Saturday, July 15, 2017
Reeves & His Imaginary Fr13nds in Nashville
Reeves Gabrels and His Imaginary Fr13nds at The Family Wash in Nashville, TN on July 14th, 2017. Video from Reverend Guitars on Facebook.
Reeves having some fun at NAMM
From Reverend Guitars on Facebook (see more photos there):
Reeves Gabrels got to the NAMM Show and this happened.
Reeves Gabrels got to the NAMM Show and this happened.
Friday, July 14, 2017
More 'Cured' events in the US this Autumn
From Team Lol on Facebook:
"We've got some more great stuff happening in the US later this fall - Lol is very excited to be participating in this years Humanities Tennessee's Southern Festival of Books! We'll see you in Nashville this October! - Team Lol"
Oct. 13th, 2017 - Nashville, TN (Southern Festival of Books)
The festival is free and open to the public. No advance registration or tickets are required. All seating is on a first-come basis.
"We've got some more great stuff happening in the US later this fall - Lol is very excited to be participating in this years Humanities Tennessee's Southern Festival of Books! We'll see you in Nashville this October! - Team Lol"
Oct. 13th, 2017 - Nashville, TN (Southern Festival of Books)
The festival is free and open to the public. No advance registration or tickets are required. All seating is on a first-come basis.
Perry is selling some of his guitars
From Perry on Facebook:
"So... I'm selling a few guitars - to make room for new ones!
It's such a shame that the majority of my collection sit in cases, stored away. It's only when you bring them all out together that you remember how nice they are and how so many are charged with special memories.
Over the last couple of days I've been opening cases, dusting off old friends, playing songs related to specific guitars (the black Guild acoustic, for example, still tuned to play "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep") Enjoying a whole sweep of memories and emotions, recalling concerts and studio recordings.
Many of these guitars will stay with me, physically, as I can't part with them. But the rest will always be with me in other ways, having been part of my incredible journey with an amazing band. I shall be playing the ones that stay and they will be hung on the walls instead of left in their cases.
Auctioneers are Gardiner Houlgate. http://www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk
Catalogue should be up in the next few weeks. Auction day Sept 14th.
Please note: these guitars are left handed!
Ok, to be clear, I have a lot of guitars and I'm just thinning my collection. All the ones that are precious to me are staying! This is not a forced sale, or some form of closure - just making some room! I'll probably buy more before the auction day arrives. (Got my eye on a Custom shop Strat in Daphne blue right now..!) "
Update (July 14th, 2017):
"The auction house needs photos. This has led me to searching through a lot of memorabilia. Hundreds of photos, hand written letters, concert passes (I threw so much away - to my regret!) and other band-related items. What an amazing life.
With this, and the guitars, it's been an unexpectedly emotional experience and it will influence my future choices, in some way, for sure.
And I have to acknowledge your part in this. I admit I started this page purely to advertise the fact I was playing again (briefly, with LAR) but the response and subsequent correspondence with people here has quite overwhelming. After years of being dismissive about my past career - something caused by a denial of deep wounding - I now embrace it with pride and joy.
I have a lot of you here to thank for that.
Have a great weekend!"
So wonderful to read this! We all love you, Perry! Don't you ever forget that. And you were always so kind and helpful to all of the fans. We will always remember and be so thankful for all you gave to us. Onstage and off. Cheers!
It's such a shame that the majority of my collection sit in cases, stored away. It's only when you bring them all out together that you remember how nice they are and how so many are charged with special memories.
Over the last couple of days I've been opening cases, dusting off old friends, playing songs related to specific guitars (the black Guild acoustic, for example, still tuned to play "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep") Enjoying a whole sweep of memories and emotions, recalling concerts and studio recordings.
Many of these guitars will stay with me, physically, as I can't part with them. But the rest will always be with me in other ways, having been part of my incredible journey with an amazing band. I shall be playing the ones that stay and they will be hung on the walls instead of left in their cases.
Auctioneers are Gardiner Houlgate. http://www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk
Catalogue should be up in the next few weeks. Auction day Sept 14th.
Please note: these guitars are left handed!
Ok, to be clear, I have a lot of guitars and I'm just thinning my collection. All the ones that are precious to me are staying! This is not a forced sale, or some form of closure - just making some room! I'll probably buy more before the auction day arrives. (Got my eye on a Custom shop Strat in Daphne blue right now..!) "
Update (July 14th, 2017):
"The auction house needs photos. This has led me to searching through a lot of memorabilia. Hundreds of photos, hand written letters, concert passes (I threw so much away - to my regret!) and other band-related items. What an amazing life.
With this, and the guitars, it's been an unexpectedly emotional experience and it will influence my future choices, in some way, for sure.
And I have to acknowledge your part in this. I admit I started this page purely to advertise the fact I was playing again (briefly, with LAR) but the response and subsequent correspondence with people here has quite overwhelming. After years of being dismissive about my past career - something caused by a denial of deep wounding - I now embrace it with pride and joy.
I have a lot of you here to thank for that.
Have a great weekend!"
So wonderful to read this! We all love you, Perry! Don't you ever forget that. And you were always so kind and helpful to all of the fans. We will always remember and be so thankful for all you gave to us. Onstage and off. Cheers!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Reeves & His Imaginary Fr13nds Summer tour
Save the date! We're planning a short tour by Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends in July 2017.
July 14 * Nashville TN * The Family Wash/Garage Coffee
(Reverend Guitars Summer Party at NAMM)
Facebook Event Page
July 18 * Maumee OH * The Village Idiot
Facebook Event Page
July 20 * New York NY * The Cutting Room
Tickets / Facebook Event Page
July 21 * Marlboro NY * The Falcon
Tickets / Facebook Event Page
July 22 * Troy NY * The Hangar
Tickets / Facebook Event Page
July 25 * New Haven CT * Cafe Nine
Tickets / Facebook Event Page
July 28 * Louisville KY * Time + Space
Facebook Event Page
July 29 * Lexington KY * The Green Lantern
Facebook Event Page
August 3rd * Nashville TN * The Family Wash
We'll post details & create event pages with ticket links -- as soon as we confirm each show. Meanwhile, please be patient -- and thanks!
P.S. Have a listen to our album while you're waiting. It's at reevesfriends.bandcamp.com
Update (July 13th, 2017): Have added the missing event pages and added ticket links. Tour starts tomorrow, so go out and support Reeves and his band!
'Cured' book tour coming to the UK & Ireland
Correct dates now! pic.twitter.com/eLAdiNXA36— Lol Tolhurst (@LolTolhurst) June 7, 2017
July14th, 2017 - Suffolk, England (Latitude Festival)
Lol interviewed by Pete Paphides, followed by book reading.
July 16th, 2017 - Galway, Ireland (Roisin Dubh)
Book reading, audience question and answer session and signing followed by a set from Cure tribute band A Fire in Cairo.
Tickets
July 19th, 2017 - Cork, Ireland (Crane Lane)
Book reading, audience question and answer session and signing followed by a set from Cure tribute band A Fire in Cairo.
Tickets
July 21st, 2017 Limerick, Ireland (Dolan's)
Book reading, audience question and answer session and signing followed by a set from Cure tribute band A Fire in Cairo.
Tickets
July 22nd, 2017 - Omagh, Northern Ireland (Boneyard Records)
Book reading, audience question and answer session and signing.
Facebook Event Page
July 22nd, 2017 - Omagh, Northern Ireland (Annie's)
DJ Set
Facebook Event Page
July 24th, 2017 - Boyle, Ireland (Boyle Arts Festival)
Book reading, audience question and answer session and signing at King House.
July 25th, 2017 - Dublin, Ireland (Whelan's)
A conversation with Lol Tolhurst with an audience question and answer session and signing followed by a DJ set.
Tickets
July 28th, 2017 - Penrith, England (Kendal Calling)
Lol Tolhurst in conversation with Dave Haslam
Update (July 13th, 2017): Starts this week. Go support Lol!
Some new interviews with Lol
Hot Press - The Cure's Lol Tolhurst bares all ahead of an extensive book tour in Ireland
Irish Times - Surviving The Cure: Lol Tolhurst on life in the original goth band
Irish Sun - The Cure’s former drummer Lol Tolhurst had no idea his book would cause such a stir it would require its own tour
Galway Advertiser - 'The Cure is my family, it's never not going to be'.
The Galway Advertiser also put together In Praise of Lol - a Cure playlist.
Robert's shirt for Designers Against AIDS
This long sleeved tee/sweater, that can be worn by both women and men, has Robert's illustration on the back, which says 'Whatever Words I Say, I Will Always Love You' and depicts him with his wife.
As is true for all our tees, it's made Fair Trade from organic cotton by Sense Organics in India and every cent (!) of the sales proceeds will benefit our work.
Photos by Kiran Gidda www.kirangidda.com"
You can buy the shirt at Tictail. Thanks, @thecureCZ.
Reeves' new Dirtbike signature guitar
From Reverend Guitars on Facebook:
A closer look at the all new Reverend Reeves Gabrels Signature Dirtbike. From Reeves:
"what i think is cool about this guitar is the fact that i have a whole ongoing story /reason/explanation of always having a no frills simple, fast and blue thing to zip around on that threads thru my whole life. this guitar is a continuation of that sense of freedom in the form of speed and power stripped down to its essentials. and reverend guitars matched the light metallic blue color of both of its two wheeled predecessors. to me a single pickup guitar with a trem is just like my 1966 shwinn stingray with the extension spring on the front wheel or my 1971 honda dirtbike w/the raised front fender and slightly extended fork. it's a guitar with enough agility that it will let you grab air and do wheelies and the power to leave some rubber on the asphalt in front of the neighbor’s house. and, really, that's all you need. did i mention it's blue?" - Reeves Gabrels
A closer look at the all new Reverend Reeves Gabrels Signature Dirtbike. From Reeves:
"what i think is cool about this guitar is the fact that i have a whole ongoing story /reason/explanation of always having a no frills simple, fast and blue thing to zip around on that threads thru my whole life. this guitar is a continuation of that sense of freedom in the form of speed and power stripped down to its essentials. and reverend guitars matched the light metallic blue color of both of its two wheeled predecessors. to me a single pickup guitar with a trem is just like my 1966 shwinn stingray with the extension spring on the front wheel or my 1971 honda dirtbike w/the raised front fender and slightly extended fork. it's a guitar with enough agility that it will let you grab air and do wheelies and the power to leave some rubber on the asphalt in front of the neighbor’s house. and, really, that's all you need. did i mention it's blue?" - Reeves Gabrels
https://www.reverendguitars.com/gui…/reeves-gabrels-dirtbike
From Reeves on Facebook:
The Dirtbike, my newest signature guitar -- with one of its
inspirations, a 1960s Schwinn bicycle. At the Reverend booth at the NAMM
show opening tomorrow in Nashville.
From Reeves on Facebook:
Roger is an executive producer of 'England is Mine'
Interview with James from The Twilight Sad
The Mood Swings podcast did an interview with James, and of course, touring with The Cure last year was talked about.
Top 50 Albums of 1987
'Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me' is #7 on Consequence of Sound's list of the Top 50 Albums of 1987:
07. The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
You could arguably say that The Cure’s imperial phase spanned the entirety of the ’80s— although from a US commercial standpoint, the platinum-selling, sprawling Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me was the start of the UK band’s most successful era. Not only did the album spawn the top 40 hit “Just Like Heaven”, but it featured The Cure’s most colorful, pop-oriented work to date: the gallant, horn-driven strut “Why Can’t I Be You?”, wriggling funk jam “Hot Hot Hot!!!”, and the sax-burnished, effervescent “Hey You!!!” Yet Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is also notable for how it distills and amplifies The Cure’s strengths — disorienting psychedelia (“The Kiss”, “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep”), manicured ballads (“Catch”), and humming gothic rock (“How Beautiful You Are”) –with bold, dramatic poise.
Last Seen: In 2016, The Cure celebrated 40 years together by embarking on a well-received, career-spanning world tour.
07. The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
You could arguably say that The Cure’s imperial phase spanned the entirety of the ’80s— although from a US commercial standpoint, the platinum-selling, sprawling Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me was the start of the UK band’s most successful era. Not only did the album spawn the top 40 hit “Just Like Heaven”, but it featured The Cure’s most colorful, pop-oriented work to date: the gallant, horn-driven strut “Why Can’t I Be You?”, wriggling funk jam “Hot Hot Hot!!!”, and the sax-burnished, effervescent “Hey You!!!” Yet Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is also notable for how it distills and amplifies The Cure’s strengths — disorienting psychedelia (“The Kiss”, “If Only Tonight We Could Sleep”), manicured ballads (“Catch”), and humming gothic rock (“How Beautiful You Are”) –with bold, dramatic poise.
Last Seen: In 2016, The Cure celebrated 40 years together by embarking on a well-received, career-spanning world tour.
The 10 Most Unexpected Albums Of All Time
Team Rock asked Hundredth what their 10 most unexpected albums of all time were, and 1 of their picks was 'Disintegration':
Chadwick: "The Cure is probably my all-time favourite band and I am fascinated with their journey. Robert Smith has crafted many moods through many albums but to me (and many other Cure fans), Disintegration is the most prolific, and at the time, unexpected.
Coming from the 1987 Double LP Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which is basically an amalgamation of everything The Cure had been up to that point, Smith wanted to write a masterpiece before turning 30 and he stunned Cure fans with Disintegration. An ebb and flow of distaste and dissatisfaction built upon a slight shimmer of hope. A curveball that I think solidifies The Cure as one of the most versatile bands ever."
Chadwick: "The Cure is probably my all-time favourite band and I am fascinated with their journey. Robert Smith has crafted many moods through many albums but to me (and many other Cure fans), Disintegration is the most prolific, and at the time, unexpected.
Coming from the 1987 Double LP Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which is basically an amalgamation of everything The Cure had been up to that point, Smith wanted to write a masterpiece before turning 30 and he stunned Cure fans with Disintegration. An ebb and flow of distaste and dissatisfaction built upon a slight shimmer of hope. A curveball that I think solidifies The Cure as one of the most versatile bands ever."
The Cure's Pornographic Cure
Pop Matters takes a look back at 'Pornography':
Pornography, the Cure’s 1982 album, positively drips with dreariness. And yet, it wouldn’t be fair to pigeonhole it as just an exercise in eerie pathos. Otherworldly, meditatively mercurial, spiritually harrowing—these ideas encapsulate the complex compelling nature of the album because it’s so much more than just the ponderously murky, suicide-inducing effort it’s often made out to be. It clashes with nuanced contradictions; it’s at once sparse and dense, clamoring and quiet. It gives rise to the paradoxical idea of poetic cacophony. Discordance never sounded so sublime.
To be sure, Pornography might have veered recklessly into the terrain of overwrought kitsch, like much of the gothic output of the ‘80s. Think Sisters of Mercy, whose fog-shrouded songs, while worthy in their own way, too readily date themselves, and are too eagerly branded as the genre’s emblematic aesthetic. The Sisters’ signature sound features vocals that are garishly grave and music that is by turns cheaply cinematic and self-consciously sepulchral—all ornamented with lyrics that tediously indulge tropes.
On the other hand, Smith was able to rein in such horrid histrionics and curtail genre gimmicks and craft a remarkably mature post-punk classic. Pornography is frequently cited as the paradigmatic album of ‘80s goth, and indeed, no other album of that genre can hope to measure up to its gorgeously grandiose gloom. The album itself is surprisingly compact, with a total of eight songs clocking in at around 30 minutes. Its brevity lends it its gravity. All of the songs are imperative inclusions in order to sculpt cohesiveness and give the album a thematic seamlessness. For me, six are absolute stunners, while two are merely “very good”. So I will touch on those six, keeping in mind, nonetheless, the necessary nature of the others.
Read the full article at Pop Matters.
Pornography, the Cure’s 1982 album, positively drips with dreariness. And yet, it wouldn’t be fair to pigeonhole it as just an exercise in eerie pathos. Otherworldly, meditatively mercurial, spiritually harrowing—these ideas encapsulate the complex compelling nature of the album because it’s so much more than just the ponderously murky, suicide-inducing effort it’s often made out to be. It clashes with nuanced contradictions; it’s at once sparse and dense, clamoring and quiet. It gives rise to the paradoxical idea of poetic cacophony. Discordance never sounded so sublime.
To be sure, Pornography might have veered recklessly into the terrain of overwrought kitsch, like much of the gothic output of the ‘80s. Think Sisters of Mercy, whose fog-shrouded songs, while worthy in their own way, too readily date themselves, and are too eagerly branded as the genre’s emblematic aesthetic. The Sisters’ signature sound features vocals that are garishly grave and music that is by turns cheaply cinematic and self-consciously sepulchral—all ornamented with lyrics that tediously indulge tropes.
On the other hand, Smith was able to rein in such horrid histrionics and curtail genre gimmicks and craft a remarkably mature post-punk classic. Pornography is frequently cited as the paradigmatic album of ‘80s goth, and indeed, no other album of that genre can hope to measure up to its gorgeously grandiose gloom. The album itself is surprisingly compact, with a total of eight songs clocking in at around 30 minutes. Its brevity lends it its gravity. All of the songs are imperative inclusions in order to sculpt cohesiveness and give the album a thematic seamlessness. For me, six are absolute stunners, while two are merely “very good”. So I will touch on those six, keeping in mind, nonetheless, the necessary nature of the others.
Read the full article at Pop Matters.
Most Influential 80s New Wave Bands
The Cure were included in Baeble's Beginner's Guide to the Most Influential 80s New Wave Bands:
During the early 70's at a middle school in West Sussex, the founding members of The Cure began to meet at a local church hall, practicing their favorite songs. After winning a recording contract, and failing to keep it afloat, The Cure finally found their footing with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys in 1979 under a new record label.
After their 1982 release Pornography, the band's future was questionable. Sure, they had a growing fan base, but they struggled to convince others their smeared lipstick and disheveled black hair was a good idea. A defining moment in their career was the 1985 release The Head on the Door, which gave the world the band's infectious hybrid of optimism and sarcasm with songs like "In Between Days" and "Close to Me." With a world tour and success in the US, The Cure was making a name for themselves.
Success only continued with the release of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. The eclectic album featured "Just Like Heaven," the band's most successful single. With that single, The Cure was solidified as New Wave legends, continuing to make influential music with albums like Disintegration and Wish, amongst others.
Today, bands like The Smashing Pumpkins and Interpol have cited The Cure and frontman Robert Smith as their biggest influence. Paul Banks, lead singer of the latter was quoted saying, "The Cure is the band that all of us in Interpol can say influenced us...They're legendary."
During the early 70's at a middle school in West Sussex, the founding members of The Cure began to meet at a local church hall, practicing their favorite songs. After winning a recording contract, and failing to keep it afloat, The Cure finally found their footing with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys in 1979 under a new record label.
After their 1982 release Pornography, the band's future was questionable. Sure, they had a growing fan base, but they struggled to convince others their smeared lipstick and disheveled black hair was a good idea. A defining moment in their career was the 1985 release The Head on the Door, which gave the world the band's infectious hybrid of optimism and sarcasm with songs like "In Between Days" and "Close to Me." With a world tour and success in the US, The Cure was making a name for themselves.
Success only continued with the release of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. The eclectic album featured "Just Like Heaven," the band's most successful single. With that single, The Cure was solidified as New Wave legends, continuing to make influential music with albums like Disintegration and Wish, amongst others.
Today, bands like The Smashing Pumpkins and Interpol have cited The Cure and frontman Robert Smith as their biggest influence. Paul Banks, lead singer of the latter was quoted saying, "The Cure is the band that all of us in Interpol can say influenced us...They're legendary."
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Greatest & Acoustic Hits vinyl on June 30th
Non-picture disc versions of the recent Record Store Day 'Greatest Hits' and 'Acoustic Hits' vinyl releases will be out June 30th. Both are up for pre-order at Amazon US - Greatest / Acoustic. Other pre-order links can be found at Super Deluxe Edition.
Thanks, Andreas, Craig and Benj.
Thanks, Andreas, Craig and Benj.
How America Fell In Love With The Cure
From Observer:
"By 1987, The Cure had been leading the British post-punk scene for over a decade. But here in America, unless you were a devotee of independent record stores and college radio, the legendary group was still something of a well-kept secret.
That all changed 30 years ago today.
Partially recorded at the famed Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me interjected
the dark tones of their earlier work with elements of bleeding edge
R&B, Prince-esque funk grooves, warm jazz and dreamy psychedelic pop
that caught fire on such prominent American radio stations as Los
Angeles’s KROQ and New York’s WLIR."
Read the rest at Observer.
Some more articles celebrating the 30th anniversary of 'Kiss Me' at Bible Urbaine and Frankenpost.
"By 1987, The Cure had been leading the British post-punk scene for over a decade. But here in America, unless you were a devotee of independent record stores and college radio, the legendary group was still something of a well-kept secret.
That all changed 30 years ago today.
Soon after The Cure released their ambitious double album Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me on May 25, 1987, their infectious singles like “Just Like Heaven” were dominating U.S. radio.
“I’m a sucker for short and sweet hit pop songs [like ‘Just Like Heaven’]. And
‘Why Can’t I Be You?’ does the trick for me [too],” says guitarist for
Bauhaus Daniel Ash, whose post-Bauhaus band Love & Rockets also
enjoyed the after-effects of Kiss Me in 1989 with their smash hit “So Alive.”
Read the rest at Observer.
Some more articles celebrating the 30th anniversary of 'Kiss Me' at Bible Urbaine and Frankenpost.
Lol will be in San Diego today
San Diego ! Sorry I'm going to be late today but I'll be there ! Unforeseen circumstances
— Lol Tolhurst (@LolTolhurst) June 10, 2017
.@LolTolhurst will be @VinylJunkiesUSA Record Swap on June 10th @casbahsandiego. https://t.co/tzTiKD4dyB pic.twitter.com/gprCxtQ0P3— Chain of Flowers (@CraigatCoF) June 6, 2017
'Cured' paperback out in the UK
Thank you to the hardworking team at @QuercusBooks for making this possible! https://t.co/jxfFwPcuoW
— Lol Tolhurst (@LolTolhurst) June 1, 2017
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