The cure band robert smith
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The Cure’s Robert Smith: ‘I wear lipstick, I’m 65. I’m not the person to stand up to say what’s wrong with the world’
At Brighton Electric, a warren of rock rehearsal spaces in an old brick tram depot in this English seaside town, young guitar luggers stream in and out while the thudding jams of baby bands reverberate throughout the building.
But a corridor in the back leads to a spacious, gear-crammed private studio occupied by The Cure, the multiplatinum band that defined a gloomy strand of British postpunk and scored international hits with spiky confections such as Friday I’m in Love. On a recent Sunday evening the band has gathered to prepare for promotional gigs supporting Songs of a Lost World, their first studio album in 16 years, which was released on November 1st.
Seated beside his guitar rig is Robert Smith, the group’s leader, explaining his reluctance in recent years to do an interview. “I don’t really want my head to be drawn back into this idea that I’m ‘Robert Smith of The Cure’,” he says, raising a blue-shadowed brow. “It just doesn’t suit me any more.”
Yet at 65 he is still unmistakable as Robert Smith of The Cure, dressed all in black, with a smear of lipstick and his signature tangled mop of dark hair, now a shade of ash. At The Cure’s commercial peak,
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Robert James Smith (born April 21, 1959 in Blackpool, England), a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, has been the lead singer and driving force behind English post-punk band The Cure since its founding in 1976.
Highly influenced by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and even David Bowie he started playing guitar at the age of 12. Smith has played the 6 and 12 string guitars; 4 and 6 string bass guitars; double bass; piano; drums; violin; trumpet and trombone, in various combinations.
Robert is the third of four children born to Alex and Rita Smith. His siblings are Richard, Margaret, and Janet (who is married to Porl Thompson, the lead guitarist of The Cure).
Smith grew up in a Catholic atmosphere and went to St. Mary's high school in England as a teenager. However, he is not religious, but sometimes he feels that he wishes he was. One example of his desire for belief is in the aptly-titled Faith.
Smith has written or co-written the bulk of The Cure's music and lyrics in a career spanning 35 years. He has also been involved in other musical projects, including a stint with Siouxsie & the Banshees and his side-project with Steven Severin called The Glove. He has also contributed vocals to a number of independent projects and performances, among them the B-side of the
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SUCCESS!
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