Robert Smith: prick

Originally posted by Martin Fenner Bizarre; what are you saying that Camus's 'L'etranger' was racist? Grow up.The first Cure album was sublime. I interviewed Smith over the phone during this period (when I was doing a 'what's on' magazine in Brighton) and he seemed like a really nice geezer. The Forest (the 2nd album?) was equally sublime; but only the title track; which if I remember went on for the whole side of the record (vinyl, man), or maybe I had a 12" version. Whatever, it was fucking cool; and I also saw them live a few times around this period.Nobody's mentioned he also started playing with Siouxie and the Banshees as well, after she inexplicably fired the guitarist and drummer off their first album. Clearly this affected him, as he then started sacking members of The Cure, and basically turning into a full time lush; at which point I lost interest in him. Although I did have a Cure album, which had 'Hanging Garden' on it which was so self flaggelating (?) that it was brilliant ("I'm always 'wrong'). A great talent gone to s(p)eed.I don't think you can take anything he said during this period (most of his adult life) very seriously; but having lived through this period I can assure you that a) The Cure were a force to be reckoned with b) nobody ever got them mixed up with New Order - or vice Versa. Probably worth remembering that people like Public Image, U2, and Simple Minds were also there or thereabouts (and playing equally smallscale gigs) at this point. To me New Order are the only ones to have come through with any musical or ideological integrity (as much as I love John Lydon) - I can't listen to any of the others any more.

First and foremost, I was joking about the whole racism thing (hence the winking smilie). As a huge aficionado of both The Cure and Albert Camus, it always makes me laugh heartily when people suggest "The Stranger" or "Killing An Arab" is racist, as they just don't get it. But then again, some people say existentialism (or absurdism, to be more exact in Camus' case) is just an excuse for a bad mood.

Secondly, the 2nd Cure album (if one doesn't count "Three Imaginary Boys") which contains "A Forest" is called Seventeen Seconds.

Thirdly, Smith was already a lush before he joined the Banshees, but it didn't stop him from making music. Lots of drinking and drugs during 1982's Pornography period. And after he exited the Banshees, the Cure's lineup was up to 5 people for 1984's "The Top," after which he fired the drummer while on tour in Japan after said drummer (with a drinking problem) got plastered and attacked people.

Fourthly, the Cure album containing "The Hanging Garden" is 1982's Pornography, but the lyrics you cite are from the song "Other Voices" off the 1981 album "Faith."

The best song by The Cure is their cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope > Originally posted by Martin Fenner> Bizarre; what are you saying that Camus's 'L'etranger' was racist? Grow up.> > The first Cure album was sublime. I interviewed Smith over the phone during this period (when I was doing a 'what's on' magazine in Brighton) and he seemed like a really nice geezer. The Forest (the 2nd album?) was equally sublime; but only the title track; which if I remember went on for the whole side of the record (vinyl, man), or maybe I had a 12" version. Whatever, it was fucking cool; and I also saw them live a few times around this period.> > Nobody's mentioned he also started playing with Siouxie and the Banshees as well, after she inexplicably fired the guitarist and drummer off their first album. Clearly this affected him, as he then started sacking members of The Cure, and basically turning into a full time lush; at which point I lost interest in him. Although I did have a Cure album, which had 'Hanging Garden' on it which was so self flaggelating (?) that it was brilliant ("I'm always 'wrong'). A great talent gone to s(p)eed.> > I don't think you can take anything he said during this period (most of his adult life) very seriously; but having lived through this period I can assure you that a) The Cure were a force to be reckoned with b) nobody ever got them mixed up with New Order - or vice Versa. Probably worth remembering that people like Public Image, U2, and Simple Minds were also there or thereabouts (and playing equally smallscale gigs) at this point. To me New Order are the only ones to have come through with any musical or ideological integrity (as much as I love John Lydon) - I can't listen to any of the others any more.

First and foremost, I was joking about the whole racism thing (hence the winking smilie). As a huge aficionado of both The Cure and Albert Camus, it always makes me laugh heartily when people suggest "The Stranger" or "Killing An Arab" is racist, as they just don't get it. But then again, some people say existentialism (or absurdism, to be more exact in Camus' case) is just an excuse for a bad mood.

Secondly, the 2nd Cure album (if one doesn't count "Three Imaginary Boys") which contains "A Forest" is called Seventeen Seconds.

Thirdly, Smith was already a lush before he joined the Banshees, but it didn't stop him from making music. Lots of drinking and drugs during 1982's Pornography period. And after he exited the Banshees, the Cure's lineup was up to 5 people for 1984's "The Top," after which he fired the drummer while on tour in Japan after said drummer (with a drinking problem) got plastered and attacked people.

Fourthly, the Cure album containing "The Hanging Garden" is 1982's Pornography, but the lyrics you cite are from the song "Other Voices" off the 1981 album "Faith."

That sounds about right - although strangely I never had 'Faith'; must just be the catchy lyric! I'm afraid I ignore the little faces as they just get on my nerves, but I appreciate your clarification.

The cure are shit.

Originally posted by Rainmaster Uhm, were New Order always the parallel with The Cure or were The Cure always the most obvious parallel with New Order??? This might be the question. I choose the latter version as for Simon Gallop ripping Hookys playing-style off.

Yeah Right, daniel Hooky was First,and his Haircut was Better

The quote itself seems a bit tongue-in-cheek, not necessarily "ha-ha", but more than just a mean-spirited swipe at the band. It's certainly more grammatically correct than what passes for band-against-band backtalking these days. I think Bobby was just stating something that a lot of people probably thought (in a sense, "thank god Ian died, that way they could move into dance and become successful" or something like that). He might have felt the band traded on the legendary status of their previous incarnation to attain their own place in the pantheon of rock ("We're carrying on, in memory..."). I doubt Rob wished for Ian's death or anything like that. Of course, I could be wrong....

Remember in the book From JD to NO, when Tony was erroneously quoted as having said "Ian's death was the best thing that ever happened to Factory" or something similar? It could very well be the case that this is a case of that (journalist putting words into an interviewee's mouth). I don't suppose any of you thought of that when you started calling him a prick?

Originally posted by Martin "ZERO" Hannett The best song by The Cure is their cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

It's a better cover than their Doors one, that's for sure.

"Yeah, we like the Doors. But Barney and Hooky hadn't even heard of the Doors."

Originally posted by Major Tarantino The cure are shit.

The Cure are THE shit - but I think that just might be an old American expression.

Originally posted by Who is this man that follows me? > Originally posted by His Holiness, The Pope> Let's also not forget that Mr. Smith wrote that horribly racist song "Killing An Arab."

Or more like lifted exact words from the English translation of Camus's "L'Etranger" and set them to music.

i have to give props to mr. smith and co., as it was 'killing an arab' that made me want to read camus in the first place!

unfortunately, we weren't supposed to play it on our high school radio station which was terribly upsetting as we were all very angsty young ladies and gents.

Originally posted by Love Will Tear Us Apart The best song by The Cure is their cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

that cover could easily be the worst ever if it wasnt for "what a wonderfull world" by nick cave and the drunk one from the pogues