Sunday, July 22, 2012

Robert press conference at Vieilles Charrues


Robert Smith: l'interview by france3Bretagne
Some more from this at France 3 (English).
Update (July 22nd, 2012): More video clips (English) have been added. (Thanks Aaron)

In this clip, Robert says that The Cure will be recording during this month off from shows. But Roger says that will be a little difficult as they are all going on holiday. :)

In this clip, Robert says he likes to record songs at home for himself and send the MP3s to Simon to get his take on them. So, yes, there will be new stuff eventually, but it doesn't matter to him when they do it.

And in this clip, Robert says Mixed Up 2, with remixes by Mogwai (doing Faith), Cranes, and other favorite bands, will be out before Xmas, and Cure fans will love it. Another lie? Well, not the Mogwai Faith part. I asked Stuart (@plasmatron) about it, here's his answer - "we are going to. It’s not done yet though. Can’t wait!"

Robert participated in the post-show press conference at the festival. Video will be posted later, they say. Brief report from Ouest France (English). Photo 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Update (July 21st, 2012): Brief video (translator speaks over Robert) from AFP. (Thanks @curefans)
TMNews also has a bit of it and a report on the show, and again, the translator speaks over Robert.


- Robert speaks about Reeves Gabrels. He says he was the only person who has the required talent to take the place of Porl.
- Someone in the audience asks if they will play the next trilogy The Top/HOTD/Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. Robert answered "Don't believe everything I say" (about what he said at the end of the trilogy at RAH: "See you for the next 3").
- He announced a remix album with Mogwai, Cranes, etc. for the end of the year.
- A lot of questions about the future of Cure. Robert: "I don't worry about the future"
- Robert: "Playing these festivals is very selfish"
- Robert: "The best line-up of the Cure is a 5 piece"
- Robert: "When I was a teenager I learned French by reading Camus and Sartre"
- Robert: "Music that I listen to now? Billy holliday!"
- Robert: "I will play a new song, in Ireland. I will play it once. Because it's beautiful" (Note: This translation might be incorrect.)
- Robert: "If The Cure keeps going, it's because I keep going. If I'd stop, there would be no The Cure 2 with the rest of the band"
- Robert seems to be really pissed of by the press conference.. Too many people.
- Press conference is over. I didn't hear a half of what Robert said because of the video's lag.. Very bad signal.. (Thanks Johan and David)

63 comments:

  1. I keep saying they work best as a 5 piece.

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  2. no body remplace porl if reeves can do so !!is kill or the song !

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  3. "I will play a new song, in Ireland. I will play it once. Because it's beautiful"

    I am very, very curious as to what this song is. ThirdBunk, you'd better record it!

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  4. Reeves is doing a good job. Probably if he was not around, an young emo would've take the job with the results we all know that come from having a younger-than-the-rest guy in the band.
    I'm very glad Robert called Gabrels. I hope he stays for a new record/tour.

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    1. And what is the results we all know that come from having a younger-than-the-rest guy in the band?
      A 17 years presence in the band?

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    2. Jason popped into my head too, birdmadboy. I'm not sure what Sofia meant here. Maybe that people would just complain about the new younger band member?

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  5. Eric, please stop trolling. It's repetitive and it's getting tiresome. Fine, you don't like Reeves. We get that. In fact, we got that a long time ago. Will you please give it a rest?

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  6. Reeves is not as bad as Porl but I don't like his work on most of the songs.

    The best line-up is still Robert, Simon, Jason, Roger and Perry!

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  7. The best lineup for me is the one that recorded their best work: Disintegration.

    Robert, Simon, Boris, Porl, Roger.

    Perry did a very good work playing songs from the past but let's be honest, he wasn't really a good guitar player.

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    1. That's right, pal! This line-up was never been repeated...

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    2. 'bloodflowers' was Perry's, i'm happy to have a Cure than be ill

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    3. Perry is a good guitarist, but quite honestly, I felt that 'From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea' lacked some oomph when he took over for Porl after he left after the Wish Tour. Unfortunately, when Porl came back, he seemed too secure in his guitar god status and whipped out solos and guitar masturbation way too much. My thought during the 4Tour was basically, "Would you please stop doing that stuff and play the songs mostly straight? You don't have to prove anything. We already know that you're one of the best guitar players on the planet."

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  8. eric mon chum, prend tes pillules, tu radotes chte dzis

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  9. Don't feed the trolls. Do not throw pearls *ahem* at the swine as well.

    I guess everyone of us have his/her favourite lineup. But we don't have (will never have, in fact) the power to decide which one will play the next festival.

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  10. I hate what I read in this thread and so many does. You would have prefered that The Cure had been U2 with the same line-up making the same albums and the same concerts for 36 years. I don't. And who are you for bashing musicians of that level, I mean technically and artistically ?
    So many Cure forums died because of this kind of bullshit comments ...

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    1. Fans always know much better than Robert what's good for the band. If it wasn't pathetic, that would be funny

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    2. Well said! The sense of entitlement so called 'fans' have is ridiculous. Why waste your time continually posting the same tedious rubbish about old line ups? If you don't like the current lineup, don't listen! Simple! Go and put on Disintegration and pretend it's 1989.

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    3. Yes, exactly. And I'm gonna play bass guitar because Simon is too bad. And I'll write next Cure songs as the 4 last albums sucked. I'm so tired that negative people are always louder on the internet than enthousiat ones.

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    4. Don't worry - I'm not afraid of putting my 2 cents in and I can shout 50 times louder than the trolls! In fact, after years of lurking around COF and various other sites I actually signed up to a couple specifically so I could spread some positive Cure vibes! I got so fed up reading thread after thread of this nonsense.

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    5. Yeah. I have enjoyed every incarnation of the Cure, and I am loving the current line up. I've been a fan since high school, right after HotD came out! I'm old(er) now, but I have never stopped loving this band and their wonderful music. I hope they keep making their magic for another 20 years!

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    6. pe, you enjoyed the lineup that included Martin Creasy, Marc Ceccagno, Graham, and Graham's brother? ;)

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  11. Is this the same new song or is it an other new song? Because -if my memory serves me well, Robert said the new song was a pop song. This new song (it will be played in Ireland) a 'beautiful' song... maybe a slower song. Or is it a 'beautiful pop song'? :-) I'm waiting for it to hear.

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    1. Robert talked about "stupidly catchy" song he's done with Reeves. Maybe it's that one...

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  12. All of these interviews, Robert 's attitude, SA tour... makes me believe that The Cure want to come back to a greater attention from media and public, maybe to stop in a few years at their pinacle of success...

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  13. Well Done Lemon Lies & all the other folk who are trying to be positive. .I ve Been lucky enough to see three shows of this tour & i,m going to Reading ,Leeds, ,Ireland. really loved the 3 shows Ive seen & also enjoyed seeing web casts and coverage of other shows .OK I also loved previous, Cure Line ups. but they are currently Fantastic .sounding very Good Robert is in Great voice looking & sounding very happy & seems to be a real tightness & &camaraderie amongst them.they all look like they are having fun which makes a great sound and should make us all happy.th I m definitely happy they are a 5 piece if its not broken don't fix it.I appreciate that folk have their fave songs etc its a tough job to balance everything to keep everyone happy. I like what David after the Rain says.

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    1. I like them precisely because they do what they want and don't try to please fans. So glad someone else recognises how awesome they're sounding on this tour. I think their mood always reflects in the performance and you can tell they're really enjoying themselves. Three shows so far...wow! You are really lucky. I'm going to Reading - would love to meet up! :-)

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    2. They are sounding better than previous years. That's a fact. But I'm sure Robert tries to please fans: he said when the band plays for the first time in a country he makes a setlist full of hits. Also he was asking for songs to be played in concerts sometime ago right? so, I don't think he is totally indifferent to fans requests.

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    3. Definately agree that these festival sets have been designed to try and keep everyone happy. I just meant in in terms of making an album. Although I always wondered whether Bloodflowers was a bit of a 'fan' album, because it was so typically 'Cure'. With the festivals, I like to think they slipped in The Top and Banafishbones for the fans! I'm hoping for a few rarities at Reading but I don't know how likely that will be :-)

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    4. Understood ;)
      I hope to hear Birdmad girl live sometime soon. Also Lament would be a great song to hear live. Last time they played it was with Boris in 1990 and was wonderful! I was fascinated watching him playing all the drums and electronic pads.
      Just one kiss has been a nice surprise along with Bananafishbones and The Top...... but may I ask for The Exploding boy please? :)

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  14. I would DIE to hear Lament live! That version with Boris is absolutely incredible. If I hadn't seen the video, I would never believe that one person could play every piece of percussion like that! The Exploding boy would be amazing but I think that's definately out for the festivals. For me, it would be the Figurehead or Siamese twins. Again - don't think that will happen :-(

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  15. I would be happy if they would just play Cold and A Strange Day again, before the tour ends. But maybe they want to keep that as a special treat juts for the Russian fans.

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    1. Cold really was a treat. But I'm hoping that they've still got a couple of tricks up their sleeve for Reading and Leeds - we are the home crowd after all! Despite what RS thinks, there is a lot of love for them in the UK! They will definately need to keep the poppy stuff to a minimum for the Reading crowd. Maybe we'll get The Kiss as the opener??

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    2. The Kiss as an opener would be bliss.

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    3. The Kiss as an opener would be bliss.

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    5. Lemon Lies, Why do you think they need to keep the poppy stuff at a minimum for Reading? It will be a young crowd, the vast majority of which will only ever have heard the greatest hits album.

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    6. Reading is a bit more rock orientated though isn't it? Not as much as it used to be by any means, but still pretty rock heavy on the main stage. Saying that, I've just looked at the support acts, and seen Florence and the Machine, and Bombay Bicycle Club, so I might actually change my mind on this one! A very young crowd to look forward to...joy! I'm not exactly old but really not relishing the thought of sharing the experience with a bunch of 17 year olds let loose at a festival for the first time! I will do anything to see The Cure live though :-)

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    7. I last went when the Pixies headlined a few years ago. The Killers were on before them, and I was back past the sound desk. When The Killers finished, the place EMPTIED, and I just walked to the front. I think that says a lot about Reading crowds these days!

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    8. No way! I would love to see the Pixies. Blimey that's shocking - clearly only interested in the kind of tripe peddled by Radio One then! I really really hope this won't be the case, for the band's sake, but then if there is some kind of mass walkout, at least it'll just be fans left! Are you going?

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    9. I don't think it will be quite as bad as that, but I think they would require as much of their pop songs as other festivals. I'm constantly suprised by how many people of my age haven't heard anything by The Cure other than maybe 3-4 songs. And these are people who do listen to alternative music of some degree. This is at 25, and I think the average age of the Reading crowd will be less than that.

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    10. And yes, I'll be there! Just for the Friday.

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    11. Your probably right actually. I didn't realise how much Reading had changed. You would expect a Reading crowd to know The Cure inside out, seeing as how so many bands are so heavily influenced by them. I know exactly what you mean. I'm 28, and my peers have probably only heard Friday and Lovecats. It's really astounding. I take great delight in playing people Pornography :-)

      Maybe I'll see you at Reading?? Hopefully there will be some kind of COF meet up.

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  16. If you listen to the french "brief video" with headphones and take the left ear out, you're left with just RS...not so with the italian u=interview though :(

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  17. One song I always wanted to hear live was Icing Sugar. But I guess that without the wonderful Porl sax noises (© Eric, 2012) it will never happen, the drumming won't be a problem I suppose as much as the saxophone. The missing saxophone might cause some problems too to have some sort of The Top included in a trilogy and Give me It...

    It's interesting how there were songs in the past that I always thought "they will never play this (and/or 'play this again')" and suddenly they play them in every following concert...

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    1. Of course the drums won't be a problem! with all the prerecorded layer of drums that Jason will put by all means (like in To Wish impossible things) he won't have any problem 'playing' Icing sugar...

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    2. I think this is exactly what I meant to say.

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  18. pop song!!! robert dont to be goin out a dark album???maybe after the summer end of the cure ,happy song again shit!!!!

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  19. en plus les membre du groupe ont pas le droit de commenté ! ses surment pour ca que porl et perry ont quité le groupe ! ses pour ca qu il est obligé de prendre les reste des autres groupe (reeves gabriels) ,et ne pas oublier que roger ses preparé une porte de sortie ca cariere solo ,je croix que apres l été toute le reste du groupe seras au chomage ! robert a prévue autres choses comme un autres album avec THE GLOVE ses seulement mon opinion!

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  20. Sorry, but I have to laugh tears when I read the two posts above me. ^

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  21. Jupiter Crash would be a great song to hear live again too!!!

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  22. " In this clip, Robert says that The Cure will be recording during this month off from shows. But Roger says that will be a little difficult as they are all going on holiday. :) "

    Well, I can imagine, Robert might phone Roger tomorow by saying "No-one is going anywhere as i want to record suddenly!"
    But I can imagine as well it's just bla bla. ;)

    Anyway, curious to listen to listen to faith by mogwai, as I think the will do a great job and Mixed Up 2 will not sound as cheap as SOME parts of Hypnagogic States.

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  23. Great to hear about "Mixed Up 2" as long as I get "Mixed Up" (1990), as well. I love the first side of that album; my big brother had the tape and that and "The Head on the Door" were my initial exposures to Cure albums. If "Mixed Up" isn't being remastered, then I hope he tells us soon, so I can just buy the old CD.

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  24. eric, please go and start your own blog - let's see how many followers you get!

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  25. I think the best lineup ever was : Robert, Simon, Boris, Porl and Perry. And I honestly think, the band should have quit after 1992 'Wish' album ... It's the band's highest achievement ever!

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    1. If I'll have finished my momentary projet with that time machine, I first give it to everybody around here who doesn't seem to come to terms with the present. So all of you can use it for free, travelling to the "golden era" and don't have to moan about all the shit over the last 20 years anymore at a Cure NEWS(!)-blog on and on and on. Deal?

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    2. So you say that I will have never ever become and obsessed cure fan because I would never ever listened to Bloodflowers, which to me is still my absolute favorite.

      ... :)

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    3. Never mind ... I just stop here ;)

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  26. Personnaly, I quite like Mixed Up, and I hope more remixes from this period (that did not appear at the time, if there are any left), could b erelease as part as a deluxe cd; but i doubt it will happen.
    So I'm quite looking forward a Mixed Up 2.
    That said, 'faith' (Mogwai Prayer Mix); Hm, it reads bizarre to me...
    I wish they'd have stuck with remixing singles only.
    In the past Robert said he wouldn't want to have songs from Pornography being remixed (and I suppose to an extent songs from Faith that are not singles). He may have changed his mind, that's quite common.
    Well, i'll take it anyway. :)

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