The Cure are considered to be one the most important
bands of the
1980s, and have had much influence on later bands. They are often described as a
goth band, though some dispute this labelling.
The creative force behind the band is the singer Robert Smith, who writes all the lyrics and almost all the music (he wrote the entire album The Head on the Door[?]). They have existed since 1976, and originally went by the names "Malice" and "Easy Cure" before deciding on their current name. They have to date released 13 full length studio albums or double albums (as well as a number of concert albums and compilations and the 1978 demos) each one in a different style. The albums nevertheless share common features, notably Smith's distinctive vocal style.
- "Killing an Arab" (b-side: "10:15 Saturday Night") (1978)
- "Primary" (b-side: "Descent") (1981)
- "Charlotte Sometimes" (b-side: "Splintered in Her Head") (1981)
- "Let's Go To Bed" (b-side: "Just One Kiss") (1982)
- "The Walk" (b-side: "The Dream") (1983)
- "Why Can't I Be You?" (b-side: "A Japanese Dream") (1987)
- "Catch" (b-side: "Breathe") (1987)
- "Never Enough" (b-side: "Harold and Joe") (1990)
- The Demo Album (1978, early demos of the 1978 non-released songs and the TIB songs)
- Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
- Boys Don't Cry (1980, compilation, best of TIB and some singles and the 1978 demos)
- Seventeen Seconds (1980)
- Faith[?] (1981)
- Happily Ever After[?] (Seventeen Seconds and Faith together [[[US|U.S.]]-only release])
- Pornography[?] (1982)
- Japanese Whispers[?] (1983, compilation of singles/b-sides not available on album)
- The Top[?] (1984)
- Concert[?] (1984, live)
- The Head on the Door (1985)
- Staring at the Sea[?] (1986, compilation of singles 1978-1986)
- Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me[?] (1987)
- Disintegration (1989)
- Entreat[?] (songs from Distintegration live)
- Integration (boxed set)
- Mixed Up[?] (1990, remixes)
- Wish[?] (1992)
- Paris[?] (1993, live)
- Show[?] (1993, live)
- Wild Mood Swings (1996)
- Galore[?] (1997, compilation of singles 1987-1997)
- Bloodflowers[?] (2000)
- Greatest Hits[?] (2001, compilation of singles 1978-2001/two new tracks)
- TBA (2003)
Their next album is rumoured to be due in 2003.
- Standing on a Beach
- The Cure in Orange
- Picture Show
- The Cure Play Out
- Robert Smith (vocals, guitar, keyboards; member 1976-present)
- Porl Thompson[?] (guitars; member 1977-1978 & 1984-1992)
- Lol Tolhurst[?] (percussion, keyboards; member 1976-1989)
- Michael Dempsey (bass guitar; member 1976-1979)
- Simon Gallup[?] (bass guitar; member 1979-1982 & 1985-present)
- Matthieu Hartley (keyboards; member 1979-1980)
- Phil Thornalley[?] (bass guitar; member 1984-1985)
- Andy Anderson (percussion; member 1983-1984)
- Boris Williams[?] (percussion; member 1984-1994)
- Roger O'Donnell (keyboards; member 1987-1990 & 1996-present)
- Perry Bamonte (keyboards, guitars; member 1990-present)
- Jason Cooper (percussion; member 1996-present)
See Gothic rock
The Cure (1995) is a movie, starring Brad Renfro[?] and Joseph Mazzello[?] about two boys searching for the cure of AIDS, from which one of them is suffering.
External link: http://www.hollywood.com/movies/detail/movie/184728