Oct. 29th
"actually I bought that DVD when
I was visiting Rome last month. And now it's getting dusty in
my closet. It's shit, it really is, it's one of those typical show's
where they let music journalists do the talking and in this case they
really don't know what they are talking about. You don't even here
the cure's music, it's a cover band playing their songs.
one positive thing is they show about four live songs from the Top era and that's quite nice to see.
no, do yourselfs a favour and stay away from this silly dvd."
(Thanks Di Monaco)
"The DVD is not worth a penny. It only includes one performance through out the whole DVD which is The Cure live on The TUBE (Bananfishbones,
The top, Piggy in the Mirror) interupted by interviews with journalists and Cure related peoples friends. The backround music on the DVD is by
The Cure but performed poorly by a tribute band called Insecure. The DVD includes a booklet written by the well known Mick Middles. DVD 2
features sort of new computer animated videos to on DVD 1 featured Cure covers. Boring! All in all a poor and for sure not official 2DVD &
Booklet. Better to avoid!"
(Thanks Gerald)
"Just thought I'd let you know I have purchased this DVD and can quite honestly say to any Cure fans DO NOT BUY THIS!. The first disc has a
load of talking heads who give nothing to the product and they talk over the so called "rare" footage of The Cure performing on "The Tube"- which
is hardly "rare" in my view. So disgusted was I, I quickly changed to the other disc and was confronted by a cover band's (Insecure) rendition
of cure songs and some pictures (no video!) of The Cure floating around. Utter,utter rubbish!.
It goes back to the shop Monday.
In contrast I bought New Orders "Item" DVD for the same price and it shows how a DVD product should be."
(Thanks Ian)
Cure (2004 version) autographed
photo up for auction:
"A Seattle Radio station 107.7 the end is auctioning off an autographed cure promo picture of (the old 2004) cure. the bids are up to 55$ and the auction ends on 11/2/2005 - http://1077theend.com/auctionclassifieds/Auctions/Default.aspx
and for a closer look at the auction - http://www.1077theend.com//AuctionClassifieds//auctions/viewItem.aspx?itemID=1794
1077 the end is also featuring The Cure on the Resurrection Flashback Sunday show (Sunday 8am-Noon) Pacific time. people not in the seattle area
can listen online thru their website http://www.1077theend.com."
(Thanks Stephanie)
one positive thing is they show about four live songs from the Top era and that's quite nice to see.
no, do yourselfs a favour and stay away from this silly dvd."
(Thanks Di Monaco)
"The DVD is not worth a penny. It only includes one performance through out the whole DVD which is The Cure live on The TUBE (Bananfishbones,
The top, Piggy in the Mirror) interupted by interviews with journalists and Cure related peoples friends. The backround music on the DVD is by
The Cure but performed poorly by a tribute band called Insecure. The DVD includes a booklet written by the well known Mick Middles. DVD 2
features sort of new computer animated videos to on DVD 1 featured Cure covers. Boring! All in all a poor and for sure not official 2DVD &
Booklet. Better to avoid!"
(Thanks Gerald)
"Just thought I'd let you know I have purchased this DVD and can quite honestly say to any Cure fans DO NOT BUY THIS!. The first disc has a
load of talking heads who give nothing to the product and they talk over the so called "rare" footage of The Cure performing on "The Tube"- which
is hardly "rare" in my view. So disgusted was I, I quickly changed to the other disc and was confronted by a cover band's (Insecure) rendition
of cure songs and some pictures (no video!) of The Cure floating around. Utter,utter rubbish!.
It goes back to the shop Monday.
In contrast I bought New Orders "Item" DVD for the same price and it shows how a DVD product should be."
(Thanks Ian)
"A Seattle Radio station 107.7 the end is auctioning off an autographed cure promo picture of (the old 2004) cure. the bids are up to 55$ and the auction ends on 11/2/2005 - http://1077theend.com/auctionclassifieds/Auctions/Default.aspx
and for a closer look at the auction - http://www.1077theend.com//AuctionClassifieds//auctions/viewItem.aspx?itemID=1794
1077 the end is also featuring The Cure on the Resurrection Flashback Sunday show (Sunday 8am-Noon) Pacific time. people not in the seattle area
can listen online thru their website http://www.1077theend.com."
(Thanks Stephanie)
Oct. 28th
"http://www.sfweekly.com/Issues/2005-10-26/news/columns.html
New Wave City's Halloween Dance Party: Break out your shoulder pads, big hair, and high-grade blow for this frightening '80s dance party that
simply proves once again that the only good thing to come out of this era was the music. Be sure to participate in the Cure's Robert Smith Look-Alike Contest by wearing your saddest sulk. Sat., Oct. 29, 9 p.m.-3 a.m., $7-$12. Studio Z, 314 11th St. (at Folsom), 252-7666, www.studioz.tv.
(Thanks Tempest)
"Hi, someone said that there was a cure song on "trigger happy" on kanaal 2 in Belgium, if you go to www.kanaaltwee.be and than trigger happy, you'll find a lot of cure songs in the movies. www.kanaaltwee.be/triggerhappy/video.htm?aflid=19&vidid=116,
http://www.kanaaltwee.be/triggerhappy/video.htm?aflid=20&vidid=150,
http://www.kanaaltwee.be/triggerhappy/video.htm?aflid=20&vidid=152 with just like heaven.
http://www.kanaaltwee.be/triggerhappy/video.htm?aflid=23&vidid=259,
http://www.kanaaltwee.be/triggerhappy/video.htm?aflid=23&vidid=263 and some more"
(Thanks Benjamien)
"From the Pioneer Press Horrific Hit Parade:
11. “Lullaby,” The Cure — Just try not shivering as Robert Smith sings about being eaten by a “spiderman” (not Peter Parker, we presume): “I feel like I’m being eaten by a thousand million shivering furry holes.”
(Thanks Lenore)
"from The Daily Cardinal: "MTV music videos still far scarier than ‘The Newlyweds’"
The Cure “Taking Off”—An uncharacteristically positive song from an uncharacteristically bland Cure album, a lot of the creepiness would be alleviated if Robert Smith would simply smile while delivering those super-optimistic lines. It would also help if he didn’t start awkwardly flying around halfway through the song, as a heavily made-up, goth Peter Pan is no one’s idea of a good time."
(Thanks Tempest)
Oct. 26th
Live 8 Paris dvd at Play:
"In Europe you can get the 'Live 8: Paris' DVD at http://www.play.com for 22.49 EUR / 13.99 GBP (delivered)."
(Thanks Olivier)
If anyone is still looking
for the Sessions@AOL from June 7th, 2004, here are the direct links
to them on the AOL server:
Before Three
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Just Like Heaven
Lost
Lovesong
One Hundred Years
The End of the World
Interview
(Thanks to Wilco @ Goth City)
I've posted scans and an english translation
of an interview from the Italian magazine Rockstar (Sept. 1984).
(Thanks to Pietro for the scans and translation)
Cure cover:
"The french-english-Paris-based band WAREHOUSE 99 PROJECT has a great cover of "I"m a cult hero" on the first album "Social leper's club" (distributed by Discograph here in France). CD is now out ! And have a look on the website : http://www.warehouse99project.org/"
(Thanks Jerome)
Curespotting:
"On UK TV Channel BBC1 today (25th October) on a show called "Best of Friends" they played the song Hot Hot Hot!!! during a scene of children
trying hot food like curry. Quite funny."
(Thanks Andrew)
"Maybe it has already been said before but I only saw it now on television :
The ninth episode of the tv serie "Cold Case" (episode titled Sherry Darlin ) begins with the Lovesong intro. Later during the episode, we can hear it again."
(Thanks LotOfSly)
Oct. 25th
'One Hundred Years' to be included
on the Paris Live 8 dvd:
"While the Cure are criminally absent from the big 4DVD Live 8 Box Set coming out domestically, at least one track from their Paris appearance
will appear on the international single DVD Live 8: Paris.
http://idealcopy.american-data.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MU-VARIO-LIVE8-03
The DVD will be NTSC Region 1, so it will be playable on all North American DVD players. I'm assuming a PAL version will be available in Europe, but we won't be carrying that version.
Muse has 3 songs on that DVD as well, and Placebo has 2, not sure why they didn't feature the entire Cure set...it would have fit on the DVD..."
(Thanks to Chris @ The Ideal Copy, Dennis and Lars)
Dragon Hunters theme song on
cd:
"I saw the post about Dragon Hunters coming to Belgium, and it reminded me to email you about "The Dragonhunter's Song" being available on a
German compilation CD, here: http://www10.cd-wow.us/detail_results.php?product_code=21872"
Anyone have this? Is it the same version from the show, or is it a longer version?
Update: Wow, that was quick! The version on the cd is the complete song, running 3:20. Thanks to Andreas for sending it to me.
(Thanks Brad)
Cure party in Spain:
FIND A CURE: A tribute to The Cure
hispaCure, the official spanish Cure fan club, moves to Murcia for the next Cure party: a fantastic tribute night!
The party will start with the gig by the cover band 3IB, which will go through the early songs of the band.
Next, there will be a set by NOISE BOX, one of the most acclaimed bands of the alternative Spanish scene, which will play their cover version of
Play for Today, included in the recent Spanish tribute album "Canciones de los chicos imaginarios"
And finally, the party will go on with a MACRO CURE-SESSION by our guest Dj's.
The venue will have a very special and exclusive decoration, entirely dedicated to the Cure.
Do not miss it!!!
Date: Sabado 5 de noviembre 2005
Venue: SALA SUPER 8, Murcia
Address: Av/ ciclista mariano rojas, 16. Murcia
Price: 5 euros, including a drink
Flyer and Poster:
Organized by:
SALA SUPER 8
HISPACURE FAN CLUB ESPAÑA
(Thanks B.)
Curespotting:
"Some Germans might have noticed it already: the "Sonic Seducer music magazine" features a long Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)/Douglas McCarty (Nitzer Ebb/FixmerMcCarthy) interview in its current issue. One of their topics: the cover artwork of DM´s "Playing the angel". McCarthy on this one: "Who is responsible for that? Looks a bit like Robert Smith!"
(Thanks Lev)
"Just wanted to let you know that yesterday, Sunday October 23th on the Belgian Kanaal II the song Friday i'm in Love was played in the comedy program Trigger Happy as background with one of their hidden camera films."
(Thanks Mig)
Oct. 21st
According to RockonTV,
Loaded: The Cure will be on FUSE this saturday at 10:30pm
eastern / 9:30pm central.
Updated: "The program LOADED on the FUSE channel aired a half an hour of Cure videos. The songs they played were: Love Song, Inbetween Days, Pictures Of You, Friday, I'm In Love, Let's Go To Bed, Boys Don't Cry"
(Thanks Benjamien and Jim)
Dragon Hunters now airing in
Belgium:
"The Dragon Hunter series is on Belgian TV too, on Ketnet. I don't know since when, but it's on now. Theme song has stayed the same, but the show is called Drakenjagers in Dutch. According to the Ketnet-website, it's on every weekday from 5.45 until 6.15 pm. It's aired on Saturday too, starting at 5.35 until 6 am."
For those of you who are new, and wondering what this has to do with The Cure, Robert wrote the theme song for the show.
(Thanks Lynn)
The Cure are the most wanted
band for Wave Gotik Treffen:
"The Cure was voted most wanted band to perform at next Wave gotik treffen (http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/) the biggest goth festival in
Europe). http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/results2005.php"
(Thanks Antti)
Curespotting:
"I was reading reviews of this week's new CDs on the net and to my surprise, a song off Rachel Stevens (UK pop starlet) called 'It's All About Me'
samples The Cure's 'Lullaby' - I actually heard the song and it's interesting to say the least, though I can imagine a few fans shouting blasphemy!"
(Thanks Kunal)
"With 1 out in the top of the 9th of the NLCS (Cards vs Astros) there was a quick switch to the history of the Cardinals featuring Pictures of
You - personally weird because I was listening to POU seconds before it was played on TV"
(Thanks Joeylom and Angela)
"Today, (Oct.14) on The Oprah Winfrey show, she had some kids that were telling jokes. Oprah asked one of the kids to dance. The song that was
played for the kids to dance to was Lullaby."
(Thanks Sarah)
"From the Houston Chronicle
Funny thing about ghoulish, dour or depressed vocalists who front shadow-shrouded bands: They're never what they appear to be.
Take Robert Smith of the Cure. Listening to his most wrenching songs or watching him sullenly wail in concert, you'd think he was perpetually
melancholy and that any interview with him would be a painful process. Exactly the opposite is true; Smith is genial, chatty, excitable — he even laughs on occasion."
(Thanks Tempest)
After 7 weeks, COF is finally
back home in New Orleans. Lots of cleanup already completed,
lots more still to do, but updates should be back to normal now.
Thanks to everyone for your support and understanding. And good luck
to everyone in Mexico, Cuba and Florida who will have to deal with
Hurricane Wilma.
Oct. 13th
I probably posted this before,
but in case I didn't, here's a Robert interview from ZDF:
"while surfing through the internet I've found an interview with Robert. Unfortunately it's about one year old, but may be you are interested.
It was made by the ZDF, the second German television, but It's nearly completly in English.
http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/26/0,4070,2223962-5,00.html"
(Thanks Nat)
More on that Deftones b-sides
album:
"Not sure if you've already mentioned this but the Deftones just released a B-sides and rarities cd with their cover of "If Only Tonight We Could
Sleep" and their drummer Abe wrote a funny little blurb about their performance, if you'd be interested..
"What do you do when Robert Smith comes calling? You fly to London, kick it with some friends, play one song, have a blast, then fly home. We had
a minute before we had to go on stage and I was kind of nervous because we were about to play a Cure song with the Cure watching us from like 10
feet away, so I dash into the bathroom to drain my beast and BAAAM..it's me and Robert in this big-ass restroom with like 100 urinals and 100 sinks, mirrors and stalls everywhere, he's standing there putting on his make-up, clutching this little compact. He's all "Hey Mate" and i'm like "Hey Robert"; Feeling kinda bad cuz I blasted into his tranquil pre-show zone and fucked up his chi."
(Thanks Gunther)
Here's a press release from
Roger's new record label 99X/10:
For immediate release> 9/30/5
99 times out of 10 is a new independent record label formed by keyboard player Roger O'Donnell (The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Thompson Twins).
More than just a new label, it is a new way of approaching and handling young bands and artists with absolute fairness and openness. Incorporating visual artists into the labels vision, it is an inspirational collective on all levels.
‘Nothing Concrete’ is 99X/10’s first release. A sampler of all the bands on the label, a taste of what is to come, and an amazingly homogenous album.
“Once we put a running order together of all the songs we realised we had something very good, that not only only worked musically as an album but with a single intent and love of music.”
For Roger approaching young artists as a label was a new and novel experience having always been on the other side of the fence. They welcomed his approach with wide eyed enthusiasm.
"The idea is to help, to put something back into the music business, to try and make it fair and make the music the most important element again. Any artist we get involved with will have these essentials; a love of music, talent and trust. For this project to work we have to have trust in each other. After so many years in the business and seeing how not to do it I have no excuses, I have to do it right "
To follow ‘Nothing Concrete’ 99X/10 has 6 full releases planned, one a month starting with The Maybe's "The Chorus of the Loveless", two tracks of which are included on the sampler. From Chicago The Maybe combine delicate, soulful vocals with intricate acoustic guitar and percussion, sprinkled with sparkling electronics.
Another major release will be Roger O'Donnell's first solo record "The Truth in Me" which was conceived, written and performed entirely on a Moog Voyager. Mixed by Mario Thaler (The Notwist, Lalli Puna, Ms John Soda) , vocals by Erin Lang and remixes planned by Fourtet and the Album Leaf.
After Roger spent the summer talking to indie labels about the release of ‘The Truth in Me’ and coincidentally working on the label he finally gave in to his instincts and combined the two.
“How could I go to bands and ask them to let me release their music if I didn't have the confidence in my own label to release my record ? Now all the energy is focused and I retain complete control of my own art "
99xoutof10 feels very strongly that in a world where technology is moving so fast, major labels have become dinosaurs and their extinction is just around the corner. Ridiculously unfair royalty deals and malpractices that make organised crime look tame are not acceptable anymore. With 99X/10 the music and creation is firmly in the artists hands. Without the need for massive advances to pay for recordings, profit and cost sharing is the model way to go.
“Clearly today we have a wonderful opportunity to be a big part in the music of tomorrow. If we can play a role in letting people hear the music that excites and charms us then we will be happy. If we can be fair and transparent in our dealings and offer a partnership amongst out artists then we will consider ourselves a success. Ultimately we will be judged on the music and our actions.”
Nothing Concrete
another name - roger o'donnell
sirius transmissions - sensory factory
i fell down a very long well - alka
oui-ja - goddamn electric bill
the downers of '62 - the maybe
dead waiter - apathy
snowfall - pale amber glow
anthem - sensory factory
all we can do now - erin lang
oriens - ecce
column - somnolent
your wayward stare - alka
pour etre plein d'espoir - dead waiter
witching hour - goddamn electric bill
new leaf - pale amber glow
the burden of summer - the maybe
warm windows in night - somnolent
south - ecce
the truth in me - roger o'donnell
nothing concrete 99X/10 sampler 05
Artwork by Anna Dorfman
Mastered by Guy Davie at the Exchange London
Released 30th September through the labels site
www.99xoutof10.com
also available on iTunes
Roger is available for interviews and additional information
email info@99xoutof10.com
roger o'donnell the truth in me
my day
the truth in you
the truth in me
not without you
he sent you angels
treasure
the slightest change
this is a story
this grey morning
tired of all this
and so i closed my eyes
written and performed on a moog voyager
by roger o'donnell
mixed by mario thaler - uphon studios weilheim
mastered by guy davie - the exchange london
artwork by ian wright
A joint 99X/10 MICRO release
After successfully writing a song for the acclaimed documentary " Moog" using only a Moog Voyager monophonic synthesizer Roger was encouraged by the films producer Ryan Page to make an entire album using the process. Skeptical at first yet inspired by Bjorks Medulla where she used only voices he continued and was rewarded with an incredible album " The Truth in Me " . With the addition of vocals on 4 tracks by Erin Lang and the mixing of Mario Thaler the album was complete.
" I had planned to make a solo record, frustrated by the confines of being in such a big band with expectations from fans and label, I wanted it to be totally free from any pre conceptions or constraints. It was literally me in a studio with my Moog creating what I feel are in some way sonic paintings that don't comply to regular song structures but build up melody and mood. The Voyager is a totally electronic instrument, without electricity it makes no sound yet it is one of the most organic and emotional instruments I have ever played. This album represents me, where I am in my musical life right now, thats why I had to call it The Truth in Me ."
From the moment Roger started playing it to friends and musicians the response was incredible , it was like nothing anyone had ever heard yet they loved it. It didn't sound like electronica, it didn't sound like anything ! This initially proved problematic especially with prospective labels who out of necessity need to pigeon hole music and categorise it for their markets. So the record will be released early next year on 99X/10 Records in collaboration with Micro.
You can order the 'Nothing Concrete' cd now at the 99X/10 store. Also available is the 99X/10 t-shirt & button, and the highly recommended 'Choose Your Own Adventure' album preview cd from Erin Lang.
An update on the 25th Anniversary
plans for And Also The Trees:
AND ALSO THE TREES - '1980-2005'
Legendary cult underground band AND ALSO THE TREES celebrate their 25th anniversary this Autumn with news of a new, career-spanning anothology CD & the announcement of two 'special' anniversary live shows.
Released on November 1st (or available now via www.andalsothetrees.co.uk) & simply entitled '1980-2005' (AATTCD05), the 18-track anthology CD was compiled by the band themselves from their 10 studio albums & includes classics such as 'A Room Lives In Lucy', 'Shaletown', 'Prince Rupert' & the live favourite 'Slow Pulse Boy', all housed in a beautiful digipack sleeve with unique artwork & biographical liner notes.
Furthermore, two 'special' anniversary live shows have been announced:
Paris (Fr) - Bat-O-Far (Friday 18th November) SOLD OUT!
Bochum (D) - Christuskirche (Saturday 19th November)
These venues have been chosen for their unique & intimate surroundings & tickets are expected to sell very fast!
These will be the only 'anniversary' shows & will be the final AATT live dates of 2005.
Please visit www.andalsothetrees.co.uk for ticket enquiries.
(Thanks Mindy)
Autographed guitar on ebay:
"Very very good item - Robert Smith's Guitar signed by Robert Smith The Cure
Robert has played this guitar once for the cover of "Don't believe a word" and "Faith Healer" summer 2002
This guitar has been signed personally from Robert Smith, in silver.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356446468 (English)
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356446468 (Italian)"
(Thanks Damiano)
Lost Wishes on ebay:
"There's a copy of rare and hard to find Lost Wishes up for grabs on eBay !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4780072545&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1"
(Thanks Andy)
An interesting Cure/photo
project:
"I'm a belgian Cure fan, and I just wanted to report that some belgian guys have started a project where they want to transfer cure songs into
pictures.
They have only just started, and the first 4 pictures can be found here http://two-imaginary-boys.deviantart.com/gallery/"
(Thanks Jelle)
Cure cover:
"Here in Seattle, last night (October 5), I went to see Tracy Chapman at the Paramount Theatre. She did a great set. When she returned to the
stage for her last number, it was a cover of Love Song! It was a great version of the song."
(Thanks Jim)
Curespotting:
Oct. 5th
About those "publicity photos"
I posted today, forget them. They were the work of a photographer
who doesn't want them posted, so I have removed them at his
request. Sorry about that.
A bit more info on the single
disc remastered cds:
"I'm Vittorio fom Italy, last friday i saw the remaster edition of Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography in jawel cases as a single CD; i've heard about these releases but nothing was sure...however i saw these remestered albums but i didn't pick'em up because i already have the deluxe editions; i can remember little differences with the original releases:
- the artworks (cover and back cover) are the same, but Three Imaginary Boys have a completely new back cover (never seen before);
- the CDs are packed in a completely transparent jawel cases.
Thi is all i can say at the moment."
(Thanks Vittorio)
More from Severin about The
Glove remastered cd:
"In the November issue of Record Collector there's a review of Siouxie's remastered The Scream album, and a short interview with Steve Severin and he says:" i'm really looking forward to working with Robert Smith again on the Glove remastering.We've some great ideas already and quite a fair bit of bonus material to work from"."
(Thanks JC)
New Cure mash-up:
"Destiny's Child (Bug-a-Boo) and Close To Me - http://members.home.nl/arthop/Roppenzo_Bootlegs_-_Close_to_a_Bug.mp3"
(Thanks Chrissy)
Cure covers:
"You can find few covers played live by Polish bands during Cure Party in Szczecin 2004: http://www.thecure.pl/section.php?action=curexclusive-mifp
(Thanks to Fozzie @ Curesick)
"Cureosa: A tribute to The Cure" (Argentinian "band") played Just like heaven and Boys don't cry in a TV Program (Badia Y Compania) last
saturday. (Bizarre festival????)"
(Thanks BETO)
"The Swedish band The Legends have just released their second album on Labrador Records called Public Radio. It's a big departure from their
first album, but it's still excellent. More importantly for Chain of Flowers, they've pretty much 100% nailed the sound and feel of Seventeen Seconds. This is clearly a conscious effort on their part, as the matches are too close. It's almost like covers turned into original songs.
There's also a b-side for the single that sounds pretty much exactly like Funeral Party.
On the album, there's also a song that takes the exact bassline from Close To Me, including handclaps! There's also another song that sounds
exactly like New Order."
(Thanks Canon)
Curespotting:
DEFTONES: The Stories Behind The Videos - http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42494
"On "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep", a CURE cover song, recorded live for MTV's "Icon":
Chi: "That was harrowing. It was nerve-wracking. All the cover songs, you do them and record them, and you get feedback later. It was the most intimidating thing for (CURE frontman Robert Smith) to be sitting there. You can't tell whether he likes it. Afterward, he was so cool. It was amazing."
Abe: "'Around the Fur' came out and we were reading Kerrang! (magazine) and Robert Smith had his Top Five records of the year. ('Around the Fur') was in there. We love THE CURE. We all love that band.
"'Around the Fur' was coming out and we were at SIR (studios) down in L.A. They were rehearsing in the next thing over. We went over there ... we're petrified, but they're all just kicking it with beers: 'What's up, mate?' They were like the nicest people in the world."
(Thanks Tempest and Lenore)
"Very weird Curespotting: http://www.wonkette.com/politics/harriet-miers/harriet-miers-gets-polled-129036.php"
(Thanks Barbi)
Oct. 3rd
Roger will
be doing a chat at Masterartists.com
today starting at 5pm eastern. I'm way behind on Roger updates,
but just check his
website and sign up for the e-mail updates (he has sent
out 2 already) and you'll be caught up on everything he and Erin
have going on at the moment.
Update: Here's the transcript of the chat:
Charming Chat Host>>
Welcome to our fifth moderated chat on PianoTalk! Tonight Richard welcomes our special guest, keyboardist Roger O'Donnell.
Richard>>
Roger - a great welcome to you - we're glad you are here....where are you right now?
Roger>>
We're at a house in the country in Devon - the pointy part of England down near the bottom. We live next door to a dairy farm.
Richard>>
Roger, how did your relationship with the piano begin?
Roger>>
I was born at home in the same room as the piano, so you could say my relationship started the day I was born. My parents and my oldest brother all played so it seemed natural , I remember my brother George showing me some basic 12 bar blues patterns.
Richard>>
When and how did you receive your musical training?
Roger>>
I started formal piano lessons aged 11 at school, but it was difficult for me as I’d spent so much time playing by ear and found it frustrating.
Roger>>
So I didn't pursue it that far....
Roger>>
I was already in love with the piano, so I taught myself - I don't read music, I play by ear, which is 85-90% what you'll find with people on my side of the business.
Roger>>
There's a couple of times when it would've been handy to read, but I've never had a situation where it was a hindrance. You need to be able to
play instantly either from CD or from someone singing to you.
Richard>>
That's the opposite of my business - people know how to read but not so much how to play be ear - I think it's important to be able to do both,
actually.
Richard>>
Who influenced your musical career the most?
Roger>>
My biggest musical influence is Herbie Hancock , the jazz pianist. When I first began to explore improvisation around the age of 15, I learnt a
lot of his solos note by note.
Roger>>
If you are into improvisation, it's good to see how other people do it - study them.
Richard>>
I agree - I really like Jean Michel-Pilc and Art Tatum....
Richard>>
We'll take a question from the group here online...
William88>>
What's the difference between a pianist and a keyboardist?
Roger>>
None, the title keyboardist came about because there were a lot of instruments being made with keyboards, its just a catch all title. However
having said that, I know a lot of keyboardists who have never played a piano.
Richard>>
Looks like your fan club is here....
less>>
Roger, you are the greatest keyboardist The @#%$ ever had.
Roger>>
Thanks very much!
skip>>
do you play any other instruments, roger?
Roger>>
No - but I have struggled with the guitar from time to time - and it's struggled back and usually won.
Roger>>
If you play the piano using MIDI, I can basically get to the sound of any instrument - so there's no need to actually play that instrument!
whitelodge01>>
could you explain what it was like experiencing/hearing moogs or analog synths for the first time? what was your experience of it like?
Roger>>
I know exactly the first time I heard the mini moog - it was on "Top of the Pops" in 1972 - in the middle of this song they played an arpeggio on
the mini moog - it made keyboards exciting and glamorous. I knew I had to get one - but it took a long time b/c it was incredibly expensive.
skip>>
who is your favorite pianist/keyboardist today?
Roger>>
That would still be Herbie Hancock.
Richard>>
Do most keyboardists have classical or traditional training?
Roger>>
I would say no, especially these days when keyboardists have also become , primarily, computer operators. That's the case in England - In
America, there's probably more classical training.
ScottyB>>
What technologies do you employ when you compose?
Roger>>
Most recently I have been composing using one specific instrument, the Moog Voyager, which is a monophonic synthesizer.
Roger>>
I play that through a mixing desk into analogue to digital converters into my Apple Mac computer where it’s recorded using a digital recording software called Apple Logic. So, I’m using electronic synthesis and digital audio recording technology.
andrewjcaballero>>
Roger, was it hard making an album with the moog? How long did it take?
Roger>>
I would start a song, and it would take about 3-4 hours - if it took longer, I would throw it away. It's a very flowing procedure.
Roger>>
Is songwriting art or craft? I like to think I'm creating, not manufacturing.
Richard>>
You're an artist, not an artisan....
Roger>>
I'm working with this producer in Germany on my next album which is piano and cello....
whitelodge01>>
do you prefer a more polished or produced sound to a more lo-fi sound? Do you think one is better than the other?
Roger>>
If I'm recording the piano, I want it to sound as much like a piano as possible - so I would say I'm a Hi-Fi person.
skip>>
Would you explain how you created/recorded the songs on your upcoming solo album?
Roger>>
I approach it like a painting - I go into the study and use the lack of sound there like a canvass - I start mixing sounds like color and consider the melody like the lines. I start by discovering new sounds - and there are endless variations.
Roger>>
I start creating melodies, create loops and counter melodies and free line (what ever comes into my head) - it goes from there.
Richard>>
You really are creating art as you describe this process....
Roger>>
Actually, I did train as a graphic designer....the process is similar.
Roger>>
One of my best friends from art school is an illustrator - our discussions of how we achieve in our different disciplines is amazingly similar!
Richard>>
You have been a big user of midi technology – why do you love midi so much?
Roger>>
I have been using midi since 1983, at first we just saw it as a way to connect to keyboards together and allow us to play more than one sound at
a time, we had no idea how integral it was to become in our music.
Roger>>
My biggest problem with virtual or soft instruments is that they have no presence, no gravitas in the real world .
Roger>>
This can be overcome with the way you interface with them. If you are a keyboard player, the grand piano is the single most important
instrument, it is an amazing object - beautifully crafted, huge and it commands respect, it makes you play in a certain way
Roger>>
- if those emotions can then be captured into midi then you have a wonderful way of controlling other sounds and instruments.
Richard>>
10. Do you have your own agent or did your representation come from being a member of the bands? What is your view of agents?
Roger>>
Agents in my world are only used for live shows, perhaps you mean management – no, I don’t have management, I have always gone out of my way to get to know everyone I’ve worked with in the business, and you make a lot of contacts and friends over the years.
Roger>>
Most of my playing gigs have, in fact all of them, have come through friends. Agents and managers are part of the old school but most musicians
are their own worst enemies when it comes down to making business decisions.
Roger>>
I’ve seen so many bad decisions made hopefully I have learnt some lessons. So I guess agents and managers are a necessary evil I would say…
Richard>>
You are now helping other musicians and young bands get started – do they usually come to you or do you find them?
Roger>>
We seek each other out! Really this has been such an incredible experience for me, every single person we have signed to the label is so talented and has such a love for music and melody.
Roger>>
I think I’m really lucky to be able to help them in anyway I can and make sure that love and enthusiasm isn’t lost. I’ve been in this business
for 30 years, and I’ve come close a couple of times to giving up, but the love of music always wins through.
Roger>>
The use of melody among young musicians is really, really fascinating.
eixomoxie>>
Roger - new or old, what one album is a "must have" in your opinion?
Roger>>
Hmmmm....One album....that's impossible to answer! Hmmm....I'll have to say Jimi Hendrix "Electric Ladyland"
Richard>>
How did you like touring? Is it true that rock stars party every single night – if so, how does a person keep that up night after night and still be able to play well? Do you have time to see the places you visit?
Roger>>
I used to love touring, it had become difficult over the last couple of years, but that was more to do with the personalities I was working with
than actual touring.
Roger>>
I love it , you meet new people, see new sights, you get to play everynight.
Roger>>
Yes, we pretty much party every night – haha - you play well because the whole reason you are there is that 3 hours a night when you become
alive. It’s a very intense situation, but its what you do, it’s your life.
Richard>>
What’s it really like playing music to thousands of screaming fans?
Roger>>
Well, it used to be incredibly noisy, but now I use “in-ear” monitors so I cant hear them as much! Actually, it's great - incredible. In Mexcio City they all turned on the blue lights of their mobile phones - just like the lighters in the past.
Roger>>
It’s very moving when 10,000 people are singing the keyboard line you are playing. I always find the small gigs more intimidating.
andrewjcaballero>>
Roger, do you own a key-itar at all? You know a keyboard shaped like a guitar?
Roger>>
I did once in the 80's, but it was a mistake.
less>>
Did you ever meet Dr. Moog, and if so, what was it like?
Roger>>
Sadly, I didn't meet Bob before he died...But I feel like I've met him - my solo album would never have happened without him - I dedicated it to him. The company just made a very special custom voyager for me in powder blue, and Bob signed it. It's very special to me.
Richard>>
Unfortunately, parting is sweet sorrow, and it is 11:15pm in England - Roger needs to go to bed! We thank everyone for their questions and participation - it was impossible to get to all of your questions. We'll have another chat with another guest in the beginning of November before I
head to Chicago and Sri Lanka.
Charming Chat Host>>
Thank you, Richard - we bid all of you a pleasant evening -
(Thanks Donna)
Steve Severin has sent out an e-mail
update on the Siouxsie/Glove remastered cds:
"I'm back in the vaults the week after next to find extras for Dreamhouse/Nocturne/Hyaena. I've already picked out the contenders for the next batch (Join/Kscope/juju) and I'm waiting for listening copies to arrive. As always Christmas gets in the way so the earliest the next set are due is February. Hopefully, the subsequent batches will hit the racks faster. As you can imagine this is a long drawn out process - first we have to try to remember that far back! Then we have to hunt down the correct tapes (not always as easy as it sounds) then get these treats transferred to CD then everyone has to listen and agree.
At the same time Robert and I are trying to fit in the Glove remaster. He's been out doing festivals for the summer but he mailed last week and said he was back on it. Once we really start to concentrate on it it should go really fast. There are only two of us and it's only one album and Robert has been doing this for his own releases so he knows the score."
Cure cover:
"One of my other favorite bands TheStart play an excellent version of The Walk live."
(Thanks Peter)
Curespotting:
"just watched "the planete".in a programme called "night lying in wait" they showed the pictures from 11 Sept.2001.in a background the used killing an arab. refreshing i would say."
(Thanks cloudybay)
"Spin ad - http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/spin/. Just noticed Robert down at the bottom."
(Thanks Bennion)
"In the October issue of JANE magazine, there's a review of Depeche Mode's album "Playing the Angel." It's rated 3 out of 5 and mentions the
Cure:
"Few bands are capable of making misery beautiful enough to cheer me up (like the Cure with Seventeen Seconds, for instance), and I wish Depeche
Mode had been doing it back in their sucky Speak and Spell days to aid me in my teenage self-loathing. But it's never too late (for me, their brilliant gloom began around "Barrel of a Gun"), and this CD does a fine job of making me sad-glad. -Johan"
(Thanks Jane)
"In Europe you can get the 'Live 8: Paris' DVD at http://www.play.com for 22.49 EUR / 13.99 GBP (delivered)."
(Thanks Olivier)
Before Three
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Just Like Heaven
Lost
Lovesong
One Hundred Years
The End of the World
Interview
(Thanks to Wilco @ Goth City)
(Thanks to Pietro for the scans and translation)
"The french-english-Paris-based band WAREHOUSE 99 PROJECT has a great cover of "I"m a cult hero" on the first album "Social leper's club" (distributed by Discograph here in France). CD is now out ! And have a look on the website : http://www.warehouse99project.org/"
(Thanks Jerome)
"On UK TV Channel BBC1 today (25th October) on a show called "Best of Friends" they played the song Hot Hot Hot!!! during a scene of children
trying hot food like curry. Quite funny."
(Thanks Andrew)
"Maybe it has already been said before but I only saw it now on television :
The ninth episode of the tv serie "Cold Case" (episode titled Sherry Darlin ) begins with the Lovesong intro. Later during the episode, we can hear it again."
(Thanks LotOfSly)
Oct. 25th
"While the Cure are criminally absent from the big 4DVD Live 8 Box Set coming out domestically, at least one track from their Paris appearance
will appear on the international single DVD Live 8: Paris.
http://idealcopy.american-data.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MU-VARIO-LIVE8-03
The DVD will be NTSC Region 1, so it will be playable on all North American DVD players. I'm assuming a PAL version will be available in Europe, but we won't be carrying that version.
Muse has 3 songs on that DVD as well, and Placebo has 2, not sure why they didn't feature the entire Cure set...it would have fit on the DVD..."
(Thanks to Chris @ The Ideal Copy, Dennis and Lars)
"I saw the post about Dragon Hunters coming to Belgium, and it reminded me to email you about "The Dragonhunter's Song" being available on a
German compilation CD, here: http://www10.cd-wow.us/detail_results.php?product_code=21872"
Anyone have this? Is it the same version from the show, or is it a longer version?
Update: Wow, that was quick! The version on the cd is the complete song, running 3:20. Thanks to Andreas for sending it to me.
(Thanks Brad)
FIND A CURE: A tribute to The Cure
hispaCure, the official spanish Cure fan club, moves to Murcia for the next Cure party: a fantastic tribute night!
The party will start with the gig by the cover band 3IB, which will go through the early songs of the band.
Next, there will be a set by NOISE BOX, one of the most acclaimed bands of the alternative Spanish scene, which will play their cover version of
Play for Today, included in the recent Spanish tribute album "Canciones de los chicos imaginarios"
And finally, the party will go on with a MACRO CURE-SESSION by our guest Dj's.
The venue will have a very special and exclusive decoration, entirely dedicated to the Cure.
Do not miss it!!!
Date: Sabado 5 de noviembre 2005
Venue: SALA SUPER 8, Murcia
Address: Av/ ciclista mariano rojas, 16. Murcia
Price: 5 euros, including a drink
Flyer and Poster:
Organized by:
SALA SUPER 8
HISPACURE FAN CLUB ESPAÑA
(Thanks B.)
"Some Germans might have noticed it already: the "Sonic Seducer music magazine" features a long Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)/Douglas McCarty (Nitzer Ebb/FixmerMcCarthy) interview in its current issue. One of their topics: the cover artwork of DM´s "Playing the angel". McCarthy on this one: "Who is responsible for that? Looks a bit like Robert Smith!"
(Thanks Lev)
"Just wanted to let you know that yesterday, Sunday October 23th on the Belgian Kanaal II the song Friday i'm in Love was played in the comedy program Trigger Happy as background with one of their hidden camera films."
(Thanks Mig)
Oct. 21st
Updated: "The program LOADED on the FUSE channel aired a half an hour of Cure videos. The songs they played were: Love Song, Inbetween Days, Pictures Of You, Friday, I'm In Love, Let's Go To Bed, Boys Don't Cry"
(Thanks Benjamien and Jim)
"The Dragon Hunter series is on Belgian TV too, on Ketnet. I don't know since when, but it's on now. Theme song has stayed the same, but the show is called Drakenjagers in Dutch. According to the Ketnet-website, it's on every weekday from 5.45 until 6.15 pm. It's aired on Saturday too, starting at 5.35 until 6 am."
For those of you who are new, and wondering what this has to do with The Cure, Robert wrote the theme song for the show.
(Thanks Lynn)
"The Cure was voted most wanted band to perform at next Wave gotik treffen (http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/) the biggest goth festival in
Europe). http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/results2005.php"
(Thanks Antti)
"I was reading reviews of this week's new CDs on the net and to my surprise, a song off Rachel Stevens (UK pop starlet) called 'It's All About Me'
samples The Cure's 'Lullaby' - I actually heard the song and it's interesting to say the least, though I can imagine a few fans shouting blasphemy!"
(Thanks Kunal)
"With 1 out in the top of the 9th of the NLCS (Cards vs Astros) there was a quick switch to the history of the Cardinals featuring Pictures of
You - personally weird because I was listening to POU seconds before it was played on TV"
(Thanks Joeylom and Angela)
"Today, (Oct.14) on The Oprah Winfrey show, she had some kids that were telling jokes. Oprah asked one of the kids to dance. The song that was
played for the kids to dance to was Lullaby."
(Thanks Sarah)
"From the Houston Chronicle
Funny thing about ghoulish, dour or depressed vocalists who front shadow-shrouded bands: They're never what they appear to be.
Take Robert Smith of the Cure. Listening to his most wrenching songs or watching him sullenly wail in concert, you'd think he was perpetually
melancholy and that any interview with him would be a painful process. Exactly the opposite is true; Smith is genial, chatty, excitable — he even laughs on occasion."
(Thanks Tempest)
Oct. 13th
"while surfing through the internet I've found an interview with Robert. Unfortunately it's about one year old, but may be you are interested.
It was made by the ZDF, the second German television, but It's nearly completly in English.
http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/26/0,4070,2223962-5,00.html"
(Thanks Nat)
"Not sure if you've already mentioned this but the Deftones just released a B-sides and rarities cd with their cover of "If Only Tonight We Could
Sleep" and their drummer Abe wrote a funny little blurb about their performance, if you'd be interested..
"What do you do when Robert Smith comes calling? You fly to London, kick it with some friends, play one song, have a blast, then fly home. We had
a minute before we had to go on stage and I was kind of nervous because we were about to play a Cure song with the Cure watching us from like 10
feet away, so I dash into the bathroom to drain my beast and BAAAM..it's me and Robert in this big-ass restroom with like 100 urinals and 100 sinks, mirrors and stalls everywhere, he's standing there putting on his make-up, clutching this little compact. He's all "Hey Mate" and i'm like "Hey Robert"; Feeling kinda bad cuz I blasted into his tranquil pre-show zone and fucked up his chi."
(Thanks Gunther)
For immediate release> 9/30/5
99 times out of 10 is a new independent record label formed by keyboard player Roger O'Donnell (The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Thompson Twins).
More than just a new label, it is a new way of approaching and handling young bands and artists with absolute fairness and openness. Incorporating visual artists into the labels vision, it is an inspirational collective on all levels.
‘Nothing Concrete’ is 99X/10’s first release. A sampler of all the bands on the label, a taste of what is to come, and an amazingly homogenous album.
“Once we put a running order together of all the songs we realised we had something very good, that not only only worked musically as an album but with a single intent and love of music.”
For Roger approaching young artists as a label was a new and novel experience having always been on the other side of the fence. They welcomed his approach with wide eyed enthusiasm.
"The idea is to help, to put something back into the music business, to try and make it fair and make the music the most important element again. Any artist we get involved with will have these essentials; a love of music, talent and trust. For this project to work we have to have trust in each other. After so many years in the business and seeing how not to do it I have no excuses, I have to do it right "
To follow ‘Nothing Concrete’ 99X/10 has 6 full releases planned, one a month starting with The Maybe's "The Chorus of the Loveless", two tracks of which are included on the sampler. From Chicago The Maybe combine delicate, soulful vocals with intricate acoustic guitar and percussion, sprinkled with sparkling electronics.
Another major release will be Roger O'Donnell's first solo record "The Truth in Me" which was conceived, written and performed entirely on a Moog Voyager. Mixed by Mario Thaler (The Notwist, Lalli Puna, Ms John Soda) , vocals by Erin Lang and remixes planned by Fourtet and the Album Leaf.
After Roger spent the summer talking to indie labels about the release of ‘The Truth in Me’ and coincidentally working on the label he finally gave in to his instincts and combined the two.
“How could I go to bands and ask them to let me release their music if I didn't have the confidence in my own label to release my record ? Now all the energy is focused and I retain complete control of my own art "
99xoutof10 feels very strongly that in a world where technology is moving so fast, major labels have become dinosaurs and their extinction is just around the corner. Ridiculously unfair royalty deals and malpractices that make organised crime look tame are not acceptable anymore. With 99X/10 the music and creation is firmly in the artists hands. Without the need for massive advances to pay for recordings, profit and cost sharing is the model way to go.
“Clearly today we have a wonderful opportunity to be a big part in the music of tomorrow. If we can play a role in letting people hear the music that excites and charms us then we will be happy. If we can be fair and transparent in our dealings and offer a partnership amongst out artists then we will consider ourselves a success. Ultimately we will be judged on the music and our actions.”
Nothing Concrete
another name - roger o'donnell
sirius transmissions - sensory factory
i fell down a very long well - alka
oui-ja - goddamn electric bill
the downers of '62 - the maybe
dead waiter - apathy
snowfall - pale amber glow
anthem - sensory factory
all we can do now - erin lang
oriens - ecce
column - somnolent
your wayward stare - alka
pour etre plein d'espoir - dead waiter
witching hour - goddamn electric bill
new leaf - pale amber glow
the burden of summer - the maybe
warm windows in night - somnolent
south - ecce
the truth in me - roger o'donnell
nothing concrete 99X/10 sampler 05
Artwork by Anna Dorfman
Mastered by Guy Davie at the Exchange London
Released 30th September through the labels site
www.99xoutof10.com
also available on iTunes
Roger is available for interviews and additional information
email info@99xoutof10.com
roger o'donnell the truth in me
my day
the truth in you
the truth in me
not without you
he sent you angels
treasure
the slightest change
this is a story
this grey morning
tired of all this
and so i closed my eyes
written and performed on a moog voyager
by roger o'donnell
mixed by mario thaler - uphon studios weilheim
mastered by guy davie - the exchange london
artwork by ian wright
A joint 99X/10 MICRO release
After successfully writing a song for the acclaimed documentary " Moog" using only a Moog Voyager monophonic synthesizer Roger was encouraged by the films producer Ryan Page to make an entire album using the process. Skeptical at first yet inspired by Bjorks Medulla where she used only voices he continued and was rewarded with an incredible album " The Truth in Me " . With the addition of vocals on 4 tracks by Erin Lang and the mixing of Mario Thaler the album was complete.
" I had planned to make a solo record, frustrated by the confines of being in such a big band with expectations from fans and label, I wanted it to be totally free from any pre conceptions or constraints. It was literally me in a studio with my Moog creating what I feel are in some way sonic paintings that don't comply to regular song structures but build up melody and mood. The Voyager is a totally electronic instrument, without electricity it makes no sound yet it is one of the most organic and emotional instruments I have ever played. This album represents me, where I am in my musical life right now, thats why I had to call it The Truth in Me ."
From the moment Roger started playing it to friends and musicians the response was incredible , it was like nothing anyone had ever heard yet they loved it. It didn't sound like electronica, it didn't sound like anything ! This initially proved problematic especially with prospective labels who out of necessity need to pigeon hole music and categorise it for their markets. So the record will be released early next year on 99X/10 Records in collaboration with Micro.
You can order the 'Nothing Concrete' cd now at the 99X/10 store. Also available is the 99X/10 t-shirt & button, and the highly recommended 'Choose Your Own Adventure' album preview cd from Erin Lang.
AND ALSO THE TREES - '1980-2005'
Legendary cult underground band AND ALSO THE TREES celebrate their 25th anniversary this Autumn with news of a new, career-spanning anothology CD & the announcement of two 'special' anniversary live shows.
Released on November 1st (or available now via www.andalsothetrees.co.uk) & simply entitled '1980-2005' (AATTCD05), the 18-track anthology CD was compiled by the band themselves from their 10 studio albums & includes classics such as 'A Room Lives In Lucy', 'Shaletown', 'Prince Rupert' & the live favourite 'Slow Pulse Boy', all housed in a beautiful digipack sleeve with unique artwork & biographical liner notes.
Furthermore, two 'special' anniversary live shows have been announced:
Paris (Fr) - Bat-O-Far (Friday 18th November) SOLD OUT!
Bochum (D) - Christuskirche (Saturday 19th November)
These venues have been chosen for their unique & intimate surroundings & tickets are expected to sell very fast!
These will be the only 'anniversary' shows & will be the final AATT live dates of 2005.
Please visit www.andalsothetrees.co.uk for ticket enquiries.
(Thanks Mindy)
"Very very good item - Robert Smith's Guitar signed by Robert Smith The Cure
Robert has played this guitar once for the cover of "Don't believe a word" and "Faith Healer" summer 2002
This guitar has been signed personally from Robert Smith, in silver.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356446468 (English)
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356446468 (Italian)"
(Thanks Damiano)
"There's a copy of rare and hard to find Lost Wishes up for grabs on eBay !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4780072545&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1"
(Thanks Andy)
"I'm a belgian Cure fan, and I just wanted to report that some belgian guys have started a project where they want to transfer cure songs into
pictures.
They have only just started, and the first 4 pictures can be found here http://two-imaginary-boys.deviantart.com/gallery/"
(Thanks Jelle)
"Here in Seattle, last night (October 5), I went to see Tracy Chapman at the Paramount Theatre. She did a great set. When she returned to the
stage for her last number, it was a cover of Love Song! It was a great version of the song."
(Thanks Jim)
"The Cure's Just Like Heaven was
played during a BBC 3 TV show tonight "Honey We're Killing
the Kids! - Meet the families" It was with the The Hammonds family.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/killing_the_kids/the_families.shtml#hammonds"
(Thanks Lips)
"http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/ross/
Johnathan Ross interviewed silly thick tart teen star Katie Meluah who has covered Just Like Heaven on her incredibly crass dido like abortion
of an album. Chris Evans and " patronised her and took the piss out of her for a full hour on his show after asking her "Why A Cure song?" she
vacantly replied "because it's a beautiful song and it has like um lyrics and stuff and i um i heard um that Robert Smith likes my song because it's good and has lyrics and stuff just like the original"
chris then said for his guy to get Robert's phone number so they could call him and ask him what he thought and that if not they should try to get Robert on next week..so maybe...
you can listen to a rerun of the show here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/evans/"
(Thanks Gary)
"the next episode of one tree hill is titled "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea"
(Thanks Elyse)
"In a CAMEL ad we saw today on a wall in St Moritz, Switzerland there is a photo of a concert, and the public form a camel with the lighters. The
band on the stage is The Cure !! "
(Thanks Sissi)
Songs in the key of blue
The Cure: Untitled - The closing thought to the horribly maudlin Disintegration, "Untitled" is despair crashing down upon you time and again. He never finds the words for his feelings. Now the moment has passed, and he is left a hollow shell, searching for answers where only questions exist. Could've said and could've done plague him until he can't lift his head. The song weighs on you like a wet shirt you can't manage to get off. Album: Disintegration
(Thanks Craig)
Cure collection for sale:
"I wanted to sell a large part of my Cure records on eBay, but they suspended my account because of one forbidden listing...
So can you put some words for me, telling that I am selling many rare stuffs.
Interested persons can contact me here : newformrecord@infonie.fr I'll send a complete list to them."
(Thanks Jerome)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/killing_the_kids/the_families.shtml#hammonds"
(Thanks Lips)
"http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/ross/
Johnathan Ross interviewed silly thick tart teen star Katie Meluah who has covered Just Like Heaven on her incredibly crass dido like abortion
of an album. Chris Evans and " patronised her and took the piss out of her for a full hour on his show after asking her "Why A Cure song?" she
vacantly replied "because it's a beautiful song and it has like um lyrics and stuff and i um i heard um that Robert Smith likes my song because it's good and has lyrics and stuff just like the original"
chris then said for his guy to get Robert's phone number so they could call him and ask him what he thought and that if not they should try to get Robert on next week..so maybe...
you can listen to a rerun of the show here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/evans/"
(Thanks Gary)
"the next episode of one tree hill is titled "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea"
(Thanks Elyse)
"In a CAMEL ad we saw today on a wall in St Moritz, Switzerland there is a photo of a concert, and the public form a camel with the lighters. The
band on the stage is The Cure !! "
(Thanks Sissi)
Songs in the key of blue
The Cure: Untitled - The closing thought to the horribly maudlin Disintegration, "Untitled" is despair crashing down upon you time and again. He never finds the words for his feelings. Now the moment has passed, and he is left a hollow shell, searching for answers where only questions exist. Could've said and could've done plague him until he can't lift his head. The song weighs on you like a wet shirt you can't manage to get off. Album: Disintegration
(Thanks Craig)
"I wanted to sell a large part of my Cure records on eBay, but they suspended my account because of one forbidden listing...
So can you put some words for me, telling that I am selling many rare stuffs.
Interested persons can contact me here : newformrecord@infonie.fr I'll send a complete list to them."
(Thanks Jerome)
Oct. 5th
"I'm Vittorio fom Italy, last friday i saw the remaster edition of Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography in jawel cases as a single CD; i've heard about these releases but nothing was sure...however i saw these remestered albums but i didn't pick'em up because i already have the deluxe editions; i can remember little differences with the original releases:
- the artworks (cover and back cover) are the same, but Three Imaginary Boys have a completely new back cover (never seen before);
- the CDs are packed in a completely transparent jawel cases.
Thi is all i can say at the moment."
(Thanks Vittorio)
"In the November issue of Record Collector there's a review of Siouxie's remastered The Scream album, and a short interview with Steve Severin and he says:" i'm really looking forward to working with Robert Smith again on the Glove remastering.We've some great ideas already and quite a fair bit of bonus material to work from"."
(Thanks JC)
"Destiny's Child (Bug-a-Boo) and Close To Me - http://members.home.nl/arthop/Roppenzo_Bootlegs_-_Close_to_a_Bug.mp3"
(Thanks Chrissy)
"You can find few covers played live by Polish bands during Cure Party in Szczecin 2004: http://www.thecure.pl/section.php?action=curexclusive-mifp
(Thanks to Fozzie @ Curesick)
"Cureosa: A tribute to The Cure" (Argentinian "band") played Just like heaven and Boys don't cry in a TV Program (Badia Y Compania) last
saturday. (Bizarre festival????)"
(Thanks BETO)
"The Swedish band The Legends have just released their second album on Labrador Records called Public Radio. It's a big departure from their
first album, but it's still excellent. More importantly for Chain of Flowers, they've pretty much 100% nailed the sound and feel of Seventeen Seconds. This is clearly a conscious effort on their part, as the matches are too close. It's almost like covers turned into original songs.
There's also a b-side for the single that sounds pretty much exactly like Funeral Party.
On the album, there's also a song that takes the exact bassline from Close To Me, including handclaps! There's also another song that sounds
exactly like New Order."
(Thanks Canon)
DEFTONES: The Stories Behind The Videos - http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42494
"On "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep", a CURE cover song, recorded live for MTV's "Icon":
Chi: "That was harrowing. It was nerve-wracking. All the cover songs, you do them and record them, and you get feedback later. It was the most intimidating thing for (CURE frontman Robert Smith) to be sitting there. You can't tell whether he likes it. Afterward, he was so cool. It was amazing."
Abe: "'Around the Fur' came out and we were reading Kerrang! (magazine) and Robert Smith had his Top Five records of the year. ('Around the Fur') was in there. We love THE CURE. We all love that band.
"'Around the Fur' was coming out and we were at SIR (studios) down in L.A. They were rehearsing in the next thing over. We went over there ... we're petrified, but they're all just kicking it with beers: 'What's up, mate?' They were like the nicest people in the world."
(Thanks Tempest and Lenore)
"Very weird Curespotting: http://www.wonkette.com/politics/harriet-miers/harriet-miers-gets-polled-129036.php"
(Thanks Barbi)
Oct. 3rd
Update: Here's the transcript of the chat:
Charming Chat Host>>
Welcome to our fifth moderated chat on PianoTalk! Tonight Richard welcomes our special guest, keyboardist Roger O'Donnell.
Richard>>
Roger - a great welcome to you - we're glad you are here....where are you right now?
Roger>>
We're at a house in the country in Devon - the pointy part of England down near the bottom. We live next door to a dairy farm.
Richard>>
Roger, how did your relationship with the piano begin?
Roger>>
I was born at home in the same room as the piano, so you could say my relationship started the day I was born. My parents and my oldest brother all played so it seemed natural , I remember my brother George showing me some basic 12 bar blues patterns.
Richard>>
When and how did you receive your musical training?
Roger>>
I started formal piano lessons aged 11 at school, but it was difficult for me as I’d spent so much time playing by ear and found it frustrating.
Roger>>
So I didn't pursue it that far....
Roger>>
I was already in love with the piano, so I taught myself - I don't read music, I play by ear, which is 85-90% what you'll find with people on my side of the business.
Roger>>
There's a couple of times when it would've been handy to read, but I've never had a situation where it was a hindrance. You need to be able to
play instantly either from CD or from someone singing to you.
Richard>>
That's the opposite of my business - people know how to read but not so much how to play be ear - I think it's important to be able to do both,
actually.
Richard>>
Who influenced your musical career the most?
Roger>>
My biggest musical influence is Herbie Hancock , the jazz pianist. When I first began to explore improvisation around the age of 15, I learnt a
lot of his solos note by note.
Roger>>
If you are into improvisation, it's good to see how other people do it - study them.
Richard>>
I agree - I really like Jean Michel-Pilc and Art Tatum....
Richard>>
We'll take a question from the group here online...
William88>>
What's the difference between a pianist and a keyboardist?
Roger>>
None, the title keyboardist came about because there were a lot of instruments being made with keyboards, its just a catch all title. However
having said that, I know a lot of keyboardists who have never played a piano.
Richard>>
Looks like your fan club is here....
less>>
Roger, you are the greatest keyboardist The @#%$ ever had.
Roger>>
Thanks very much!
skip>>
do you play any other instruments, roger?
Roger>>
No - but I have struggled with the guitar from time to time - and it's struggled back and usually won.
Roger>>
If you play the piano using MIDI, I can basically get to the sound of any instrument - so there's no need to actually play that instrument!
whitelodge01>>
could you explain what it was like experiencing/hearing moogs or analog synths for the first time? what was your experience of it like?
Roger>>
I know exactly the first time I heard the mini moog - it was on "Top of the Pops" in 1972 - in the middle of this song they played an arpeggio on
the mini moog - it made keyboards exciting and glamorous. I knew I had to get one - but it took a long time b/c it was incredibly expensive.
skip>>
who is your favorite pianist/keyboardist today?
Roger>>
That would still be Herbie Hancock.
Richard>>
Do most keyboardists have classical or traditional training?
Roger>>
I would say no, especially these days when keyboardists have also become , primarily, computer operators. That's the case in England - In
America, there's probably more classical training.
ScottyB>>
What technologies do you employ when you compose?
Roger>>
Most recently I have been composing using one specific instrument, the Moog Voyager, which is a monophonic synthesizer.
Roger>>
I play that through a mixing desk into analogue to digital converters into my Apple Mac computer where it’s recorded using a digital recording software called Apple Logic. So, I’m using electronic synthesis and digital audio recording technology.
andrewjcaballero>>
Roger, was it hard making an album with the moog? How long did it take?
Roger>>
I would start a song, and it would take about 3-4 hours - if it took longer, I would throw it away. It's a very flowing procedure.
Roger>>
Is songwriting art or craft? I like to think I'm creating, not manufacturing.
Richard>>
You're an artist, not an artisan....
Roger>>
I'm working with this producer in Germany on my next album which is piano and cello....
whitelodge01>>
do you prefer a more polished or produced sound to a more lo-fi sound? Do you think one is better than the other?
Roger>>
If I'm recording the piano, I want it to sound as much like a piano as possible - so I would say I'm a Hi-Fi person.
skip>>
Would you explain how you created/recorded the songs on your upcoming solo album?
Roger>>
I approach it like a painting - I go into the study and use the lack of sound there like a canvass - I start mixing sounds like color and consider the melody like the lines. I start by discovering new sounds - and there are endless variations.
Roger>>
I start creating melodies, create loops and counter melodies and free line (what ever comes into my head) - it goes from there.
Richard>>
You really are creating art as you describe this process....
Roger>>
Actually, I did train as a graphic designer....the process is similar.
Roger>>
One of my best friends from art school is an illustrator - our discussions of how we achieve in our different disciplines is amazingly similar!
Richard>>
You have been a big user of midi technology – why do you love midi so much?
Roger>>
I have been using midi since 1983, at first we just saw it as a way to connect to keyboards together and allow us to play more than one sound at
a time, we had no idea how integral it was to become in our music.
Roger>>
My biggest problem with virtual or soft instruments is that they have no presence, no gravitas in the real world .
Roger>>
This can be overcome with the way you interface with them. If you are a keyboard player, the grand piano is the single most important
instrument, it is an amazing object - beautifully crafted, huge and it commands respect, it makes you play in a certain way
Roger>>
- if those emotions can then be captured into midi then you have a wonderful way of controlling other sounds and instruments.
Richard>>
10. Do you have your own agent or did your representation come from being a member of the bands? What is your view of agents?
Roger>>
Agents in my world are only used for live shows, perhaps you mean management – no, I don’t have management, I have always gone out of my way to get to know everyone I’ve worked with in the business, and you make a lot of contacts and friends over the years.
Roger>>
Most of my playing gigs have, in fact all of them, have come through friends. Agents and managers are part of the old school but most musicians
are their own worst enemies when it comes down to making business decisions.
Roger>>
I’ve seen so many bad decisions made hopefully I have learnt some lessons. So I guess agents and managers are a necessary evil I would say…
Richard>>
You are now helping other musicians and young bands get started – do they usually come to you or do you find them?
Roger>>
We seek each other out! Really this has been such an incredible experience for me, every single person we have signed to the label is so talented and has such a love for music and melody.
Roger>>
I think I’m really lucky to be able to help them in anyway I can and make sure that love and enthusiasm isn’t lost. I’ve been in this business
for 30 years, and I’ve come close a couple of times to giving up, but the love of music always wins through.
Roger>>
The use of melody among young musicians is really, really fascinating.
eixomoxie>>
Roger - new or old, what one album is a "must have" in your opinion?
Roger>>
Hmmmm....One album....that's impossible to answer! Hmmm....I'll have to say Jimi Hendrix "Electric Ladyland"
Richard>>
How did you like touring? Is it true that rock stars party every single night – if so, how does a person keep that up night after night and still be able to play well? Do you have time to see the places you visit?
Roger>>
I used to love touring, it had become difficult over the last couple of years, but that was more to do with the personalities I was working with
than actual touring.
Roger>>
I love it , you meet new people, see new sights, you get to play everynight.
Roger>>
Yes, we pretty much party every night – haha - you play well because the whole reason you are there is that 3 hours a night when you become
alive. It’s a very intense situation, but its what you do, it’s your life.
Richard>>
What’s it really like playing music to thousands of screaming fans?
Roger>>
Well, it used to be incredibly noisy, but now I use “in-ear” monitors so I cant hear them as much! Actually, it's great - incredible. In Mexcio City they all turned on the blue lights of their mobile phones - just like the lighters in the past.
Roger>>
It’s very moving when 10,000 people are singing the keyboard line you are playing. I always find the small gigs more intimidating.
andrewjcaballero>>
Roger, do you own a key-itar at all? You know a keyboard shaped like a guitar?
Roger>>
I did once in the 80's, but it was a mistake.
less>>
Did you ever meet Dr. Moog, and if so, what was it like?
Roger>>
Sadly, I didn't meet Bob before he died...But I feel like I've met him - my solo album would never have happened without him - I dedicated it to him. The company just made a very special custom voyager for me in powder blue, and Bob signed it. It's very special to me.
Richard>>
Unfortunately, parting is sweet sorrow, and it is 11:15pm in England - Roger needs to go to bed! We thank everyone for their questions and participation - it was impossible to get to all of your questions. We'll have another chat with another guest in the beginning of November before I
head to Chicago and Sri Lanka.
Charming Chat Host>>
Thank you, Richard - we bid all of you a pleasant evening -
(Thanks Donna)
"I'm back in the vaults the week after next to find extras for Dreamhouse/Nocturne/Hyaena. I've already picked out the contenders for the next batch (Join/Kscope/juju) and I'm waiting for listening copies to arrive. As always Christmas gets in the way so the earliest the next set are due is February. Hopefully, the subsequent batches will hit the racks faster. As you can imagine this is a long drawn out process - first we have to try to remember that far back! Then we have to hunt down the correct tapes (not always as easy as it sounds) then get these treats transferred to CD then everyone has to listen and agree.
At the same time Robert and I are trying to fit in the Glove remaster. He's been out doing festivals for the summer but he mailed last week and said he was back on it. Once we really start to concentrate on it it should go really fast. There are only two of us and it's only one album and Robert has been doing this for his own releases so he knows the score."
"One of my other favorite bands TheStart play an excellent version of The Walk live."
(Thanks Peter)
"just watched "the planete".in a programme called "night lying in wait" they showed the pictures from 11 Sept.2001.in a background the used killing an arab. refreshing i would say."
(Thanks cloudybay)
"Spin ad - http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/spin/. Just noticed Robert down at the bottom."
(Thanks Bennion)
"In the October issue of JANE magazine, there's a review of Depeche Mode's album "Playing the Angel." It's rated 3 out of 5 and mentions the
Cure:
"Few bands are capable of making misery beautiful enough to cheer me up (like the Cure with Seventeen Seconds, for instance), and I wish Depeche
Mode had been doing it back in their sucky Speak and Spell days to aid me in my teenage self-loathing. But it's never too late (for me, their brilliant gloom began around "Barrel of a Gun"), and this CD does a fine job of making me sad-glad. -Johan"
(Thanks Jane)