"From Dotmusic.com:

http://www.dotmusic.com/news//October2003/news31352.asp

Assisting the band on the new album were long-time collaborator and "fourth member", producer Jerry Finn and The Cure's Robert Smith adding guest vocals to 'All Of This'. "

(Thanks Petr, Aria, and Steven)

"There's an article in today's (10/31/03) USA Today (Life / Section E) about The Cure's upcoming B-sides project along with a photo. Here's a transcription:

Listen Up for The Cure's 'B-Sides'

For music fans seeking a Cure-all, Rhino has a prescription. The label, in conjunction with Fiction/Eleckra, will release a four-disc box set of The Cure's hard-to-find gems on Jan. 13. Join the Dots: B-sides and Rarities 1978 - 2001 (The Fiction Years) compiles 70 remastered tracks dating to 1978, when the gothic pop band's debut single, Killing an Arab, was released with B-side 10:15 Saturday Night, the collection's opener. Selections range from a cover of David Bowie's Young Americans to Icing Sugar, a track from the Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me orange-vinyl bonus disc. The $54.98 set, with detailed track listings by singer Robert Smith and bassist Simon Gallup, will be available in stores and at www.rhino.com.

-- The photo looks like it was taken from a Greatest Hits photo session and features all of the current band members."

(Thanks Wendy)

"At one point during the course of the "Wheel of Sloth" contest held by the Edge (102.1 FM in Toronto), I can only gather that they must have tried to increase the number of qualifiers by issuing listeners with the challenge of bringing celebrities into their studio. These included Tia Carrere and recently retired NHL player Doug Gilmour, amongst others.

Well, much to my surprise, someone brought in none other than Roger O'Donnell! I wasn't in a position to listen to the radio that day, but here's a picture from their website:

http://www.edge.ca/photogallery/WOSCelebs/2_roger2.jpg"

(Thanks Phil)

"From MTV:

Eighties radio stations and theme nights at bars are old news by now, but plenty of "Pretty in Pink"-era bands are grabbing at the brass ring one more time, among them the reunited classic lineups of Judas Priest and Living Colour, as well as Cyndi Lauper, poodle-haired rockers Europe, New Edition and Tears for Fears. And if you attended September's KROQ Inland Invasion: Flashback to the Future show in San Bernardino, California, you'd be excused for thinking you'd already stepped back into the Pac-Man-era through a time machine. The show featured sets from the Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Berlin, Violent Femmes, Dramarama, Bow Wow Wow, Marc Almond of Soft Cell, General Public, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the reunited original lineup of Duran Duran."

(Thanks Gary)

"Blu Cantrell (of all people) goes on record as saying she enjoys listening to rock music in the most recent "BANG!" magazine. She lists Metallica, Depeche Mode and The Cure (amongst others) as the artists she likes most. "

(Thanks James)

"Yesterday evening I was watching on SBS 6 (=Dutch Television) a soccer-programm which broadcasted the highlights of the Dutch Soccer League-Cup matches during when they used "Wrong Number" as background-music and it was funny, but great to hear this song."

(Thanks Richard)

"on the iTunes artist playlists....new artist kenna has his own playlist titled "a tribute to great melody," and it features "boys don't cry."

strangely enough...the artists i would think might list the cure....didn't! moby...nope...billy corgan...nope...counting crows...nope...even matchbox twenty's rob thomas (they killed "fascination street" in concerts after all...) nope..."

(Thanks Richard)

"At this very minute as I compose this e-mail, Lovecats is playing in the background in a bar scene in Teachers on Channel Four.

(Thanks Sean, Vicky and James)

"More Cure on BBC6: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/artists/goth.shtml

turning out to be bbc-cure!"

(Thanks Chris)

"I was channel surfing the other night and turned on a karate show on ESPN2. It was one of those events where contestants have to break boards and cement block using their karate skills. Well, to my surprise, one of the participants was using "Burn" as his background music."

(Thanks winter_in_watercolours)

"I was driving home around 2am...just had turned Oct. 31, and listening to Coast To Coast AM with George Noory...and for bumper music, they played Fascination Street."

(Thanks Mark)

"I received the November 2003 Comcast Digital Cable four page insert in my mail, and inside there is a picture of Robert with a caption: The Cure: Live in Berlin, Premeries 11/14. This sixty-minute musical extravaganza features three of the Cure's darkest albums - 1982's Pornography, 1989's Disintegration, and 2000 Bloodflower's - live and in their entirety."

(Thanks MattCURE)

"I just wanted to give you some more info about that Cure Halloween party in Mexico you already anounced (and i attach the scan of a promotional flyer):

1. The party is at the Hard Rock Live in Guadalajara, Jal., on October 31, starting at 21:00 hrs.

2. Two local bands are opening the evening (Angelique and Hemisferios) and they will be playing The Cure and some other compatible stuff.

3. The band that is closing the event is WISH. Notice that this is a Cure tribute band: they only play Cure songs. The line up of WISH is composed by members of some Guadalajara bands who are heavily Cure influenced.

4. The WISH setlist will be as follows: Plainsong, Pictures, Fascination St, Inbetween Days, The Walk, Primary, Lullaby, JLH, Lovesong, Play For Today, Hot Hot Hot, WCIBY, Sinking, BDC, 10:15, A Forest. Sure they regret to have to left off some of their darker favorites (maybe in some other time, in a smaller and more intimate place); however, one of the other bands is playing some Pornography songs.

5. In this event, many members of Mexicure (Mexican mailing list and forum) are gathering together for the first time (two of the members of WISH being prominent members of Mexicure too.) For more info on this event, visit Mexicure: http://mx.groups.yahoo.com/group/mexicure"

(Thanks A.G.)

"There is a brief quote from Robert in an article currently running on Salon about the"Twilight of the Dork" http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/10/29/dork/index.html

You have to watch a short interstitial commercial to get the Salon Premium day pass to read the whole article and get to the quote. Here it is for those who don't want to bother.

Famous goth Robert Smith said of the Cure, "If we're selling out arenas, how can we be 'alternative'?"

(Thanks Heron)

"A few days ago, I found an article about Evanescence's album, from the issue of May this year; it was published by the Spanish free magazine "40 Magazine", and it says as follows: "The key points of Fallen, a very prophetic title, make clear the peculiar ideosyncrasy of the of this formation which has begun to cause a similar phenomenon like that caused in older times by The Cure or Depeche Mode".

So, in the issue corresponding to October, from the same magazine, there´s a little articla about Lene Marlin´s new album, Another Day. "Such as the tracks of her first album, the ten tracks included in this one, are extremely intimate,and, at the same time, delightful, with a cristaline production, which this time, has been led by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Travis) in a studio from London".

And finally, in the issue of October of the Magazine D00 (Doble Cero) which is also Spanish and free, there´s a very interesting review of the new albums by some groups from both USA (The strokes, The Rapture) and UK (Travis, Suede). In the review of the new album by The Rapture, called, "Echoes", it says: "They passed from the initial post-punk to dance music´s sound from the 80´s, (A Certain ratio, Duran Duran, Gang of Four... and The Cure)". "

(Thanks to Sharon from www.charlottesometimes.fr.st)

"I personally never had problems at kings cross. But I must say you have to be very careful if you don’t know the area and you travelling alone.Do avoid the side streets because around kings cross is a lot of open drug dealing and prostitution going on. If you stay in the main streets the possibility to get robbed or mugged is no bigger than in any other part of the town. Hand out a couple more pounds for a good hotel than trying to save some quid and end up in hospital."

(Thanks Ronny)

"I have read the comments about Kings Cross.... well, to be fair it isnt the most pleasant area of London (I work nearby!), people just need to be vigilant and, as common sense would suggest try not to look like "easy prey". The Thistle hotel is closer to Angel tube station than it is to King's Cross hence people can quite easily avoid it if they are worried. You can get a bus from outside the hotel to the venue and you dont have to go anywhere near King's Cross station. These days there is always plenty of police presence in the area to make it safer -- and on the whole many tourists dont really notice what is going on around there."

(Thanks Anna)

"Having read the scaremongering about Kings Cross on Chainofflowers, I thought I'd just send an email, as I live in the Camden Borough. Kings Cross, is know more dangerous than anywhere else in central London, in fact if your a Goth or alternative, your probably safer in the area, as there is a high level of Goth, Fetish, Gay and Electroclash events in the area, making a more diverse group of people. Thousands of people pass through there every hour, so of course there is going to be a high ratio of crime! It doesn't matter if you stay in Russel Square or not ( a few streets south of Kings Cross), you still have to go through the area to get to Angel, and if the Northern Line tube service know longer works, you will have to get a bus through there! Don't believe what you read in the tabloid newspapers. "

(Thanks Veritas)

"I live in london and i would highly recommend NOT staying in the king's cross area as it is a place where muggings etc happen frequently."

(Thanks Jennifer)

"I just want to say that I agree with Tracy, Kings Cross is not necessary a no-go area (it has a big Industrial area behind the train station), but I wouldn't book my hotel there if I had other options. I used to live in London for 12 years and it is well known as a prostitute area and dodgy people hanging around, which is a shame because it has one of the nicest clubs of London right behind it called the Cross. I would try and find something else in Islington as it is a better area and more residential. The Holiday Inn is also an option. Like any other person you just do not travel on your own in any parts of London if you don't have to."

(Thanks Trea)

"this is the flyer about Halloween Night........ TRIBUTE TO THE CURE.... 2 local bands will be playing the HARD ROCK LIVE GUADALAJARA JALISCO MEXICO........ just nice to have a cure party...... hope the bands play well........"

(Thanks Frank)

"I've been running the Cure site Praying For Rain for almost two years now and i've been recieving emails and guestbook entrys from Cure fans in Dublin, Limerick and Clare.......but not one from any Cork-based fans. I'd like you to make yourselves known. Who knows, maybe a Cork Cure Fan Club will evolve.

Web Address: http://paul_j82.tripod.com/thecureprayingforrain

Email: paul_jeremiah@yahoo.co.uk"

(Thanks Paul J.)

"Interesting Curespotting: the newest issue of Interview Magazine with Hayden Christiansen on the cover has him wearing a red Boy's Don't Cry shirt. It's not the classic Boys Don't Cry shirt, nor one I've ever seen. Is the Cure suddenly so fashionable that Cure references are appearing throughout pop culture with such reckless abandon? It's almost as though if one wants to be considered an artiste or avant garde they have to have a healthy respect and admiration for The Cure. Interesting."

(Thanks Andrew)

"I'm fed up with living in my small French village, and I've decided next monday (4th) to go to London find a place where to live (and a job as well there hopefully). Would it be possible for you to post a small 'ad' in your Curespotting section so that maybe any Cure fan in London knowing a flat to rent could contact me? "

JUNIOR JACK SECOND SINGLE PRIMED

Defected have announced details of the second single to be lifted from Junior Jack’s forthcoming debut artist album, ‘Trust It’. Next up from the ‘Thrill Me’ maker, real name Vito Lucente, is the appropriately titled ‘Da Hype’, which follows his big summer single, ‘E-Samba’. Gossip on the dance music grapevine has it that The Cure’s Robert Smith provides the vocals on the track, which is already getting plaudits from Pete Tong, Seb Fontaine, K-Klass and more. ‘Trust It’, the album was originally due to be released October 27, it has now been put back until February 2, next year."

(Thanks Aria)

(Thanks Neil)

"I noticed that some people have recommended the "Thistle" in King's Cross. It's a nice hotel chain, but King's Cross is an area where you really have to watch yourself late at night. My fiancee nearly got mugged near the tube station, while waiting for the bus, and his boss was less fortunate.

There's an alright hostel in Russell Square, which is a nicer area, called the Generator. (around 15 quid for a dorm bed, not sure about other types of accomodations.) I live down the street from the venue and will be checking out independant hotels for some German friends of mine this week. If I find something suitable, I will pass it along. I just wanted to warn any of our foreign friends to take care if they chose to stay there."

(Thanks Tracy)

Update: "I got scared when reading the information on COF telling some persons were being attacked at Kings Cross. I then connected to the french forum (www.foreverdrowning.com/forum), talked to some guyz about that, and they all tell me they had already been in this area and didn't notice anything at all ! Even mention that the B&B in this area were really cheap compared to other places. Well I suggest to open a survey to ask british londonians wether they think this area is really dangerous or not! Gotta make up my mind wether i need to find another hotel or not! Though the Thistle is fully renovated, and the pictures on their site seem really nice to me."

(Thanks Bill)

"There is a new, very nice 4CD Rhino collection called "No Thanks: 70's Punk Rebellion" coming out on Tuesday, October 28th. The Cure is represented with the track, "Boys Don't Cry". "

(Thanks Rust)

And in another commercial:

"Well, I never thought this would happen, me reporting something like this, but I am quite 'shocked' (well there are worse things in life though),: Love Cats was used on a Belgian Television commercial (RTBF-French) for the.....use of a washing product, called Dash....whiter than white says the tag line..... (or have I dreamt?) "

Update: "I have read about the lovecats/dash commercial, but i have to say it is NOT 'Lovecats'... It's a very similar piano tune, but it's different. So i'm quite sure that this has nothing to do with the 'ad'-stuff going on..."

(Thanks Olivier and Robbertc)

"A Forest is this weeks #38 in the german top 100"

(Thanks Dennis and Simon)

"From Rollingstone:

Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes on The Cure's Standing on a Beach

It must have been third grade -- I bought the cassette at a local record store chain called Homer's in Omaha. I just loved the sound of [Robert Smith's] voice. It just sounded good."

(Thanks Andrew)

"i listen to a lot of talk radio (pizza guy). i was listing to Clark Howard Show and his bumper music on the last segment was Just Lke Heaven then Friday im Love...just thougth is was kinda cool on a very boring night."

(Thanks Mike)

"Here, in Argentina, there is a TV program for kids on Channel 13 called "Pi#on Fijo es mi nombre" (Pi#on Fijo is my name) hosted by a Clown (called Pi#on Fijo, of course...). Sometimes he closes his show with any "rock" song: never before have I heard something rare... but today he closed his show off with Just say yes!!!! And about the Trilogy DVD: I called to Universal Music Argentina and they doesn't know about the release date of the Trilogy DVD here.... (Example: the release date of Argentinian edition of DVD "The Cure - Greatest Hits" was in early this year....)"

(Thanks Beto)

As a little "Thank You" for the massive fan support we recevied for A FOREST, we decided to release a special strictly limited fan edition CD of "A Forest" containing of course "A Forest" and some much requests remixes.

Tracklist:

01. A Forest

02. Summer Sun (Wellenrausch Remix)

03. Flaming June (B&J Reconstruction)

04. A Night To Remember (Brutus & Nero Remix)

CD will be in stores on October 13th!

Of course still available also, the normal Maxi CD release of "A Forest". Next to the Original Version and the Short Cut, you will find a bonus full length version of the 2003 Nature One Track by Blank & Jones, called "Summer Sun"

(Thanks Fabrice)

"I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before, but Nick Hexum, lead singer of 311 was being interviewed by the morning crew on 103.1 The Buzz here in West Palm Beach, FL. In the interview he mentioned the band's future projects, one of them is a cover of 'Loversong' for an upcoming Adam Sandler movie. Nick didn't mention the movie title, since he wasn't sure he should be saying this so soon. Adam Sandler does have a movie coming out on February 14 titled "Fifty First Dates". It stars him and Drew Barrymore, my guess the song will appear on this movie's soundtrack, considering Adam Sandler's movie "The Wedding Singer" (which also starred Drew Barrymore) had an all 80's theme soundtrack.. Nick mentioned other contemporary artists(Seal, Jewel) covering 80's songs for the soundtrack. So keep a look out early next year..."

(Thanks Emran)

"I personally booked the Thistle Islington/Kings Cross hotel which seems to be really near the venue, check it out http://www.thistlehotels.com/main/hotel/thistleislington/index.xml Got a Single for 38pounds, i think Double are rated 76 pounds.

I added these maps for guys willing to head to the Thistle Islington Hotel and to the Venue Carling Academy Islington, here : http://www.pbase.com/cureislington/cure_in_islington"

(Thanks Bill)

"Don't really know what to say about this one :)

Features Close to Me.... http://www.snakemountain.co.uk/delgazeebo.htm

Some people just have too much time on their hands :)"

(Thanks MintSauce)

"Amazon.com has a new feature where you can search the actual content of books - some 120,000 books are searchable.

Anyone who is bored can type in "Robert Smith The Cure" and see thousands of books that reference the band will be displayed with a brief excerpt.

A definite timewaster. :) "

(Thanks Jason)

"I tell ya, these days, I'm seeing Cure stuff pop up in the oddest places. I live in San Diego where we are being strongly affected by the UCFW strike. Unfortunately, I had to cross the picket lines to go get milk at Vons. As I turned into the parking lot, I saw a young man picketing who was wearing a WMS T-shirt with the clown on it. I felt so rotten, I got what I had to get and got out of there as fast as I could. Jen I tell ya, these days, I'm seeing Cure stuff pop up in the oddest places. I live in San Diego where we are being strongly affected by the UCFW strike. Unfortunately, I had to cross the picket lines to go get milk at Vons. As I turned into the parking lot, I saw a young man picketing who was wearing a WMS T-shirt with the clown on it. I felt so rotten, I got what I had to get and got out of there as fast as I could."

(Thanks Jen)

And two final curespottings from VH1's I Love the 80's Strikes Back series. First, "Lovecats" was used during a segment in the 1988 (or was it 89?) show about those suction cup Garfield cats that everyone liked to stick in their car windows. And second, "Lovesong" was used in the 1989 show, during a segment about When Harry Met Sally.

(Thanks Chris. Happy Birthday!)

From Billboard and Yahoo:

Slick Gets Vocal Lift From Famous Pals

Longtime David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick will release a new solo album, "Zig Zag," Dec. 9 on Sanctuary Records. The disc will feature four instrumentals and collaborations with Bowie, the Cure's Robert Smith, Spacehog's Royston Langdon, Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Martha Davis.

Slick is currently touring as part of Bowie's band on the A Reality Tour, which hits the U.S. Dec. 6 for two months of shows. Bowie contributes vocals to the "Zig Zag" track "Isn't It Evening (The Revolutionary)."

The album's first single will be "Believe" featuring Smith, which is due to hit U.S. radio outlets in January. Elliott lends his pipes to "Psycho Twang," while Davis shows up on "St. Mark's Place" and Langdon melodicizes on the title track.

"Each vocalist wrote his or her own melodies and lyrics," explains Slick. "Some of them got really rough demos from me and still managed to come up with amazing ideas. They really helped make this a unique record."

-- Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

(Thanks Aria and Jennifer)

"The Cure are featured on MTV Germany's Mash on Friday night at 01:30 AM CEST. MTV Mash shows "Bootleg mixes" of two songs and their videos, here's the Text from MTV.DE:

'Who thought to see lipstick lover Robert Smith of The Cure together with Busta Rhymes? We didn't... But in this weeks episode, Newcomer Miss Minx mixes Busta Rhymes 'Put Ur Hands Where your Eys should be' and The Cure's 'Lullaby' for an exclusive MTV Mash Mix.' "

Ok, someone HAS to record this and send in the clip so that I can post it. : )

(Thanks Chris)

"Hi all, any of you lucky enough to get one of the 50 golden tickets for the show on dec 11th, this is the hotel we are all booking into, its right next to 'old st' tube, which is one stop away from 'Angel' where the show is......if you want to join in with the pre-show 'dressing up'!?

HOTEL HOLIDAY INN

STREETMAP LOCATION

To get cheapest rates (£77 for a double room) go to: Rate Preference> ' State-Govt Rate'

(Thanks Ange)

"Another Curespotting on the Moby website:

i was out last night and the dj played 'just like heaven' and it sounded so good. boy, that is a lovely song. not my favorite cure song, but certainly one of the sweetest and most romantic songs that i can think of. i was at a party in the east village that actually made going out on a saturday night seem fun (normally saturday nights in the nyc are far too crowded regardless of where you go). and then i went upstate today to play volleyball and croquet. and now my eyes are closing of their own accord which means that i should go to sleep. goodnight. moby

Found in the 9/22/03 Moby Journal entry on www.Moby.com"

(Thanks Liza)

"hey, in case you didn't report this before, Magnus, bassist of Cardigans had this to say about the cure on their webboard in a discussion on whether or not the cure's friday i'm in love influenced the cardigans song rise and shine:

Hello!

Me and Mike have the same " secret" fave The Cure song, that´s kinda cool ! I was really into A chain of flowers back in the days. I might consider to make that as a cover for righteous boy, cause I think it´s poorly recorded ( or at least could have been better if they decided to put it on " Kiss me.." album. I totally agree that Disintegration is the best record by the Cure. After all, that record changed my entire life. Without that album, I might have led a depressing life back in my hometown now. I certainly wouldn´t have met Peter and started to play together. So hats off for Bob Smith and his guys! So everyone, go get the first single collection ( and possibly the second aswell) but get Disintegration. It could be a bit tricky to get into now, but it meant the world for some of us back then. other great Cure songs; All cats are grey, Faith, A Forest (of course), In your house, Sinking, Plain song, How beautiful you are and A night like this

It´s nice to discuss bands I love. Which one is up next? The Smiths? Lambchop? Tindersticks?

Magnus behind the controls"

(Thanks Plumerai)

"Hey, I just wanted to let you know that in the latest issue of "Rolling Stone," The Strokes (on the cover) let the world know that many of the bass-lines from their debut album, "Is This It?" were hoisted from Cure songs; apparently, there was, at one point, some concern as to whether or not the songs would land the then-fledgling band in any legal trouble. Being a huge Cure fan and an owner/frequent listener of The Strokes album in question, I was more-than-a-little bit surprised to hear this, though I took it all in stride. It's always good to see that Robert and co. are still having a "noticeable" influence on the younger artists out there."

(Thanks OZ)

"I was at the Stokes show last night at the Palladium in Hollywood, CA. Inbetween the opening acts, the sound guys played The Cure... Boys Don't Cry, A Forest, The Walk... Lots of singles, mostly all off 'Standing on the Beach/Staring at the Sea'.

Kings of Leon, very cool. And the Strokes, rockin!"

(Thanks Leah)

"I was watching room raiders on MTV and saw a robert and sioux poster on the door."

(Thanks Mike)

"One of the better days: Hi, I work part time as a taxi driver, I drive disabled children to school every day, yesterday we got lucky. We ended up in a van that had a cd player, our regular van just has a radio but we got assigned a different one. So i decided to play some cure (Mixed up album) for the children aged 5 to 13 and they loved it some were even 'rocking out' and singing along with Hot Hot Hot ( hey hey hey) this was such a happy morning you can't believe how much i smiled that day. One of them called it 'house music' :) "

(Thanks Leo)

"Stylistically there are few similarities between the music of Robert Smith and Elliott Smith. However, there is a shared integrity and a power about the lyrics that connects my relentless appreciation for both artists, and it's a shame that only now that Elliott is gone (for those that don't already know, Elliott Smith is alleged to have stabbed himself before passing away on Oct 21st). I have found time to send a message that I hope will be posted on Chain Of Flowers to recommend his music to Cure fans. I sincerely hope that Elliott isn't forgotten too swiftly, and that you will explore his mesmerising works if you have not yet done so. His fourth album 'XO' is one of the greatest albums of all time in my opinion. He will be sadly missed."

(Thanks James)

(Thanks Dean)

Charity Cure for London

Published 20 10 03

It's been announced that the Cure will headline a charity show in London this winter.

They'll play at the Academy in Islington on the 11th of December, in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. Robert Smith has long spoken of his respect for the organisation, which works with disabled and disadvantaged people

The rest of the bill hasn't been confirmed yet - but it will certainly be the Cure's smallest British show for well over a decade.

However, a spokesperson for the band pointed out that they're unlikely to play a long set as they're only one of several musical attractions.

Andrew Purcell

(Thanks Aria)

"I just wanted to let you know that singer/songwriter Charlotte Martin (cited as the new Tori Amos) has a cover of Just Like Heaven on her site http://www.charlottemartin.com/char.htm.

In interviews she also says that the Cure were (and are) a big influence in her songwriting."

Wow! Beautiful version. Best Cure cover I've heard in a long time. Looking around her website, I found this question on her message board:

"Hello,

On a reply for a different question you said: "It's like picking my favorite Cure song. I don't have one cause I love everything that Robert does (well, almost everything). " So what don't you like? And while I'm on a Cure kick, what's your favorite Cure album?

Matt "

And Charlotte's reply:

"Hello,

What don't I like...i'm really sad that robert never released his solo effort. There was quite a bit of press and talk about that record and it just sort of vanished. The only song I would say I didn't totally like is called "Wrong Number"... My favorite Cure album...i'll give you my top 3 this week...this tour anyways. 1. Pornography 2. Disintegration 3. Faith.../The Top tied. 4. Wish 5. Head on the Door ...okay that's 5.

Oh let's just keep it going shall we? Favorite Cure songs of all time....that's just wrong. I can't do it for all time. I can do it for this week. My favorite Cure songs this week (which are heavily influenced by the fact that I'm on a highway when listening)

1. dressing up 2. prayers for rain 3. torture 4. push 5. halo 6. a letter to elise

Love- Char"

Bonus points to her for the Strong Bad icon too. : )

(Thanks RobbertC)

"Here's another influenced artist: billy paul williams. Here's a part of an interview with him:

After spending his teenage years in England, he first came here in the early Eighties to attend the University of Miami, where he majored in physical therapy and music, while playing in a "New Wave funk" combo called Crisis. Then he traveled to Germany, where he started another New Wave group called the Walk. "I was influenced by that sound -- Robert Smith [of the Cure] and the Fixx," he says. "At that time, nobody saw a band like mine. Here's a black guy singing something that you would hear from the Cure or the Fixx. Everybody else [in the Walk] was German."

Full interview at http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-10-16/basshead.html/print.html"

(Thanks RobbertC)

"Earl Slick aficianados, don't forget the upcoming ES album, his first in 12 years. The album is full of songs co-written by some very interesting personas that include David Bowie, Robert Smith, Martha Davis, Joe Elliott, and Roy Langdon. The album is called Zig Zag and will release on December 9, from Sanctuary Records."

"The release date of Japanese edition of DVD "Trilogy - Live in Berlin" was postponed due to technical problems with hidden tracks. It won't be out for several weeks or more... so, still have to be patient..."

(Thanks Fusae)

"Hits makes a return to the Virgin Megastore In-Store Chart in Cork (Ireland) at Number 28"

(Thanks Donal)

"Check this link for an interview with The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. http://www.undertheradarmag.com/issue5/brmc/brmc_bonus.html During a discussion about fans following them around on tour they mention Cure fans as being known for the same thing. Look under the second heading: British Fans vs. US Fans/Obsessive Fans/Ty Cobb and Abstract Dragon/Virgin Records and the Death of Record Labels. Robert Smith has mentioned BRMC as a good current band in some recent interviews. They are well worth checking out. I was lucky enough to see them live last month and was totally blown away."

(Thanks Greg)

"Fired And Inspired, a show on UK music TV station The Amp was the source of another Cure spotting on Sunday gone. (Fired And Inspired features artists talking about the bands who influenced them). This weeks edition featured Billy Corgan who very very briefly mentioned The Cure as "one of the most influential bands of the last two decades". That was it, all he had to say on the matter! A single sentence can apparently sum up the lifes-work of "one of the most influential bands of the last two decades" !!! Tim Burgess of The Charlatans had much more to say about The Cure a few weeks back and HIS band don't even sound like The Cure mate !! (Ha ha...) About 15 seconds of the Inbetween Days video was then played, followed immediately by the full video for The Cutter by Echo And The Bunnymen, who Corgan hadn't even mentioned.

As a bit more of a positive, the full video for Pictures Of You was played last Saturday afternoon on MTV2 during one of the "features" surrounding the channels 5th birthday."

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"I was flipping through the channels last night (Monday) and on VH1 they were showing "When Supermodels ruled the world" and they used "Just Like Heaven" as background music."

(Thanks Dan)

"I recently found this ad in a magazine, for a french internet operator (Wanadoo) : You can recognize some "doubles" : Eminem, Britney Spears, Elvis Presley, Madonna and... Robert Smith ! Do you think Robert will look like this in 20 years?"

(Thanks Jerome)

Seems like everyone overlooked a curespotting in VH1's I Love The 80's Strikes Back: 1980. Sure "Boys Don't Cry" was one of the breakup songs of that year, but it was also used in a segment about the movie Stir Crazy. So we have those two in the 1980 show, and "Why Can't I Be You" used in a segment about the tv show Benson in the 1981 show. Just in case you're keeping score. : )

(Thanks Nik)

(Thanks to Autumn at Pictures of You. You can also check out scans of the recent Q Cure Buyers Guide at her site.)

"There was a small article about The Cure in the Friday issue of a Finnish evening paper called Iltalehti. There was nothing new in that. It just told that The Cure is going to studio soon and they will release the new record in spring. But there was a nice picture of Robert sitting beside a speaker in the backstage of Provinssirock Festival in 1996."

(Thanks Eraserhead)

"I was just watching the first instalment of Vh1's "I Love the 80s Strikes Back". "Boy's Don't Cry" was mentioned as one of the break up songs of 1980."

(Thanks Renfield)

"Hey I just was watching "I Love The 80's strikes back" and oddly enough during a segment on the show "Benson" they played "Why Can't I Be You""

(Thanks Ryan)

"The BBC website has an interview with the band Stellastarr who list The Cure as one of their influences. The interview can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3197398.stm"

(Thanks Ian)

"I work at Kroger's, and they are playing Halloween music and so far I have heard "fear of ghosts" and "lullaby"."

(Thanks Andrew)

(Thanks Ian)

Update: Well, that was quick...sold out on the website in 6 (maybe 2-3) minutes! Some fans actually got tickets, many did not. Sounds like a lot of confusion at Ticketweb, at least on the phone. Omline sales were great, if you were quick:

"Well I had the same problems with ticketweb as Molly and Andy (hello) only my morning was made worse by the fact that they told me the night before that tickets would be available at the Islington academy 9am that morning so I got there at 7am only to find they were talking complete rubbish and that the opening time for the box office was actually 12pm. I went back there at 10am (after the whole phone mess) and waited again in which time I met another cure head (the lovely Catherine from France, HEY YOU). We caught the manager of the venue as he was going in only to be told that they never had tickets in the first place, he was nice enough though to let us take a look inside the venue which just made things worse really as it was small with a great stage so no matter where you stand you're going to be close. After that we trekked around London trying everything we could to get tickets but with no luck. It was nice to take a walk through Hyde Park again though as I haven't been there since last years July show. Well that was my little report of a strangely enjoyable day, sorry to everyone who had the same bad luck with ticketweb. We haven't giving up yet though."

(Thanks SKAMROK)

"Well, I've rarely had an easier time getting tickets than today: just logged in one or two minutes before 9, saw the "tickets not available" picture and kept refreshing my browser until it turned into "buy now" (at 9:00 sharp). Then I simply proceeded with ordering my ticket and that was it, in just two minutes!

Btw, you will find more details about the venue (including its capacity: 800) there: http://www.islington-academy.co.uk/islington/venue_info/client.cfm"

(Thanks Olivier)

"Well 6 minutes was enough for me. I managed to buy two tickets. It was very confusing the say the least. I phoned while I went into TicketWeb Website. I am sure that they didn't know what was happening with the tickets as every other person told a different story, or they just didn't say. I was told over the weekend that there were 50 tickets @50 pounds each. I am sure a lot of people will be pissed off, as they weren't selling via the telephone, as at 9.01 I was told they weren't on sale yet and that I should try 30 minutes later. Very confusing.

The things we do for the Cure."

(Thanks Trea)

"Just a quick email, it seems that alot of Curefans out there had trouble getting tix today, it seems they should have just gone online and noth bothered about calling. I logged on at 10 minutes to and just kept hitting refresh on the page...eventually about 2 mins after 9 UK time the 'buy now' option appeared...I ordered 2 tix online no problem at all. However after completing the transaction I then went back onto the site and the 'BUY NOW' option had gone, so it couldn't have been there long. As I am in the US on holiday right now I had to wake up just before 4am to get these tix...I couldn't get back to sleep after I was so happy! "

(Thanks Tom)

"I had no problems at all with ticketweb. dot 9 o'clock the tickets were available on their web site. i filled in the form, made my payment and received a confimation mail. thats it."

(Thanks Ronny)

"I got through on the Ticket Web hotline at 8:58 and was told to call back at 9.00, which I did. Unfortunately the clown I spoke to knew nothing about the concert despite me telling her the date, venue, charity, band etc. Finally she said “is it the Hair, Stars and Air Guitars charity concert…” This had taken almost 3 minutes and by then there was only 1 ticket left, which I got.

I’m desperate to get another one as my brother and I haven’t missed a UK Cure concert in almost 10 years (I know that’s not many but…) and we did make the pilgrimage to Berlin on the 11th last year. Anyway if someone has a spare one going we will definitely be takers.

I’m sure you might get a few of these over the next few days…"

(Thanks Benjy)

"There was something fishy about those ticket sales, i was on the phone for practically the whole time, and they kept saying that they know that they were supposed to go onsale at 9.00 but the computers were not letting them sell them, then all of a sudden 30 secs later they had sold out, i think there's something strange about that."

(Thanks Molly)

"It may have just happened to me but I suspect not...

I called Ticketweb numerous times this morning between 9am and 9.15am. On each occasion I was told that ticket sales had been delayed.

I was phoning continuously during this period.

Then at 9.15am I got through to someone who told me the tickets had all sold out.

Fair enough I thought, perhaps they had literally only been on sale for 30 seconds, and I'd just missed out.

But no, the member of staff then informed me that they personally had been selling tickets since 9am on the dot!!!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I called back and was told the same thing by someone else too!

So in other words - I got through to Ticketweb when tickets WERE still on sale - but because of their incompetence I didn't get any tickets!!

I am absolutely devastated. In the (highly unlikely) event that anyone, anywhere has any spare tickets - I would gladly pay for them!!

You've probably had loads of emails like this so I won't go on and on. But I'm just so disappointed!!! "

(Thanks Andy)

And look at this, NME has a story about the show, and shock of all shocks, seems to get the details right:

"Just saw this short article in NME, about the December benefit. NME, yeah I know, but... ;) http://www.nme.com/news/106487.htm

CHARITABLE CURE

THE CURE are to headline a charity concert in LONDON in December. The band will headline a show at the London Islington Carling Academy on December 11 in aid of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, an organisation who work with children and adults with debilitating conditions. In a statement, Robert Smith said: "We have always admired the work carried out by Nordoff-Robbins, and it is a pleasure for us to be given this opportunity to lend our support - it's a great idea and a wild bill, and we are really looking forward to this show - it should be something special!" The gig will be their smallest British gig in years. However, the band are keen to point out that this is a charity event, not a concert headlined by the band.

Published: 20-10-2003-12-15 ----

Speaking of the show, I was among the lucky folks who got a ticket!"

(Thanks Aria)

"I was listening to Jonathan Ross interviewing Michelle Collins on Radio 2 on Saturday. She was talking about a new UK TV drama called Single that she is staring in and she mentioned that the theme tune is by The Cure. She didn't say whether its a new song that's being used or not, but the program is on at 9:30pm next Saturday on ITV1 so I guess we'll find out then..."

(Thanks Adam)

"Here in England on saturday mornings. There is a BBC Radio 2 show hosted by someone called Johnathon Ross. He always has interviews. This morning (saturday 18 October) he interviewed a British actress called Michelle Collins. She said that she is staring in a new show that will be shown over here on ITV1 called (I think) Singles. Anyway, she mentioned that a lot of the shows soundtrack comes from the 80's. But more importantly, she said that the Cure do the theme tune...Sadly I don't know which song, and I don't know when it starts. Even if I don't fully agree with them letting the show use a song, (It may be the record companies decision, as I don't think Robert owns all the rights to the songs, does he?) it will still be great exposure for the band on home soil...and Prime time home soil as well!!!"

(Thanks Daysleeper)

"As another Olivier said on Wednesday about "Clinical Prescriptions", it really is a great book. It definitely is a must-have for any Cure fan. I was surprised that no English review had surfaced yet. Well, there is one now: take a look at http://www.premonition.fr/premox.php3?chroid=222202. You will notice that the Premonition web site is now available in English. You can switch back and forth between English and French by simply clicking on a button. You will also find a review of the Trilogy DVD there: http://www.premonition.fr/premox.php3?chroid=219204."

Like I said last week, this is a fantastic book, and every Cure fan should have it in their collection. You can find all of the ordering info at www.lavoixdusilence.com (english section).

(Thanks Olivier)

"On MTV2 UK today (Sunday 19th Oct). There was a Top 5 "Goth" Songs. I only caught it halfway through.

At no.3 Cradle of Filth - Her Ghost in the Woods

No.2 The Cure - A Forest

No.1 Sisters of Mercy - This Corrosion.

MTV2 have started to play The Cure more frequently now, they play Inbetween Days nearly every lunchtime! (worth running home from work i think!)"

You can thank the Punto for that. : )

(Thanks Shakedanshake)

"In The New York Times today, Sunday 10/19, in an article discussing The Strokes and the Rapture, it talked about the Rapture's album Echoes and how they sound like different bands in each song. The article says that they sound like The Cure in the song Olio."

You can can read the article here, but you need register (for free) first.

(Thanks Melissa and Fayden)

"Just wanted to say I just got in from seeing The Kings of Leon and The Strokes at the Aragon Ballroom in Chi Town. I have to say the are the two best new bands I have seen live so far!! The energy from the crowd was insane to say the least. But one thing that made it a little more exciting for me was that in between bands right before The Strokes came on they played nothing but The Cure. I guess The Strokes are really big fans. I might not remember all the songs they played but here are the ones I do; Boy's Don't Cry, Lets Go to Bed, Push, Lovecats, Love Song, Inbetween Days, and i am too drunk to remember what else right now, speaking of which what the hell am I doing online?"

(Thanks Chris)

"Hey, just thought I would tell you that when I went to Dorney Park yesterday for their annual "Halloweekends" festival, that they were playing "Lullaby" on the speakers throughout the park. It was really cool walking around with all the halloween themed stuff and rollercoasters while listening to The Cure! What a great surprise from an amusement park."

(Thanks Ryan)

"When i was at Howie Day concert on Oct. 1st, the opener Charlotte Martin offered to sing a cover. she asked the audience which song they would prefer. New Order's Blue Monday, which 2 people clapped for. The Cure's Just Like Heaven, which got a good cheering. but Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun won. she reminded me a lot of Tori Amos."

(Thanks Fayden)

"Robert is featured prominently on a VH1 special called “VH1 Goes Inside South Park”. Info can be found here: http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_goes_inside/69609/episode.jhtml

The show is actually quite complimentary about The Cure and Robert. Nice to see."

Next airings are at 4pm eastern / 3pm central and 11pm eastrn / 10pm central today (saturday), 10am eastern / 9am central and 6pm eastern / 5pm central tomorrow (sunday). And don't forget that I Love The 80's Srikes Back starts on Vh1 this monday night. "Boys Don't Cry" is one of the Breakup Songs of 1980, and I'm sure there will be other mentions during the 10 part series.

(Thanks John, Heron and Sixto)

"Here's the Rolling Stone article scan for the 10-30-03 issue with Missy Elliot, Eve, and Alicia Keys on the cover. One image is from the top of the Rock And Roll section on the previous page, the other is the article itself."

"A forest is this weeks #41 in the German Top 100 Singles."

(Thanks Dennis)

"Found this Curespotting on The Rapture website http://www.therapturemusic.com/us.html

"Their album is in my car, actually. It's so fresh, it actually jumps out of my speakers, with really great minimal production that leaves the edges rough"-Robert Smith, the Cure, Rolling Stone, October 30, 2003."

(Thanks Liza)

"Today's The Guardian supplement makes a gift to his readers with an 8 page advertisement booklet produced by Canon. The booklet called "The camera loves you - The A-Z of rock stars with runway style" lists a number of influential rock stars and how they have defined fashion styles or trends. When it comes to letter C it reads: "The Cure started a trend for exaggerated make-up and hair. 'I have worn make-up since I was 13' said front man Robert Smith 'but I do wear less now than I used to. I copied the lipstick from my mum' ". Other stars who share the honour of a place in this thing include David Bowie (for Ziggy Stardust), George Michael, Iggy Pop, Marylin Manson, Kylie Minogue (due to the fact that her clothes keep slipping off her), Sid, U2 (for their sunglasses), Rod Stewart (for his masculine white leotard white leggings)."

(Thanks Davide)

"90.1 WABE FM in Atlanta (Our National Public Radio affiliate) used Friday I'm in Love as segue music between news reports tonight. It is a treat to hear The Cure in Atlanta, it almost never happens"

(Thanks ALClovis)

"Fascination St." was used as bumper music on Coast To Coast AM last night/this morning, and their website includes an Amazon link to buy Disintegration.

"Just spoke to a box office clerk at Carling Academy Islington who told me tickets for 11 Dec would go on sale at 9am on Monday morning via ticket web. She said tickets would be £50 each and that if ticket web claimed to have no knowledge of the show to say that I had spoken to venue and they confirmed there were tickets for sale. She couldn't or wouldn't say what allocation they had."

(Thanks Jane)

If you DO manage to get a ticket, better leave the fright wig and makeup at home:

"Please note that this event is fancy dress with the theme 'Rockstars'. It would be greatly appreciated if you would not dress as any artists on the bill. "

(Thanks Steve)

"My Macedonian is pretty weak, but I’ve attempted translation of the following article. There’s a photo from an old WMS ad of the band (see crappy electronic photo). Something else lost in translation: “Disintegration” was printed as “Degeneration” in Latin characters. The rest was in Macedonian Cyrillic, so some of the names may be slightly misspelled, because names are translated phonetically, and for some sounds no characters exist. – Matt O.

“ANTENA” MAGAZINE, ATTACHED TO NEWSPAPER “DNEVNIK”, 17 OCTOBER 2003, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

“CURE WORK ON NEW MATERIAL”

“Cure and Led Zeppeln of the fucked generation,” says Carlos Dengler, bassist for Interpol. “Their music will never get old.”

Dengler’s band performs at the recent festival “Inland Invasion” in Los Angeles, where the old New-Wave bands like Bow Wow Wow and Duran Duran mix with new groups inspired by music of the 80s, like Hot Hot Heat. But, just for Cure, the group who will play in the U.S.A. for the first time in three years, it said the most at the festival.

“When we were kids, everyone listened to the Cure,” says Paul Howly of Hot Hot Heat, who admits that his band was inspired from the first album of the cult goth-rock group. “Shockingly it’s when you should have understood what comes out from your subconscious when you should have grown up,” adds Howly. But as far as the teenagers, he’s right. “The songs spoke about what we go through: sorrow, depression, love,” says Melissa Loza, 18-year worshiper of Cure. “The bands of our generation simply don’t know to make songs like those of Cure.”

It all doesn’t surprise frontman Robert Smith. “These unexpected reactions must result from some kids who listen to ‘Degeneration’ and then grow up and start bands,” says the singer from Cure.

For the moment Robert Smith works on a new album, which will come out next spring. “It will be a heavy album, but heavy in the style of Cure, and not heavy-metal heavy,” says Smith.

For the time being, you can listen to “the next” Cure: Interpol, Rapture, AFI and Hot Hot Heat. Because you know, Smith listens to them. “I try to listen like I am inspiring these young groups,” he says. “I bought the albums from Amazon.”

(Thanks Matt)

"I was watching MCM here in France very late at night and they broadcasted a show called Brit-Rock sympathy with lots of bands talking about differences between UK and US rock sound, what they think about Brit-Pop phenomena...

Not that interesting but most of them where people I appreciate (Placebo, Dave Gahan, Muse, Coldplay, Radiohead, Oasis, The Vines...) and some I appreciate less (Stereophonics, Travis, Blur...). Robert appeared at the end of the program. I don't know where nor when it was recorded but probably a few days ago as he spoke about the fact that lots of young bands have a great respect about The Cure sometimes because of their longevity more than their music. He also mention he always feels like a teenager, that kind of idea not becoming blased, I think.

A very enjoyable thing : NME has been destroyed by interviewed people, laughing about the fact that the Mag thinks they rule music in the UK as they only sell 50,000 copies a week, the importance of being chosen as best single of the week, of being the biggest new band in an issue and a band like so many others one week later...

Brilliant !!!

Oh let me inform you about someting I read in the NME : Michael Stipe, the lead-singer of The Cure we all know and love so much, is going to play a charity gig in Tokyo for old ladies Xmas Eve. How kind he is ... The guest will be the popular band Echo and The Banshees, formed in 1998 in Madrid and who covered the famous Cure hit "Rape Me" in 2005. Hope someone will post a review of the event !!! Thanks, NME for this good news."

(Thanks David)

"I have sent an e-mail to World DJ Fund about my concerns of not being able to get hold of some tickets. This is the response that I got:

"There will only be limited tickets for the public, that much is true, but do not despair there will be a certain amount"

(Thanks Trea)

"KROQ has an account of what the Cure did after Inland Invasion: http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/kroq/kbaudio/kom_patries_with_cure.asx"

(Thanks Liza)

"The Cowboy Junkies (http://www.cowboyjunkies.com/main.html) released a cover of 17 Seconds today on the site http://www.puretracks.com/detail.aspx?pid=INDY_09242003-001.

Unfortunately, it is only available to Canadian residents at this time."

(Thanks Malenfant)

"Saw this when I opened MS Windows Media Player today. Typically I'd expect the marketing chimps at Microsoft to just find the first Cure photo they could find; they're advertising 80s music and actually got a pic of Robert from that era. Good work guys!!!"

(Thanks Mike and Tommy)

:In the nov. issue of blender with pink on the cover, the cure's just like heaven was chosen as the greatest song ever. there is a nice article about how robert wrote the song and the shooting of the video and how other artists like dinosaur jr. have covered their music.

in the oct. issue of mean street (a free mag. in southern calif.) there is a small article about the cure and inland invasion.

"Hot Hot Heat wasn't the only one of the best received bands at KROQ's sold out Inland Invasion III on Sept. 20 at the Hyundai Pavillion - it was also what nearly 50,000 concertgoers felt as the thermometer hit 99. The "Flashback to the Future" gig featured 10 veteran acts (Berlin, Psychedelic Furs, General Public, Violent Femmes), whose new wave/post-punk sounds helped build the station's reputation, along with six younger groups (Kings of Leon, Jet). Over on the side stage, Dramarama guitarist Mark Englert shred like a mad man on "Last Cigarette." And singer John Easdale stage dived into the crowd following their frantic signature tune, "Anything, Anything." Dashboard Confessional's awkward main stage set didn't translate well outdoors, though Chris Carrabba managed to crack a smile while covering Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag." Bow Wow Wow transcended its novelty status and No Doubt's Adrian Young deftly handled the tricky Burundi beats. Fountains of Wayne proved it still crafts clever alt-pop like no other on the new "Bright Future in Sales." Marc Almond was stingy with the Soft Cell tunes (yes, he did "Tainted Love"), but his highly dramatic solo numbers shined. Interpol's haunting songs got lost in the large expanse. The underrated Echo & the Bunnymen turned in a magnificent set highlighted by "Seven Seas" and a jarring "The Cutter." Duran Duran went down a storm and rightfully so: "Planet Earth,""Rio and "Girls on Film" sounded tighter than ever before. THE CURE catered to old school fans with a marathon set that revolved around the "Pornography/Disintegration/Bloodflowers" trilogy, was short on hits and better suited for a separate show. Plenty of people left pissed off. (George A. Paul)"

You can see a scan of the article at Pictures Of You.

(Thanks curelover and Autumn)

"For Italians fans, today mtv.it sent me an email. This article talks about the Cure's influence over Interpool."

(Thanks Antonio)

"I just came across this quote from Jeordie White, the bassist from A Perfect Circle:

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479755/20031014/perfect_circle .jhtml?headlines=true

"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."

(Thanks Aria, Mary, D. Bennion, Pharoah)

"Last night on local station 96.4 BRMB, Birmingham UK, Caroline Martin presents "The Sanctuary" from 10-11pm. Now, unlike you lot in America, the cure dont get much airplay at all here in Blighty. But last night, she closed her show off with Lullaby! I know this sounds silly, but its fairly big news - its an old single, and they just never get any airplay! So to have her play the cure on a popular station, here in Britains second largest city, is, well - just brilliant!!"

(Thanks Steven)

"Advertising Age (probably the industry's preeminant publication) has an article about the new HP ads mentioning The Cure briefly, but it's pretty stupid, call them an "80s band." http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=38874"

(Thanks Jeff)

"Here 's what I've found in the new Elegy issue that came out today in France!"

I've had this book for a couple of months now (Thanks Dominique & Salvatore!) and keep forgetting to post about it (Sorry Dominique & Salvatore!), but I highly recommend it. While my french isn't nearly good enough to read the whole book, the photos are excellent and there is a lot of english text (press stories, reviews, interviews, etc.), so don't worry too much about it being in french. There are hundreds of great photos of the band, ads for the singles, albums and tours, photos of tickets and passes from the tours, a list of tour dates and setlists from some of the shows, and so much more. And the whole thing is just designed and laid out beautifully! The book is available for worldwide shipping, and you can find all of the ordering info at www.lavoixdusilence.com (english section). Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

(Thanks Olivier)

"I can't believe it. I was flipping stations the other day when I came across Country Music Television. There was an interview with some of the members of a band called the Rascal Flats and one of the band members was wearing a Cure shirt. It was glow faces from the 1985 era. I would've never guessed that the Cure would show up there, but since they've been around for long time, they can show up anywhere."

(Thanks Timothy)

"I just wanted to tell you something about THE CURE and TV ads. First, you certainly remember that not so long ago (was it last year?), a curespotter said that a Mercedes-Benz car ad used a cure song on Italian tv. Also, I remember that at the time of the Mixed Up release, here in France, there was a Nivea ad (body care lotion, or something for make up, or 'anti-age') that used a tune so similar to 'close to me (closer mix)' I always wondered why they didn't use the original or else why the band didn't ask Nivea to change their music."

(Thanks Fabien G)

"My wea rep called me to rub it in as I leave my job…lol…but he said the b-sides set is currently on their schedule as a first quarter release via rhino…so the rumors seem pretty true and hopefully this will be out for my birthday in january!!..."

(Thanks Jeff)

"Just to let you know that a Cure special magazine from Mexico is coming up, this will be on sale on october 20 Attached is the advert that appear on the last issue from "La Mosca en la Pared"."

"On the belgain tv there is for the moment a commercial about washing-powder (DASH) and they use the piano-notes from "lovecats". "

(Thanks Patrick)

"A forest is up 2 places + is this weeks #22 in the german top 100."

(Thanks Dennis)

"On SBS (Australian TV) there is a comedy 'Life Support' that is based on reality TV programs that gives "helpful" tips and advice. Last night, during a sketch about teenagers, there was a poster for the DreamTour Concert in Sydney on 15 October 2003 on the bedroom wall."

(Thanks Jo)

"Monday 13th October 2003, Fashion TV: Birthday spot for Travis Niemi, clips of him modelling while "Maybe Someday" played. As seen in Kriva Palanka, Republic of Maceonia, on my split-line pirate cable that gets all of 2 channels."

(Thanks Matt O.)

"The Cure will be headlining the industry only World DJ Fund Christmas Event at the Carling Islington Academy on Thursday 11 December.

In support is Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher and Dance guru Tim Deluxe. More special guests to be announced.

All monies raised from this event will benefit the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity"

Here's the note being sent out:

"Dear friends, colleagues and supporters,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that one of the UK's most iconic bands- THE CURE- will be headlining our first annual music industry Christmas Event, which will be held at the Carling Islington Academy on THURSDAY 11TH DECEMBER.

The Cure, recent winners of the "Inspirational Band" category at the Q Awards, will play an exclusive set. Supporting will be Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher and Dance guru Tim Deluxe will be playing a live set with his new band. More special guests to be announced.

More details of the event and how to apply for the limited tickets will be announced next week.

If you would like to go on the list to apply for tickets please email

XXXXXXXXXXXX

All monies raised from this event will benefit the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity"

Treat this as pure rumor and speculation for now, as I haven't had it confirmed by the usual sources yet.

Update: Officially confirmed! But please keep in mind that this appears to be closed to the general public, so you won't be able to run to Ticketmaster next week and buy tickets. I'll try to get more details on just who can attend (and how), and I'll post as much info as I can. But for now, if you have a friend who is involved with the World DJ Fund or Nordoff-Robbins, you might want to ring them up. : )

(Thanks Ted)

The Cure Find New Life

Legendary goths return, planning new album

"The Cure are the Led Zeppelin of the fucked-up generation," says Carlos Dengler, bassist for Interpol. "They will never get old." Dengler's band opened for their musical idols at the KROQ Inland Invasion show last month in Los Angeles, where vintage New Wave bands such as Bow Wow Wow and Duran Duran mixed with Eighties-influenced newcomers like Hot Hot Heat. But it was the Cure, who have been absent from these shores for three years, that had everyone talking.

"When we were just kids, the Cure were always there," says Paul Hawley of Hot Hot Heat, who admits his band was inspired by the goth rockers' early work. "It's amazing what comes back through your subconscious when you're older." Even the little girls understand. "They talk about stuff we're going through -- sadness, depression, love," says fan Melissa Loza, 18. "Bands our age just don't do it like the Cure."

None of this surprises Robert Smith. "This sudden groundswell must've come from kids listening to Disintegration and then growing up and starting bands," the Cure singer says. Smith is working on a new Cure release, due out next spring. "It's going to be a very heavy album," Smith says, "Cure heavy, not new-metal heavy." In the meantime, you can listen to today's Cureheads -- Interpol, the Rapture, AFI and Hot Hot Heat -- Smith does. "I try and spot how I've inspired these young bands," he says. "I buy their albums on Amazon."

MATT DIEHL (October 10, 2003)

(Thanks Nils)

"Seems to be some confusion and interest over what the band played on the Late Late Show last week, while in CA for the KROQ show... All of these guitars were Schecter ... Robert played an 'ULTRA' , Simon played C-4 ELITE BASS.., and Perry used his HELLCAT ...

We are working closely was the band on models for their upcoming CD... which may possibly be available as Cure 'Artist models in 2004.

I also wanted to clarify that several people here at Schecter, including myself, are very big fans of the band... and the Cure playing Schecter's was due to a relationship that has developed over the past year (actually Reeves introduced me to Robert last year) ... we do make guitars for more than nu-metal bands... that I promise!

I would be happy to answer questions about the band's Schecter guitars! "

(Thanks Michael)

"Club DJ Tim Deluxe was interviewed by fellow DJ Seb Fontaine on Sat evening on Radio 1. Tim said he was working on a Cure project with Robert (and another with Depeche Mode). No details though..."

(Thanks Andy)

"I found this in Now, a celebrity gossip magazine! "

(Thanks Vicky)

"I'm not sure if you know that a "strictly limited fan edition" of the maxi-cd will be released on October 13th."

(Thanks Simon)

"There is a Swedish label called Release The Bats (www.releasethebats.com) named after a song by The Birthday Party. They are doing a series of releases called 'THE SHAMELESS KISS OF VANITY', which involves new post-punk bands covering Cure songs.

Volume One is already out-of-print, unfortunately. But, Volume Two is hot off the presses and is a 7" featuring The Vanishing doing 'a forest' and Something About Vampires And Sluts doing 'Grinding Halt'. It is limited to 525 made, all on black vinyl with white splatter.

Volume Three will be an entire cover album of Pornography, song for song in order! My band Turn Pale (www.bluesanct.com/turnpale) will be covering 'A Short Term Effect', and I am ecstatic to be a part of this project. No release date yet, but people can check www.releasethebats.com or www.bluesanct.com/turnpale for updates."

(Thanks Mkl.)

"According to Zagats Survey of the 1000 Greatest Albums of All Time, "Boys Don't Cry" is labeld one of the greatest albums. Also "The Crow Soundtrack" is also labled as one of the greatest."

(Thanks Jon)

"I just got back from the movie School of Rock with Jack Black, and while the kids were performing at the end, there is a quick cut with a white background and shadows that looked exactly like the Boys Don't Cry video minus the lighted eyes. But it was so obvious a quick tribute. I am not surprised considering the soundtrack had The Velvet Undergound, The Stooges, The Ramones, The Modern Lovers, David Bowie, and other influential bands. Additionally while they were were doing a lesson in th classroom on rock styles, under Punk, Siouxie And he Banshees was listed. Great movie, and lots of fun!!!"

(Thanks Josh)

"Something extra for COF from the Q Awards - all of my interview footage with Robert, done when the guests were arriving, so feel free to put this link up cos we're not going to use it anywhere else. An exclusive, if you like.

http://images.q4music.com/content/q-time/qawards2003_robertsmith.html

Hope you find it interesting. It cuts off abruptly due to the sudden arrival of Christina Aguilera - doh"

(Thanks Martin)

(Thanks Jeff)

"As we mentioned in previous newsletters, we were asked to appear on two compilations that pay tribute to The Cure. The first one is now available for pre- order. STRANGE AS ANGELS: A TRIBUTE TO THE CURE will be available on Halloween of this year on Failure To Communicate Records.

Other artist appearing on this compilation include: Voltaire, Jupiter Blue, and Egostatic. This compilation promises to be quite good, therefore we recommend you check it out.

For more information on this release, please visit FTC Records."

"According to Leeds Student newspaper, ex Take That member Mark Owen performed a cover of "Friday I'm in Love" during his show in Leeds, England last week... The world truly is surreal after all!"

(Thanks Emma)

"Old news for some of you, but great for collecors ( like me ) you can find Simon`s first recording group "Lockjaw" on this link. Its acompelation cd, who features 2 Lockjaw songs, first time on cd, and a re-issue of the now rare 7" - "Journalist Jive" and some other stuff. All from the great Raw Records label ! http://www.damagedgoods.co.uk/lockjaw/index.html And they have very good service : )"

(Thanks Lars)

"Saturday, Oktober 18th in Jena/ Thüringen- Germany, location: "Gut Burgau". The party is titled; "memories and dreams- move slowly through drowing waves..."

(Thanks Torsten)

"We are pleased to announce that the GYPSY 83 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is now available!!! The collection includes songs from The Cure, Bauhaus and Claire Voyant in addition to four tracks recorded exclusively for the film that can't be found anywhere else but here -- a rockin' cover of "Talk to Me" by Diva Destruction, two tracks from mesmerizing star Karen Black, as well as one from our very own Gypsy -- Sara Rue.

Please show your support for our little Gypsy by purchasing this wonderful compilation at your local record store or by purchasing online either directly from Metropolis Records or through Amazon.

The soundtrack CD is an early preview of the film, which will be released in theaters nationwide starting this winter. Check back at our official site as well as Small Planet Pictures for more details and playdates at a city near you!

Endless thanks for hanging in there with us as our dream of releasing GYPSY 83 finally becomes a reality. We really appreciate your support!

Spread the word...

All the best, Todd Stephens & Karen Jaroneski PRODUCERS"

(Thanks Andrew)

"I was watching Lorraine Kelly yesterday morning on her GMTV show reviewing some new singles with DJ Emma B. When asked if she ever fancied any of the Bros brothers Lorraine Kelly answered ` No I never fancied any of them. I fancied Robert Smith. He was gorgeous`."

(Thanks Heinz)

"The newest issue of Stuff magazine (with a girl from Jag on the cover and Conan O'Brien inside) has a review of the new Rapture CD Echoes. In the review, there are several references to The Cure and Robert Smith, and not at all derogative. They're pretty much saying that Robert Smith could crash The Rapture's party by suing them for sounding just like Robert vocally. I'd have the review verbatim but I don't usually buy that kind of magazine."

(Thanks Andrew)

(Thanks Martin)

"We would like to extend the deadline of our petition for The Cure Live in Japan. New deadline is 30th September 2004. Now, we are distributing our flyers at CD shops and some music events all over Japan. We are looking forward to release of The Cure's new album. Thank you for your continuing co-operation."

(Thanks Sakurai)

"I just read the cure will be featured on the soundtrack to a movie called Gypsy 83.... The soundtrack will be available on Metropolis records. The link is metropolis-records.com click on the Gypsy 83 V/A icon to read nore about the movie and soundtrack..."

(Thanks Kamar)

"Boston new-wave, 80's-flavoured band Lifestyle has an excellent free web album on their website (http://www.lifestyleland.com/home.html). Singer Sean Drinkwater says if their track "The Day and the Night" that "I think it was supposed to be a little Cure-like. Oops."

Also, a little late, but in the December 2002 issue of BPM (I think it's a US club-lifestyle magazine), page 102, there is a picture of Tiga wearing a grey Cure t-shirt featuring the octopus and fishes from the cover of Quadpus."

(Thanks Christian)

"Just a quick report on the Q awards tv show. I have seen only until Robert took the award, which was quite early in the progamme. Tricky was called onstage to announce the winner and when the anchorman told him to read who was the winner Tricky said "there's only one band who can receive such an award ... it's The Cure" while pointing at Robert and then they showed a selection of videos (bdc, ovecats, lulaby). When Robert went onstage he hugged and said something to Tricky and then, I must admit it was a surprise, the applause continued for a good half a minute, Robert was shyily nodding and smiling and then almost spontaneously most of the guests stood up to keep on cheering and applauding. As I say, it was quite unexpected for me and felt as intense as spontaneous. After that Robert said he was there on behalf of The Cure, that it was a pleasure to receive such an award from a person whom he admires such as Tricky, "by whom I am also inspired" and then he thanked the lots of bands who over the years cited the Cure as an influence: "ithout them this would have not been possible".

That's it really, I did not watch further so I don't know if I missed something but I don't think so."

(Thanks Davide)

"Watched the "Q Awards" on tv last night. It was marvellous! Robert was featured at the beginning, walking in to the building, wearing a very smart black suit. He was in fact, surprisingly one of the smatest people there, most of the award winners favouring very scruffy tee shirts and jeans! Throughout the show there were a few closeup clips of Robert responding to whoever had won awards. On all of these he wore an expression somewhere between horror and amusement... His award was presented to him by Tricky, who got very emotional and gave Robert a big hug when he got to the stage. The round of applause Robert recieved was appropriately huge, and he stood there for a good while looking very embarassed and uncomfortable. He made a short speech, thanking all the bands who had recently cited The Cure as influences, and made special mention of Tricky. Robert was interviewed briefly at the end of the show, saying that he hadn't worn his award show suit for thirteen years."

(Thanks Jason)

I'd love to see this! Can someone do an mpg, avi or divx?

(Thanks Deanna)

"Just in case you didn't know, there's an "interesting" bio of The Cure within the soundtrack section within the One Perfect Day website. http://www.oneperfectday.com.au "

(Thanks Andrew)

"They are all around us: subliminal Cure on air again today ... when the guys of the record companies want to push sales they really find ways to do it, dont they? BBC Radio One is selecting groups/songs for a compilation: 4 groups whose names have the same initial letter will compete and the one winner for each letter will make it in the final compilation. This week it was letter C ... guess who was competing with "the Lovecats" (by the way a song of the Greatest hits) ... The other contestants were Coldplay, Charlatans, Chemical Bros: as it turned out, listeners ought to text the radio to express their preference. The dj said he would have voted for The Cure but he thinks that Chemical Bros are more representative for such a compilation. In the end, I could not hear who won although I believe it was the Cure.

Such things occur more and more frequently when a Deluxe version of the Best Hits is being promoted on UK media for three weeks now ... Going back to the ads topic I am increasingly confident that no Cure song would be used for commercials these days if the Greatest Hits was not to be promoted and as a matter of a fact, both the songs used by Fiat and HP are in the GH, innit? Let's expect Just Like Heaven being used as the jingle for some Premiership match!"

(Thanks Davide)

"I thought I'd let you in on a shocking development. I was listening to Zoo radio, a U2 web-based project, playing songs picked by themselves and various artists. Despite Robert Smith and Simon Gallup's indications that they don't like U2, despite the fact that "Achtung Baby" is experimentation resulting in sheer beauty (which is more than I can say about a lot of Cure stuff), U2 doesn't seem to have a problem with "The Cure". Just recently I heard "The Caterpillar" on this station."

Update: "It's not U2 that choose to put The Cure on Zoo Radio. It was No Doubt, who we are already aware are cure fans. Also, if Achtung Baby is how we rate sheer beauty I would be the most beautiful man in the world.

http://radiofreevirgin.com/channels/zooradio.html# "

(Thanks Iqbal and Kris)

"u can ear some cure on a video about mechanical sport(a forest,from the edge)the adress is:

http://www.eurosport.fr/home/pages/V3/L3/S10001/multimedia_Lng3_Spo10001.shtml

it's the watts zap sports mecaniques"

(Thanks Sastre)

British Mag Names Radiohead World's Best

Fri Oct 3,11:53 AM ET

LONDON - Radiohead was voted the world's best band at the annual Q music awards, chosen by readers of Britain's Q magazine, winning the prize for the third consecutive year.

But the band, whose recent album, "Hail to the Thief," has been praised by critics in Britain and the United States, didn't attend Thursday's ceremony, sending a video message instead.

The film was soundless, but in type at the bottom of the screen it poured scorn on the magazine for branding them "miserable." The short video ended with the line: "Radiohead aren't talking to Q."

Readers of Q had selected Radiohead over Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blur.

Coldplay, also no-shows at the ceremony, had received the most nominations, up for best single ("Clocks"), best video ("The Scientist") and best live performers as well as the top prize. But they missed out in every category.

However, Christina Aguilera was on hand to pick up her best single award for "Dirrty."

"It's about time `Dirrty' got some love. Thank you to Q for recognizing the woman with the balls to make this video and loving every minute of it," the 22-year-old singer said, referring to the raunchy video that accompanied the song.

Other winners included Electric Six, best video for "Gay Bar"; Robbie Williams, best live act; Blur, best album for "Think Tank"; The Thrills, best new act; The Cure, the inspiration award for their influence on music; and Duran Duran, lifetime achievement.

And Reuters has a photo of Robert at the show:

Robert Smith, lead singer of British music group the Cure, arrives at the Q Awards in central London on October 2, 2003. The Cure won the inspiration award, which recognizes an act that has inspired a new generation of musicians and songwriters, at the annual music awards held by Q magazine. REUTERS/Hugo Philpott

The Q website also has a photo of Robert and many of the other attendees.

Radiohead Wins, Scorns Top Q Award

Edited By Jonathan Cohen. October 03, 2003, 10:55 AM ET

Radiohead made it a hat-trick of wins yesterday (Oct. 2) when it won the "best act in the world today" award for the third-year running at the Q Awards in London. However, the band sent a silent video message to accept the accolade, pouring scorn on award organizers Q Magazine, which called the band "miserable" in a review of its latest album, "Hail to the Thief." The message ended, "Radiohead aren't talking to Q."

Also honored for the album was Nigel Godrich, who picked up the best producer award for his work on "Hail to the Thief."

The award for best album went to Radiohead labelmate Blur for "Think Tank," one of seven EMI acts to walk off with awards. The others were the Thrills for best new act, Jane's Addiction (Icon Award), Dexys Midnight Runners (songwriter award), Duran Duran (lifetime achievement) and Robbie Williams, whose record-breaking sell-out shows at Knebworth in the U.K. won him best live act.

Accepting their award from legendary producer Nile Rodgers, Duran Duran dedicated it to longtime friend (and Power Station collaborator) Robert Palmer, who died of a heart attack last week.

Christina Aguilera picked up the best single award for "Dirrty," but was beaten in the best video category by Electric Six's "Gay Bar" clip.

The Cure's Robert Smith turned up to collect the Inspiration Award, while making an even rarer appearance, Scott Walker was on hand to receive Q's special award for his contributions to music.

The awards are voted on by the magazine's readers and also by listeners and viewers of its associated radio and TV stations and Web site.

-- Gordon Masson, London

"I spoke to Robert and he was quite pleased to get the award. I asked him about the new album and Ross Robinson and he claimed that they're going for the heaviest record of all time (will get you a proper quote when I've logged all the interviews).

He also said he enjoyed the LA show and rated the Psychedelic Furs quite highly (particularly when Butler carried on singing after he fell over or something)! They're definitely playing next year, although "I hesitate to use the word touring..." He also had a dig at the NME for that review and at the Q Buyer's Guide for slating The Top, so you're not alone...!

With Robert were Roger, Jason (I think), a tired and emotional Daryl and strangely Tim Pope. I asked Robert if that was because he now *owned* Tim Pope and he said that he'd invited Tim out for "a quiet drink"... and then laughed maniacally.

Will get more info once I've recovered (a wild night!)."

The Q Awards will air on Channel 4 in the UK this Monday (Oct. 6th) at 00.20. There will also be some interviews on the Q website soon.

(Thanks Martin)

"This morning on The Colin And Edith show (replacing Sarah Cox) there was a "report" from Edith from the Q Awards, which basically revolved around her slagging off Dom Joly.

Edith stated that she was sat at the same table as Robert Smith and Dom Joly, as well as other people that she did not name. Colin made the usual fantastically original jokes about how much of a mess Robert's lipstick will no doubt have been and he also asked Edith if there were any people at the awards show who weren't overweight. (This don't forget was supposed to be a "report" !!!).

Anyway, Edith said that everybody around the table were the rudest people she had ever met and she was disgusted at the way they slagged off every act who won an award, particularly Dom Joly who heckled many of the acts as they took to the stage. She then launched into a rant against Dom Joly saying that she thought he felt obliged to make supposed jokes simply because he is a supposed comedian (her comments, not mine), said none of his comments were even remotely amusing and then launched a tirade against Trigger Happy TV saying Joly had to make a 2nd series in order to have enough material for a best-of compilation.

In a nutshell she didn't sound happy at all about being sat at the same table as Robert and Dom. The only awards mentioned was Radiohead winning best band in the world, Coldplay winning nothing, and Duran Duran taking some sort of lifetime achievement. (The type of award usually reserved for bands who sell out and allow their songs to be used on adverts. Ahem...).

If other Cure members were present at the awards I would assume that they will have been at the same table as Robert and Dom. It's going to be interesting to see if any other reports back up this story about their supposed rudeness !!! "

Note from Craig: About the "rudeness", I've heard from a couple of people who were at the show, and each mentioned that the drinks were flowing very freely last nght, so if there WAS any "rudeness", it was probably just the drinks talking. : )

(Thanks to Dave Ace)

http://www.qawards.co.uk/qawards/2003/winners.shtml

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2003452632,00.html

http://www.dotmusic.com/news/October2003/news31042.asp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3157976.stm

(Thanks Chris)

"Didn't know if you already knew this, but the "One Perfect Day" cd (with the new version of "Pictures of You") will be out next month. I think it said that the release date for the cd is Nov.8th. Click here: Cinema Wrap"

(Thanks Jim)

"In it's second week on German top 100 single charts, "A Forest" drops to #22."

(Thanks Simon)

"Hey just thought i would tell you about this cool Cure related quiz i found. If you go on the website www.quizilla.com you can take a quiz called "which song by The Cure are you" It basically asks you a bunch of questions and based on your answers it says what Cure song you are most similar to as a person (apparently i am most similar to A Letter to Elise). Its really fun. "

Hmm, I'm "A Letter To Elise" as well. Fair enough I guess...

(Thanks Ryan)

"On the upcoming VH1 show series "I love the 80's strikes back", the song "Boys Don't Cry" is mentioned as one of the "Breakup Songs" on the episode about the year 1980."

I think the new series starts in late Oct., but I'm not sure.

(Thanks Giedrius)

(Thanks to The Weedy Burton)

Update: The Cure were awarded the Inspiration Award, which was presented to them by Tricky:

"Coldplay came away from the Q Awards tonight (Oct 2) with nothing, despite being nominated for four gongs.

Radiohead retained their Best Act In The World crown for another year after holding off the challenge from Chris Martin's men.

Surprisingly, the nation's favourite spandex-clad rockers The Darkness were also overlooked in a show that honoured some previously snubbed bands.

Winners included Christina Aguilera for best single, Blur for best album and Muse for innovation.

Electric Six were successful for the second year in a row following up their victory in 2002's Best New Act category as they scooped the Best Video award.

The winners:

- BEST SINGLE: Christina Aguilera - 'Dirrty'

- BEST ALBUM: Blur - 'Think Tank'

- BEST NEW ACT: The Thrills

- BEST VIDEO: Electric Six - 'Gay Bar'

- BEST LIVE ACT: Robbie Williams

- BEST ACT IN THE WORLD TODAY: Radiohead

- THE Q INNOVATION AWARD: Muse

- LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Duran Duran

- INSPIRATION AWARD: The Cure

- SONGWRITING AWARD: Dexy's Midnight Runners

- ICON AWARD: Jane's Addiction

The 14th annual awards were hosted by TV presenter Iain Lee at London's Park Lane Hotel."

Watch for NME to report that Depeche Mode won the award and that Seal presented it to them. : ) Seriously though, congratulations to the band on a well deserved award!

"Featuring innovative filmmaking techniques, the first television spots debut on NBC shows "Friends" and "Will & Grace" and CBS's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigations" They also will appear on NFL broadcasts and a variety of primetime network and cable programs. Taking a thematic approach, the ads feature the song "Pictures of You" by The Cure. "

You can view the 30 & 60 second clips here. Ugh! How disappointing is this? At least the Fiat ad only used a brief clip of the music. This one uses Robert's vocals as well, and is clearly the centerpiece of the ad. Oh well, no rant from me today, I think Robert said it best just 3 months ago:

"They've all become prostitutes. It's apparently generally accepted that artists lend their music for commercials. Sting does it, Celine Dion, Moby, even Bob Dylan... Fuck! That's still not done in my eyes. I don't want cure fans to think of toothpaste when they hear the walk." - Robert Smith (Humo magazine July 25th, 2003)

What's your take on this? Are you furious that Cure songs are being used in ads, or excited to see them getting more "mainstream" exposure? Will it help record sales? Have they sold out? Despite your feelings either way, are the ads any good? Which of the two ads is better or uses the song more effectively? Let me know, and I'll post your thoughts on this in the Feedback Forum.

(Thanks Kevin)

"Just thought I would let you know that Lol was at the show sitting in the 11th row (Roger's side). He watched all of Echo & the Bunnymen and The Cure's sets.... I don't think anyone else around noticed it was him though. I chated with him a bit, he is really a nice fellow. He was in the VIP backstage area for most of the show."

(Thanks ashengrace)

"I go to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Yesterday, Sept. 30, a band played on campus, and the fourth song in their set was Just Like Heaven. A rock version of it. Nicely Done."

(Thanks Jim)

"Do you know what kind of bass (brand, type, etc.) that Simon plays on Plainsong and Lovesong (specifically the versions on the Trilogy DVD)? I really appreciate it!"

(Thanks Babak)

Update: "For the whole Disintegration set (except Homesick where he plays a MusicMan Stingray) on the DVD, Simon plays his Dick Knight custom bass, based on a Gibson EB-2 that was used every night on the Wish Tour and the 1995 European Festival Tour. I read somewhere recently that Dick Knight, who has made basses for Peter Hook as well, in fact was referred to Simon by him, has recently passed away."

(Thanks Greg)

"There's a small picture of Robert with Kelly Osbourne backstage at II3 in this weeks Kerrang. Doesn't say much other than comparing their hair."

(Thanks Mark)

"Here's a very old Cure spotting (hope it still qualifies!!). I was looking at a tribute website to the 1980's TV show Miami Vice (For research I'm doing for an ongoing private joke...Honestly!) and came across something quite entertaining. Basically Miami Vice was quite well known for the high amount of "rock" songs featured on each episode, the website I was looking at has an entire section dedicated to the hundreds of songs featured on the show over the years. Guess what I found amongst the "T" section of songs? Have a look, four songs up from the bottom of the list. http://www.wildhorse.com/cgi-bin/musiclist.pl?songs+t Well, it's worth a look for a laugh isn't it?!"

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"on a MTV show "dirty sanchez" basically a UK version of jackass, whilst they were doing some rather painful "stunts" boys dont cry was playing in the background, rather appropiate considering they were haveing cricket balls bowled at bare skin!"

(Thanks Craig)

"I work in the Chilis in Augusta GA in the Kitchen. They play the piped in music in kitchen , but different from the music they play out in the restraunt. Whoever programs this particular loop has got to be a huge Cure fan. Ive heard everything from lets go to bed to just like heaven, perfect girl, inbetween days, Why cant I be you. If I work a 8 hour shift I can expect to hear atleast 8 or 9 cure songs. What really shocked me was tuesday I stroll in to the kitchen and 2-Late is playing. On a funny added note, not one person working there is aware of the Cure at all, and wonders why I know the words to such odd songs. They cant seem to get why I dont like Dave Mathews Band or rap music............"

(Thanks Trey)

"Universal France will release a special package for the Greatest Hits. The box (a DVD sized one) will contain the 2 audio CDs (greatest hits + acoustic versions) and the DVD ! This "Sound+Vision" deluxe series (as named by universal) will be distributed as a limited edition from october 21st. Other artists will also be available in this serie (Inxs, hendrix, Suzanne vega, Motley Crue...).

"Next Weeks NME: There is also abit at the back of the NME which says 'hot hot heat': See what happens when HHH and Interpol come face to face with their past: The Cure and Duran Duran? "

(Thanks Ange and Ed)

Isn't it absolutely perfect that N.M.E. thought that both the "highpoint" and "best song" of the show were for songs that were never played. Can this rag sink much lower? Oh wait, I'm talking about N.M.E., of course they can. : )

>From the November Issue of Q Magazine:

Q Review Buyer's Guide (p.142/3)

Behind the bird's nest hair and wobbly lippy, Robert Smith is glum rock's most prolific talent. Take a bow...

THE CURE

There's something not quite grown up about The Cure. Robert Smith's worldview has been likened to the night-time fears of a chil, therapy for death-obsessed teens and a soundtrack for those incapable of adult relationships.

This has not stopped Crawley's most famous band from selling more than 27 million albums worldwide and gaining new admirers by the day. Hot Hot Heat, The Rapture, and The Deftones are just a few of the bands who bear their influence. Tricky has included Lullaby on his Back To Mine collection and Smith has been invited to guest on the new Blink182 album. The badly spelled Inbetween Days, from 1985, has been revived for a TV commercial.

After a staggering 24 years of music, changing line-ups and poorly applied lipstick (Jane Cosmetics #3 Reddest, fact fans),there are also distinct phases to The Cure's career. Ranging from icy Joy Division-like moves to stadium goth and vivd pop, Smith's love of melody is Paramount. And if the albums do not come as frequently as they once did, Korn/Slipknot producer Ross Robinson will soon produce a new Cure set. Their story is far from over.

Indispensable. Truly Exceptional

PORNOGRAPHY When Smith, Bassist Simon Gallup and drummer Lol Tolhurst recorded Pornography, they were drinking massive amounts of Guinness and taking LSD on a daily basis. Yet there are no colourful lysergic epiphanies on their Phil Thornally-produced masterpiece; instead listeners are treated to walls of reverb, relentless drumming and lashings of catchy guitars. Aptly Smith called this nihilist classic the "ultimate fuck-off record" - if it didn't work, he planned to join Siouxsie & The Banshees, which he did anyway. Standout Tracks: One Hundred Years, Pornography, The Hanging Garden

DISINTEGRATION The first album not the feature Tolhurst (he was putting away a bottle of spirit a day by the late 80's), the brooding Disintegration draws on a morre mature kind of self-obsession than The Cure's earlier works. Hoewever, the palpable feelings of emotional carnage - "If only I could fill my heart with love", groans Closedown - make it even more delicious. They also create some of Smith's most epic pop moments. For all the heartbreak and wrath, Lovesong reached Number 2 in America; the band played sold-out shows in the Giants and Dodgers stadiums, but had to travel on the QE2 as Smith wouldn't fly. Standout tracks: The Same Deep Water As You, Lullaby, Lovesong

Excellent. Must Buy.

THE HEAD ON THE DOOR The group's 7th LP was recorded with an optimistic new line-up: bassist Gallup was back in the band and Boris Williams joined on drums. A few moments of gloom remain to satisfy the diehards but otherwise, with jangling guitars, danceable rhythms and such pearl-like songs as Inbetween Days, it's a a Cure record that sounds positive, the juvenilia synonymous with a sense of fun. The title came from one of Smith's favourite infant fears - that a coat hung on the back of his bedroom door was a severed head. Standout tracks: Inbetween Days, Close To Me, The Blood

FAITH One of their more Joy Division-indebted recordings, Faith is a stripped and funereal album with an undertone of violence ("I'll murder you again tonight," chortles Doubt). It's rich in hooks and hummable basslines all the same. Repeated listening also reveals The Cure's rarely acknowledged chops as an ambient band; the sparingly use of synth vreates a mood of lulling inertia, though this is chill-out music from the tombs. Exhaustion and derangement were also on the way, when touring New Zealand, Smith fell asleep while calling Steve Severin from the Banshees and woke up with a $480 phone bill. Standout tracks: Primary, Faith

Also...

Three Imaginary Boys is clever, dark pop played fast and scratchy with enough of Smith's splendidly memorable riffs to keep you nodding. Boys Don't Cry cherry-picks the highlights and adds their eraly singles; the Camus-inspired Killing An Arab remains one of their most idiosyncratic works. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is an epic jumble of fuzz guitars, rhythmic clatter and pop thrills. Just Like Heaven was covered by Dinosaur Jr, while Shiver And Shake mocks soon-to-leave alcoholic Tolhurst: "You're just three sick holes that run like sores". Charming.

Good. But not for everyone.

SEVENTEEN SECONDS Leaving behind Three Imaginary Boys' spindly pop for introspective post-punk glumness, the new, four-piece Cure (Smith, Tolhurst, new bassist Gallup and keyboardist Mathieu Hartley) were a cooler prospect by far. Slow, harrowing and alienated, the title track doesn't specify what takes 17 seconds, but bets are it isn't pleasant. There's still pop value, of course, and they pitched up on Top Of The Pops with A Forest. Amusingly the master tapes were erased after they were stacked next to a washing machine by Fiction Records boss Chris Parry. Standout tracks: A Forest, In Your House, At Night

BLOODFLOWERS Fresh from an appearance on South Park, Smith declared this The Cure's terminal transmission. It wasn't, but Bloodflowers certainly stands up as one of the oddest albums recorded at Jane Seymour's country mansion (another was The Cure's 1996 record Wild Mood Swings). Apparently the fulfilment of a trilogy that also includes Pornography and Disintegration, this polished-sounding album is as sinister and guileless as ever, analysing hope and despair and gaining extra pathos by the increasing awareness of age (see the melodramatic 39). Standout tracks: Out Of This World, There Is No If..., Maybe Someday

Also...

Bulging with pop tunes and bullish guitars, Wish sold a million in America and was their first UK Number 1. It's churlish to moan in the presence of songs like Friday I'm In Loveor From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea, but the lack of deeper shades is a concern. Ther's also a quartet of live albums - the pseudo-bootleg Concert, Entreat and two 1993 companion pieces Show and Paris. All are worthwile if you're enough of a Cure head to want to hear unnecessary live versions of studio tracks.

Approach With Caution. Please be careful.

JAPANESE WHISPERS After Pornography, Smith split the band and was faced with a novel dilemma when Let's Go To Bed became a US radio hit. An unashamedly contrived pop song, it was recorded while The Cure was in limbo (the unhappy Tolhurst had switched to keyboards). Containing that single, student disco staple The Lovecats and tracks from 1983's The Walk EP, Japanese Whispers is a little too fluffy for its own good (it didn't help that The Walk "borrowed" from New Order's Blue Monday). It did bring one major invention: the first sighting of the spiked hair/lipstick Cure uniform Standout track: The Lovecats

Also...

The upbeat Wild Mood Swings is curiously unsatisfying. The usual elements were in place but they sounded over-familiar and re-heated. The unwidely dance-influenced track Club America, meanwhile, is best buried and forgotten. Similarly, the largely futile Mixed Up features a series fo dance mixes of already-released material by electronic bigwig like Paul Oakenfold and William Orbit.

Poor. For collectors only.

Due to Smith's knackeredness at a) being in The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Banshees side-project The Glove at the same time and b) doing too many hallucinogens, the singer came out in boils and made The Top, his breakdown album. Hit single The Caterpillar was charming fluff, but elsewhere the project's experimentalism was hopelessly confusing. Similarly, the soundtrack Carnage Visors is a continuous, unchanging and wordless 27 minute instrumental, evoking a vague sense of unease and a stronger wish for it to finish.

Classic Compilation

STARING AT THE SEA - THE SINGLES Though it stops in 1986, Staring At The Sea presents as close to the complete stylistic picture as you can get, from Killing An Arab's post-punk edginess to the pop sheen of Inbetween Days. It also seems like a proper chapter in an unfolding story - something that later, glossier compilations Galore and Greatest Hits do not manage. At this point the Americans were starting to take notice, dubbing Smith the "male Kate Bush".

(Thanks to One_Imaginary_Girl for typing all of this up!)

Is everything ok over there in England? I mean first NME reviews songs that weren't played, and now Q rates The Top and Carnage Visors as "Poor"!!! Has everyone simply gone mad like Tony Blair?

"Just received the Blank And Jones "A Forest" DVD single, which bizarrely took two weeks to get "all" the way from Germany to England. (My "Picture Show" DVD took about 6 days from Brazil !).

Just a few words about the DVD:

The video for A Forest is nothing particularly special. It basically features Blank And Jones pulling strange poses and being covered in small lightbulbs while larking around in slow motion and super-fast motion around some kind of weird concrete structures. Meanwhile our hero Robert is super-imposed over the top of this, singing directly into the camera and pulling his usual Robert expressions, etc. T

here's an interview where Blank and Jones interview Robert, lasting 9:13 which is quite good. Robert talks about how much he actually loves dance music and he usually listens to it while doing jobs in his kitchen. He knew who Blank and Jones were but only had one single by them, it sounds like they sent Robert a bunch of their CD's in the hope he would "Just Say Yes" (sorry..) to doing the vocal for "A Forest" and it worked. The interview is more of an entertaining 10 minutes in the company of Robert than anything amazingly insightful, although Robert does say he's done several vocal collaborations during 2003 because he wants a new perspective on making music for when The Cure make their new record in 2004.

The funniest part for me was that during the interview "Blank" really looks and sounds like Sacha Baron Cohen's (AKA "Ali G") character Bruno - the Austrian who "interviews" (or in other words: "takes the piss out of") models and designers at European fashion shows !!!

Asked if he would do another Cure re-recording with Blank And Jones Robert says yes - if A Forest goes Number 1 all over the world ! He then adds that it's unlikely !!

The "making of" section just shows how the video was made, Blank and Jones did their bit on the concrete things somewhere on the coast in southern England and then met with Robert later to film his parts. Robert's bit was filmed blue screen in a hotel conference room. How unglamourous a location can you get? The funny thing is that they say Robert really sang out loud while filming, rather than just lip-synching, so this must have sounded a bit weird in a hotel.

One interesting thing for Cure completists/sad anoraks is that this version of A Forest is the only record release featuring Robert where he has recorded his vocal at his own home. His only other vocal takes at home have been for demos."

(Thanks Dave Ace)

"As shown on this pre-order form, the Blank & Jone CD-single is now available in french stores. The CD is distributed by WEA France and has the same catalogue number as the german edition.

"I just came back from a wicked show in downtown Toronto, Canada. Hey Mercedes was playing with Amor For Sleep (who are fantastic in their own right), while Blank Face and Panic In Detroit opened for them. Blank Face, an emo band from Buffalo NY, came on first and did a few songs. The lead singer said that their next song was going to be a cover. Then they launched into Lovesong. It was a louder version than I was used to, but still held all the changes and riffs I expected in the original. The singer used an echo effect for part of the chorus to no doubt give it that "Robert" feel. It was solid. A good cover, and a great surprise to hear at an emo concert!"

(Thanks Paul)

"I'm a surfer and in a bodyboard video called "No Friends #6- Retina Rehab" there is a session on a famous australian spot, The Box, and the backgroud music is "In Between Days". I'm surfing for more than 10 years it's the first time I hear a Cure song in a surf video !"

(Thanks Jean-François of www.picturesofcure.com)

"here's a cure mention in today's NY Post http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/3291.htm"

(Thanks Toni)

1.Did you know this? In a review published in the most popular Spanish newspaper, named EL PAÍS, and whose title of the article is "Jewel, the sensitive singer, jumps to digital music", Jewel has declared that "People forget that I grew up in the 80´s, listening to Madonna, The Cure, or Public Enemy".

2.A few days ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop, enjoying a Diet Coke, and reading the isse correspondent to September of the Spanish free magazine named 40 Magazine, when I turned over the page and found a little article about Ian MacCullogh´s new album, which says as follows (I include only the extract in which The Cure are mentioned; by the way, while I was translating this article into English, "Lullaby" was being broadcasted on M80 Radio)

"The fact that the leader from Echo and the Bunnymen has been to the last edition of the FIB (Festival Internacional de Benicàssim) targets to the admission that is taking place in our country (Spain) is due to the fact that the "Los Hombres Conejo" (The Bunny Men) are, together with The Cure, one of the most important influences from the two-sides of the post-punk movement from England".

(Thanks Sharon from www.charlottesometimes.fr.st)