"here's the latest news about dots in portugal

I have now confirmation from El Corte Ingles in Lisbon and also from Carbono that "Join The Dots" will be available next week. Both said that maybe in Monday the box will be available for sale(but it's more like that El Corte Ingles will have them on Monday - or who knows maybe still this weekend - than Carbono). And who knows, maybe Fnac Portugal will have them in one month or 2 or whenever they discover that there is a new Cure release in the market... as usual!

(Thanks Paulo)

"Join the Dots IS OUT In Rome..finally it’s available in Rome (Italy), you can find it from Discoteca Laziale Address: Via Mamiani 6600185 - ROMA Tel : 06/4464264

PRICE: 48ˆ

they have many copies, it is a store of great music that it supplies all the storees of music of Rome and Lazio.

Today you can find…I think only in this Store. Maybe Monday in all the other storees of Rome."

(Thanks Damiano)

"Well my local record store has just informed they've just had their 'JTD' delivery so i'm off v.soon to pick it up (it's 4.30pm Fri afternoon and i'm in (now very happy) Adelaide

p.s. most looking forward to The Exploding Boy remaster !!!"

(Thanks Glenn)

(Thanks Julie, Hugh, Eric and XiolaSmith)

(Thanks Fozzie)

"Wednesday night (3. to 4th February) French radiostation Le Mouv will broadcast 30min from Berlin 2002 gig (starting 0.30 am)"

(Thanks Dennis)

"There is a new 8CD boxset called, "Best of the 80's: Greatest Hits Collection." Featured on the set are U2, Prince, Bon Jovi, the Police, INXS, the Bangles, Culture Club, Elvis Costello and a whole lot more. "Boys Don't Cry" by the Cure is, of course, included."

(Thanks Rust)

"ANOMALIA CLUB Via Dino Campana 58

Prato, zona S. Lucia

near Florence

infoline: 347 1873223

contact: info@anomaliaclub.it ITALY

organize a party on SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2004 called THE CURE B-SIDE PARTY JOIN THE DOTS to celebrate the 4cd box containing all Cure bsides this is an important music event free entrance

main room: dj set with Cure hits, gothic & dark wave room 1 & 2: listen to the 4cd box with the b-sides video room: Cure DVD and videos on air"

(Thanks Anomalia Club)

"my band, bunnyhug, is going to be playing a cover of "cold" on our upcoming tour - i can't promise we'll play it at every show, but probably at most. in the past we've played covers of "boys don't cry" and "a forest" which have been well recieved, and this one should be even better. thought your readers might be interested in knowing; tour dates are posted on our website: www.bunnyhug.com"

(Thanks Joe)

"yesterday i was watching vh1 and saw All Access Biggest Celebrity Blubberers or something and during the program they played a clip of boys dont cry. Not terribly exciting, but still....its The Cure!"

(Thanks Tara)

"This is a really pathetic Curespotting that I'm not sure if you want to include, but I feel compelled to share it. I was flipping through the channels today when I saw the new Blink-182 video on MTV's TRL. I thought I'd give it a try, since after all, they were cool enough to work with the Cure! When the video was over, Quddus said, (along the lines, this is not an actual transcription!) "Wow, that really had a Cure vibe going to it!". The co-host Hilarie looked at him like he was from another planet and everyone got really quiet! Then when they came back from commercial, Quddus joked and asked someone if they liked the Cure, to which his co-host responded, "Enough with the old-school references!". The horror!

In better news, I am happy to report that in Connecticut, I picked up my copy of Pictures of You at the Wal-Mart superstore. I still check everyone I go, and that's the only copy I've yet to find!"

(Thanks Amy)

"Time ago I was talking to a friend who was listening to the original soundtrack from UPA (Un Paso Adelante, a soap opera about the lives of a group of dancers at their dance school), and she told me "I´m listening to Lullaby by The Cure, it is one of the tracks from the UPA Dance album". At once I realised that the characters of the programm had danced the song.

In the resumes of the programm Operación Triunfo (OT), which is similar to Popstars, Close to Me was the song broadcasted."

(Thanks to Sharon from Charlotte Sometimes)

Update: Here's what they played: Shake Dog Shake, A Strange Day, A Night Like This, Lullaby, Just Like Heaven, Primary, Disintegration, Close To Me, Let's Go To Bed, Why Can't I Be You?, 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab, Never Enough. At the end, Janice mentioned the rumors of The Cure headlining Glastonbury again this year, but said they are still only rumors. If you missed it, you can still listen to the archive of it at the website. And for all of us Church fans, they also have The Church at Leeds Poly from 1990 archived, in case you missed it on Monday night.

"I have some preliminary news about the re-mastered albums which are supposed to start hitting shelves in April:

The first four re-masters will be available (tentatively) on April 13th, 2004. The albums will be:

Three Imaginary Boys (Cat # 78895), Seventeen Seconds (78896), Faith (78897) & Pornography (78898)

All 4 albums will be 2-cd sets. Specs for the bonus disc are unknown at this time.

Retail will be $18.98 each and, of course, they will be issued through Rhino in the U.S.

On another interesting but unrelated note, it appears that Rhino will also be re-issuing the Depeche Mode singles boxed sets on March 30th."

(Thanks Rob)

"French fans (living in Paris) can find POY in gibert (bld saint michel). today there were some left."

(Thanks Sophie)

"Today I was in mix up a record store in mexico city like tower records and i asked for the box join the dots, they didnt have it because they received 40 boxes yesterday and they sold them all in only one day, and that was only in one store that will have been in the other stores if mix up has more than 10 stores in all mexico. the price of the box 850 mexican pesos arround 80 dollars. expensive isn't."

(Thanks David and Rodrigo)

"For those who didnt catch 4Music last night The Cure were only on for about ten minutes, and the only showed 'close to me' from the dec 11th show. The interviewer immediately got roberts back up by beginning the interview by saying 'the cure reached their commercial peak at the end of the eighties?' Robert took offence and started on a rant saying amongst other things that they played to more people on the BF tour than ever before, then joked apologising saying 'ooh I went off on one there!!'.....The interviewer also asked him about his time with SATB (why I ask myself?), nothing new to add and that robert would recommend any new fan to get the 'trilogy' as it represents what the cure do best. They also talked briefly about R.Robinson and that the same programme is going to (possibly) feature them in the studio too. Not to worry if you missed it this prog is normally repated in the earlu hours of saturday morning!"

(Thanks Ange and Peter)

And here's a transcript of the interview:

"Ok, so here's the transcription of the Robert interview that was on a programme called 'Ear Candy' on CH4 (GB) last night at 12.30pm. The interview was interspersed with clips of Close To Me performed at the Dec 11th gig and was, in all, 4 minutes long.....

The piece opens on a sparse studio with a lonely-looking yukka-type plant and two visibly uncomfortable chairs that Robert and Colin Murray, the young irritating interviewer, perch in. Robert sits looking uneasy and fiddling with his fingers.

Colin Murray - Robert Smith, hello.

Robert Smith - Hello

CM - Can we apologise, first of all, for the GMTV set. (GMTV is a British Breakfast News/Gossip Programme)

RS - Hm...for the vibe... (chuckles quietly)

CM - It doesn't look too bad from where you're sitting, but I'm assuring you through that camera, it looks fucking awful!

Robert laughs.

CM - In the 80's and towards the end of the 80's, in your peak...

Robert rolls his eyes at this and interrupts:

RS - Wasn't the peak! We're still climbing the peak! What are you talking about?!

CM - No, I know you're still climbing that but...

Robert gets a bee in his bonnet and interrupts again:

RS - See, I've gotta put you off, mate, cos it's a misconception in this country. Commercially, we didn't actually peak in the 80's

CM - Critically more, would you say?

RS - There's never been any critical acclaim in the UK, full stop. It doesn't make any difference what critics think....it's totally untrue. When we played concerts in the 90's and in 2000, Bloodflowers tour, we played to more people globally than we did at any other time in our careers, and so the sense that the critics determine whether The Cure sink or swim has been, kind of, proved to be false so many times.

At this point, Robert pauses, rolls his eyes and takes a swig from the bottle of beer that's next to his chair:

RS - That was most unlike me...

CM - What was that?

RS - Just going off on one like that.

CM - No....you were just right.... You've toured with Joy Division, which is magic, and The Jam....you've played with so many other bands. What one particular band have you toured with, as a fan of music you go, 'I've played on the same stage as this band'?

RS - I think that the band that had the most immediate (?) impact on me what The Banshees really, when The Cure first played with The Banshees in 1979, because The Banshees split up 2 shows in and I ended up playing in The Banshees and The Cure for the rest of the tour. I mean, that was like a really life-altering experience for me.

CM - OK, so let's say there's 100,000 people out there now don't own a Cure album, that are watching. What album do you point them to first? Not the only album they should get, but just one that you're pointing them to.

RS - The Trilogy DVD that we made earlier this year, cos I think that actually sums up everything The Cure do best. I would have been happy to have ended with that. It's only the fact that we met Ross Robinson, who's like an American producer who's responsible for Korn and bands that you wouldn't normally associate with The Cure, and he's such a huge fan, and he said 'I'd die to make an album with you.' And we've ben in the studio for three weeks, and it's been the most fantastic three weeks I've ever spent in the studio since I first started recording.

*VOICEOVER* The Cure are back inthe studio, and hopefully we'll catch up with them in a few weeks' time. "

(Thanks One Imaginary Girl)

"I live in Rome (Italy) I have telephoned to some storees of music asking for the Join the Dot’s Cures and they have answered to me that tomorrow friday 30 Will be. sure available…we still wait for a day in order to take it...."

(Thanks Damiano)

"If you are an AOL US member (or just an AOL member if you click on the link below) you can listen 45 mintues of Dots via AOL on Listening Party. Here the link only for the AOL members :

aol://4344:128.lsnparty.1342015.714850155

It is the Dots promo sampler because it's a selection of B-sides and rarities like : 10:15, Just On kiss, A man inside my mouth, Purple Haze, Maybe Someday..."

(Thanks Cédric and Christopher)

"I currently do an alternative music show on local community radio - now I don't know whether you have many other people from the Albury/Wodonga region (on the border of New South Wales and Victoria) who check out your website on a regular basis, but they might appreciate the following news:

(specifically for people in the Albury/Wodonga region)

Ten73 - Border FM, (107.3FM Community Radio Albury-Wodonga)

Sunday February 1st - 10pm to midnight

STATIC with Robin Juric - The Cure "Join the Dots" special!

Robin will be featuring two hours of highlights from The Cure "Join The Dots" b-sides and rarities collection.

(email contact - static@ten73.zzn.com)"

(Thanks Robin)

"http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=17773

Vote For Your Dream Glastonbury Line Up

Well, the rumours are circulating and the first few bands are starting to confirm their appearances, but who do you think should be headlining each of the three nights of the upcoming 2004 Glastonbury Festival? Express your opinions here in Xfm Online's new 2004 Glasto Vote. "

(Thanks Ange)

"on the website of the arrow rock festival in the netherlands (www.arrowrockfestival.nl) there's a poll on what's your favorite band. i don't know if it'll make any difference for the line-up (although it would really cool if the cure would play there), but it would be nice to have them no 1 in the poll. so could you please ask everyone to vote?"

(Thanks Willem)

"Anlässlich der Veröffentlichung der "JOIN THE DOTS" Box feiert das Kir Hamburg am Freitag den 05.03.2004 ab 23:00 h bereits zum dritten mal die "A Tribute To The Cure" Party. Neben allen grossen Hits der Band werden natürlich auch die besten B-Seiten, Live Songs und Nebenprojekte um Robert Smith zu hören sein, sowie artverwante Sound von Siouxie bis Joy Division! Die ganze Nacht über werden Videoclips und Livekonzerte von The Cure das Kir "dekorieren". Wir hoffen wieder viele Fans der Band aus dem ganzen Bundesgebiet begrüssen zu können!!!

uyea.de & Cratures of the Night präsentieren:

A TRIBUTE TO THE CURE

05.03.2003 / 23:00 h

Kir Hamburg

Barnerstr. 16, 22765 Hamburg

www.kir-hamburg.de

(Thanks Sven)

"Washington, DC had about 8 inches of snow on the ground, temperatures well below freezing, and an ice storm in progress that had schools, malls, and the federal government closed on Tuesday the 27th. Fortunately, Tower Records was open!!! Unfortunately, the stoner who answered the phone over there couldn’t tell by computer if Dots was in stock, and apparently couldn’t go look. A quick call to Best Buy revealed Dots in stock, and yes they’d hold a copy, and it was even $10 less than Tower price. I got a buddy with a Jeep to ferry me over to Best Buy in Falls Church, VA (just a couple miles outside DC) after work and spotted two other shoppers carrying around their copies of Dots. I also saw a teenager reluctantly putting a copy of Dots back on the shelf. Apparently, her mom nixed the purchase, but she said she’d be back later without the parental unit. When I went to check out, another teenager was working the register who told me Dots was selling like hotcakes, and I smiled. Then he said, “So who are the Cure anyway? What do they sing?” I gave a few lyrics from the obvious “Friday I’m In Love” and “Just Like Heaven,” to which he responded something along the lines of, “Oh yeah, they’re an 80’s band,” and I sighed. Anyway, Dots is just awesome and selling well here."

(Thanks John Doe)

"Monster shows regular folks on their way to work or job interviews, accompanied by a remixed version of the disco hit "I feel love" and an obscure song from the British pop band The Cure. And here's the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4079006/"

In case you missed the story a couple of days ago, Monster.com will be using "I Dig You" for one of their Superbowl ads.

(Thanks Jen)

"This maybe a little dated (Year in Review 2003), but I was checking out the Mission's website and found a Cure mention: http://www.themissionuk.com/news/default.asp#DBVGBWDIAA "

(Thanks Wirebaughs)

"A promo featuring "Perfect Blue Sky" (Junkie XL/Robert Smith) has been created by Koch and is being serviced to record retailers. The promo comes in a plain white cardboard sleeve with a track listing sticker on the front. 14 tracks (from albums being released 2/10 and 2/24): Junkie XL: "Catch Up to My Step," "Perfect Blue Sky"; Opeth: "Hope Leaves"; Strawberry Shortcake: "It's All How You Look At It"; The Wiggles: "Bow Wow Wow"; Barney: "Good Morning"; Tony Touch: "Ay, Ay, Ay," "Non Stop"; Royce Da 5' 9": "Hip Hop," "Throwback"; Lamb: "Wonder," "Sugar 5"; Anathema: "Balance" and Bob James "Poinciana." Guest artists on this retail promo CD range from P. Diddy and Solomon Burke to Robert Smith and Sean Paul. Wildly eclectic mix of sounds and styles from Koch Records. Good for them!"

(Thanks Rust)

"What a shame. Still no trace of join the dots in Lausanne and geneva, Switzerland. I've tried couple fnac and fiew others disc shop, and nothing until at least saturday !!!!!!! I'm boiling of anger.... Any news from others swiss fans of where I could buy it???"

(Thanks Martin)

"Hi, just to let any Cure fans in north west Ireland that the Virgin 'megastore' in Derry were unable to sell me a copy of 'Dots' ! Apparently the store ordered only ONE copy and when I enquired about it staff were unable to locate it in the shop - oops ! Best to pre-order on internet, methinks !"

(Thanks Paul)

# 1 @ Amazon France

# 1 @ Cduniverse Usa

# 15 @ Barnes and Noble Usa

# 10 @ Amazon UK

# 34 @ Amazon Canada

# 3 @ Rock Serwis Poland

(Thanks David)

"HMV Australia has updated their page on the One Perfect Day OST to include the track listing, plus significant savings on the 2CD version. It's sale priced at AUD 28.99, which is actually a dollar cheaper than the single CD version. Considering the 2CD version is also being released two weeks earlier (Feb. 2), I'd call that a no-brainer. I cancelled my original pre-order and reordered at the sale price. You can see the difference:

ONE PERFECT DAY: 2CD Price: $42.99 Less GST: 9.10% Total:$39.08 International Shipping: $7.00 Total:$46.08

ONE PERFECT DAY: 2CD Price: $28.99 Less GST: 9.10% Total:$26.35 International Shipping: $7.00 Total:$33.35

Those are Australian dollars, so the final price (including shipping) in U.S. dollars is $25.91, down from $35.80.

Track listing

1 BLOW WIND BLOW - RAIRBIRDS

2 BREAK IT (DOWN JAMES BROWN) (JOSH G. ABRAHAMS REMIX) - THE OFFCUTTS

3 KRAZY KRUSH - MS DYNAMITE

4 WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? – GRAFITI

5 DON'T LET THE MAN GET YOU DOWN - FATBOY SLIM

6 ARE YOU READY FOR LOVE (RADIO SLAVE REMIX) - ELTON JOHN

7 ONE PERFECT DAY - LYDIA DENKER

8 PICTURES OF YOU (PAULMAC REMIX) - ROBERT SMITH

9 TWO MONTHS OFF - UNDERWORLD

10 LATE AT NIGHT - FUTURESHOCK

11 ALL OF ME - GROOVE ARMADA

12 SCHOOLGIRL – SANDRINE

13 FEATHERS AND DOWN - THE CARDIGANS

14 HECTOR’S DEMISE - THE DUST BROTHERS

15 NO ONE KNOWS (UNKLE REMIX) - QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

16 ORDINARY WORLD (JOSH G. ABRAHAMS REMIX) - MANDY KANE

17 ONE AND THE SAME (ONE PERFECT DAY REMIX) - ROB DOUGAN

18 DESIGN MUSIC - SVEN VÄTH

19 THE MAN WITH THE RED FACE - LAURENT GARNIER

20 HORSEPOWER - C.J. BOLLAND

21 GRAFFITI PART TWO - STEREO MC’S

22 NO TRANSMISSION - LHB

23 TO KNOW - NUBREED

24 GORECKI - LAMB

25 JUST SHOW ME - GRANDADBOB

26 SLEEPWALKING - EUROBOY

27 SLY-ED - MAN WITH NO NAME

28 DROP SOME DRUMS - [LOVE] TATTOO

29 ONE PERFECT SUNRISE - ORBITAL FEATURING LISA GERRARD

30 ONE PERFECT DAY (EPIC DANCE MIX) - ALI MCGREGOR

31 TV SCREEN MEMORIES - DAVID HOBSON AND LISA GERRARD

32 FINAL MOMENTS - DAVID HOBSON

33 ONE PERFECT DAY (ORCHESTRAL MIX) - DAVID HOBSON & ORCHESTRA

34 RIDE - HELMUT"

(Thanks Brad)

(Thanks Ange)

"Don't know whether anyone else has mailed this in but BBC 6 Music has 'Join the Dots' as their album of the day and are playing tracks from it all day. Heard 'Plastic Passion' on the Phil Jupitus show this morning, sounding great! http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/ "

(Thanks Dan)

"I went to the event at the Virgin Megastore with my wife and daughter and we also won the limited edition framed poster. My daughter also won the $50 gift certificate for the look alike contest. I have yet to buy a digital camera, so I will have to develop the film before I can scan the pictures for all to see."

(Thanks Haloburn)

"I just got back from the Cure event at Virgin Megastore in Ontario,Ca. I won myself a limited edition 'Join The Dots' poster in a very nice frame in the trivia contest. They only asked 1 question and first to answer won. The 2nd prize (for the second question) was the same poster but not framed. The winner of the Robert Smith look-a-like contest wins a $50 gift cert. to Virgin. "

(Thanks Curegoth)

(Thanks Claire, Arnaud and Jerome)

Update: "I would recommend the Ontario airport, which is eastern LA county/San Bernadino county. That would save you some driving time. Burbank isn't too bad either, and is a small airport as well."

(Thanks Nic and Jesse)

"Palm springs is about 40 miles away from Indio, but more expensive. LAX is about a 2 1/2 hour drive away, and cheaper than Palm Springs."

(Thanks Carlos)

"I would say that the best major airport to fly into would be Ontario (airport code ONT). It is right off the 10 freeway which will almost directly lead you to the Empire Polo Fields. It is still about 1 1/2 hours from Ontario though. One good thing about Ontario though is that Jet Blue flies there so they might have some cheaper flights. The next best bet would be to fly into Palm Springs Regional Airport(airport code PSP). You would most likely have a stop at LAX before proceeding to Palm Springs. This airport is still about 40 minutes from the venue and might cost a little more to fly into. Either way it is a drive.

Ontario Airport = http://www.lawa.org/ont/ontframe.html

Palm Springs Regional = http://www.palmspringsairport.com

Empire Polo Fields = http://www.empirepoloevents.com/visiting.htm

Here you can find some information and driving directions. Hopefully this helps."

(Thanks Chrissy)

"Fly into Palm Springs International. The Polo Fields are right up the road. For cost savings, fly into Ontario, but you'll have to rent a car and drive at least an hour. The Coachella website will have all the details as soon as they upload their site. Every year they post tons of info for Airports, Hotel reservations, camping info, everything. The message boards are also a great way to get information."

(Thanks Jen)

"On Fridays after 3:00 PM it is at least a 4 1/2 hour drive to Indio from LAX. I highly recommend Ontario Airport, that can be as much as a 2 hour trip to Indio on Fridays."

(Thanks Tinman)

"the cure is featured on the Schecter Guitar site as The CURE finds Schecter "

(Thanks Joey)

"If anyone is still looking for the POY single, especially outside the US, Dimple (http://www.dimple.com) apparently still has some. I ordered mine on-line a while ago and it reached Europe in two weeks for 4.37 euros, all included. One thing to note though: do email them your postal address if you live abroad as the form on their web site does not handle foreign addresses properly."

(Thanks Olivier)

"I got it! It's amazing. Still haven't listened to all of it (stupid job, getting in the way). I managed to get the one copy that Best Buy had in Santa Maria, California. I'm glad I called. I just figured I'd drop by after work (assuming there'd be plenty). I called about 1:30 pm or so and they said they had one in stock. I said, "hold it, for the love of god." The lady was really cool about it. I forgot to ask if they were going to get more. But, I'm not sure there's anyone that reads your page who would be looking there anyway. It's not exactly a metropolis. "

(Thanks David)

"I stopped by the Best Buy in central Dallas this afternoon only to be told that they had sold out of over 100 copies in an hour and a half.. On top of that, apparently there were over 3 dozen people waiting when the doors opened at 10. I am sure that the $39.99 price tag had something to do with this, but still, pretty impressive for a box set!!!

I tracked one down for $44.99 down the street at an indy store. Great remastering..."

(Thanks Wyatt)

"According to Amazon.com, Join the Dots is the #2 seller in the "Alternative Rock" section and it is number #14 in all of amazon.com"

(Thanks Jon)

" just to let you know that Join the dots sales have a VERY good start here in France :

# 1 !!! in Amazon/France sales:

http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00012SYV4/ref=ts_mh_1_1/171-1979509-9113802

amazing for a box set"

(Thanks Sebastien)

"Barnes and Noble has 'dot's on the front page of their website. However, and i'm mad as hell about this and at every other store in the area, they didn't get any in stock here in Orem, Ut! WTF???? Circuit City didn't get any, and Borders had one on order! Apparently i'm not the only one looking for it either. The guy at B&N must have had a few other calls was not very nice about it. Anyway... just needed to vent and thought i'd share."

(Thanks Daveb)

"I have been holding onto an FYE gift card that I recieved for xmas for the purpose of getting Join th Dots. I went to the FYE at Willow Grove Park Mall in PA as they opened yesterday, only to be informed that they didn't have any copies, nor had any been ordered. Since my hopes were up for the boxset, I was forced to go to Circuit City and pay over $58 with tax; and I got their only copy!"

(Thanks Jeff)

"Hey. Just wanted to alert everyone to my misfortune today. I Got my "Dots" box set today at Best Buy, and as I was walking out of the store I began to open the package and discovered that there werre only 3 cds in the box. Disc 2 was missing. I Turned right back into the store and everything was resolved immediately. If I had waited until I got home to open the package I would have been upset. This is not the first time this has happened to me involving a cd from best buy. Anyway I just want to urge people to open their copies before leaving the store they purchase them from."

(Thanks Steven)

"if you put the cds from dots in a computer, and run music match, the cd info is incorrect. it's the descriptions that robert originally had on thecure.com, with "chuck mix" instead of "dizzy mix" for jlh, etc.... "

(Thanks Brian)

"A little tip for UK readers entering the Barfly competition. I sent my original entry as "BARFLY. THE CURE.", the credit on my mobile had £1.60 deducted from it, then I got a bloody message saying "Undefined or incorrectly typed keyword. Please try again". Try again I did, this time I sent my entry as "Barfly The Cure". I'm assuming my error was typing in all capitals for my original entry but I thought I'd better remove the full stops as well, just in case. So yes I know the money is going to charity, but if you don't have much more than £1.50 credit on your mobile or don't want to blow money on an invalid entry then ensure you DO NOT send your answer in capital letters !!! "

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"In Valencia area (Spain) the Dots cost 49,95 euros in El Corte Ingles centers (3 days ago the price was 60 euros!! they are selling dots cheaper now), and it has the same price in the Fnac store (49,95)...the promotion in the fnac center is excellent they have aprox. 100 copies in their shop! with an exclusive stand! they always create some special situation for cure releases here in valencia. "

(Thanks spanishcure)

The Cure's Rx for American Success

New box set of B sides may get Brit band the treatment it deserves

Glenn Gamboa

January 27, 2004

Scrub away the teased-and-sprayed fright wig of hair, the heavy black mascara and pasty-white pancake powder that launched a million goth boys and girls, and the red, red lipstick. What's left? The clever, memorable music of prolific songwriter Robert Smith, better known as the mastermind behind The Cure.

Though The Cure has made impressively varied music since 1978, the British legends have never really received the attention they deserved on this side of the Atlantic. That is about to change.

The ground is softening for one more assault from The Cure, no doubt timed to the release of the band's latest album this spring, and will likely include a tour that will last beyond the already announced headlining gig at this year's Coachella Festival in Indio, Calif. There's the use of "Pictures of You" in the omnipresent Hewlett-Packard commercial. There's Smith singing on blink-182's new album. And there's the success of Cure-influenced bands like Brand New, whose latest single, "Sic Transit Gloria," even features Smith-like phrasing for its verses.

The most convincing statement for Cure success, though, is the band's new box set "Join the Dots" (Elektra/Aslyum), which collects 70 B-sides and rarities that sound as ambitious and powerful as other bands' greatest hits.

Broken into four CDs spanning the band's 25-year career chronologically, "Join the Dots" shows how serious Smith was at the outset to make The Cure's B-sides as catchy as its singles. The first CD is the most diverse, following the band through its breakthrough as a punkish upstart - in songs like "10:15 Saturday Night" and "Plastic Passion," which put the band in the same league as Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees - into its dominance of jangly new wave, seen in "The Exploding Boy" and "A Man Inside My Mouth," which pushed The Cure to the top of the British charts alongside The Smiths and Tears for Fears.

On the remaining three CDs, the songs become more conventional, but no less interesting, offering alternate versions of shoulda-been smashes like "Wrong Number" and the recent "Maybe Someday," as well as the trademark "Just Like Heaven."

That doesn't mean, however, that The Cure holds back on the surprises on "Join the Dots." "Do the Hansa" is a giddy, nonsensical delight. "A Few Hours After This," with its majestic synths and dime-store tambourine, shows how The Cure could make its tales of love sound oh-so-grand, while maintaining a sense of humor.

The Cure's cover versions offer cool new ways to look at rock classics. The band's "Young Americans" turns David Bowie's model of sleek, blue-eyed soul into a squonky, lovable tangle of horns and synthesizer sounds. It turns The Doors' "Hello, I Love You" into a silly, delirious laugh-riot, while staying remarkably true to Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze."

And just think, as good as "Join the Dots" is, the band's "Standing on the Beach" greatest hits collections is even better. ("Join the Dots: B-Sides and Rarities, 1978-2001," in stores today; Grade: A)

(Thanks Prverseimp)

(Thanks Michael)

(Thanks Pietro)

(Thanks Patrick)

"Curespotting in the world of sports. On sunday heard Lullaby and Pictures of You going to two seperate commercial breaks during the Bob Hope golf tournament. I'm not a big golf watcher, so who knows if they were playing cure songs all afternoon. Then tonight on Monday heard Just Like Heaven on ESPN 2 at the very end of the Red Wings/Stars hockey game. They're everywhere."

(Thanks Mike)

From Adweek

Deutsch Debuts Monster Spots on Super Bowl

January 26, 2004

NEW YORK - Online job recruiting site Monster.com Monday unveiled details of two new spots in its "Today's the day" campaign that will air this Sunday on the Super Bowl. The two ads will then join the first spot in the campaign, "Today," which broke in late December, in regular rotation on network and cable.

The 30-second spots are the first for Monster from Deutsch, New York. The new commercials, "Soulmates" and "I Feel Love," are slated to debut during the game's first and third quarters, respectively. "Today" will air during the pre-game show.

"Soulmates" follows an executive and a job seeker who appear to live in different worlds but ultimately are surprisingly alike, including a mutual affinity for argyle socks, crossword puzzles and frosted, sprinkle-covered doughnuts. The spot ends with the two men shaking hands at the start of a job interview. "I Dig You," from Robert Smith of The Cure, plays in the background.

In "I Feel Love," The Blue Man Group's remix of Donna Summer's disco anthem plays as people from various walks of life go about their morning routines in ready-to-take-on-the-world fashion. Onscreen text explains, "Get ready for a job you love." The "Today" spot follows a similar plot.

"Our new campaign reinvigorates the job search process and encourages job seekers everywhere to take action," Jeff Taylor, founder of Maynard, Mass.-based Monster, said in a statement. "Capturing millions of Super Bowl viewers has proven beneficial in the past, and we are optimistic that as a six-time advertiser this year will be just as effective."

Campaign spending was not disclosed. Monster spent $30 million on advertising in 2003, per TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.

(Thanks James)

The Passport website should be up sometime today with more info.

Update: "I live near lisbon, and today i phoned to fnac, valentim de carvalho and el corte ingles, and none of these stores have join the dots yet. in fnac and v.c. they told me that it's not even pre-ordered... have anyone found any join the dots box in lisbon area?"

(Thanks Paulo)

"Just to let you know... In Barcelona the Dots cost 60 euros in El Corte Ingles, 50 in the Fnac and 44 in Revolver (small shops), so now you know where to go... "

(Thanks Rec-Level)

"In Stockholm you can only order the box. Not one of the major record shops are planning to sell it. The only shop that you can rely on is Pet Sounds (www.petsounds.se) they will have it sometime this week."

(Thanks Oliver)

"I went to Cultura store in Valence and they told me they won't have it this week. And then to the Fnac store : they are supposed to receive only 6 copies on Thusday (Valence has about 100,000 inhaibitants). Don't know if it's gonna be the same everywhere in France but... hurry up, guys !! "

(Thanks David)

"An interview with The Cure will air on Channel 4 in the U.K on Wedensday the 28th at midnight."

(Thanks Paul)

"According to UK Channel 4 teletext, Channel 4 will be screening a Cure concert late on wednesday night, possibly at 1.15am. Not sure if this is correct as the TV listings just say it's live footage of a band, but don't say who. Can anyone confirm this?"

(Thanks Mark)

If anyone has more info, please let me know. Thanks!

Update: "this is the best I could find online about next Wednesday program on CH4.

Wednesday on Channel four (UK terrestrial) at 00:05 4Music: Ear Candy "Colin Murray heads to Dublin to bring us an Irish special, looking at the Irish music scene and talking to some of the biggest bands to have emerged from there in the past couple of years. Plus there's an exclusive performance and interview from The Cure, and a live Irish gig from Spiritualized" (from the Channel Four website)."

(Thanks Davide, Warren, Heinz and Richard)

"Join The Dots arrived in HMV Cork on Saturday morning for 53 Euros. In Virgin it was an even more outragous 62 Euros. Go to HMV!"

(Thanks Paul)

(Thanks Cedric)

"Was leafing through the sunday NY daily news when i stumbled across the best buy insert. nice to see best buy pushing "dots"! nice pic of the cover and a little blurb!"

You can view the ad by going to the Best Buy website, scrolling all the way down to the bottom, and clicking on Weekly Ad under Store Services. "Dots" is on page 12.

(Thanks Van)

"There are a few words about Earl Slick from Robert Smith in this Report:

http://www.musicremedy.com/news/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowMessage&Id=2055

Here only the words of Robert Smith:

The cool melodic breeze on the current single “Believe” came courtesy of Robert Smith, who says: “Ever since hearing him on Bowie's Station To Station album and seeing him onstage in London 1976, Earl Slick has been one of my guitar heroes...Collaborating and singing with Earl on 'Believe,' and having him play on 'A Forest' with The Cure are the stuff of dreams come true!"

(Thanks to uyea of www.uyea.de)

"Last night (January 23rd) I went to see a local (local meaning Calgary, Alberta) post-punk band called Redshale, and they played an awesome cover of "Boys Don't Cry". Their website is http://redshale.tripod.com and they're definitly worth checking out."

(Thanks Liam)

"OMG? WTF is this ? Destiny's Child vs The Cure !!

http://www.dannydude.nl/images/close_to_a_bug.mpeg

or

http://members.home.nl/arthop/Roppenzo_Bootlegs_-_Close_to_a_Bug.mp3"

(Thanks n!c)

"Bizarrely, I got Dots in Music City, Bray, County Wicklow yesterday, Friday for 57! Considering the week after week delay for Trilogy – this is a bit strange. The distribution for this must be different then for Trilogy."

(Thanks Alex)

"Walked into a Best Buy in Norwalk CT to get a video cable and just happened to be looking in music area and stumbled across it. they had 5 copies ! Color me another happy Cure fan today !"

(Thank Michael)

But it looks to be delayed for a week in Canada:

"Just got back from HMV Canada (Canada's largest music retailer) and they have pushed back the release of Dots to February 3rd."

(Thanks Peter)

"another Join the Dots radio special tonight on rtl, french radio. it will have a cure radio special on RTL tonight more informations are on the website (in french) the setlist will be:

- "Signal to noise" (coffret "Join the dots")

- "Lament" (coffret "Join the dots")

- "Killing an Arab" (CD "Boys don't cry")

- "Boys don't cry" (CD "Boys don't cry")

- "10 : 15 saturday night" (CD "Three imaginary boys")

- "A forest" (CD "Seventeen seconds")

- "Primary" (CD "Faith")

- "Let's go to bed" (CD "Japanese whispers")

- "The lovecats" (CD "Japanese whispers")

- "The caterpillar" (CD "The top")

- "Inbetween days" (CD "The head on the door")

- "Close to me" (CD "The head on the door")

- "Just like heaven" (CD "Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me")

- "Lovesong" (CD "Disintegration")

- "Pictures of you" (CD "Disintegration")

- "Lullaby" (CD "Disintegration")

- "Never enough" (CD "Mixed up")

- "Friday I'm in love" (CD "Wish)

- "Charlotte sometimes" (CD "Paris")

- "The 13th" (CD "Wild mood swings")

- "Wrong number" (CD "Galore – The singles")

- "Why can't I be you" (CD "Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me")

- "Out of this world" (CD "Bloodflowers")

- "Cut here" (CD "Greatest hits")

- "Young americans" (coffret "Join the dots")

it's from midnight to 2 and you can listen the radio here http://www.rtl.fr/rtlmuzik/article.asp?dicid=170368, click on 'RTL Ecoutez l'antenne en Direct' (at the top right) and there is also a game to win 'join the dots' :)"

(Thanks Cherry Tree Girl)

"Tomorrow at 20 pm Belgian time there will be a special on the release from "Join the dots". It will be broadcasted on the Rock Bottom show with Jan Spengers. You can hear some of the songs and you can also win the cds."

(Thanks Dizzymrbuzy)

(Thanks Snakelvas)

(Thanks Jon)

"On the 27th at the Virgin Megastore in Ontario at the Ontario Mills Mall they're having a little Cure party for the release. The poster at the entrance said that there will be giveaways and Cure trivia and look-alike contests."

(Thanks Carl)

"Just thought I would let you know that INHD is rebroadcasting Cure Live in Berlin in High Definition tonight at 9pm EST. It will be on INHD2 though, so people will have to get that with their HD package."

(Thanks Jennifer)

"I was in a club this evening and found that this high energy awsome bass was kicking into the piano of Lovesong. Further listening - Robert's voice came clear as a bell - so clear in fact it sounded completely re-recorded! With all the passion of my 23 year obsession with this band I marched right up to the DJ and demanded to see the vinyl - it was white label and in the 'kiss me' lettering it simply read jason or john (the ink was a little smeared) patrick vs the cure. This was so incredibly intelligent and polished for a dance mix - i was so floored for the full 8 or so minutes I couldn't dance. If you can find out where this came from or moreover how to obtain it - as i said, i know for a fact that the vocals were completely redone for this- let me know and share with others! "

Update: "Go to : http://www.turntablelab.com/lps.eps.instrumentals/dm1.html

price: $6.00

available: yes

item #: dm-263

Love Song 12" Josh Patrick Vs. Cure

1 : play Josh Patrick takes The Cure’s “Love Song” and Depeche Mode’s “Behind the Wheel” and reworks them into house tracks for the dance floor. His take on “Love Song (1)” couldn’t be a more fun record to mix, with a long intro of beats before that first familiar guitar chord strums in, followed by Robert Hood’s vocals and the original bassline, which is fattened up. On the flip, his remix of “Behind the Wheel” is a bit darker and more progressive, also keeping in the original vocals and adding a funky bassline and extra beats. -Alison "

(Thanks Skyfullofdreams and Lars)

"I went to see The Essence live in Rome yesterday. It was a good concert. The last songs they played were 2 Cure covers: a night like this and a forest ('92 version). It was amazing! "

(Thanks Alessandro)

"The Cure was mentioned on the argentinian journal Clarin. The article said that The Cure will headline the next Coachella festival. Colud read the lines on http://www.clarin.com/suplementos/si/2004/01/23/3-00303.htm"

(Thanks Nicolas)

"1.Another Join the Dots mention, this time in the current (Feb.) GQ. In their 'Essentials' section for the month of February (p.53), they write: "Robert Smith's floppy-haired mopesters were so good, even their throaway songs are being ripped off today (Hot Hot Heat, we're looking at you). This gloomy four-disc set should last you through thirty or so painful breakups."

2. Radio station KROQ here in L.A. is playing the 311 cover of Lovesong. I heard just a bit of it, and it's, well, a 311 song. They are also playig the Blink-182 song w/ Robert's vocal. After playing that song, Jed the Fish, the DJ, joked that The Cure might want to be careful about overexposure this year."

(Thanks Steve)

"There is an interview on CNN Entertainment with British DJ Rob Overseer who names The Cure amongst his musical tastes/influences. Here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/22/mroom.overseer/index.html"

(Thanks Jo)

"I was watching the Bands Reunited for Frankie Goes to Hollywood and there was a blurb in the commercial segment: Paul McCartney to The Cure in Six Steps:

Paul McCartney is the Father of Stella McCartney

who designs clothes for Chloe

which is not named for Chloe Sevigny

who starred in Boys Don't Cry

which is a song by The Cure.

Pretty obvious, but cool nonetheless."

(Thanks Jennifer)

"I live in Spartanburg, SC and picked up my copy of "Join The Dots" yesterday at BJ's Music for 42.99 and got the ten track sampler thrown in for FREE. So, as I'm sure you can guess, I was an extremely pleased Cure fan yesterday. The Box-Set packaging and booklet is as nice as you'd hope for and the remastering is PHENOMENAL. Makes songs you've heard a zillion times sound brand new. The best current example of digital remastering I've yet to hear. And looking at the complete Fiction discography inside made me realize how many things they could have included but didn't. Perhaps another 4 disc set is in order for the future."

I guess I'm going to have to repeat this everyday until they come out. There will be at least 12 bonus discs released over the next year and a half, with more unreleaed material, remixes, "missing" tracks, demos, etc. than you'll know what to do with. I really don't understand why this is so hard to comprehend?

(Thanks Matt)

"just picked up my copy of "join the dots" at norman's sound and vision, in NYC. they are on 3rd ave between st. mark's and 7th street. paid $59 and change after the tax...but well worth beating the street date."

Let me know if you find it anywhere else.

(Thanks Van)

If You Love The Cure ...

... Then you need to be at this upcoming event! :)

JOIN THE DOTS

The Cure's music spun all evening long + Cure visuals!

Sunday 25 January 2004

@ The Blue Room

(2321 18th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. Ages 21+

This is a *FREE event*, BY music lovers FOR music lovers! That's right - no cover charge at the door, at all!

(For more information on this night, scroll further to read more!)

Have you ever applied red lipstick in a haphazard manner? Worn tight black jeans with high top sneakers? Teased your hair out as far as it would go? Made your handwriting look like the font The Cure used on the "Kiss Me..." album? Went to *any* lengths to get your hands on a copy of Cult Hero's "I Dig You"?

And specifically did all of the above because you ADORE The Cure and/or had a fantasy you might end up with a Robert Smith teddy-bear person of your own, spinning on a dizzy edge somewhere?

Or perhaps you weren't into ANY of that, but you simply loved the MUSIC - swirling melodies, fantastic guitar work, distinctive vocals and the quirkiness of a quirky, wonderful, talented band that has been around for 25+ years now, influencing countless other artists.

To celebrate the new release of the incredible 4-CD box set, "Join The Dots" (compiling rarieties and b-sides by The Cure), DJ's Medusa and Strange bring you an evening ENTIRELY devoted to the music of The Cure. At this event, you will have a chance to win your own box set - a fantastic $50+ prize.

If you *love* The Cure, and always wanted to hear underplayed songs such as "Bare," "Spilt Milk," "Fear Of Ghosts," "The Kiss," "The Blood," "This Twilight Garden," and others played out in a nightclub/bar environment (against a backdrop of Cure videos!), you DO NOT want to miss this!

If you feel inclined to dress up as Robert Smith/do an imitation, crimp your hair, wear a polka dot shirt, apply red lipstick and/or black eyeliner - feel free to do so - you are encouraged! :) Simon Gallup imitations are also welcomed - put on those leggings and a short skirt!

Arrive early for what promises to be a magical evening!

See you there! :)

- For more information and to see the flyer, visit http://www.medusapromotions.com

- If you like, e-mail your song requests in advance to medusapr@medusapromotions.com

- The *first* Cure song DJ Medusa heard? "Hot Hot Hot!"

- The *first* Cure song DJ Strange heard? "Pictures Of You" (Extended Dub Mix)

Coachella is Cured

(Wednesday January 21, 2004 11:56 AM)

The Cure have been confirmed as one of the headliners at this summer's Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in California.

According to their official website, Robert Smith and co will join Radiohead and Kraftwerk at the event, which takes place at Indio's Empire Polo Field between May 1 and 2.

As previously reported on dotmusic, The Pixies will also play at Coachella, in their first live performance in some ten years.

French electronic icons Air, about to release their new album 'Talkie Walkie', are also expected to be on the bill, as are The Flaming Lips.

Further details about the line-up are to be announced shortly. Tickets for the festival go on sale on February 14.

(Thanks Steven)

"Friday I'm In Love was the lead-in for the Today Show this morning at 7:30. They actually played quite a bit of it as Katie Couric began talking to her co-hosts about it being great that it's Friday."

(Thanks Jeff and Crystal)

"Was randomly flicking through Sky channels last night, and got to Fashion TV (not particularly interesting in its own right). Whilst various models were prancing up and down the catwalk, the background music was a mix of Lullaby - I think it was the extended 12" mix but with no vocals."

(Thanks Joe and Craig)

"Thank god I ordered from Rhino.com!!!

http://www.roboterkampf.com/index2.html

This is the best thing EVER. Disc One is the best thing to happen to me in 10 YEARS. GAAAHHHHH!!!"

(Thanks Jason)

"We got lucky enough to listen to Robert live in a french radio broadcast this evening. He said :

- "We're goin' in studio next monday, for 6 weeks"

- "the new album is entirely already written and composed, it's the first time that the band is going to work like this"

- "4 album re-releases would appear in april"

- "we don't plan to do festivals this year, except maybe a couple"

- "i spent some time in disneyland for christmas this year with 25 friends"

- there is no mention of a possibly release date for the new album

- he seemed to be in a real good shape, and there is also a game to win free copies of 'join the dots'. To win you must pick up a song that Robert wishes he had never recorded (supposedly a song he doesn't like very much then!). This song title is composed of two words. And the song is supposed to be quite underground? which means rare, or in the metro maybe (subway song?)...

What a surprise to hear him live, nobody knew before it happened !"

(Thanks Bill)

"The France Inter special on The Cure has just finished, feauturing the usual talk about the history of the band + Robert took the time to phone-in for some questions. songs played:

10.15 Saturday Night

Just One Kiss

A Man Inside My Mouth

Sugar Girl

Babble

2 Late

This Twilight Garden

the phone line was not the best in the world ever, but the most important facts were the following...

- Join The Dots was a nice chance for Robert to relisten to the older stuff, kind of a nice nostalgic trip

- all the really rare extra stuff will be on the upcoming re-releases of the albums, that is supposed to start in April. most interesting will probably the Three Imaginary Boys re-release, as it should feature some pre-The Cure stuff going back to approx. 1975

- on Monday the band will start in the studio + just 6 weeks are booked. all the songs are ready to be recorded.

- they will play shows this summer, but they haven't decided so far whether it will be festivals in Europe or real The Cure shows. it is kind of a tie between the 2, but Robert tends more towards real The Cure shows"

(Thanks Dennis)

You can listen to the interview here or here.

(Thanks Fabrice and Easycure)

"From http://www.theninhotline.net/

In anticipation of the April 20 release of the new album by Tweaker, 2am wake-up call, new promo photos of Vrenna and Walsh have been posted on the tweaker message boards.

The new album has been mixed, mastered, and advance copies are being sent out for review in April/May issue music magazines, and for play on college radio. 2am wake-up call features guest appearances by David Sylvian, Mellowdrone, Jennifer Charles, Will Oldham, and Robert Smith."

(Thanks Peter, Mark, Pharaoh)

From Yahoo

Press Release Source: Jive Records

311 Record The Cure's Classic 'Love Song' For Adam Sandler Film; Plans Underway For 3-11 Day 2004

Tuesday January 20, 8:06 am ET

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- 311 fan Adam Sandler recently approached the band and asked them to contribute a song to his upcoming Sony Pictures film "50 First Dates." The movie takes place in Hawaii -- so Adam wanted a soundtrack of classic 80's songs re-created with a reggae-island vibe. For this, 311 covered The Cure's 80's classic "Love Song." A video was recently shot in Huntington Beach, CA for the single which will impact at rock radio January 27. The Cure's drummer, Lol Tolhurst, even stopped by the video shoot to meet 311 and to do a cameo appearance in the clip. "Love Song" will also be included on 311 forthcoming Greatest Hits CD slated for June 8, 2004 on Jive/Volcano Records.

In addition to producing the 311 track, lead singer Nick Hexum also produced four other songs for the movie and soundtrack, including tracks with artists Seal ("Lips Like Sugar"), Jason Mraz ("Melt With You") and Dryden Mitchell ("Friday I'm In Love") contributing vocals.

The soundtrack for "50 First Dates" hits stores on February 3rd and the movie (starring Sandler & Drew Barrymore) will be in theatres February 14th.

As you know, March 11th is 3-11 Day, a day that 311 fans celebrate their appreciation for the group. This year 311 will return to New Orleans to stage their 3-11 Day concert event. The show is at UNO Lakefront Arena, where 311 will perform all of their classics plus lots of rarities, for a full night of music. Last year the band played a whopping 59 songs. This year should be just as special!

Isn't New Orleans lucky? We could have had The Cure day or Depeche Mode day or Elvis Costello day or The Church day or Interpol day, but noooooooo, we get 311 day. No offense to 311 fans. : )

(Thanks Matt)

"There is a 3-track radio promo CD that has been produced containing songs from Junkie XL's new CD, "Radio JXL." The track listing is "Catch Up to My Step (featuring Solomon Burke)," "Perfect Blue Sky (featuring Robert Smith)," and "A Little Less Conversation (featuring Elvis Presley)." This radio promo CD is being used to support the U.S. release of "Radio JXL" on February 10th, 2004."

(Thanks Rust)

"WXRT radio in Chicago ran a commercial this morning for "New Releases Thursday" -- they say the artists they're featuring today include "the Cure's Robert Smith". "

(Thanks Lenore)

"Current issue of Mojo magazine (John Lydon on front cover) has a feature on the 'best of 2003' where the Mojo writers list their favourite albums and some celebs get to do the same. Robert's entry has the Mogwai album 'Happy Songs for Happy People' as the best album of 2003.

Total Guitar magazine has the guitar chords for 'Friday I'm In Love' and I guess someone playing these chords on the free CD. This magazine is sealed in the newsagents so I'm not sure if there are any pictures inside."

(Thanks Ian)

"I was listening to the Sean Hannity (1.21.04) show on 770AM WABC (political talk show) & at 5:35 pm est, the lead in from commericial was LOVESONG!!!! very strange!!!!"

(Thanks Joey)

"I contacted Free record shop here in Finland to ask if the box will be in shops on time. They replied that they had just found out from the record company that the release of the box will be delayed until the 6th of February. "

(Thanks Antti)

Billboard:

The Cure Booked For Coachella Festival

The Cure will headline the second night of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on May 2 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif., according to a post on the group's official Web site. Event organizers confirmed the report to Billboard.com.

The site also reports the addition of the Flaming Lips to the event lineup, which will also feature Radiohead, Kraftwerk and the reunion of the Pixies, as well as Air, Prefuse 73, the Thrills, Electric Six and LCD Soundsystem, among many others yet to be confirmed.

Coachella tickets will cost $75 for one day and $140 for both days. The Cure's appearance follows a rapturously received set at last September's Inland Invasion concert outside of Los Angeles. As previously reported, the group will on Jan. 27 be the subject of "Join the Dots," a four-CD boxed set from Fiction/Elektra/Rhino.

The only other show on the group's itinerary is a previously announced March 5 gig at London's Barfly, as part of the Passport: Back to the Bars charity series. Proceeds will benefit the children's charities Shelter and War Child; Travis, Starsailor, David Gray and Badly Drawn Boy are among the other acts that will participate.

The Cure fulfilled its contract with Fiction/Elektra last year and signed to producer Ross Robinson's I Am imprint, although it is unknown what, if any, progress has been made on a new studio album.

Don't worry, plenty of progress has been made on the new album. See the top stories section for the latest.

MTV:

"The Cure have been added to this year's Coachella lineup, joining previously announced artists Radiohead, Kraftwerk and a reunited Pixies at the annual event, which takes place May 1-2 in Indio, California. Robert Smith and company will headline the festival's second night. ..."

(Thanks Gary)

"The iTunes website is updated with new music every Tuesday and the site updates everyday regarding top track and album downloads. As of today, of the top 100 most downloaded CDs, The Cure comes in at #13 with the Trilogy EP (includes One Hundred Years, Pictures of You, & Maybe Someday taken from the DVD trilogy show) and at #20 with Galore."

(Thanks scottydog)

"I just saw an update on the Best Buy website that Join the Dots will be sold at the sale price of $39.99!! Awesome!! One of the Houston branches already ordered 27 copies!! "

(Thanks Pauline)

"The Cure will be featured on the mtv nordic show called top ten at ten. basically they will play 10 cure videos at 10 cet. the show will air on the 4th of february. you can go to http://www.mtve.com/nordic.asp and then to 'shows and presenters' and click top ten @ ten to vote for your 5 favourite cure videos. "

(Thanks Antti)

"In the italian music magazine "Musica" there is a short article about the Cure New Album, this is a translation:

Work in progress

Cure

(untitled)

Retirement? Waiting for the summer

The Cure come back to thrash the living daylight out of us. And Robert Smith, who has announced his own retirement at least fifteen times, explains in this way the album that should be ready for the beginning of the summer: "It will be produced by Ross Robinson and its recording takes no more than 6 weeks". How will it be? Mr Smith answers without getting flustered: "What kind of question? Dark, darker than ever!" Effective Cure..."

(Thanks Michele)

(Thanks Ange)

"My business partner, Jason Fiber, and I, started a record label last year, reissuing out of print 80s alternative music. We've also created a specialty internet record store that sells remastered CDs similar to those that we release. www.idealcopy.com We're huge Cure fans and we're now offering Join The Dots at the lowest price on the net - $37.99 (let me know if there's a lower price). Basically, we're just offering it at cost to help promote our new site. Here is a direct link.

We are also going to have a semi-exclusive release as well (at least for the first 2 weeks of release in the US) for RetroActive, a remix CD put out by the Canadian Label, Hi Bias. (www.hibias.ca) Among others, it features the 1986 12" Club Mix of "Boys Don't Cry"-- which makes it the first time that mix appears on CD, as I'm sure you know. Here is a direct link."

(Thanks Chris)

(Thanks Maria)

"Here is something I found on funprox.com a good ezine oriented Dark, Indus etc...

"17.1.04 happy couples weblog strangecord.com has a new setlist: Side by Side, with 16 pairs of covers and the originals. 32 mp3's, with Kraftwerk & Siouxsie, Lloyd Cole & Tori Amos, The Cure & Trampoline, My Bloody Valentine & Mira + many more. "

The web site is : http://www.strangechord.com/music/music.html and we can found "Charlotte Sometimes" (The Cure and Trampoline)."

(Thanks Yan)

"I was watching VH1 classic (I've seen Cure videos before on their, but what really intrigued me to write this is that the video "Pictures Of You" was from the Trilogy DVD) Even the credits stated the Trilogy DVD (not Disintegration ) The video was indeed taken from the DVD...I was quite happy to see VH1 Classic promoting the Trilogy DVD, for VH1 Classic doesn't play enough Cure videos, and a new Cure video on their was quite exciting!!"

(Thanks L.J.)

"at http://www.free-ringtones-free-logos.com/ you can get a free polyphonic ring tone of Love Cats and a free Cure logo"

(Thanks Kitty)

"It seems that Coldplay really likes "A Forest" because not only is it in their Coldplayer radio thing on their site, but they also talk about it on part 2 of that Ticking Of Clocks radio documentary that's on the site now. You get to hear their Robert singing impression, it's kinda funny. "

(Thanks Alex)

"I was watching ESPN's morning show Cold Pizza and they had a segment on some soon to be released cds. I watched to see if Join the Dots was included in the list and it was. Kane (from VH1) made a list of his cds to watch for and divided them into four categories and showed a picture of one of the cds. I don't remember what category the Cure was in, but they did show the cover of Join the Dots. Kane and one of the hosts made some small talk about the box set and other things. From what I can remember, Kane made mention of the rumors about a break up after the Bloodflowers tour and how the group felt that it still had something left in them to make more music, some basic info on the box set, that the band signed on with Korn's producer, that new album would be very heavy, and that the Cure will be releasing the new album sometime later on this year. Nothing terribly exciting, but some Cure news."

(Thanks Jeff)

"Just passed along www.towerrecords.com. The main title on their start page reads "upcoming releases". The first upper link is "The Cure" and leads to Join the Dots. "

(Thanks Greg)

"This isnt Cure related but im a little desperate for some help! Im going to London on 13th March and need help or info on cheap places to stay in or around the city and even things to do, places to see etc. If its possible for people to email me? that would be really nice! plus ive been a Cure fan forever and would even love to catch up with some Cure friends at a pub somewhere if anyone's interested? "

(Thanks Berlin)

"If you are planning to go to Coachella you're number one priority is to get a hotel room. All the rooms in Indio and Palm Springs sell out pretty quickly. Best of luck!"

Update: "Of course, if you want to do coachella up right, you should reserve your campsite! (not a hotel)"

(Thanks Amy and Chad)

"The junkie xl album is being released state-side on feb. 10th by koch records. it has a slightly different track listing than the import. most notbaly, the inclusion of "a little less conversation". "

(Thanks Jason)

"Just a brief message to let Curefans in México City that there will be a Cure Night at Dada X (Bolívar 31, 2ndo piso, casi esquina con 16 de septiembre, Centro Histórico), next Friday (January 23rd). The cost is 60 pesos (general public), 30 pesos (women, from 9 to 10). More information at http://www.dadax.com.mx/ leonardo"

(Thanks Leonardo)

"There'll be two cure parties in Chile.

24.01.2004 BAL-LE-DUC DISCOTHEQUE A Cure special include b-sides and rarities

The Mission - Peter Murphy - Joy Division - Cocteau Twins - Human League - Duran Duran - Depeche Mode - A-ha

Special videos: Once upon a time/ Twice upon a time / Seven Years / Itch live / Standing on the beach / Galore / Greatest hits / Trilogy

attendance approximately: 300 people

30.01.2004 BLONDIE DISCOTHEQUE A CURE Special include b-sides, rarities, and some cure records lives.

FACE TO FACE ... " The first Dark Wave in this year "

SALA CENTRAL - Videos DVD Exclusivos DARK WAVE - GOTHIC & ELECTRODARK - INDUSTRIAL

Peter Murphy - Bauhaus - The Mission UK - X-Mal Deutschland - Speaking Silence - Ikon - Mephisto Walz - Lacrimosa - Faith & The Muse - Strange Boutique - Illuminate - Sanguis Et Cinic -Blut Engel - L' Ame Inmmortelle - Black Heaven - Plastic - The Cruxshadows - The Dust of Basement - Die Krupps - Marilyn Manson - Hocico - Front Line Assembly - VNV Nation - Project Grudge

Between 01:00 - 3:00 Hrs. Special Videos : Siouxsie & The Banshees v/s The Cure

attendance approximately: 750 people

More info and flyers image in: http://www.thecurechile.cl"

(Thanks Drowning Man)

"The "Old's Cool" show on UK music TV channel The Amp is now offering Boy's Don't Cry as one of the tracks available for selection."

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"I was watching MTV 2, and they were doing a short pre-video segment about the band "The Shins". And the Keyboard player (i think it was him) said "It was probably Robert Smith of the Cure who made me interested in being a musician. He also made me do my hair dumb." (Gotta love modern grammar!) While he was saying that the screen was split with the Keyboard player talking on the left half and an audioless 'Friday I'm in Love' on the right.

The video from the band (I forget the song- but it's a good song) is quite nice. It's a CGI Penguin world. Penguins... delicious, delicious Penguins..."

(Thanks J.)

"Robert Smith and The Cure are mentioned in this biography of California based band, Xiu Xiu. "

(Thanks Ben)

There are a couple of Cure mentions in the Feb. 2004 issue of Spin. First, in a reveiw of the new Statistics cd:

Statistics - Leave Your Name (Jade Tree)

Denver Dalley founded Desaparecidos with Conor Oberst, but he's way less famous, perhaps because it's harder to tell what he's up to. From Cure-ish workouts to shoegazer pop, Dalley's mildly epic solo album is all over the map. Pick a style, kid; we'll make you famous. B

Second, Tonay Kanal from No Doubt gives us way too much personal info:

My Life In Music: artists celebrate the albums that shaped their sound

Tony Kanal

The No Doubt bassist gets psyched to Prince, blisses out to The Cure, and really misses Sublime

E. The Cure Staring at the Sea - The Singles (Elektra, 1986)

"This is the rare greatest-hits record that takes on a life of it's own - it's not just a compilation that was thrown together. 'Boys Do'nt Cry' was the first song I learned on bass. There was a period around '96 or '97 where I thought it was really fun to have sex to Cure records. The girls liked it, too. It added a surreal Twin Peaks element."

And the caption on his photo says "He's got a Kama Sutra carving on the wall and a passion for The Cure in his soul: Tony Kanal in his Los Angeles home".

There's also a quick review of "Dots", and I've added that to the "Dots" page.

Get the hint? : )

Ok, ok, I'll give you a bit more - there are strong and persistent "rumors" (though they are a bit more than that) out of California that The Cure are set to headline the 2nd day of the Coachella Music festival this year. Those of you wise enough to keep your eyes on the Tour Dates rumor section, saw it added last week, but now the info is much stronger. Top names already confirmed publicly - Radiohead, Kraftwerk and a reunited Pixies. Top names not "officially" confirmed yet - The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, and possibly a few other surprises.

The next 6 or so months are going to be insane, but very, very interesting. : )

(Thanks John)

"The Cure were mentioned on Entertainment Weekly's little paragraph blurb on Morrissey and his upcoming year. I scanned it to http://imageshack.us/files/mozpic.GIF "

(Thanks mozorder)

"while watching CNN Friday, Jan 16 about 12 noon EST, a bit of "High" was played at the end of a news segment, just before the commercial break!"

(Thanks Cindy)

(Thanks Melanie)

"I'm not finding anything about a US release of the One Perfect Day Soundtrack, but HMV Australia has both the 2CD and single-disc versions available for pre-order. Reasonable overseas shipping and a favorable exchange rate to boot. No tracklisting as yet."

(Thanks Brad)

(Thanks and good luck Craig)

"Blink 182 interview From Rolling Stone:

How did you end up getting a bass?

I was really into the Cure and the Descendents, and because of them I wanted to learn how to play bass guitar. So my dad and I went down to the local music shop in Annandale, Virginia, and he bought me a Mako bass. I still keep it in my house. After that, the beat was on. I never took lessons. I just taught myself in my room -- and my technique suffered.

Who are your favorite bassists?

I'd see videos of the Cure's Simon Gallup, and I'd say, "I wanna play bass like that dude." I mean, in high school I wore black eyeliner.

You got Robert Smith to sing "All of Us" on the new Blink album. How?

We said, "Wouldn't it be awesome if we could get Robert Smith from the Cure to play on this song? Let's try!" So we called him. Talking on the phone to him was an amazing experience, like a dream come true. "

(Thanks Autumn)

(Thanks Rob)

"The single seems to be pretty widely distributed at Wal-Mart. I bought one at Wal-Mart in Lacey(olympia), WA yesterday. They had one more left."

(Thanks Brad)

"I just wanted to let people know that I picked up the POY single at Best Buy in Fairfield, CA. today for only $2.99. There were still four remaining on the shelf. "

(Thanks Charles)

"I was able to purchase the "POY/Fear of Ghosts" single at the Best Buy in West Palm Beach, Fl. on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. There was one more left. It was very exciting to have the new cover artwork in my hands even though I already had the music."

(Thanks Scott)

"I also saw the POY single at a wal-mart in Greeley, CO. It was $2.88. Kind of hard to believe it was there but like someone said, "stranger things have happened."

(Thanks Adam)

(Thanks Autumn)

(Thanks Nadine-Soledad and Adeline)

"on the web comic i read, http://www.sinfest.net/ they have some of the lyrics to just like heaven by the resistance section."

(Thanks Kitty)

"I found the single at mediaplay in orem, ut. $3.99. there were a few copies left. it sounds amazing."

(Thanks Dave)

"hey just thought i would let you all know that i went to tower records in glendale california tonight and bought the new cure single cd pictures of you...they had three in stock...i was very suprised!...."

(Thanks Gregg)

"I searched all over el paso for the single, and couldn't find it any of the music stores..went to my suprise i walk into wal-mart and it was right there staring at me...

...i was going to buy more for my sisters but couldn't find any other singles.. not sure if they're carrying anymore..but i do know that's where i bought mine"

(Thanks XiolaSmith)

"A friend told me he found a copy of the POY single at a Wal-Mart in Oklahoma City this past weekend. I guess stranger things have happened but I thought I'd share it with you."

(Thanks Gary)

"Through more than 20 extravagant years and 20 extraordinary albums The Cure have done it all in their own unmistakable way. The band have spent most of their career creating and exploring in the strange places where the worlds of mainstream and alternative collide. They have developed a range of uniquely distinctive sounds and styles .. and the 'six string bass' has become synonymous with the "Cure sound". Listen to songs such as "Faith", "The Last Day of Summer" and "Pictures of You" as perfect examples of the melodic range of this special instrument!

Not a guitar, bass or even a baritone in the 'typical' sense, the Hellcat VI is a modern improvement on the structural shortcomings of the original '60s instrument, and provides a springboard to new sonic territories.

cSchecter 2004

I wanted to send you some info on our new Schecter HELLCAT VI... which will debut this week at the NAMM Show in Anaheim. Robert, Perry and Simon were kind enough to appear in our 2004 catalog and were a BIG help in the development of our Hellcat VI. "

(Thanks to Michael Ciravolo at www.schecterguitars.com)

Update: "that Boston 1980 clip of Killing an arab is downloadable from: http://www.kinodv.net/movies/mpeg/"

(Thanks Ivan Hoe and Henk)

"Don't know if you've been keeping track of this but WOXY out of Ohio played Believe by Earl Slick today around 2PM if I'm not mistaken. They DJ said something along the lines of "He was the former guiatarist of David Bowie and this is his first album in 12 years. Of course that was Robert Smith of Cure fame handling vocals." For some reason it sounded so much better over the radio than online, but that might be because I still get that adrenaline rush when I hear Robert's voice on the radio."

(Thanks Andrew)

"I recently asked this question via the website for the movie and the following is the answer I recieved:

Hi Rob,

The "One Perfect Day" soundtrack will be released on 1st February (2 CD set). This will be followed by the single CD release on 15th February.

Cheers, Jackie @ UMA Help"

(Thanks Robert)

"An eBay user based in the states is currently listing a few copies of the very rare BMG promo sampler released in 2002. I bought one of these CDs from this seller and they are actually bootlegs. The inlay is a badly printed one page insert rather than the booklet giving details on each song. The front and back covers are also badly printed and the back cover features 2 different catalaogue numbers. The sellers ID is currently lsvalstad78 and he has zero feedback. His previous user ID was bpm_music but this account has been suspended from eBay. I tried to get a refund from him for CD I bought but have had no response. I have reported him to eBay in the hope that they will remove his listings. If you are currently bidding on one of these CDs and want the official release I would cancel your bid and look elsewhere. If you have bought one of these in the past from this guy then sorry but you have a counterfeit CD."

Update: "i reply to your message on the counterfeit cd's i bought one of those cds and when i received it i saw immediately that was a bad cop.y i have sent mails every day to him and one day he replied to me. after several questions and answers he was ok to refund me. many days later i received my money back."

"Upon closer inspection the "real" BMG promo CD with the glossy booklet and picture CD has the same catalog number mistake on the back cover. This appears to be a mistake by BMG even on the legit promo CD. The bootleg copy features this as well only because the guy just copied an original promo cd cover. Just though you would like to know this 2 different catalog numbers is not the best way to tell you have a bootleg."

(Thanks Ian, Josse and Robert)

"here we go, muchmusic thinks it knows what it's doing again:

last night, there was a countdown/documentation of pop "gimmicks". meaning simply that whomever dresses up in pop, they were going to be covered and scutinized by the muchmusic staff... oh my... here we go...

sandwiched between boy george and KISS, there was a clip of lovecats and robert talked about the others getting to stay in bed while he had to "come out and do this." one would assume he was talking about his appearance. however, i'd just like to clarify that that clip wasn't taken from somebody asking him how he looked. it was taken from an interview in 1985 concerning him being the frontman (the usual question answered in the usual fashion). it really didn't have anything to do with commentary on his appearance or "gimmickry" at all. however, the program did have some pretty funny KISS commentary, so i suppose that made up for the fact that muchmore are a bunch of lazy wanks. *sigh* "

(Thanks caro)

"In a recent interview with German SPEX magazine, Robin Proper-Sheppard of SOPHIA mentioned, he lost his virginity to The Cure's 17 Seconds + it didn't take much longer than 17 seconds..."

(Thanks Dennis)

"The band 'The Colour' gets a review and is compared with The Cure... "

The Colour Sean Conroy 2004-01-08

The Colour hails from Los Angeles and its appeal lies not in originality, but in the catchiness of its beat-driven fare. Think: hybrid of The Rapture, Moving Units and The Cure. Do not think: just another "The" band.

The cadence of The Rapture and Moving Units blends effortlessly with the endearing simplicity of The Strokes, but the more complex lead guitar riffs of The Colour guitarist Luke MacMaster wouldn't necessarily parallel those of Albert Hammond Jr. The lead singer of the five-member Colour, Wyatt Hull, hits his high notes and exhales the low ones in a manner strikingly similar to that of Robert Smith. Hull's lyrics can also be viewed as a post-emo take on the same subject matter Smith often covered, reinforced by harmonies and backup vocals by the rest of The Colour members. Live shows are hallmarked with dancing and humor. I was fortunate enough to see the band at an '80s club, where its performance perfectly matched the club's ambience. The accordingly costumed crowd already had its proverbial dancing shoes on, and the bubbly features of The Colour's music easily translated into the live show. The bassist, Sam Owens, was good for a certain amount of enlightened humor between songs: "This next one's one of those love-song-type things, so boys grab that girl -- or boy -- and give him or her a smooch." Three songs are available -- free of charge -- on www.thecolour.tv. The Colour is currently in the studio recording a full-length album, ideally due for release next month. For now, the band can be seen playing shows in the Los Angeles area, but hopes to head out on tour following the release of its album. Check it out, it's one of the best bands you've never heard of."

I've listened to the three songs, and not only the voice of the singer sounds like Roberts voice, but 'Clapham Junction' has some VERY '10.15-ish' pieces in it... They sound a bit like the early Cure and they're rather good (at least, that's my opinion)... Hope you can use it..."

(Thanks RobbertC)

"Apple's iTunes Music Store has "Trilogy EP" for sale - this is a three track e.p. containing One Hundred Years, Pictures of You and Maybe Someday. The cover image is similar to the DVD, and bears the legend "3 Track Audio Sampler From The Forthcoming DVD". Tracks are 99 cents each or $2.97 for the entire thing, in Apple's standard AAC audio format."

"Just to let you know, we found the pictures of you/ fear of ghosts single in Connecticut at MediaPlay. Retail:3.99"

(Thanks gwyn_tls)

"I just got the POY single at Sam Goody in downtown Portland, OR. $3.99, and there was one left!"

(Thanks Pippa)

"The Head Of Sales & Marketing at Defected Records, Kieran Mansfield has just confirmed that the official release date for the Junior Jack "Da Hype feat. Robert Smith" maxi-CD is 2-Feb-2004. The catalogue number is DFTD083CDS

Also read this at http://www.windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=95:

"... Junior Jack follows up his endless summer smash "E-Samba" with "Da Hype," featuring a vocal sampling of The Cure's own Robert Smith. With the demand of DJ's using CD decks in their sets, Defected will be releasing a maxi-CD of their releases. Not to be confused with the standard format, each CD will contain up to 74 minutes of music at the cost of a single!"

Also, the CD single of Junior Jack's 'Da Hype' is now available for pre-order at various European webshops. I have scoured the internet looking for sellers of the track in CD format. The official release date for it on Maxi-CD is 2 Feb 2004. I've only managed to find the CD available on a few European websites. The ones I've found it on so far are:

Proxis, Belgium

Amazon.co.uk, Great Britain

Amazon.de, Gemany

CD Express, The Netherlands

The CD maxi-single does have Robert on vocals and it also looks as though it's a CD-R which will also include the video. I've already ordered my copy via CD Express, it being the cheapest if you live in the European Euro-zone. "

(Thanks Richard)

"First it'll probably be released in French and in France (working on a way to release it also in Switzerland, Belgium and Canada).

If I find a good way to spread it abroad, I'll also release an English version (for other languages, I don't know if It'll work but it'll be much longer). So I'd love to find someone in the USA and/or in Canada and/or in the UK who could find a publisher (david.fargier@fr.smurfitgroup.com). I also think about selling the English version only via the internet if it's easier.

If I can get some nice pictures, the book will probably be a 23 cm / 23 cm black and white. I tried to get in touch with Porl to use one of his paintings for the back but didn't get any answer yet (finger crossed)."

(Thanks David)

"I'm looking for Aaron who I'd met on 11/12 after the concert outside the venue when we were talking to Perry and Ross Robinson. He was quite tall, long(ish) curly hair (I think it was brown) and he wore a red shirt (I think his "rock star" was Jack White - not sure tho). I think he's english. He tried to take a photo of Perry and me (but the camera was on stike). I'm the small redhaired girl dressed as Madonna. For any answers, my email is marieatnight@yahoo.co.uk"

"C. Bottomley, writer of article @ VH1.com, in describing A Perfect Circle's second album The Thirteenth Step, he had this to say: "A sprawling piece of work that compulsively rounds on the theme of addiction as often as it recalls the epic elegies of the Cure and the techno blasphemy of Depeche Mode, The Thirteenth Step is Keenan’s second record with A Perfect Circle." The entire article: http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1483875/122303/perfect_circle.jhtml

In another article about the bands struggle over which songs to be released as their first and second singles, was the following comment made by Jeordie White (Twiggy Ramirez) of the band. 'Even so, the bassist is also pretty fond of "Blue," which Keenan seems to favor. "It kind of reminds me of something off the Cure's Disintegration," White said. "I've always been a fan of some of the Cure stuff in secret because I like their music, but [their singer,] Robert Smith, kind of bummed me out a little bit. But the Cure definitely influenced a lot of the songs on this record." ' The entire article: http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1479755/10142003/perfect_circle.jhtml "

(Thanks Emilie)

"Women Who Rock (USA) Jan/Feb 2004 Cyndi Lauper cover

Siouxsie Sioux "Black is Beautiful" by Jaan Uhelszki

Question I always wondered if it bothered you when Robert Smith of the Cure started doing his hair just like you, and making up like you. No one ever mentioned that. Answer I thought it was funny and I thought. "Silly boy!" He put the lipstick on very badly as well. He should have used a mirror."

(Thanks to Autumn at Pictures of You)

"Not very interesting.. But there's a brief reference to the Cure in an article on the hideousness of a duran duran revival. It's by John Harris (a UK music journalist) in the Times from Saturday 3rd Jan:

"If the Brits nomination is indeed a sign that the 1980s are considered ripe for reappraisal, those in charge of the awards ceremonies and record company reissue schedules will surely hit the buffers. Aside from the Smiths and the Cure, it is hard to think of much from the period that deserves such treatment"

Here's the article in full:

The Times

Oh no, not you again

John Harris hoped Duran Duran had gone the way of puffball skirts and shellsuits. No such luck In February, Duran Duran will be honoured at the Brit Awards for their allegedly “Outstanding Contribution to British Music”. The statuette will sit next to the Q award they collected last October for “Lifetime Achievement”, and surely cause a splurge of publicity that will boost ticket sales for a brief tour of the UK’s indoor arenas in April.

The focus for all the gong-grabbing is the re-formation of their original line-up, torn asunder in the mid-1980s by the pressures of success, the group’s excessive lifestyles, and their decision to split off into ill-advised side projects. Nearly two decades on, they can doubtless scent the cycle of musical nostalgia belatedly aligning in their favour; perhaps, even, the chance to cheekily squeeze into the enclosure reserved for The True Greats.

And therein lies a bit of a problem. As oxymoronic as the term “Classic Rock” can seem, some music has proved to be so timeless and influential that the use of it is pretty much irresistible. To take a handful of names at random, one would hardly cause controversy by applying it to Chuck Berry, the Beatles, the Sex Pistols and Nirvana. But Duran Duran? Without wanting to sound like too much of a sourpuss, it is hard to think of a group who combined stratospheric success with such a lack of enduring clout. Since their fall from grace — which can be traced precisely to the release of a flop 1987 single called Skin Trade — no young musicians have sought to adopt them as role models, nor have all but a couple of over-excited critics attempted their rehabilitation. The NME recently tried drawing lines between Duran Duran and the Strokes, but the gaff was soon blown: the alleged artistic commonality boiled down to the fact that Amanda De Cadenet used to go out with John Taylor, and these days dates the latter band’s guitarist Nick Valensi. Oh, and both bands have five members.

No: Duran Duran’s music remains stubbornly rooted in a non-reclaimable world of shockwaves hairspray, puffball skirts and Kids from Fame jogging suits.

When I hear their music, I think of going on a school skiing trip in an ill-fated attempt to get off with a girl named Debbie Norton, or stealing Embassy Gold cigarettes from the local Spar; the idea that they could play any role in my adult life is bizarre. It might be fun to drag out a copy of Rio once in a while, put it on the stereo and marvel at how ludicrous it sounds — but there again, it’s occasionally nice to watch a repeated episode of Bergerac.

The reunited band, led by a 45-year-old Simon Le Bon, must surely feel some of this themselves. Imagine, for example, dropping the kids off at school and then turning up at rehearsal to hear him squeal out the lyrics to Is There Something I Should Know: “Fiery demons all dance when you walk through the door/Don’t say you’re easy on me . . .” And then comes the hard part. “You’re about as easy as a nuclear war.” While we’re here, let us also tiptoe through the 1984 No 1 The Reflex. “I’m on a ride and I wanna get off, but they won’t slow down the roundabout,” sings Le Bon. It’s hackneyed, but at least coherent. Then comes: “I sold the Renoir and the TV set, don’t wanna be around when this gets out.” Pardon?

I could go on, but it’s starting to hurt. Even at the time, Duran Duran’s music was both ineffably daft and impossibly po-faced, and hardly likely to acquire any kind of immortality. And to be fair, an acknowledgement of the latter surely informed the era into which they fitted so perfectly: for what was the defining spirit of the 1980s if not a devil-may-care wish to rejoice in the moment, order another Taboo and lemonade, stick Hungry Like the Wolf on the jukebox and worry about any important stuff later?

If the Brits nomination is indeed a sign that the 1980s are considered ripe for reappraisal, those in charge of the awards ceremonies and record company reissue schedules will surely hit the buffers. Aside from the Smiths and the Cure, it is hard to think of much from the period that deserves such treatment. Indeed, so uniformly awful was most of its successful music that applying any idea of relative merit seems all but impossible. Nik Kershaw (four top ten hits) or Howard Jones (five such smashes)? Blue Zoo (Cry Boy Cry, No 13 in 1982) or Classix Nouveau (Is it a Dream, No 11 in the same year)? And before anyone shouts “Spandau Ballet!”, let us not forget that 1) aside from 1981’s Chant Number One, their songs were usually beyond redemption, especially the sax solos, and 2) they’re not talking to each other.

In the wake of the hysterical clamour that will doubtless erupt around their comeback tour, Duran Duran will reportedly release an album of new material that has been sitting in the can since the summer. Lest the organisers of the Brit Awards be accused of neglecting the importance of this prospect, they have already ensured that the band’s accolade implicitly acknowledges it. “Whilst this award recognises past achievements which are much deserved,” says one Peter Jamieson, the chairman of the Brits organising committee, “I am just as excited about the band’s vibrancy today, which augurs well for their continued success.”

To paraphrase a Jimmy Nail hit from several centuries ago, he’s lying. "

I don't care if you like DD or not, THAT was a brilliant article. Thank you John Harris. : )

(Thanks Andrew)

Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4

(Thanks Vicky)

(Thanks Adam)

"Join The Dots" is scheduled for release in Australia on 2 Feb 2004.

Catalogue: 9814630

Cost is AUD $99.99"

(Thanks Andrew)

"Just wanted to let people know that I found the Picture of You single in one of the last places I expected - the Sam Goody at the mall (Stratford Mall in Bloomingdale, Illinois to be exact). I got the last two they had out, but they might have more in the back if you give them a call [(630) 351-8912]."

(Thanks Nicole)

"Waterloo Records in Austin, TX has it for $2.99."

(Thanks Ben)

BACK STREET CRAWLEY

Four-CD box of Fat Bob's bits and bobs

*** (rated 3 stars out of a possible 5)

If The Greatest Hits represent the city centre of Curetown, lit up for Christmas and on the razzle, then this exhaustive 70-song curiosity box mopes about its dank bus terminals and spooked back alleys. In its own darkling way, this collection might even give you the best feel for the place. Join the dots, and, though the career might lead you from London to Paris to LA, the songs are always obsessively mapping out the same bad dream suburb of the sublime.

They grew up creepy in Crawley and, in a sense, they never really left. "10.15 Saturday Night" backed first single "Killing An Arab" and put its (rive) gauche pose in perspective, locating some existential, kitchen-sink glamour in flickering striplights and dripping taps. The first disc here follows the band's drift from a Woolworths guitar satellite town orbiting the Buzzcocks ("Plastic Passion, "Pillbox Tales"), through a bleak estate on the outskirts of Joy Division ("Descent", "Splintered In Her Head") before settling down in a more popular mid-'80s neighbourhood nestled between the electric light of New Order and the Banshees' edge of darkness ("The Dream", "Lament", "The Exploding Boy").

Smith writes in his sleevenotes of his youthful enthusiasm for the lost institution of the B-side, of expecting great flipsides from the bands that he loved, and it's the cusp of discs one and two here, from 1985 to 1989, that bring this one to some fruition. If the early material often sounds like salvage from a band permanently on the brink of disintegration, by the mid-'80s the songs sound like a band gearing up for Disintegration. "A Few Hours After This", "A Chain Of Flowers", "Snow In Summer", "How Beautiful You Are" and "2 Late" make a virtue of their dippy, wistful grandeur, poised attractively between the early bathetic gravitas and their more plainly daft essays in pop kookiness.

But this run would undoubtedly be shown to greater effect on a more succint collection. Disc two fizzles out with three versions of "Hello, I Love You" and a frankly pointless remix of "Just Like Heaven", and the two discs covering 1992-2001 include the dubious distinction of two more versions of "Hey Joe", a spectacularly inept reading of "Young Americans" and a woe-begotten contribution to the Judge Dredd soundtrack, of interest to only the most stubbornly curious of Curators.

The final disc gathers various experiments in relocating The Cure to the 21st-century studio city of clicks and cuts (including a drum'n'bass revision of "A Forest"), as though Smith had finally tired of the fractious business of keeping a band together, but none of them do click - the nagging dolour of his voice seems like an odd relic, even in these '80s-friendly times. Like a Tim Burtonised Freddie Kreuger, the best bet for Smith's continued relevance seems to be as patron saint of haunted suburban adolescence.

STEPHEN TROUSSE

(Thanks One_Imaginary_Girl)

"I was going through some of my old Rolling Stones that I’m going to sell and I found an article on Ross Robinson (11-26-98 issue). Since he’s producing The Cure’s new album, I thought everyone might like to read the article. It sounds like he has some unconventional producing techniques… hmmm…"

Read the article here. In all fairness, I've heard his pre-production work with The Cure has been amazing.

(Thanks to Dayna at A Foolish Arrangement)

"Many people are getting in touch with us to ask if the book 'The Cure - Clinical Prescriptions' is still available (www.lavoixdusilence.com). So "Yes" we still have copies left. We also realize that some people do not have access to Paypal. That's why we offer the opportunity to US residents to pay by check. People interested can send a mail to Autumn (autumncure@earthlink.net) from PICTURES OF YOU for more details !"

(Thanks Salvatore)

"The Jaguar Bottom Master is released by Fender Japan for their domestic market only. However one japanese retailer called Ishibashi Music is licensed to export the Fender Japan guitars. You will find tham at www.ishibashi-music.com.

Their online shop is poorly updated, so there is no info on this new guitars at all. You will have to send an email to the kind international sales persons Noriko and Koichi. They will be happy to give you some more info about it. The guitar is not ready for shipping yet, but should be from the end of this month.

You can see the guitar at Fender Japan's web-site, but there is no info in english:

http://fenderjapan.co.jp/fender/e_guitar_bass/jgb_95sfz_hfz.htm

- The price at Ishibashi is 76.000 yen."

(Thanks Anders)

"Way over here in western Canada, the province of BC has a daily provincial newspaper called 'The Province'. In the Sunday January 11 issue, there is a cover story called "These 10 bands should reunite! An SOS to The Police and 9 other groups." Well one of the 9 other groups is The Cure. The article headline is HERE IS 10 BANDS ORIGINAL MEMBERS ONLY-- THAT SHOULD FIND A WAY TO BURY THE HATCHET. On page D3 you will see a picture of The Cure, circa Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (Robert's buzzcut days) and the write-up says:

The Years: 1978 - present

The Original Members: Robert Smith, Lawrence Tolhurst and Michael Dempsey

Why They Broke Up: Smith's restlessness drove him to explore other projects and Tolhurst was drinking too much.

Why We Want A Reunion: By today's standards, The Cure who appeared in 1979's Three Imaginary Boys, sounds refreshingly innocent and minimal whereas the current Cure sounds denses and worldweary.

The Chances: Smith continues to be restless."

(Thanks Nando)

"on this Polish website there is a polyphonic ring tone for friday im in love."

(Thanks Dariusza)

"The local radio station in Annapolis, MD, WRNR, has a daily contest called "Spot this Sound." Today they were talking about Earl Slick and they played his latest, "Believe." In order to win the prize, a Deluxe Edition 2-CD set of The Who's classic album "Tommy," you had to name the singer, Robert Smith."

(Thanks Barbara)

"http://www.charlottemartin.com/pages/images/livegallery/charm01.jpg"

(Thanks n!c)

"Here's a fun bit of Cure Spotting. The whole chapter is a fascinating piece on the evolution of "goth" culture. Here is the section mentioning The Cure. From The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead by J. Gordon Melton (Visible Ink Press) under both chapters Gothic and Music, Vampire:

"Heir to the gothic tradition, mixed with elements from the psychedelic/flower child/rock music subcultures of the 1960s and 1970s, was the gothic counter-culture movement that appeared in most urban centers of the West during the 1980s. The movement's origins can be traced to late 1970s musical groups in the United Kingdom. It certainly also had its direct precursors in such bands as Black Sabbath and the punk rock music of the 1970s. Possibly the most prominent of those groups was Bauhaus, a rock band formed in 1978. In the following year, the band released the single "Bela Lugosi's Dead," their most popular recording to date. The song was picked up in 1983 for use in the opening sequence of the film version of Whitley Strieber's The Hunger. Bauhaus was soon joined by such groups as Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cult, The Cure, and The Sisters of Mercy. Together these bands created a variant music called gothic rock or death rock. A circuit of music clubs, most notably The Bat Cave in London, opened to provide a stage for their performances."

(Thanks Melissa)

(Thanks Chris)

"Rhino Records in Claremont, CA (just east of the 10/57 junction in Los Angeles) has a stack of PoY singles available. Great little store, too! Rhino Records Claremont 235 Yale Ave Claremont, CA 91711 Phone: (909) 626-7774 http://www.cimsmusic.com/stores/store-profiles/rhino.pdf"

(Thanks Paul)

"I originally ordered my POY single from CD Universe. The day of the release I noticed it was back ordered, so I canceled the order. I then ordered it from Tower.com and got it today. Not bad. It only took two days to get it. The packaging is awful though. It is in one of those cheap cardboard sleeves with the pull out tray like a couple of the US singles from WMS. Always nice to get new Cure items, even if they are rereleases."

(Thanks John)

"There is a fantastic four page review of the Cure Islington academy show in UK music magazine 'Word'. Includes lots of pictures of the fans as well."

Can anyone provide scans?

(Thanks Steve)

"Uncut Magazine in the UK has a review of Join The Dots - I didn't buy the mag but it gave it 3/5 - They slagged off the cover versions and wondered why a few tracks were on the box set. I think they are missing the point about Join The Dots..."

(Thanks Benjy)

(Thanks An)

"Vote for the best of all singles in German charts at the website of German TV-channel RTL. You can vote for Boys Don't Cry, Catch, Close To Me (Remix), Cut Here, Friday I'm In Love, High, Inbetween Days, Lovesong, Lullaby, Never Enough, Pictures Of You, The 13th and Why Can't I Be You? Go to http://www.rtl.de/musik/musik_834458.php and click to "Wählen Sie hier ihren Superhit!". "

(Thanks Simon)

I mentioned Charlotte Martin's cover of "Just Like Heaven" and the various Cure mentions on her website, a few months ago, but here's a new one. In her latest e-mail newsletter, she signs off like this:

"love and miss you-

Char xo

P.s. http://www.thecure.com/home.html"

Excellent! And thanks to Charlotte for the link to COF and the compliment on her Links page.

"Here's another little snippet about the cure maybe playing at Glastonbury this year.

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/040108a.shtml "

(Thanks Neil)

A nasty bit about Robert from Uncut.

The Q 1001 Greatest Songs Ever special, with comments on "Close to Me" from Robert.

The full article about "Dots" from Ice Magazine.

(Thanks to Autumn at Pictures Of You for the links)

"Just got a copy of POY single at Amoeba in Hollywood. It looked like they had 3 copies left, I didn't have time to ask if they had more in the back or not. "

(Thanks Neil)

"I picked up the POY single from Dimple, a large independent in Sacramento, CA. There were only two copies on the shelf, but they have the single for sale on their web site at http://www.dimple.com for $2.99 plus $2.48 for shipping. I don't know how many they have in stock, but it's worth a shot for anyone still looking for the single."

(Thanks Trevor)

"I just wanted to let you know that I ordered from tower records online on tuesday night, and yesterday I got an e-mail saying that my POY single was shipped..."

(Thanks Chase)

(Thanks Trent)

"Just found a complete tracklisting for "50 First Dates", which makes mention of one other Cure cover besides the 311 song mentioned earlier:

"Your Love (L.O.V.E. Reggae Mix)" (originally recorded by The Outfield) -- Wyclef Jean (featuring Eve)

"True" (originally recorded by Spandau Ballet) -- Will.I.Am & Fergie

"Drive" (originally recorded by The Cars) -- Ziggy Marley

"Every Breath You Take" (originally recorded by The Police) -- UB40

"Ghost In You" (originally recorded by Psychedelic Furs) -- Mark McGrath (of Sugar Ray)

"Slave To Love" (originally recorded by Roxy Music) -- Elan Atias (backing vocals by Gwen Stefani)

"Hold Me Now" (originally recorded by the Thompson Twins) -- Wayne Wonder

"Love Song" (originally recorded by The Cure) -- 311

"Lips Like Sugar" (originally recorded by Echo and the Bunnymen) -- Seal (featuring Mikey Dread)

"Friday, I'm In Love" (originally recorded by The Cure) -- Dryden Mitchell

"I Melt With You" (originally recorded by Modern English) -- Jason Mraz

"Breakfast In Bed" (originally recorded by UB40) -- Nicole Kea

"Forgetful Lucy" -- Adam Sandler"

Bets are currently being taken on just how laughable the Mark McGrath Furs cover will be. Smart money is going to "Completly" at the present time. : )

(Thanks Bruce)

"I guess this is in response to nailing the Robert Smith Bass VI sound. Michael Matera has released a new CD for anyone not that familiar with his music it is very cure inspired instrumental music. The latest CD - Wednesday has a lot of Bass VI work on it as well as some Jazzmasters very similar to Roberts tone. You can hear some samples at this link http://www.neverwhererecords.com/store/matera.htm"

(Thanks Neverwhere Records)

"Just a note on the POY single: that "non-returnable" note that someone mentioned yesterday is for retailers only. it means that the label (WEA in this case) will not accept any returns on that particular product from retailers. it's essentially a one-way sale. If a retailer buys too many copies or something and wants to send some back at a later date in a stock rotation, the label won't accept them. hope that maybe clears any confusion. "

(Thanks Rob)

"I used to be a singles buyer for Tower Records and the message that the POY single is listed as "unreturnable" is meant for the store only. What that means is that the label is attempting to "chart" the single. What they do is saturate the market with the single to get as many sales as possible. It is unreturnable for credit as overstock, since they are essentially given to the store for free. If the single doesn't sell, then the store is stuck with them.

The reason it is listed as unavailable is because the single is already considered a "cutout" and only a certain number of singles were pressed. This means that the entire stock of POY singles should be out in stores now and once they are gone, they are gone. No more reprints. "

I asked if he might know how many copies of the single were pressed:

"Unfortunately no, but usually with these cutouts they only press 15 to 50,000 and each store is alotted anywhere from 5 to 150, depending on the market. I doubt any stores received 150 though! Probably 5-10 each. They are trying to tie in the HP commercial and the boxset it seems. Pay attention to the "heatseekers" section of Billboard and see if it charts!"

Of course it has to be available to buy, before it even has a chance to chart.

(Thanks Kyle)

"i just wanted to let you know i havent had a chance to go search for the single yet, but my lovely old company did NOT buy it for any of the 1000 stores in the chain (fye, coconuts, strawberries, wherehouse, etc)...they felt a "re-release" of an existing single wasnt worth buying...as usual they just dont get it...feel free to mention to the masses they wont find it there!!"

(Thanks anonymous)

"3 tower records that i called in illinois, 2 do not have them (shaumberg/bloomingdale) and the 3rd (chicago) had 3 in stock and LOST them. WTF?!!!!! Anyways, I called borders and nope, best buy, nope.... and then finally, virgin mega store downtown chicago had 5 for 3.99 each. but now they should only have two as i brought 3 of them for myself and friends. your best bet for tower is calling 1-800-ask-tower they can give you a listing of the towers in the country that have the single. from what they told me, only five had some available. seattle and atlanta were the only 2 i remembered. sorry. i also have 2 copies on hold for when tower in chicago finds their copies, ill call and cancel my holds so those can be readily available for other ppl in the area :)"

(Thanks Kamar)

"I thought I'd write in that I've found the single at the Gallery of sound music store in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I've read that it is hard to find, but they had a couple of them there for $2.99 so I picked one up. "

(Thanks Dave)

Keep sending in reports and hopefully, everyone will eventually be able to find it.

(Thanks Alex)

"January 22nd will see a The Cure special on French radio 'France Inter' during B. Lenoir's spot. According to the newsletter, one can win a 'Join the dots' boxset - the show is normally @ 9pm... this is the original newsletter text: 22.jan.04 [Radio] Emission spéciale THE CURE avec Hugo Cassavetti. Ecoutez et jouez pour gagner le CURE BOXSET qui sortira le 27 janvier. "

(Thanks Dennis)

"Just wanted to let you know that Fender Japan is releasing a new baritone guitar model inspired by the legendary Bass VI. The (corny) name of the new guitar is Jaguar Bottom Master, and apart from a silly built-in fuzz effect circuit it seems pretty cool. I have one on order already and I am very exited to see if it can nail the great Robert Smith sound... Here's a picture:

- It is also available in gun metal blue metallic colour with humbucking pickups. "

(Thanks Anders)

"Im looking to start/join a Cure tribute band as a bassist in the west midlands UK Area, i can play a fair amount of the songs on bass, and have all the bass effect pedals the same as simon. contact craig.murphy@blueyonder.co.uk"

"There was a very brief excerpt of an interview with Robert Smith on a UK late night music show called 'Ear Candy' - so brief in fact I can transcribe it in full. I'm guessing it was filmed at the time of the 'World DJ Fund Christmas Event' and hopefully more of the interview with Colin Murray will be shown later in the series. Here's the transcription:

Colin Murray: You're the first band ever to play Glastonbury three times. You haven't played it since though...

Robert Smith: No, but I think we're playing it next year.

Colin Murray: Exclusive, excellent and I'll sell that.

Well, I said it was brief but it's big and exciting news if it comes to fruition."

(Thanks Dylan)

"I just called someone at the main HMV CD store in Toronto Canada, and they said that the domestic release of "Join the Dots" would have to wait until March; otherwise the import would be priced at $114.99."

(Thanks Iqbal)

"I contacted the Atlanta, Georgia Tower store today, 1-7-04, 3PM CT, and I was told by a representative they had a few copies @ 2.99. He mentioned these are marked 'non returnable' but doesn't know why or what this means. I'm unsure if this 'marking' is on the actual CD or only in their system. Also, the guy had no explanation as to why the website was changed from available to it's now unavailable status."

(Thanks Brandon)

(Thanks Missy)

"A strange cure mention in a anti-suicide article... comes back in several places on the net... http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040106/NEWS/401060301/1021"

(Thanks RobbertC)

"A friend called me to let me know that Radio Voxx in Portugal was making a small tribute to The Cure , when I turned on the radio they were already playing Jumping Someone Else's Train then I heard Charlotte Sometimes and A Forest(Concert).Unfortunetely that was the end..."

(Thanks Sandro)

"Last night(wed 7th) on a french TV programme called "Vie publique, vie privee" they briefly played "Never enough" as background music to some report."

(Thanks JC)

Update: "I just went to Tower Records.com and they have the new single available for $2.99 and is currently in stock." (Sold Out already and now unavailable)

(Thanks Jeremy)

"I haven't seen any of the other websites note a street date change either. Actually, the WEA B2B site still shows 1/27/04 as the street date but I also know that it hasn't been updated since before Christmas. I think everyone was gone until yesterday.

The delay news came direct from my WEA rep. she sent out a notice stating that the street date was pushed to the 10th but the pre-book cut-off was still December 30th. She said the delay was due to more time needed to print up the booklet.

here's a quote from her: "the booklet is LONG, really long, which causes a longer printing time, hence the delay."

sounds like this is going to be one hell of a set. personally I'll wait a little while longer if it's gonna mean they get it done right.

who knows though... perhaps she was misinformed. we'll see come the 26th :)"

Don't know if this has anything to do with the above info, but it sounds like there might be a delay in Ireland as well:

"Just rang HMV Cork, Ireland - seems as if box set has been delayed - no information as to why..."

(Thanks Donal)

"Will hearing Smith & Co. again be just like heaven?

The pioneering goth-rock band is working on a new album with nü-metal producer Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot) that singer Robert Smith has said will be slower and heavier than ever. "They're classic alternative at this point," said Oedipus. "They've had a number of farewell tours, but creativity lives in an artist's soul, and you can't turn it on and off. Robert Smith is a perfect example. I love what he did with Blink-182, [lending vocals to a song on their latest LP], and I think he remains viable and valuable as an artist."

Prediction: Likely to be a cult classic, and Korn shouldn't have anything to worry about."

(Thanks Chris)

"Since the last week, is available here in Argentina, the "Sound and Vision" box set of "Greatest Hits" (from Universal). The tracklist of this edition is the same as the single and double CD of 2001. And the DVD single edition too. There is another compilation from Universal called something like "Best of 80's" with "Sound and Vision" box set (2 CD's and 1 DVD) including "Boys don't cry" (video and audio). And the HP ad is on air in MTV argentina. "

(Thanks Beto)

"I thought you or some of your readers would be interested in this. On Jan 11th, the New York City club Arlene's Grocery (http://www.arlene-grocery.com) is hosting the next installment of their Classic Album Night (This series at Arlene's will be the focus of a new MTV2 show, airing January sometime, called 'Album Covers'). My band, In Fervor, will be playing the Cure's Boys Don't Cry album in it's entirety. See http://www.infervor.com for more info. Hope to see some Cure fans at the show!"

(Thanks Richard)

(Thanks Bob)

"Steven Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer, was demostrating the latest version of its iDVD software at the keynote of MacWorld today--6 Jan 2004--by building a video which could be burned to a DVD. Part of the project was chosing music to play in the background of the video and he chose "Friday I'm in Love" which played for about ten seconds.

FYI, Jobs also chose music from Dire Straits and Van Morrison for other video projects."

(Thanks Berndt)

"Rolling Stone has (in addition to a VERY cool absolut sex pistols print ad) the cure at #326 with 'disintegration' in their 500 best albums of all time. boy's don't cry is in there too, at #442. rollingstone.com has the complete list."

(Thanks Brian)

"I just came across another Cure-related skateboard item and wanted to pass it along."

(Thanks Colin)

"Thought I would let you know that Mark Plati has some info in his news section about working on the Earl Slick album. He mentions The Cure and Robert several times. http://www.markplati.net/"

(Thanks John)

"I was watching the Ricky Gervais Live DVD last night (entitled 'Animals') and there are two mentions in his material. First of all he's talking about the Pandas and reasons why they might not want to mate. One theory is that they think they are immortal because they are goths with their black eyes and white faces... Gervais tells them there's no such thing as a fat hairy Goth - except Robert Smith. Tch!

The second mention is when Gervais is ranting about the pointless personal pages that people put up on the web that just say "Hi my name is so-and-so, this is a picture of my cat" or "these are my favourite Cure songs.

I think he mentions Robert and The Cure because he genuinely loves the band... He would always do his best to mention and play them in his show on Xfm, so I don't think any of it is out of malice (no pun intended). I thought the panda gag was a bit of a cheap shot though.

Generally the DVD is recommended... It's not a classic stand-up gig, but you come away feeling like you've been for a funny night out down the pub with Ricky Gervais, which isn't so bad."

(Thanks James and Gary)

"In the latest issue of Magnet magazine, they have a Dressed To Rock article which talks about frontmen who performed in drag (David Bowie, Culture Club, etc.) Well in the Chainsaw Kittens discussion the question of dude looks like a lady? was answered with "Yes. Like a broad-shouldered lady who's into the Cure circa Disintegration." Found that somewhat both interesting and odd."

(Thanks Foilball)

"This is a giant french store display for Join The Dots. The release date for France is now schedule for january 26th."

(Thanks to Jerome at Plainsong)

(Thanks One Imaginary Girl)

There's a short note in the weekly Swiss TV magazine "Tele", No. 02/04. Below my attempt to translate:

"Cure"- Frontman is getting honest/good

After all, Robert Smith (44) did not break up his band "The Cure", as announced. The Gothic from England has gone into the studio again and has recorded a Heavy- Metal- album with "Korn"- producer Ross Robinson. Furthermore, his hair iscut. Smith: "and I will no longer make up myself."

I tried to find out more about these strange Heavy-Metal-, hair-cut- and make-up- information but due to bank holidays here in Switzerland I couldn't get hold of anyone from the editorial staff. If I'll find out more I let you know asap."

No idea about the hair and makeup bit, but don't worry, the new album IS NOT "heavy metal".

Update: "Just talked to the music editor of the Swiss "Tele"- magazine. He said that the source for his information was the internet but he couldn't tell me which sites exactly. The main reason why he wrote the short note was to let everyone know about the upcoming album and the collaboration with Ross Robinson which he thinks is very unusual and gives hope for an exceptional new album. As we all expected he had to admit that the hair and make-up info could not be confirmed at all. He said that he read it somewhere and had to laugh about it. So he thought that it might call more attention to the article. But because these informations are not very serious he finally took the whole note away from the reliable "Music News"- section and released it in "Star Gossip"."

(Thanks Greg)

(Thanks Bob)

"Apparently the group 311 is covering "Lovesong" for the upcoming Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie "50 First Dates". More info at Billboard.com:

http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2060728"

(Thanks Josh)

"The Cure are in a Special Edition Q magazine this month. The cover says 1001 Best Songs Ever (with many different artists on the cover). There is a full page photo of Robert and an article of him talking about #714 Close To Me. They also have the following rankings along with a small article for each - #780 Boys Don't Cry and #598 Pictures Of You."

(Thanks to Dayna at A Foolish Arrangement)

"On My local radio station Star 98.7, they were doing a countdown of the top 181 songs of the 80's. The Cure got 8 spots on the countdown! They were the Artist with the most songs on the Countdown!

142.) The Cure - Lovesong

100.) The Cure - Close To Me

82.) The Cure - Boys Don't Cry

69.) The Cure - Let's Go To Bed

52.) The Cure - Love Cats

38.) The Cure - Pictures of You

24.) The Cure - InBetween Days

5.) The Cure - Just Like Heaven"

(Thanks Jon)

"The new issue of Jane Magazine has an 'Entertainment Poll' in which they ask questions and the readers send in their answers...On page 114 the question is: "Boy you are strangely attracted to" and the 'honorably random mention' was from a girl named Wendy who said, " Snoop Dogg is yummy and so is Robert Smith. What a wonderful threesome that would be." I can't decide whether I think this is stupid or funny... "

(Thnaks Anah)

"The Greatest Drummers of All Time

Boris Williams - Williams, drummer for the Cure during their halcyon days, forged a uniquely recognizable sound that relied heavily on toms and China crash cymbals. Playing on some of the greatest tracks from the ‘80s, Williams saw his career cut short after getting his pink slip for indulging in a little too much of Columbia's primary export.

look: http://keystoneonline.com/story.asp?Art_id=759"

(Thanks oceane french fan)

"I was working and listening to CNN in the background, and they reviewed the new CD's being released this next year in the entertainment slot. The news anchor mentioned "The Cure - Join The Dots box set of b-sides will be available this next year as well as a new album from the band, and as word has it, Mr Robert Smith says that the new album will have a heavier sound." The other anchor sounded enthusiastic about the news and proclaimed "The Cure!". They showed the cover of the new box set, the name, band name, etc. That is exactly how I remembered it."

(Thanks Robert)

"I recently caught Death Cab For Cutie, who rarely play cover songs, on 11-15-03 at the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA. They did a great cover of Lovesong! It was awesome to hear!"

(Thanks Michael)

"Just got done playing Trivial Pursuit DVD Pop Culture game & these two questions were great!!!!

Q: What is the name of the Cure song that begins: "Show me, show me, show me..."?

A: Just Like Heaven

Q: On which day of the week does the Cure's Robert Smith often find himself in love?

A: Friday"

(Thanks Joey and Bruce)

"During highlights of the Chelsea vs Portsmouth game on ITV last night Inbetween Days was playing in the background.

Also

from the Mogwai Webite - When asked what he thought about Robert saying the Mogwai Album was his favourite of last year Barry from the band said it was really nice of him."

(Thanks Benjy)

"The extended mix of Lullaby is being used by Channel5 in the UK to advertise some sort of dangerous wildlife programme, presumably because there are giant rabid killer-spiders involved at some point, or something like that."

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"The current strip of the webcomic "8-Bit Theatre" (http://www.nuklearpower.com) has a brief Cure mention."

(Thanks Bruce)

"As taken from the Official AFI site (www.afireinside.net), "The readers of Alternative Press magazine have voted AFI into the AP Hall Of Fame 'For their contributions not only to punk rock, but also to the past year in music, which has been one of the greatest we've seen in AP's 19-year history, AFI have been voted by a majority of readers into the AP Hall Of Fame. The band will join 2002's winner, Green Day, 2001's pick, THE CURE, and 2000's inaugural champ, David Bowie.'"

(Thanks Diandra)