"You can now have your cell phone ring with Love Song or Out Of This World!!! If you go to http://www.yourmobile.com and perform a search for The Cure under artist name you will find the two previously listed songs that will play as your cell phone rings! It is easy to install and it works pretty good!"

(Thanks Daryl)

"here is some info of the last cure release (17-07-2000 for pre-order and 31-7-2000 for the instore release). It's a 3cd box set from australia. it includes boys don't cry, seventeen seconds and japanese wishpers (it seems that all the cds are european release) in a black cardboard. the catalogue # is 8573840182. it's sold for $27.00 australian dollarsthat means $16.00 usd (www.hmv.com.au). so be careful, I have seen this item at $24.00 usd on ebay and other cd shop website."

(Thanks Jean-Francois)

"ADAGIO FOR STRINGS, By SAMUEL BARBER (1938)

Has been listed as one of "The 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century" by NPR.

goto; http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/vote/list100alphabet.html to see the rest of the list as well as the criteria used to compile it. Its kind of interesting."

(Thanks Dave)

"There is a half a page article (pretty extensive) on the pink pig project in this week's Boston Phoenix. The article wasn't all that positive about the quality of the songs sent in, but seemed in awe of the fandom that made it possible."

(Thanks Ronda)

And though we have yet to hear it ourselves, we would also like to publicly thank Flor, German and Juan for all of the time, effort and incredible work they did putting the project together. We had the pleasure of meeting Flor and German at the Camden, N.J. show and they couldn't have been nicer. Hopefully our copy will arrive soon so that we can post our own review.

(Thanks Dan)

(Thanks Sean)

"I checked out the new Fox series "Opposite Sex" (three boys are admitted into an all-girls school for some reason, and hilarity allegedly ensues) and was surprised to hear "Boys Don't Cry" at TWO points in the program. The first time they used it, they played the first verse and a chorus. The second time was less. At the end of Fox programs, they usually do a "tonight's episode featured music from..." thing where they show you the album cover so you can go out and buy the CD. This time they mentioned two of the other bands that were played, but not the Cure. :( "

(thanks Angel, Bryan, Gerry, Shawn, Ashley, Daniel

"Just thought I'd mention that there is a short note on The Cure in the British music magazine Q (August Issue). Together with Smashing Pumpkins it states that The Cure and S.P. are quitting. In captions it has Robert saying that he's been doing this for all of his adult life and that he needs to try something else now. Furthermore it says that after the summer Robert Smith will finalize work on his solo album."

(Thanks Christoffer)

"Regis and Kathy Lee used 'Why can't I be you?' on Friday during the farewell show for Kathy Lee..."

(Thanks Anah)

"Columbia House Music has an online music quiz to test your music trivia knowledge - and of course The Cure make an appearance as one of the multiple choice answers:

What band bridged the gap between rock and disco with their 1979 hit Heart Of Glass?

A. The Clash B. The Human League C. The Cure D. Blondie

Of course, it was not The Cure, but Blondie who put out Heart of Glass . . .

You can check out the quiz at: http://wwwrd.0mm.com/CBH032001+bkk30x10vdxmyqvfzq9i+lxqr63wjfw "

(Thanks Janice)

"Today (July 27th) a young italian singer (Marjorie Biondo) in the italian program ( A me mi piace...I,I like) on TMC2 choose The Caterpillar video.

(Thanks Serena)

"Sunday afternoon (July 23) on Rock n Roll Jeopardy on VH1 a question was asked that went something like this "Three Imaginary Boys was the debut album of Robert Smith's band" C C Deville of Poison answer correctly with The Cure!"

(Thanks Joe)

"I was just watching VH1's The List. It was for the best new wave band, and in the beginning they showed little clips of the Just Like Heaven video."

(Thanks Raych)

"I'm just dropping a note to say when I was reading my local newspaper, They were talking of a new children's book that was just released and there is a page with a bunch of different colored fish, Which the illustrator and his wife dedicated to their favorite bands. The Cure Red & Gold and also Lime Green & Tangerine! Also Purple & Black for Depeche mode... Blue and Orange Pet Shop Boys and Also a fishy for Tim Burton. Check It out It seems pretty cool. There's the picture on their website http://www.tremiak.com."

(Thanks Jennifer S.)

"on german tv (rtl 2) ,they made a studioreport in a berlin radiostation and the japanese whispers cd was put right on the main mixing desk and it could be seen for a short minute."

(Thanks Zoppel)

"The highly influential British Director, most famous for his innovative work with the Cure, discusses his own work as well as admiring others in this one-hour special".

(Thanks T)

(Thanks Cedrique)

"One Cure spotting yesterday night: the programme Nightfile on TMC2 tells in two hours the story of a band\artist showing videos and both old and new interviews. Yesterday it was time for Skunk Anansie whose singer Skin asked of who have influenced her musically said "Sex Pistols, Blondie, The Cure and generally indie music".

Next Sunday the programme will stop for the summer and for the last one they have chosen to tell the story of The Cure, promising that there will be an icy on the cake during the special. It'll be on Sunday at 10.30 pm."

(Thanks Davide)

"I've just had the funniest curesspoting this evening, i was moving randomly on T.V. when, on a really cheap talk show (a la Oprah Winfrey), they used "Prayers for Rain" as a background, the show is aired live from Miami with a full latin audience, Queer ah!!!??? All this happened tonight around 10:30 on a local channel, XEQTV 9, here in Mexico City."

(Thanks Jerry)

(Thanks Brian)

Calling all Cure Fans! This weekend only, get all domestic (U.S.) releases by the Cure for 30% OFF at CDNOW! There's never been a better time to add to your Cure collection! Purchase their latest release Bloodflowers for only $12.58. Get recent releases for less, such as Galore (just $12.58) and Wild Mood Swings (only $11.88). Or, relive the '80s with Head on the Door ($11.88), Faith ($11.88), and many others.

Hurry -- CDNOW's Cure Sale only lasts through Monday, July 24, 2000. To take advantage of these special prices, visit CDNOW at: http://p04.com/t.d?VkKdBxAe=/cdnow.com/cure/from=rex:x:cdn:0720curef

To further satisfy your Cure cravings, watch and listen to the CDNOW Interview with Robert Smith. Find out which three Cure albums are Robert's favorites, learn whether or not Bloodflowers will be the band's final bow, and more. View the interview here:

http://p04.com/t.d?MkKdBxAe=/cdnow.com/Cure_2Interview/from=rex:x:cdn:0720c uref

(Thanks Josh)

"In the Sept./Oct. issue of Official Dreamcast magazine, there is a little snippet about the similarities between Robert Smith and a video game character called Cyprian.

"Moody moptop orphan meets moody moptop popster. The only thing separating Cyprian from ol' Sulky Bob is about 30 years and as many pounds, gained during a dreadful bout of '80s-inspired ennui. Of course, we loved him anyway: tilt an ear at any of his classic dirges, and you'll be hearing the soundtrack of ODCM's [Official Dreamcast Magazine's] collective adolescence. And now we're off to rat our coiffs and shine up our bondage boots...''

There is also a picture of the two side by side. I don't know, the kid kind of looks like Chucky."

(Thanks xiolaelise)

(Thanks David C.)

MTV:

The Cure's Smith Re-Teams With Bowie Guitarist The Cure's Robert Smith

With The Cure enjoying some downtime after its tour in support of "Bloodflowers," frontman Robert Smith is preparing to unveil a new track he penned and recorded with guitarist Reeves Gabrels.

Smith and Gabrels (a producer and songwriter best known for his work as David Bowie's guitarist) teamed up to write and record "Yesterday's Gone," which is currently available for download at icast.com.

The two have paired before, first to write the 1997 Cure song "Wrong Number," and more recently to record the track "A Sign From God" for the soundtrack to "Orgazmo."

Spokespeople for the project say that Smith and Gabrels wrote and recorded "Yesterday's Gone" in London and Los Angeles, and enlisted Godhead's Jason Miller to provide backing vocals.

Users who head to icast.com to download the track will have to play Gabrel's "Sacred Squall Of Now" or "Night In Amnesia" or The Cure's "Bloodflowers" within icast's "icaster" to access the new track. For more details on the offer, check out Reeves' official Web site at www.reevesgabrels.com

-- Robert Mancini

Rolling Stone daily e-mail:

"ROBERT SMITH of the CURE has recorded a song called "Yesterday's Gone" with DAVID BOWIE guitarist REEVES GABRELS. It's available at www.reevesgabrels.com, but fans need either the Cure's "Bloodflowers" album or Gabrels' solo album to access the track . . . "

(Thanks Janice)

(Thanks Dan)

"In the new amy heckerling film, loser, one pretty extended scene featured 'mint car'."

(Thanks Diana)

"Elissa Schappell wrote a really awful book called 'Use Me' (if anyone read it and liked it...im sorry), well anyway in the book she says:

'...listening to that god awful poppy music ( i swear that played backwards, those Cure lyrics say, Make yourself hideous), and cutting her hair.'

i have yet to figure out which song she was referring to..."

(Thanks Swanky Puppy)

Interviewr: I have to ask you this question, is this the last concert you will give in Belgium?

Robert: I think that's pretty unlikely actually. I've been quoted as saying it's the last Cure tour and that's true. We've been on tour this year for about 4 months, 5 months and we're probably going to go to South America and Australia in a couple of months time. And it's just that, I mean I've been doing it for almost 25 years and I just, you know...I don't want to stop playing with the band, but I don't ever want to take kinda 7 or 8 months out of a year to go on tour because it just doesn't feel right anymore. I've actually enjoyed this year, the tour, more than any other Cure tour that I've ever done and the band, everyone likes each other more now than when we started and that's never the case, we always split up after a tour usually. So it's worked, but I think it's worked because we know it's the last time we'll do it. But I think doing one off shows or festivals, or even doing 2 or 3 shows back to back is fine but kicking the whole thing into gear and employing 30 or 40 people, and everyone says you could do it on a smaller scale but you can't really, because if you go somewhere and you only play a club, understandably it pisses everyone off. Because I think why have you come all this way and you're only playing to like a thousand people if you can play to 10,000. So out of necessity we play on a bigger scale than I feel comfortable with sometimes. And it's just the motivation for doing it in the past has been driven by pure enjoyment and the desire for new experiences and that's really gone you know. And so I think it would be stupid for me to treat it as a career now, it's too late. So I just think if I put it to one side I can concentrate on my own doing stuff and also with the Cure. The Cure won't stop, but the nature of it will change. That's all. Everyone's very sad about it, you know, Cure fans, but there has to come a point I think where I'm going to try something different, otherwise I would just turn into a characature.

You speak of Cure fans, I mean it's sort of a legion isn't it? I mean I know there are people here from France, from Switzerland, from all over Europe following you all the way.

Yeah it's pretty incredible actually. On the European tour, the entourage we pick up, some of them go to every show. I mean I don't think there's another band in the world actually that has the same kinda like maniac devotion that we have. There's literally hundreds of people who go to like...

That can be scary that no? I mean that sort of devotion or idolatry?

Not really 'cause over a period of time we do actually know a lot of them, not at a deep level, but I know them by sight and I've talked to most of them actually of the course of this year. Umm, it's not just the band that they like, it's also that feeling of community, I mean they really like meeting up with each other at shows, and I can understand it, genuinely they're very nice, they're kind of calm, they don't see us as something out of the ordinary, they think what we do is out of the ordinary, but they don't see us as being something apart from the human race. Which is good. I mean I much prefer that than the kind of screaming fanaticism that we experienced like ten years ago in certain parts of the world. That's something that is much more difficult to cope with because you end up just hiding all the time, whereas generally I'm treated much like a normal person that does something abnormal. Which is probably the best way to look at what I do.

(Thanks to Leo for providing the interview clip, which you can download from his site, along with clips of Killing An Arab and Boy's Don't Cry from the Werchter show)

"The Cure frontman Robert Smith has teamed once again with noted guitarist Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie, Frank Black) to record the new song "Yesterday's Gone," which is available for free MP3 download via Icast's ICASTER multimedia player. Users must play a copy of the Cure's most recent Elektra album, "Bloodflowers," or either of Gabrels' solo albums into ICASTER to gain access to the new song.

Gabrels and Smith previously worked together under the name Cogasm to record "A Sign From God" for the 1997 "Orgazmo" soundtrack. Gabrels also appeared on the Cure track "Wrong Number," featured on the group's compilation "Galore" the same year."

"I just found out that a movie I saw at the Sundance Film Festival called "Other Voices" will be in theaters late fall! The writer and director were inspired by the song and are huge Cure fans. It's deep and dark, very Faith/Pornography with a little bit of Head on the Door. I think all Cure fans will greatly appreciate it. Reread the lyrics of "Other Voices" before walking into the movie! "

(Thanks Julie)

"I just wanted to let you know that the female fronted psuedo-industrial band Snake River Conspiracy does a (loud) cover of "Lovesong" on their new album. The album also features a cover of The Smiths' "How Soon is Now?". "

(Thanks Brian S.)

"CURE party on Saturday July 22nd, which is free for all the members of the Fan Club (Av Arequipa block 13th).

To become a member of the fan club please visit our homepage www.geocities.com/cureperu/index.html or send an e-mail to cureperu@hotmail.com"

(Thanks Ytalo)

"Today (July 17th) on 99X in Atlanta one of the DJ's mentioned that the Deftones were HUGE Cure fans. He also added that they asked Robert to produce their new album. Although flattered by the offer he had to turn it down because of time conflicts. I'm not sure were the DJ got his information. "

(Thanks SmplyDremy)

"Yesterday (July 17) MTV2 showed the Cure live in London from the Swing Tour. They played almost every song from WMS(altogether about 7/8 songs were played). And today (July 18th) MTV2 showed the 1991 Cure performance on MTV Unplugged. "

(Thanks Jennifer)

"In his first public activity since the Cure's farewell tour earlier this year, Robert Smith has collaborated with longtime David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels on a new song, "Yesterday's Gone," that will be available only as an MP3 download at http://www.reevesgabrels.com To get the tracks, though, visitors will be required to load either the Cure's "Bloodflowers" album or Gabrel's two previous solo albums on their CD-ROM. For details see the website. "

(Thanks Fernando, Melanie and Claire)

"Last night The Cure was on Canvas, belgium television, in a program concerning the Rock Wrechter festival 2000. They showed short-cuts of three songs (Boys don't Cry, 100years (entitled as The Loudest Sound) and Killing an arab) It was a good decision to show at the end the way Robert Smith stood alone at the stage, staring at the crowd to say in his manner a way of goodbye. There was also a short interview in which Robert said that the Dream Tour felt very good and that in the future The Cure would continue to give concerts. He confirmed again that The Cure would give concerts in Australia and South-America in autumn.

(Thanks Roger)

(Thanks Roger, Robbertc and Jim)

"Just thought id let you all know on Wednesday 12 July on an Australian program on Channel 9 called the Dream Factory which is about australians trying to make it big in america they played a bit of "friday im in love' at the end which was a nice surprise...i'll let you know if they play anymore so stay tuned. "

(Thanks Jamie)

"I think it was friday...i was watching Gross Point Blank on tv and there was a scene where the actress was on the phone, and in the backround they were playing 'Inbetween Days'. "

(Thanks Raycheal)

"yesterday (16.7.) i heard "there is no if" on the Radio City maribor. this radio is one of three most popular radio stations in slovenia. i was surprised, because most of the music on this station is crap."

(Thanks Iztok)

(Thanks Dan)

"The following article (stupid, yet funny) appears in the July 2000 issue of 'American Salon' magazine, a trade salon magazine unavailable for retail sale. Here's the URL for my scan: http://www.helloimage.com/salon01.html"

(Thanks Anna)

"On the television show Studio Y that airs on the metro channel in the New York City area they reviewed www.shockwave.com's video animation and they showed a short clip of Out of This World. The way the show works is that a group of about 5 teenagers just give their thoughts on what they saw and the kids mostly agreed that the video for Air's Sexy Boy wasn't too great but when asked about the Cure everyone was very positive, saying not only did they enjoy the video but also the song."

(Thanks Matt)

"I had a cure sighting yesterday, while watching the news on abc...they were doing a story about a woman named sally who wants to make a record for hula hooping...she was hula-ing to 'friday i'm in love!' good luck to her:)"

(Thanks Christina)

"some cure bits in this weeks rolling stones

in random notes it mentions "members of the Cure ..." attended a show for David Bowie at the New York Roseland Ballroom

in rolling stone.com you can download some new tracks from the cure (although they don't mention which songs)

and in the article about the punk band Blink 182 Mark Hoppus "discovered the Cure and the Smiths and through their music he found solace."

(Thanks Curelover)

"I was watching a rerun of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, and they mentioned the Cure in an episode. Its from 1997 and during the movie "Revenge of The Creature" Mike Nelson says (about a light colored German SHepard with a black nose and mouth area) "The dog's a cure fan with all that black lipstick."

(Thanks Kelly O)

(Thanks Joe)

"Saturday July 15th the Belgian tv channel BRT2 will broadcast an impression of the third day of the Rock Werchter festival and they promised (amongst others) an extensive covering of ths Cure's performance. Wonder what that means; probably it will be NEVER ENOUGH for fans like us, but nevertheless...

So watch it: "Plankenkoorts" (trans.: Stagefright) BRT2 (or "Canvas" like it's called nowaday's), saturday July 15th, 22:45-23:50!"

(Thanks Hipcat)

"The Cure was on; a short interview with Robert backstage and aprox. 4 minutes of OUT OF THIS WORLD. It was way to short, but better than nothing I guess..(?)

The interviewer asked Robert about the first time The Cure played at Werchter (back in 1981). While they were still playing, the crew of Robert Palmer (who was on next) already began tearing down their (The Cure's) set. It almost resulted in a fight on stage! Anyway, The Cure ended the song they where playing at the moment of this incident (a very long and agressive version of A Forest) and after that Robert (or was it Simon, I can't quite remember) shouted in the microphone: "Fuck Robert Palmer, fuck Rock 'n Roll". Robert could remember this incident when the interviewer put it in memory he laughed and told that at the time Simon and himself decided that the world of Rock 'n Roll world theirs. Continuing he told that programmers of festivals in the early eighties didn't care which bands they put together on one bill, resulting in hostillities as the above mentioned. Luckily this has changed a lot since then, he ended the interview with. Well at least that was the only thing they broadcasted from it.., I am sure there's more."

(Thanks Hipcat)

"Very small Curespotting but whilst watching BBC1, the UK TV channel (of which we only have 5). Whilst previewing a new series for a programme I think it's called "Badger", the opening sequence from "Open" was played during the trailer.

There must be a number of Cure fans who work at the BBC as they tend to sneak in a lot of tracks. Usually obscure or less well known ones eg Open, More than this, FTEOTDGS, etc."

(Thanks Steve)

"I was in a mall in Calgary yesterday at a store called RW&Co. and they were playing "A Forest" (Tree Mix)."

(Thanks Eccsame)

"Just a little note to say that I was watching ZDTV last night (Thursday), about 3am PST. On one of the news channels they did a little brief on The Cure. They started with a little history of the band. Then they had a real short interview with Roger. One question!!!!! " what do you do in your spare time?" His reply was that he slept in his spare time. Not in exact words. Then they talked with Jason about MP3'S. He thought they were fine as long as they were bootlegs. Then they ended with a short tour of the site and reminding everyone that you could view the shockwave video of Out Of This World. "

(Thanks Peter and Russ)

(Thanks John)

"They have a Laserium at the Griffith Observatory in L.A.

They have 7 or more different shows and The L.A.S.E.R. Amazement plays Friday, I'm in love!!!"

(Thanks Punam)

"Hi, I work for TMF, a Belgian Music TV-channel. I had an interview with Robert Smith last weekend at The Werchter Festival.

The Cure is indeed working on a b-side album. "Obviously we have all the songs, but they only have to be mastered again and the artwork has to be done. We hope to release it after the summer, in autumn or winter." He couldn't say which songs will be on the album and what the title will be. "

(Thanks Stijn)

"Just heard some Cure news on Radio21 (alternative radio in Belgium). They made an interview of Robert at Werchter this week-end (I didn't hear it, I was in Werchter). First of all, it seems that Robert & co were intending to play a full "standard" show with all the encores but had to stop after the first encore. So we'll never know what we missed ... Secondly, apparently the Werchter show was the last show of The Cure but ... there would be a world "farewell" tour in the next year(s). As the DJ Marc Ysaïe said, with Robert Smith you're never sure of what would really happen..."

(Thanks Yves)

"On June 28th, CityTV (A local channel from Bogota, Colombia) showed an exclusive interview for Colombian press with Robert Smith at Miami FL. Robert said they probably will be playing at Bogota (I think in October, like in all South America). In the next days I'll be sending all the interview (I'm translating it...)"

(Thanks Jorge)

(Thanks Dan)

"Nothing important but I thought I'd let you know these five 'cure spottings'...

The Swiss radio 'Couleur 3' used to play a lot of Cure stuff in 89-90-92 (Disintegration's tracks, 'Never Enough', 'Close To Me', 'A Forest' mixes, 'Friday' and 'High (higher mix)', as well as Presence, Siouxsie, Shelleyan Orphan), and they did again these last few days, starting last wednesday: I just found a new work placement, and on my way to work, at 7.30am, Couleur 3 played 'Just Like Heaven' (A good sign?).

In addition, on the day The Cure should have played the Roskilde festival, on my way to work again, they played 'High'. That same (late) evening, they played 'friday I'm in Love'. I thought they would play at least one live track as they were doing some reports about the different bands playing Roskilde with some live extracts of the shows, but as you know, the Cure show had to be canceled due to very sad circumstances.

Finally, French TV chanel 'TFI' still uses 'The last Day Of Summer' as musical background for the competition of its motor sport program 'Auto Moto' on Sunday morning, and this evening, as I checked out what was on on the different chanels, that same TFI had a stupid program about a rich oil magnate using 'Close To Me (Closer Mix)'."

(Thanks Fabien)

"In "El Mercurio" (the primary Santiago, Chile newspaper) on page C15, Sunday July 2 (next to a picture of Ozzy Ozborne) it says:

"Tambien sin dais precisos, se anuncian para octubre las actuaciones de los australianos Savage Garden y los ingleses The Cure y Iron Maiden."

"Also without exact dates, the performances for October are announced of the Australians Savage Garden and the English The Cure and Iron Maiden".

Down below is a graph entitled "Upcoming Concerts" which has The Cure scheduled for October sandwiched between (of course) Savage Garden and Iron Maiden but without any assigned date or assigned place."

(Thanks Holly)

('No va más' means something like 'the last word' or 'the last thing')

In this exclusive interview, The Cure's leader Robert Smith affirms that this time the threat is serious. He will dissolve the band after the present world tour, in which they want to perform in seven Latin America countries.

(By Javier Andrade - from Miami)

Interviewer: How does it feel to go on tour at this moment, in the year 2000, does it feel like it's the end?

Robert Smith: In my unconscious, I know this is the end, yes. But I must say that this is the best tour I've played in with The Cure so far.

I.: How is it different?

R.S.: I think the reason why I've been enjoying it so much is because I honestly think this is one of the last times I'm going to do it, so I'm trying to give everything in each and every of these shows. These are long shows, they last for about three hours, and they are epic shows, like those of the Disintegration tour. The atmosphere is different from what we've been doing over the last years. There isn't really pop music. What you live there is an emotional experience. I've left the stage feeling really strange and at the same time very well. And I think that is why I'm enjoying it so much.

I.: Does it happen the same with your last album?

R.S.: What we've been doing live is a good set of songs to compliment those in 'Bloodflowers'. What I intended with this album is that it was one hour of a very particular kind of music. The logical extension to this is to make a show where we can recreate a similar atmosphere to that in the album. What we had done in the live shows previously is a different thing. Actually, it's very easy to content an audience with hits, so we're sacrificing that. I told the others: 'this is the way we are going to finish'.

I.: Why did you decide to make a song as long as 'Watching me fall', which lasts for 11 minutes, in these pop times? Was it deliberately against radio stations?

R.S.: I guess it was, because I wanted it to be the single, and that was my suggestion to the record company. Obviously, they answered 'no'. I also told them that it was the only song I would make a video about. I don't know whether I would really make it. It'd be complicated to make an 11-minute video. It'd be like a film. And the song was really much longer. When I played it to my mates they thought I had gone mad. They just couldn't believe I had recorded a half-an-hour homemade demo. I don't do things to generate a reaction. When we were making this album we didn't think of how it was going to fit the present market.

I.: When you sing 'I've been watching me fall', is it how you see yourself in this market?

R.S.: To tell you the truth, this song was written in one of my darkest moments. It was when I was really feeling I hadn't achieved many of the things I had set up to achieve when I was younger. 'Watching me fall' is somehow about the way in which I have felt tempted to take advantage of other people from the position I am in, taking advantage of people for what I do. It's very difficult because all the time there is the temptation of acting, and sometimes it's very difficult to resist that temptation.

I.: What things do you think you haven't achieved?

R.S.: I had a general sensation of what I was doing was wrong. I felt that my life was not going as it should, and that I should change. This is the first album since 'Disintegration' which I feel as a cathartic experience. People tell me the same too. They have let me know it by telling me that there isn't much music in which you can notice this kind of feelings. There's much bullshit but there's little music that make you feel something. Then, there was this other song, '39', where I told that I had run out of ideas and out of passion, out of everything. And that was what I really was feeling at that moment, I was feeling wretched about everything. But not now, it's over.

I.: Would you give any advice to bands that seem to be following The Cure's musical direction, such as NIN, Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson or Rob Zombie?

R.S.: It's strange that you've mentioned those 4 people, because I know 3 of them. In fact, Billy Corgan is the only one, or one of the few people in the music business, whom I get along well with, though we don't agree in much of what we talk about. I would almost say that we are in total disagreement, but we get along well anyway. He came to Chicago to watch us play at the beginning of this year. We went out, and we couldn't agree in the whole night. We discussed about everything, from the music business to the world in general. We have totally different points of view and even though, we get along well with each other. Because there is something we share, something of one of us that the other one likes. Actually, I like what he's done with Smashing Pumpkins; I think it's quite good. And it's the same with NIN, and with Trent Reznor… I really think that there are people who are making a kind of music that reflects the way they feel. And people who are making this kind of music, as they are, don't need any advice. They are people who are making music without copying it, and I don't think they are looking for any advice. On the other hand, it's always been very flattering to me to hear that other musicians say I've been some influence for them. I usually like those bands, so it's mutual. It's very unusual that someone admits to having been influenced by The Cure and I don't like that band.

I.: Even Jonathan Davis, from Korn, has declared he loves gothic music, the 80's dark. And, obviously, The Cure.

R.S.: That is really weird… but there are some of the new metal musicians that admit part of The Cure's stuff as an influence. I can understand it thinking of records like 'Pornography', for instance, where there are a couple of moments of heavy distortion.

I.: The way you make videos as well, don't you think?

R.S.: I like to think that there are people from important bands that look at The Cure and see how we've done it, and they respect us and they'd like to have the longevity we've reached in the way we've done it. I believe that if there is one reason why we have lasted it is because there is integrity, it is for the way we've done things. Because we've never put music aside… and that is an old-fashioned way of doing things, of protecting what is yours. At least that is how I feel regarding the music we've made. But I don't take the rest of us as seriously at all. That's why we've made such ridiculous videos. I mock myself at the videos. I don't take myself seriously at all. As a performer, I think I am sometimes ridiculous. But as an artist, I really try to create something that people will enjoy. That's the part I take seriously. The rest is trash.

I.: Do you like the idea of having an album with your name and not 'The Cure' on its cover?

R.S.: Yes, that's the next thing I'm going to do. Luckily I'll have the chance to invite some of the friends I mentioned before to play in some songs (he laughs). I'd like to collaborate with different people, depending on the theme, and maybe to have the band playing there too. But the next thing I'll do won't be called 'The Cure'. If we make another album after 'Bloodflowers' we are going to disappoint anyone. 'Bloodflowers' has become instantly one of the fans' favourite records because it sounds very much like The Cure. But the songs that have been written since then don't sound like The Cure at all. I remember about the time when we made 'Disintegration', that the next step was the 'Mixed up' album, and we got quite a very bad reaction from everyone. So this time I thought that if I wanted to do something different, or unusual, I was going to call it 'Robert Smith', and then people could think it was my fault, and not the band's fault.

I.: Are you prepared to fly to Mexico and South America in this tour? Some years ago you used to say that because of your fright at planes you had only performed once in North Mexico, and you hadn't felt like getting to DF…

R.S.: It was true. I didn't want to fly, but I've already overcome it.

I.: What would you do this time?

R.S.: I would fly. It's over now, that was then. Flying doesn't worry me anymore. I'm not scared of doing it. I've managed to stop dreading it. It'd be wonderful to go on a good South American tour, and have the chance to see a lot of countries in addition to Brazil and Argentina. Obviously the Federal District of Mexico is very high in the list of places where we haven't performed yet. We get so much feedback from Mexico that we know it's something we can't put off. It's incredible that we haven't performed there yet. The sales of our records are wonderful in Mexico. Perhaps, as I've been told, our sales are going so well there because we haven't performed live. But I don't think that's true.

(Thanks to Pepe for translating the interview for us)

DOES ANYONE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS? Exclusive: Robert Smith explains why he decided to come to an end with The Cure.

His dark figure and tortured temper marked with slow fire the aesthetics of the 80's. In the 90's he survived as the top icon on Gothic subculture and now in 2000 he decided it was the right time to put an end to a character that went through his entire life. In a private chat with him, Robert Smith uncovered his crisis: composing songs for the band has became for years a hard issue, and he even decided to cut his hair off to bury the past. Could he?

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DRESSED IN SOLID BLACK AT SUNNY MIAMI, ROBERT SMITH CONFESSES WHY IS HE GIVING UP

Trying to come to an end on his character of top icon of Goth youth, Smith is considering to shave his head. Worried by the passing of time, the leader of The Cure remembered his Argentinan debut back in 1987 and assured his goodbye tour is reaching Buenos Aires this year.

---

Robert Smith must had feel strange at Hotel Tides, favorite of Oliver Stone, where even the linen shirts of the waiters were white. When the elevator came down for the interview in plain daylight, Smith was out of tune with the whole place by wearing a black long-sleeved cotton shirt with a blood red line around the neck just like his carelessly painted lips. A few small extra pounds, tousled hair sticked together with hairspray, black liner on his blue eyes. A real vampire in Miami.

"I know i capture attention a lot, so much i even feel embarrased sometimes. When on tour by Florence, there gathered some 30 people around me. Sometimes it is really fantastic and i understand why they do it, but i hate to feel they are watching me."

- Let's say here in Miami, the most tropical city in the US, all dressed in black (and with make up on), it is imposible that people doesn't watch you...

"Yes, i know... maybe this is not the most appropiate place to dress like this. But i'd like to come back to Florida to take my nephews to Disneyland on Christmas. But this is not my place. It is too hot."

- If it is true you are planning to shave your head like Billy Corgan, you would have less trouble with heat.

"Actually i already shaved my head twice in the past 12 years. I make it because of a psycological reason, because i think hair creates something by growing... it is like if by growing longer it became something very important, then when i cut it off i control myself. It is just an image. I know i look ridiculous when shaved. But i still look like an idiot with the same hairdo as ever. It is inevitable."

- Is it true too that this is your last tour?

"I think whenever this tour ends, even this year or next one, it will be the very last world wide tour of The Cure. I know it by instinct, because the way i feel myself... everything i've ever done with the band had always to do with the way i've ever felt... there has never been anything calculated. I think i should try to do something different. When i was 20 i told myself that when i became 40 i was stopping to do what i was doing at the time and then try something different. I became 40 last month and i still haven't done it. 20 years is so much time to keep on doing the same thing."

Actually, the mystery is not about wondering why is Smith ending The Cure but about how is that the band survived the last decade. With less and less solid albums (you have to go back to Wish to find something), the permanence of The Cure anchors in the tortured charisma of its frontman, whose wax doll image became in again with the success of Marilyn Manson and Smashing Pumpkins. That way, the Goth subculture (in force at US) kept him standing up all these years as a reference: the holy father of sinister rock. With Bloodflowers, promoted before its release as the band's last album, Smith re-examines the dark heart of The Cure. The expectation seems to reactivate its vampire flock. In Miami, he said he has enjoyed the first part of this tour in Europe further than any other Cure show in the past.

"It is strange when i think this is going to be our very last tour... which is a very good reason to make it big".

Robert Smith looks at the door where the bus waits for him to take to a stage at West Palm Beach, his next stop in the North American Dream Tour. There, another 12 thousand vampires are due to be embraced by everyone of his songs for three hours long, most of them neo-goth ones who recently celebrated the arriving of Korn and Nine Inch Nails to the city, some eighties-like dark ones and even a couple punks with mohican hair. All ready to devour the new album, Bloodflowers, and the darkest songs in The Cure's history.

- Don't you think you are speculating a lot with your retirement? You even let the door open to the band to make a recording again sometime...

"I'm not so sure about that. I know the next album i make is going to be mine, as soloist, then after that i don't know... but getting out on tour, and keep all going for four or five months... that is enough. I want a change. I came to dislike myself."

Smith is having some trouble with his age. He is undergoing a crisis and he doesn't feel confortable with the mirror's reflection, he knows he has to change and uses The Cure as a therapy. In Bloodflowers, for example, he entitled a song '39', the age he had at the time of writing it, and he sings "the fire is almost out and there's nothing left to burn"

- Do you really believe there's nothing left?

"I tried to be honest. What i intended with the album is an acceptance on changing, like accepting things are different when ageing. It is complicated, i'm used to be in this place, it is like it is my life. I had never worried before. But the gaps between Cure albums became more and more wide because i felt less motivated to write songs, and i think it is natural. And if that is happening i should not keep on forcing things.

- Are you quitting make-up too?

"I don't wear make up because i am in The Cure. I wear it because i like to. When i go out for shopping i use to wear make-up. But it is true i wear a heavier make up when i am on stage because i feel more comfortable. I feel this way my performance will be different.

Picturing Robert Smith doing his shopping should be from now and on a must for his argentinan fans, whom should know, by the way, that he keeps a picture given to him by Grinbank asking him, in '97, for the band's return. Smith clarifies that he didn't return until now just because things didn't happened, not because the troubles during his argentinan debut back in '87, when everything ended as a rumpus chronicled in the newspapers.

"That was just a problem on organization, people was not responsable. The truth is i have not returned to Argentina just because of logistic reasons, for the same reason we went to Japan in '84 and never went back again. But when we go to South America we are going back to Argentina. I'd really liked to travel to all those countries back then when we were underground and we could walk down the streets without anyone staring at us."

Just like it happened a few minutes after, when the interview ended and Robert Smith went down the steps of the Tides escorted by curious people. The sun reflected on his black sunglasses while he forced a smile to the camera and sought shelter by the cool darkness inside the bus. All in a hurry but without losing his dignity.

Silvia Maestrutti (special from Los Angeles)

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(Here follows a brief note about THE PERMANENT ARGENTINAN HOMAGE COMITEE and about Germán Bordagaray and THE PINK PIG ATLAS, which "compiled covers by amateur bands from almost every country in the world. The edition (around 500 copies) is not profitable and it is just for the internal consume of the participants except for the one copie an astonished Smith received..." It mentions too the Argentinan tribute to the Cure called "Into a Sea of Cure".)

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(Then a short funny note)

TWELVE MOMENTS/FLASHES/SIGNS THROUGH WHICH THE CURE AND ROBERT SMITH ARE LIVING IN OUR HEARTS ETERNALLY. Sniff...

THE WARDROBE LAUNCHED in the "Close to me" video. Make-up and glamour waterproof. Do you remember Robert's sweet face?

THE BASS LINE in "A Forest". If you bought a bass around 1987/88 because you didn't want to go to school anymore, then you surely began playing that. The "smoke over the water" of the 80's. "Too toom, too toom, too toom" rode Simon Gallup. He was a dark Apocalypse rider. Unique. (Shh, don't tell Bob: his hairdo was, by far, the best on the band).

THE PRICELESS FRIENDSHIP Robert Smith maintained with the chubby one (Lol Tolhurst), a musical inept kept in the band just because they were schoolmates. Not in vain when the chubby one left the band (on the 90's) everything fell apart. The orchestra needed the garlands and clouds of his keyboard.

THE WALL MADE OF ACOUSTIC GUITARS AND KEYBOARDS in "The Caterpillar", the best song written (ever) for a worm.

THE STRAIN GUITAR VS BASS in "10:15 Saturday Night", the best song written (ever) for that hour of the night.

THE NAPHTHALENE SCENT at Cemento any night on late 80's. Of course, you just discovered grandma's overcoat.

THE CATCHING LYRICS OF "FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE", the last real big hit of The Cure in a row of argentinan hits that extended from "Boys don't cry" to this pop gem that made us repeat the days of the week just like the characters on Sesame Street. Yes, that happened in the 90's.

THE PRICELESS COMPANY OF "CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES" on rainy days. Any idiot ready to go out of tune on melancholy should think about it twice after Bob and his "mamooshkas" recorded "Charlotte Sometimes". Try the little dessert, it keeps working.

OF COURSE, ROBERT'S LOOK... we bet he slept that way. He incarnated a creature on Tim Burton's style, something like a racoon wearing a tarantula wig and dressing like a buddhist monk.

...AND ROBERT'S VOICE... that moaning cast down, like a cat falling down a precipice, which seemed to echo a single pleading: "Help". Think about "Lovecats".

... AND THE LYRICS. Smith surpased Norman Bates (Psychosis) when falling madly in love. Terminal and definitive sentences: "I will never be clean again", "I want to change it all"...

THE WONDERFUL SICK POP. Remember it: the merry "Why can´t i be you?" (1987) made them rank with verses like "I´ll just hug you to death".

---

(And then there is just a local review on someone whose pride is to go out at night displaying the whole Goth code and visiting different clubs)

(Thanks to Agueda G. Gonzalez for translating the interview for us)

"The Atlanta Braves have a new radio commercial out... the background music is Friday I'm In Love."

(Thanks Jim)

"I just returned home from Disney World in Florida. And had 3 Cure spottings.

1. The new roller coaster in MGM Studios Called Rockin Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith plays music while in line. Luckily they dont play Aerosmith until you get on the ride. While I was in line I heard Fascination Street. I was the only one in line dancing and singing the words. But I did manage to get the crowd to clap when it was over.

2. Disney has a walkway in front of the Magic Kingdom that stretches all the way around the lagoon in front of it. It is paved with bricks that have names of families that have been to disney world. And for 50 or so dollars you can have your name put there too. Well I went to look for my families brick and over by the Polynesian Resort is a brick that says Robert & Mary Smith Sussex England. And than has a Heart underneath the inscription. And the date is 1997. Could this really be them?

3. Last night on my way out of the Magic Kingdom. When the park was closing down they play music about going away and Out Of This World was coming over the speaker on the Tv at my Bus Stop and it shows pictures of Disney World. I thought that it had made a perfect ending to my week there.

(Thanks Robert*)

"Harold and Joe" is the Alternative Classic Song of the week in radio station Doble 9 (99.1 fm) here in Lima. They are playing it every four hours. Is this a sign? There are rumors that this station would be supporting the probable Cure concert next October. We all here are praying!

(Thanks Juan)

"Today on MTV Europe, the 'Close To Me' video was #36 in the Top 100 of the Millennium."

(Thanks Jerome)

"i've found something interesting in the july-issue of the german music magazine VISIONS (with chino moreno on the cover) there is a big article about the deftones and chino moreno mentions something about the cure. here is the excerpt of the interview:

moreno: "i want to express what i feel without saying what i feel with words which irritates me. that's the reason why i was such a big the cure-fan. i loved "pornography" where all lyrics were extremly abstract but nevertheless you've got a very intense feeling of what's going on there."

in the review of the new deftones-album "white pony" christian kruse (who wrote the review) mentions the cure again: "[...] 'white pony' stands in a row with totally great albums of the last 20 years: 'ok computer' from radiohead, 'aenima' from tool and 'pornography' from the cure. [...]" greetings from vienna!

(Thanks Peter)

It seems weird to be posting anything else, since it seems so trivial in light of this tragedy, but there are other bits of news and here they are:

"The Dutch Radio 3 FM will be broadcasting the Werchter Festival live tomorrow. No news on how much they will be allowed to broadcast, but I have high hopes, as the program lasts till 1am."

(Thanks Han)

(Thanks Chris)

"Update For List: Hard Rock Chips

Hi !

Well we thought the Cure $25 Chip would be going on ebay for around $450 so we were offering our chips at $400. But we were proven wrong, because so many Cure chips are being listed at the moment the closeing price for the cure $25 chip was everytime at a little above $300.

Because we at Vegaschips always want to offer a good price, we are going to Reduce the Cure $25 chip to $250. Which is $50 below the closeing price on ebay for the last 3 cure chips.

Offer good while supplies last. Order at :

http://www.vegaschips.com

Also the couple people who did buy it at $400 don't worry you won't get burned. Refund is in the mail.

Best Regards

Rene Nezhoda "

(Thanks Nicole)

"I am listening to JJJ at the moment with Richard Kingsmill with a special on Nick Drake who died tragically in 1974 after only recording 3 albums...the first interview about Nick Drake was with Robert Smith... Robert first heard Nick Drake when he was about 10...he described him as very understated, very English,very quiet, who was not into being famous..Robert likes to listen to Nick Drake while on tour...to keep things in perspective!

Don't forget Oz Cure fans to sign the petition on http://members.xoom.com/cure_oz/ "

(Thanks Minnie)

I (Craig) actually had a Curespotting yesterday while playing with M.A.M.E. (a program that emulates old arcade games on your computer). In the game Quiz & Dragons (a cross between Dungeons & Dragons and Quiz Whiz), this question came up - What was the name of Gary Numan's band? 1. Tubeway Army / 2. Gang Of Four / 3. The Cure / 4. Sound & Vision.

"I was flipping through the channels and stopped on MTV, the new Real World was on and I noticed that at the radio station they work at there was a Cure poster on the wall. It looked like it was from Galore."

(Thanks Cyndi)