a point where you stop thinking this is strange because the strange becomes the norm.

I emailed a friend yesterday and asked her what she'd ask and it's always the fan stuff, and I thought it was funny that this grown up girl acted like a little girl when talking about you. It's amazing how that thing about The Cure has sustained.

I know. I think that the diehard fans feel that I understand what they are feeling because they get the songs. And I think our audience really bonds at shows and on the internet because they all have a common interest. But I think people put me in a roll that I don't really occupy. I do often go on the web and troll around and read stuff. I find it fun that The Cure is this outlet, and I think because I've retained some privacy people are always putting out questions about me.

I think people still talk about you because they still know there is more about you they don't know, whereas a lot of bands today just talk about anything.

(laughs) True. And here I am talking about how I want my privacy and yet I'm talking on and on. (laughs)

I was reading a bulletin board where fans were asking, 'What do you think Robert Smith is listening to?' Interesting question, but it's funny how they cast themselves as you. (we both laugh)

It's a bit bizarre. I look forward to the Deftones new album, I really enjoyed their last record. I have found myself listening to Korn, which I find funny because for some reason I don't think I'm their target audience. (we both laugh) For some reason I find myself strangely drawn to them. I like Heather Nova, I forgot how much I liked her. I like Mogwai. I'm not as enamored by the new wave of British stuff.

Pop stuff?

The weak singer-songwriter stuff.

Do you find yourself listening to older music?

The cd I listened to over the weekend was Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. I actually listen to a lot of instrumental music at home because I find myself criticizing lyrics. I hear something interesting and the intro sounds really good and then here come the lyrics and I think, 'Oh, fuck.'

+ charlie craine

published: 12.04.01

Hiponline is also giving away the 'Greatest Hits' and a signed photo.

(Thanks Sterling)

"Just to let you know that a four pages' article was published in the last release of the French classy magazine "Les Inrockuptibles" (They are not huge fans of The Cure but the former article concerning the Cure was an incredibly pertinent and accurate article about the release of Bloodflowers).

The present article was pretty original in the way that the interviewer was Brian Molko (Placebo) and the interviewee was Robert of course.The cover headline announces "A fan who became a star meets his idol : the dialog Placebo-The Cure". And the title of the article goes in French "A Cure ouvert" (play on words that actually means something like "Open heart"). Due to the length of the interview, I'm not sure I'm that courageous about translating the whole thing. Anyway, just a few words from Robert that we haven't heard anywhere else:

He's quite happy about having the idea of the extra accoustic CD cause it will force every major to do the same with their artists' forthcoming "best-of" CDs and it will force the artists to move their ass to bring something new to their compilation CDs.

About the greatest hits, he accepted the fact not to put some of his most favorite songs (A letter to Elise, Charlotte sometimes and Hot,Hot,Hot!) and if he were to change something in his career, he would change the title of the song 'Killing an arab' to something else.

And at last a few personal words:

Brian Molko: "Music is as essential as eating or breathing for many artists; they can't stop creating or simply can't help it.I think you belong to this category of artists."

Robert Smith:"It's not always easy to cope with it. I realize I'm still with Mary just because she has always been so incredibly tolerant with this fire that moves me. I only live for my music, the rest is of no importance". "

(Thanks Philippe)

"Here's my translation of the interview in the dutch newspaper 'Het Algemeen Dagblad'. I have to say that I have the feeling this interview was already a kind of abstract translation. I mean the words are so non Cure / non Robert like. For example 'Fuck off' doesn't seem like Robert at all to me. But maybe I'm wrong... Here it is, I did as best as I could do:

Algemeen Dagblad

Thursday november 29

The Cure is totally free

By Robert Haagsma

At the end of the year it rains traditional cd-boxes and compilations. Also The Cure comes with a cd full of Greatest Hits, compiled by singer Robert Smith. "For me, I wasn't really waiting for this."

Greatest Hits is a by Robert Smith himself choosen compilation, which shows the dark side as well as the more elated side of his band.The first edition contains a bonus cd with 18 songs recorded acoustic earlier this year. The flamboyant singer, still including fiery red lipstick and explosive hear, explains the record.

Smith: "My interference seemed necessary because the band members and the people from the recordcompany didn't agree about the compilation. So I had to cut the knots. According to myself, I wasn't really waiting for this compilation, but I knew I also couldn't stop it. I took part in, with the purpose of giving the audience as much as credit for their money. That's why I claimed that acoustic cd as an extra gift with the first edition. That's the way I've always worked. I never put second hand material on the b-sides of our singles, but compositions that sometimes grew to become the favourites of the audience. It's a less strong recordcompany mentality, so that's why I'm concerned in this."

How did you select the songs?

"A couple of songs were obvious: big hits like A Forest and Boys don't cry. In a couple of four cases I prefered my own choise, like Mint car, which never has been a big hit. And Wrong number, that only in America threw high eyes. What I had in mind was a record which was going to be listened to as a normal cd, so with a logical bulding up, concerning music and atmosphere."

There are two new songs on the compilation-cd, among whom is Cut here. It's about loss. Did you had someone in particular in mind when you wrote the song?

"It's about Billy MacKenzie, once the singer of The Associates. Two months before The Cure his band was contracted by our recordcompany Fiction. I knew him since 1978. We appeared on stage together and I took part at his records. He was a very good friend. In 1996 he figured in our Mint car video and we made an appointment to see eachother soon. The next thing I heared of was he killed himself. I was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions: anger, feeling of guilt and sadness. I wrote this song at that time, but I did found it too personal to put it on a regular cd. I could have changed the text into less strong words, like I did before with suchlike songs, but I still couldn't find it in my heart to do it. Now, when there's some more distance to that sad happening , it may see the light."

Last year the rumour was circuling your studioalbum Bloodflowers and the following tour could have been your last one. Did you know about that?

"Even stronger, I did put them into the world by myself. It was a very dark period in wich a lot of things were annoying to me. I wanted to stop with The Cure , but I didn't want Wild mood swings or Galore be the last feat of arms on record. So I recorded Bloodflowers with like motto: this will be our last record, so it better may be a very good one.This was also the thought how we went on tour: this will be the definitive goodbye to our fans. The result was the most intense series of concerts we had ever give. When we do appear on stage ever again it will be hard to reach that level again. That is something wich concernes me a little."

What caused that dark period?

"There were different things at the same time. There were problems with our recordcompany. Around 1990 The Cure was a topband, who sold tens of millions cd's in a short period. Later it became less and each time the results were compared to that short period of success. At that way our past became a millstone around our neck. Of Bloodflowers millions are sold. At is't own way this is a fine number , specially in view of the music and the artistic climate. Still, the recordcompany saw this , comparing to our history, as a failure.

"Besides in the number of years the musicindustry has become much more a matter of business. Each idea that you have , you have to deal with accountants, managers and lawyers. It kills all the spontanity. Besides I had to justify myself to boys and girls who were much younger than me. In the meantime I'm 42 and suddenly I did have had enough of it. " At the side of it even the name of the band was a liability to me. There are people who once decided to find everything not good wich was brought out by The Cure. As a band we do apparently evoke rather extreme reactions. I have got over this last subject now. For those who after Bloodflowers - in my immodest opinion one of our best records -still dislike The Cure I have a message: "fuck off!"

What brings the future for The Cure?

" I did expire the contract with my recordcompany after more than 20 years. For the first time since I was 18 years old I have my hands fully free and that gives me a wonderful feeling. I'm working on a soloalbum now wich should be released somewhere next year. As far as The Cure I don't know it yet. Maybe we are going to appear on stage again and sign up with another recordcompany.Or for once and a while we tape something and put it free on the internet into the world. There is a considerable chance we do nothing at all anymore. And the feeling , that freedom, that it can go either this or that way, I want to hold for a while."

Copyright: Haagsma, Robert"

(Thanks Nans)

I am sure you have many emails about this. Last night on the Weakest Link, they had more pseudo celebs on (I think these were from a show called 3rd Watch). Just as the round was ending, that woman asked the final question, something like "name the band that had a hit with Boy's Don't Cry and is lead by singer Robert Smith." Strangely, the middle aged actor had no clue to which the host replied "the Cure" which she said with her heavy British accent. Kind of funny.

(Thanks Jeff, Jennifer and Brad)

"Tonight (monday) on french TV France 2, there is a so-called funny program called 'ça s'en va et ça revient' about french 'artists' that were 'in fashion' a few years ago, then disappeared from the front scene, and are now back into the spotlights. Thus, tonight have invited a comic trio called 'les inconnus'. I don't know if they are going to show this tonight, but I remember that in the end of 1989 or in 1990, they did a very cheap gag about The Cure. It was just one of them lying in a metal bed with grey sheets, with long black hair, red lipstick, spider web, siinging a stupid song from another french comic of the time with the lullaby melody. I remember I went mad at them when I saw this. Fortunately, I remember hearing them later say that they would never do a joke on someone if in fact they didn't appreciate the person first. "

(Thanks Fabien G)

"Robert Smith interview of the week (Greatest Hits, image of the band, experiments, influences in others bands, solo album...) on the french music TV : MCM. The name of the program is : the JDM. From the 3/12 to the 9/12. Each day (3 times/day) = a part of the interview. 13h, 20h30, 22h45 and 2h"

(Thanks Jean-Louis)

"There are two small pieces on robert smith in the latest issue of PULSE!, a magazine you can get free at tower records. it has paul mccartney on the cover. one is a small interveiw where robert talks about painting. the other piece robert talks about his least favorite christmas gift."

(Thanks Jeff)

"Just to let you know, hob.com will once again do a 24hr webcast of the Dreamtour Salt Lake City concert. This time it will only be audio. This will take place on December 11th.

http://www.hob.com/onlinemusic/webcasts/eventpage.asp?event=011211thecure "

(Thanks Esteban)

(Thanks Ben)

"This review was in Sunday Times in Western Australia today:

"While I never counted myself among The Cure's faithful herd, they have been responsible for crafting some of pop's finest songs. Cut Here proves they haven't lost the art of making great tunes and that you can still be angst-ridden when you're pale, middle-aged and portly."

The interview is by one of the DJ's at 96FM, one of the 'pop' radio stations here in Perth. "

(Thanks Jo)

UK - "Greatest Hits" has dropped to #72 in the UK album chart.

Canada - 'Hits' drops out of official top 100 / down 18 spots to #30 on alternative charts.

Austria - ' Hits' down 14 spots to #58 (2nd week).

Germany - 'Hits' drops from #22 to # 38 in the German Top 100 / #33 in the german CD Chart.

Italy - 'Hits' dropped to #44, losing 14 positions (2nd week) / 'Cut Here' gained 5 spots to jump to #42 (4th week).

European album charts - Debuts at #30 (1st week).

(Thanks Fab G, Simon, Pietro)

"Flag Promotions in association with Peter York travel are organising hotel accomodations near to The Venue at extremely good discounted rates to ticket holders.( Including a Cure disco @ The Hotel on Sat 16th March ). For details telephone Flag Promotions on 0208 450 4506. Tickets are only available in advance @ £15 a head (No tickets will be sold on the door) numbers will be strictly limited so early booking is essential."

The Cureheads will also be playing Eurorock next year:

"The Cureheads have been invited as special guests to Play at The Eurorock indoor festival on Jan 27th 2002.

EURO-ROCK - Newsletter n°3 - November 2001 http://www.EUROROCK.be

Line-Up:

Sat. January 26th 2002:

+ Afterparty by THE NIGHTBREED organisation (www.nightbreed.yucom.be)!

Sun. January 27th 2002:

EURO-ROCK pre-selections + Special Guest: The Cureheads (UK) !! Bands tbc."

(Thanks Gary)

"I've just put up an online "Irish Cure Fan Club" and i want to launch it properly next Friday, December 7th with a gathering in the chatroom. The address is http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/Irecure Hope to see you all there!"

(Thanks Paul)

"I think this might be one of the more unusual uses for Cure songs that I've seen. Being a Formula One fan (which everybody should!) I've been surfing some sites looking for some good F1 videos to download. Obviously I was delighted to find that some of the downloads on http://www.seasonf1.com/pages/2001.html have Cure songs as backing tracks.

Qualifying Session highlights for Sao Paulo, Brazil 2001 features Last Dance as the backing song, while the Race Highlights from Spa Francorchamps, Belgium 2001 has A Forest as it's backing song.

I haven't watched the downloads as they are VERY big (one is just under 26 MB) so I can't comment on how it feels to watch motorsport clips with The Cure playing, although no doubt Roger will be very pleased to see Last Dance featured, as he is a massive F1 and Ayrton Senna fan !

If you're into F1 and cool music it's certainly worth a look, as other bands featured on clips are Hole, Faith No More, Dinosaur Jr, Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve, Bowie, Black Grape and The Banshees to name quite a few!"

(Thanks David)

"There's a movie out called "Storytelling" (which by the way I think is really good) and on one of the early scenes there's a girl crying in her room and on one of the walls there's a Cure poster which you can only see reflected in a mirror. It's very easy to spot the name of the band, and in fact that's te only thing that is clear, since I am not sure which poster is that. My guess is that it may well be the "Boys don't Cry" single cover."

(Thanks Davide)