Dec. 25th

Merry Christmas!

Dec. 24th

(Thanks Arturo)



I came across the website "Everything English" and was very suprised to see they were selling old original UK Cure calendars (see link below):
http://www.everythingenglish.com/cgi-bin/all_pages.cgi?page=search&find_item_type=All%20Items&find_item_name=cure "

(Thanks Jenn.)



"Last week in Brixton Academy in London, the english singer David Gray has covered "Friday I'm In Love" at the end of his set. it was really a big surprise !"

(Thanks Laurent)

"Mr Alphabet has a version of The Cure's Harold And Joe up at http://www.myspace.com/mralphabet"
 
(Thanks Tina)



From The Times Online

"IN SEPTEMBER, I interviewed Mick Jones, the legendary guitarist with the Clash. Over several days he spoke with emotional frankness about his extraordinary life. And his love of football. Mick has a season ticket at Queens Park Rangers, an apparent magnet for musical mavericks, attracting the regular devotion of the Cure’s Robert Smith, notorious socialiser Pete Doherty and highbrow minimalist Michael Nyman. But the real eye-popper was Mick’s revelation that, before his stint at the white-hot forefront of punk rock revolution, the pubescent Jones had brought just as much passion to the activity of collecting footballers’ autographs."

(Thanks Tempest)

Dec. 19th

(Thanks to Autumn @ Pictures of You)



"Just to let you know that Bernard Lenoir (the brilliant French DJ  , famous for his "black sessions" on France inter national radio station ) announced in his programme last night that his (and ours too) "first christmas present" had just arrived -  and "an indescribable joy" it was - namely an e-mail from Robert (!) telling them to go ahead with the broadcasting  of last summer's the cure show in Saint-Malo (la route du rock). He said it would air on December 26th between 9 and 10 pm , local time.

Mind that it's not going to be the whole show but an hour of the very best."

(Thanks Sylvain and Steeve)



"VH1 has just sent me the air time for the videos I requested. Unfortunately there is only 1 Cure selection. I was hoping to see some rare videos in VH1's library, but the only one that stood out was 100 years. It might be interesting to see which 100 years they come up with. Here are my selections; 

Thanks for your request for:
THE RAMONES - SPIDER-MAN
THE RAMONES - PSYCHO THERAPY
THE CARS - MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (LIVE)
THE CARS - JUST WHAT I NEEDED (LIVE)
THE CARS - GOOD TIMES ROLL (LIVE)
CATHERINE WHEEL - CRANK
THE CURE - ONE HUNDRED YEARS
JOHNNY CASH - RUSTY CAGE
VIOLENT FEMMES - BLISTER IN THE SUN

It will air on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 in the 4pm (EST) time slot.

Happy holidays and thanks again for your thoughtful contribution!"

(Thanks Dave)





"Dave Gahan mentions Cure..

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1517974/20051212/depeche_mode.jhtml?headlines=true

"Depeche Mode have been touring with the Bravery and played Sunday with Hot Hot Heat, just two of the many new bands who have cited Depeche Mode as a major influence.

'I don't hear it that much,' Gore said. 'You hear about bands citing you, but to me none of them really sound like us.'

'I hear a lot more of the Cure in those bands, like the Bravery,' Gahan said. 'I think it's more of just an inspiration thing, which we're really flattered by of course.' "

(Thanks Nik and Mategaspar)


"great cure spotting for anyone near Oxford, England.  I went to a Thai restaurant called Bagkok House and on the wall is a picture of Robert with
the staff there. I assume its from the Wish era as the LP was recorded nearby.  He's below the picture of Paul Weller and above the king of all
christians Cliff Richard!"

(Thanks Rafe)


" This is from an article (http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/the_north_east/features/FEATURES0.html) about Anthony Wilson who was involved in the music industry with New Order and other bands.

Wilson says: "New Order have just been told that they will receive an Ivor Novello songwriting award next year, which they are pleased about.
Last year the Novellos gave a major award to Robert Smith. I have no problem with The Cure, but they stole our market in Germany, the b*stards.

"I then wrote a letter to the judges saying, 'How can you give him an award, yet you have Love Will Tear Us Apart on your best song of all  time CD, not even thinking about Blue Monday or True Faith or Everything's Gone Green'."

(Thanks  Lenore)

"saw this in the new edition of Q magazine will young winner of Britain's pop idol a few years ago is a cure fan?"



(Thanks to curehead in ireland)


"In The Sun(UK daily "newspaper") today, friday 16th December, there's a feature on the best re-issues of the year and The Cure are at number 10
with Pornography.
 
The Cure- Pornography:Crawley's finest goths.Wailing vocals and wonderful basslines.Includes demos and live favourites..
  
(Siouxie's The Scream-Remastered clocks in at number 9)"
 
(Thanks Jc)


"I was watching the Howard stern on yahoo.com doing interviews in the hard rock cafe. During the interview "Just Like Heaven" started playing
in the lobby. It sounds like the performance they did there for the Hard Rock show on VH-1 during the bloodflowers era. Kinda suprised to hear that and watch howard dance to it. Pretty freakin cool."
 
(Thanks Gerry, Pirat and John)


"The Cure are mentioned in the latest issue of Rolling Stone (Issue #990/991, Dec. 29, 2005 – Jan. 12, 2006 with King Kong on the cover).

The article is as follows:

The Cure, Lavigne Cut Lennon Songs
The Black Eyed Peas, the Postal Service and The Cure are among the artists who have recorded John Lennon songs to raise funds for human-rights
organization Amnesty International.  The recordings are available for ninety-nine cents at amnesty.org/noise.  In 2003, Yoko Ono donated the
rights to her late husband’s solo tracks to Amnesty for use in its campaigns.  (December 8th was the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lennon’s death.)  More songs are in the works for 2006: Avril Lavigne has recorded a take on “Imagine,” with accompaniment by pianist Chantal Kreviazuk, that
stays faithful to the original.  “I did a mellow version,” Lavigne says."

(Thanks to Dayna @ A Foolish Arrangement)


"From Vail Daily:

Dec. 13th

"Guitar Player magazine (Jan. 06) brings a review of Robert's UltraCure guitar. The review is very positive and quotes Robert on the development
of the guitar. You will find out the reasons for the guitar's huge body! There is a picture of Robert holding his guitar, and a couple of shots of sketches of the instrument while in development."

(Thanks Marcio)



"I'm selling the rare CD-Video single for Why Can't I Be You? on ebay. Unlike other recent auctions for this item, there is no reserve and I'm starting the bidding at a low $1.99. The link and details are below:
   
The Cure Why Can't I Be You UK CD Video Single Like New
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4807648109&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

The Cure "Why Can't I Be You?" UK CD-Video (CD-V) single like new! This is a rather rare CD single issued in 1987. This is the only place that the tracks "Hey You!!!" (LP version, which was omitted from the CD version of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me) and the extended version of "A Japanese Dream" may be found on CD.

Tracklisting:
1. Why Can't I Be You? (extended mix 7:56)
2. A Japanese Dream (extended mix 5:40)
3. Hey You!!! (LP version 2:23)
4. Why Can't I Be You? (video 3:31).

Please note that the video will only play on PAL laserdisc players. The disc itself is near-mint with no surface scratches that I may see but a few fingerprints. The insert is mint."

(Thanks Dan)

"Someone on ebay is selling a car formerly owned by Roger O'Donnell..."

(Thanks Graham)



From icWales

"He (David Gray) encores with monster hit Babylon and a weekend welcoming version of The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love with the words of Robert Smith's classic paraphrased to Friday I’m In Cardiff, putting an amusing seal on a hugely enjoyable show."

(Thanks Tempest)

From Billboard

ARTIST: SHAKIRA

SINGLE: DON'T BOTHER

Shakira's voice has never been a particularly subtle instrument, and in new English-language single "Don't Bother," there are moments where she barks like a sea lion -- in a markedly obtrusive way. Even so, there are melodic benefits throughout the song, down to its ode to the Cure's "Feels Like Heaven" at the midsection and a chorus that possesses a modest stickiness. But it still comes back to the affected vocals, which at best are an acquired taste. Perhaps this single is just a little ... too Shakira. We will hold out for the more plausible radio hit "Illegal."

They have the title wrong, but I think they're right about a bit of a 'JLH' feel in there. Not a surprise, given that Shakira is a Cure fan.


"Alicia Ruiz with Beevine Records in San Francisco here. Our artist pc munoz recently launched a popular online column called VERSE-CHORUS-VERSE, which focuses on songs that have influenced and inspired him. This week he wrote about "Lovesong".

It is here: http://www.pcmunoz.com/vcv/

pc is both a songwriter in the spoken-word/funk field, and a poet. His latest song-based CD, CALIFORNIA, features rock legend Jackson Browne on the title track, Dr. Fink of Prince and the Revolution, and other cool guests. He has said that the song "clean" on CALIFORNIA is his little nod to The Cure. pc's new poetry CD, TWENTY HAIKU, was released in late October, and was recently recommended by the Wall Street Journal alongside spoken-word CDs by author Roald Dahl and US poet laureate Billy Collins.

(Thanks Alicia)


"I was in a bookshop/cookshop in vienna and joined a talk about cooking. the guy did a very funny and interesting lecture and when he was reading in the book about harrys bar in venice, he mentioned that robert smith`s favorite food in this restaurant is just ordinary toast with ham and cheese."

(Thanks Thomas)


"Today, I saw a short promotional item for a documentary about dying people, cancer, I think, in Israel's channel 1 TV. The instrumental opening of 'going nowhere' was playing in the background. It's noteworthy that musical editors in Israeli TV stations have a taste far surapassing that of the multitudes. Proud to be able to add an Israeli touch to curespotting."
 
(Thanks Gady B)


"Hey a belgian program trigger happy uses going nowhere in the 10th part of the program."

(Thanks Joren)


From The Portland Mercury:

"But terrible! A fake! A phony! Just a big, gooey loogie in the face of things like integrity and originality. But that guitar riff... the drums... the three keyboards bobbing and weaving like Russian MiGs! Eli comes over and stands next to me holding a beer. "Dude, it's Robert Smith," he says smiling. "He's butchering a bad Robert Smith impersonation."

And he is. "An Honest Mistake" hits its middle point with Endicott leaning into the camera, and yowling out a Cure line, not actual Cure lyrics, not from an actual Cure song, but the best 17-second-long piece of Cure that Robert and his boys never wrote. Shameless! But so good. "Let's play some pool," says Eli, and we turn away from the Bravery, who aren't done playing their biggest hit ever."

(Thanks Tempest)


"I've seen a Kingdom of Loathing reference on here before, so I know there are some Cure fan adventurers reading this. I found another reference:

"lovecat tail

Gather around children, and I'll tell you the tale of the lovecat (and its tail). All agree that this cat is wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully pretty. For some reason, even though it's a cute and cuddly animal, goth giants are irresistibly drawn to it. Its tail is rumored to bring good luck; obviously, in this case, not to the animal itself.

Selling Price: 50 Meat."

This was found in the game at www.KingdomOfLoathing.com"

(Thanks Jane)

Dec. 10th

Dec. 8th

(Thanks Steven)



"Thought you might appreciate this from Pitchforkmedia.com Top 100 albums of the 80's, unfortunately only 38th!

038: The Cure
Disintegration
[Fiction/Elektra; 1989]

A titan of an album (clocking in at 70+ minutes with its two cassette/CD bonus tracks), Disintegration outlines every reason The Cure inherited
the word "atmospheric" following the demise of Joy Division; though it wants for a single as glorious as "Just Like Heaven", Disintegration stands unquestionably as Robert Smith's magnum opus. The title track is without peer in their catalog, a tyrannical eight-minute epic swirling with formless, distant melodies and sinister, writhing lyrics. "Pictures of You", at 7½ minutes, was nicely trimmed and remixed for 1990 radio play, but as with "Fascination Street" (the album's lead single, also heavily edited), the sonorous guitar architecture heard on the album version wins out every time. More than these highlights, Disintegration stands alone for its preamble: scant few albums released in the 1980s can boast an opener as grand as "Plainsong", the most breathtaking, shimmering anthem the band ever recorded. --Chris Ott "

(Thanks Matt)



"Wow it's December and there's no new Cure product to buy this holiday season. :(
We're big Cure fans and we know a lot of you are as well, so we've come up with some unique and special sale items.
 
SPOTLIGHT ON THE CURE

- The Cure (Japanese CD w/ 3 Bonus Tracks + NTSC Region 0 DVD)

If you bought any other version of this album, you are going to want to upgrade to this version. This went largely unnoticed because it came out 2 months after the original release, and the DVD was solicited as being Region 2 (not playable on North American DVD players). That is not the case, the DVD is All-Region, making this the ultimate version of this album. Less Than 10 ON SALE for $29.99 (Regularly $39.99)


- End of The World (PROMO CD) & Taking Off (PROMO CD)

These European Promotional CDs of the first 2 singles from their 2004 album contain exclusive radio edits as well as unique cover artwork. (No, we didn't get them for free - they're cool collectors items!) Buy one, and during checkout, you will receive an offer for the other one at almost half price! Less Than 10 of Each Remain


- Various Artists - Live 8: Paris [CDN DVD]

One of four individual DVDs spotlighting specific shows from LIVE 8, features performances by The Cure, Muse, and Placebo and others. Most of
the footage is not featured on the regular 4CD box set. This NTSC Region 1 DVD just came out last month and is import-only, playable on all North
American DVD players. Less Than 5 ON SALE for $19.99 (Regularly $24.99)


- RETRO:ACTIVE 1 & RETRO:ACTIVE 4

Each of these include Cure remixes that can only be found on these CDs (or on the original vinyl releases). Boys Don't Cry (Re-sung and Club
Mixed 1986) is on RETRO:ACTIVE 1. RETRO:ACTIVE 4 contains In Between Days (Extended Version), from the 1985 U.S. 12" single. Buy one, and during checkout, you will receive a discount on the other!


- Picture Show (Brazilian NTSC Region 0 DVD)

Brazilian-only import reissue on DVD. All 10 of the promo clips The Cure made from 1987-1990. The only thing that is different from the original
VHS release is the cover art. Four videos are EXCLUSIVE to this release: Catch, Fascination Street and the Extended video versions of Why Can't I Be You? & Hot Hot Hot !!! Also features EXCLUSIVE interview and backstage footage, Dolby Digital sound, a photo gallery, and more. Less Than 10 ON SALE for $12.99 (Regularly $19.99)

(Thanks Chris)



The Cure - Party
@ Culturium, Gempenstr 60, 4053 Basel, Switzerland
December 10th
9 p.m.
DJs Yeux des Biches
www.culturium.ch
info@yscream.ch

(Thanks Sascha)



"This is probably old news, but I came across Reeves Gabrels on itunes and it looks as though he has a new album out.  The first song's a cover of "Sign from God" with Reeves doing the singing.  Pretty awful."

(Thanks Dean)



"In this month's Q magazine comes the (indifferent?) news that UK Pop Idol winner Will Young is going through a Cure phase - He says he's been
listening to Wish while he's in the shower. Apparently it reminds him of when he was younger - the record had a profound affect on him.

(Thanks J)


"Last Monday night, the Brazilian football player (soccer, for my American friends) Ronaldinho was awarded the "Ballon d'or" ("golden ball") in Paris. It is a very famous award in Europe celebrating the best player of the year. During the Award show that was broadcast in France on Canal Plus, they showed a 3 minutes "hommage" video showing in action the only three players who were awarded the "Ballon d'or" three times in their career (which is obviously very rare !): the French Michel Platini, and two Dutch players Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten. The music was "Just like Heaven" by The Cure. Quite nice..."

(Thanks Muriel)




(Thanks to Jerry @ Imaginary Cure)


From The Daily Free Press:

"Following the current retro trend of bands such as The Bravery and The Killers, She Wants Revenge names '80s Goth and synth-pop acts, such as Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The Cure and The Smiths as influences. Singer Justin Warfield also cites hip-hop from 1986 to 1993 as influencing their sound, since it was "what we listened to growing up." In their latest single, "Sister," however, the British acts are more prevalent. With its Ian Curtis-like vocals, "Sister" sounds like an amalgamation of the Cure's Seventeen Seconds and Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward."

(Thanks Tempest)


"Well this just gave me my laugh for the day.  I bought a cell phone from Virgin, and was on hold with their call centre to activate it and there was a muzak version of Lullaby playing while I was on hold.  Some woman's voice in the background singing "la da da da da.....la da da da da" overtop as well.  Too funny - where do they get this stuff?!"
 
(Thanks Brad)

Lennon 'Covers' To Aid Amnesty

LONDON, Dec. 1, 2005

(AP) Imagine: Artists including The Cure, Avril Lavigne and the Black Eyed Peas are to cover songs by John Lennon as part of a fundraiser for human rights group Amnesty International.

Amnesty said Thursday that the first four tracks would be released on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day. They include the Black Eyed Peas' version of "Power to the People," The Cure's take on "Love," "Isolation" performed by British band Snow Patrol and "Grow Old With Me" by The Postal Service.

More songs, including one by Lavigne, are due for release in the new year as part of Amnesty's Make Some Noise campaign. A compilation album also will be released next year.

Amnesty Secretary-general Irene Khan said the campaign aimed to "bring an awareness of human rights to a new generation."

"After all, human rights are what make music possible — we wouldn't be able to create music, listen to it or dance to it without freedom of speech, expression and association," Khan said.

The former Beatle was shot dead by Mark David Chapman outside his New York apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980. His widow, Yoko Ono, donated the rights to his solo songbook to Amnesty in 2003.

"It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation," Ono said.

"John's music set out to inspire change, just as Make Some Noise does. In standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place," she said.

The tracks will be available as downloads from www.amnesty.org/noise for a cost of 99 cents each, or the equivalent in local currency.



Dear Jeff,
 
As you know I waited many years for my side of The Cure story to be told and I am immensely pleased and relived that it has finally been reported
in such a honest and reasonable manner.

The Cure was (and still is to a certain extent) a very big part of my life and it was important to me to have my part of the story conveyed accurately without any bitterness or resentment because ultimately I am both humbled and grateful by what we did and I continue to be proud of that achievement.
 
I cannot imagine how hard it is to get close enough to your subject to see the real story but I think you have done it admirably.
 
Thank you for telling the true story.
 
Lol

So nice to see Lol being treated fairly and getting the credit he's due.

(Thanks Jeff and Lol)



(Thanks Benjamien)



"The Cure will be appearing in the compilation "Rock Tv Classics 2" with Close to me. I think it's the closest mix, because that's the clip that
got shown in the tv commercial. They were also featured in the first one "Rock Tv Classics" with Boys don't cry."
 
(Thanks Pietro)



"Just wanted to tell that last night, i went to a concert of the Irishfolk singer in the city of Haarlem, The Netherlands. After a couple of songs, he started talking about eyeliner, black clothes and Robert Smith and then played a cool folk version of Inbetween Days!"

(Thanks Mike)



"I've just heard the familiar sounds of Homesick coming out of my TV and looked up to see what's going on. To my horror they're playing it in the background on "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here" (a celebrity based reality show shown here in the UK) while the celebs talk/cry about missing their families. Someone in licensing has a lot to answer for..."

(Thanks Adam, Jonny and  Andrew)

"the cure was on sunday 27 november 2005 on radio 1 in belgium. They played killing an arab and the question was:" from who was this debut
single killing an arab". The first woman said the sex pistols but then there was a guy who thought it was the cure but then he changed his mind and thought the cure was happier. But he was wrong."

(Thanks  Benjamien)

"During a BBC tv programm on tuesday, called "Honey, we're killing the kids", about kids obesity, they played the intro to "Just like heaven".....strange choice of music considering the subject matter."
 
(Thanks Jc)

"I just read the Curespotting from Giedrius -- they did the same thing (played "Just Like Heaven" again while the roadies set up) during U2's
show at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 21st, too.  Not much of a sing along there, but my friend Robyn and I enjoyed it!"
 
(Thanks Wendy)

"Tonight (friday) on french tv there was a commercial for Paul Anka's cover album.  we can see him sing extracts from "smells like..." or
"wonderwall, but not The Cure.  But the advertising comment at least says the name "The Cure"."

(Thanks Fabien G)