Sunday, November 23, 2014

New interview with Reeves

From Trebuchet:

The Cure have been recording for well over 30 years. Have you learnt the entire back catalogue?

No, I had two weeks to learn 54 songs when I started playing with them in 2012. That was just going to be for the summer because they had become a four piece at that point. Then at some point they asked me if I wanted to join and I said, “Are you kidding?!” I think we’re up to 100 songs now but we do have a habit of playing festivals that force us to only play for two and a half hours. I don’t think that promoters know what to make of a band that’s trying to push for more time. Mexico City last year we did four hours and twenty minutes and we still didn’t play everything. The next newest member of the band has been there for 19 years so I’m trying to catch up and they enjoy watching me squirm. I have a thick binder where I chart everything out in case something gets called in rehearsal.

So to what extent are you allowed to put your own spin on it or are you playing it faithfully to the original versions?

Well with a band that has that many hits, The Cure makes The Cure style music and you have to think of it from the fans’ point of view. To me it seems obvious which parts of a song need to be played true to the original but you also want to breathe new life into it; you don’t want it to be a greatest hits thing even though it is a greatest hits catalogue. About half the set I’m sticking to the parts and then maybe a quarter of it I’m embellishing it and trying to keep it fresh and then the other quarter of the material, Robert trusts me to know what to do. You have to leave your ego out of it and do the right thing. But also what I enjoy is when I feel the band go “ooh” because I’ve found a new spot on the back of their neck to give them some goose bumps. When I look back, I think one of the reasons why people have asked me to play their songs is because I seem to be able to bring a little bit of the unexpected and make it a little bit dangerous, or make it surprising but still not ruin it for the fans. Although I’m sure a bunch of people who came to see Tin Machine would feel otherwise! But then that was all original material; it was all stuff we wrote together. 

Are there any plans for you to write some new material with The Cure?

Things like that with The Cure, there are always plans to do stuff but that question is for Robert to answer. I know the fans always think it’s the last time but I don’t think they have to worry. It’s alive and well, it’s just not my place to talk about those things. Robert likes to; it’s his band. I don’t want to be “that guy” (laughs).

66 comments:

  1. Reeves is an amazing musician.....though the word "amazing" doesn't even begin to describe him. He's a perfect fit for The Cure and I love everything he's brought to the music! Thanks Reeves :)

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  2. Cue a comment from Eric in 3, 2, 1...

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  3. It's like he said! It was Robert Smith speaks! I just hope that Mr. Smith has realized that the moment was after killing the group with it's new member! If you want to progress with its members he just stopped playing oldies and playing the new hardware!

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  4. Mr. Reeves said what he could as clearly and succinctly as he could.

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  5. Those tight lipped MOFOs...damn them all for their loyalty and secrecy!

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  6. "Plans to do stuff" = haven't done stuff.

    But, still good to hear Rob has something in mind. It's getting very Pink Floyd though.

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  7. yeah, It's becoming annoying this secrecy thing. Although, my 5 cents are somewhere between financial and artistic risk with putting out a new material. How many of the big names have released any new album recently ? Pink Floyd, OK, with their last one 20 years ago...Peter Gabriel - 12 years...I'l stop here, because I don't want to stir anymore comparisons. It's just that whatever you publish these days gets ripped off the minute it's official. So, financially, it won't make any sense. On the other hand - what if there are certain people in the "music industry", promoters, whatever, who don't give a sh...about past glories and would only look at the current sales trends...Well, imagine a "long awaited new album of the Cure" just doesn't make any sales, because people just don't buy music at all these days...then it would be such a bad publicity for the band...So, they might shoot themselves in the leg...I guess, they'll give us here and there a brand new song, if they make more concerts, because that's the most immediate way "to publish" new stuff these days, but an album...I don't think so. Hope I'm wrong though :) Cheers...

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    1. New Floyd album released a year or two ago.

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    2. Yes, it's called "The Endless River" and is worth listening to!

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  8. On a different note: GR is so great and this line up is magnificent. Having played in a band myself (sorry, didn't mean to brag :)) there is always the temptation to just fool around together musically, during rehearsals. It's just so boring sometimes to repeat the same thing on and on. I absolutely believe that this line up have many minutes of recorded improvisations together - moments of refreshing, irresponsible self indulgence...It's probably true, that it's up to the "creative director" to decide if he'd be inspired enough to come up with lyrics and to shape it into real songs...Which probably is also a very tedious work in itself...One good thing is that Robert had sonically such fun recently ( just listen to C Moon..:))), his voice sounds so young...he might surprise everybody with sudden urge to make a new record...who knows...Thanks, for your time and attention. Have a great day! Rock on!

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  9. My two cents...while Reeves credentials are no doubt impressive...i can't see how he is not as bored as hell in the cure. Apart from the odd flourish in Green sea, End, Wrong number...the rest of the catalogue offers nothing to an expressive, technically proficient guitarist. This was Porls problem too. Robert plays the lead in most cases, leaving little else for the wingman. All I can say is the paycheck and the "cred" must make it worthwhile for Reeves.

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    1. Maybe that's a problem for reeves but not for porl. He was out of the musical scene since page &plant project. And for reeves, he has other musical projects so it isn't a problem for him

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    2. Dude, with all do respect, I really think you're not listening very well to what "the wingman" does in The Cure. Sometimes it's way much more difficult and challenging to fit your own personality, musicianship and virtuosity in the small spaces within a pop song, than in miles long meaningless jazz improvisations. It's the same thing as with talk :) Sometimes, it's much more difficult to express yourself in one sentence, rather then talking yourself to death...Reeves has the liberty to do whatever he wants with whoever he wants, but The Cure provides a stricter (more accessible !) format. And frankly, I'm not that truely impressed by his Fantastic Guitars album...good, ...but soulless..Oh, I guess...it's all about tastes..

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  10. Vasselin -I am an absolute fan of "space" and minimalist guitar playing. I do not like elaborate guitars players doing shrieking solos all over the place. There's no room for that in The Cures music anyway....which is why I made the point about Reeves...and Porl before him. So can you give me a few examples of what I'm missing..if I'm not "listening very well"...because watching Reeves live many times since he joined...i cant see how he's not bored...in a number if songs he hardly plays anything at all !

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. No room for it? Porl had too much of it on '4:13 Dream' and during the 4Tour.

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    3. This is nothing against Reeves but they are picking a lot of songs where there's not much for him to do. They need somebody like Porl or Perry who can play guitar or keyboards (or even some other instrument) depending on the needs of the song.

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  11. Pearl is not the best ! He completely ruined the 4Tour.

    It could have such a amazing tour but the lack of keyboards and ms. Pearls annoying guitar " solo's "

    Plain song with no keyboards? It was really awful !!

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    1. The annoying thing is that Porl can play keyboards. I liked that the 4Tour had a guitar-focus, but there's still a handful of songs where he should have played keyboards.

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  12. Gonna call a few things right here:

    1) The Cure will never release another album
    2) None of the Blu-Rays/DVDs/CDs or any other materials will ever be released.
    3) The band will continue to play festivals and other one-offs like the upcoming Christmas stuff, cementing their status as a greatest hits live act.
    4) I'll continue to hope I'm wrong about numbers 1 - 3.

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    1. I'm still surprised at least Wish didn't get a remaster with extras, etc. Though Disintegration is basically their best album, as a band I thought the Wish-era recordings had some of their best work. Certainly, live, those shows were incredible.

      I would go buy a Show/Paris DVD the day it was released!

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  13. Marco @ Pearl did not ruin 4tour! He followed that Robert Smith decided and yes it is the best guitarist that The Cure had

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    1. Yes, he did! The years between 2005 and 2009 were the worst of The Cure. Porl was good until he left after the Wish-Tour. His return was unnecessary and embarrassing!

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    2. The things that embarass most is your stupid comments against Pearl! Pearl is the best guitarist for the cure as you spineless or not Perry is just a pawn, Reeves too!

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  15. Conversely, on a serious note.
    Some good points have been made with the fact Robert is industry savvy enough to know tangible sales are no longer preferred apart from punters who collect or are fans..
    In the same breath it's not like they really need the money..
    I would hazard a guess that the old bastard simply has too much pride to bite the bullet and distribute digitally..

    Only man who has the answers is Robert..

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    1. Do you know who the first band was to digitally release a song? Duran Duran. While they're arrogant and their live sets are short and hardly vary when compared to The Cure, they've generally been ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. They've even had a hologram of Elvis play with them on stage, and make it look as if they were performing within a lava lamp!

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    2. I made a comment on here a long while back asking how punk rock it would be if The Cure would do something, anything, one new song or whatever and put it up on thecure.com for free.

      Robert posted on thecure.com a couple of days later and at the end of his post added a "ps" stating "I still prefer physical releases".

      So yes he reads our comments but no he won't go digital.

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    3. He should back that up by releasing a physical release. I'd still go buy a new vinyl single if there was one to buy.

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  16. Those who saw it before my bad.. This is what it was SUPPOSED to say!
    Maybe Robert is waiting for Tim Cook to hit him up with an offer to release an album to coincide with a new product.. Can you imagine it?! :p

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    1. i think robert would rather do something unmentionable rather than get involved with apple! he has always slagged U2 and would not want to be mentioned in the same breath as them or the same company. no WAY. ps i love you robert. please please PLEASE put out wish remaster! we want new music. the real fans want something dark and good and scary, and more concerts without japanese whispers songs! xoxoxo

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  17. I'm thinking Reeves won't be a part of the next Cure record. I can't see RS wanting to take the risk of Reeves playing in the Wrong Number/Yesterday's Gone style all over everything.

    He has done some really cool stuff that doesn't sound like this, ie You Belong In Rock and Roll, so the potential is there, but I dunno if he'll get to show it.

    The Cure don't need two guitarists in the studio anyway, so I could well see a four piece album with Reeves returning for live shows.

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    1. Errr... I don't think you realize how integral Porl was to those great albums from 1984 through 1992. Even if his parts didn't make the records, Porl influenced how Robert, Simon, and even Boris played. They were actually a band back then.

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    2. That is true of course, but look at The Kiss, look at FTEOTDGS...all the guitars played by Robert. Porl was billed as being lead guitarist, which he was in concerts, but in the studio it was always 90% Robert. RS even sheepishly admitted in an interview about Bloodflowers that he redid much of Perry's guitar parts because he wanted them exactly as he wanted them and not how Perry had played them.

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  18. My perspective is simple; Reeves, like all current Cure member (sans RS) are hired guns regardless of tenure.

    The Cure is not a 'band'; it's RS solo with supporting members. This is why there is (and won't ever be) new music, promised releases, etc. Because RS just doesn't have the ability to pull a project together at this point.

    They are a festival nostalgia act at this point, and still put on a hell of a show; but without new music are losing relevancy.

    Someone mentioned Duran Duran; yes their concerts are basically 'greatest hits'

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  19. Con't

    But Duran Duran have put out new music and have a new one coming out in '15.

    RS is just lost imo, he's safe playing these festivals where The Cure is revered, beyond that he can't function anymore as a productive artist.

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  20. Contradictory to what I posted yesterday..

    Look at groups like AC/DC and Pink Floyd (20 years between albums for the latter!!) who have been around as long as The Cure have and release an album once in a blue moon.
    Really it's got nothing to do with relevancy, digital distribution, nostalgia acts etc..

    They will release something when they're good and ready..

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    1. Gotta chime in on the Duran comment - the last album they put out is one of the best they've ever done.

      And New Order, which takes its time like The Cure, seems to be at least trying.

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    2. Are you referring to Mediterranea?

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  21. "I know the fans always think it’s the last time but I don’t think they have to worry. It’s alive and well, it’s just not my place to talk about those things."

    That settles that then. You heard it here first. The Cure will never release anything ever again. *sigh*

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  22. Oh, come on...I read it just as the opposite. RS keeps writing, possibly there is material where GR coauthors, so it's a matter of circumstances, if and when we'll see anything published. They're both very busy men. So, I suggest, enjoy how healthy they all seem to be, and just be patient...there is so much material from both of them individually so you can't be that bored in the meantime...oh, and they still do concerts...so, take a deep breath, enjoy the moment and live "this here and now"...:) cheers!

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  23. I find you lack of faith disturbing.

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  24. Double puns aside, some opinions I'd like to share:

    Speaking, also, as a musician, having fun on playing music has no relation at all to how challenging the music is to play, or how much technique one has to employ to perform it. It has to do with liking the songs. For me, at least.
    Also, RG is not a heavy metal guitarist or something.
    Plus, being in a band is more than getting to play all the leads or whatever... it's about the music, about getting along and liking your bandmates, sometimes about travelling, knowing people and places. Playing together. Getting paid, also, everyone's got bills to pay.

    Didn't RS said they had done a song already, and it was ridiculously catchy? I see if I can look the interview up.

    And I do believe there will be a new album, song, or whatever release... they are just in no hurry to finish or release them, and why would they be? They probably don't need the money, they have no record company contract to fulfill... they can do it at whatever pace they feel like.

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    1. Well, Bowie took 10... and quoting Vesselin up there, Peter Gabriel 12, Pink Floyd 20...

      Maybe I should switch "believe" for "hope" on my las message :)

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  25. Mayby RS should find inspiration on younger musicians and bands that have been inspired by The Cure and are making great music today. There is a growing psychedelic rock-shoegaze-dream pop scene around the world that could help The Cure expand to new horizons that, at the end, still stick to the same musical roots of The Cure.
    For example, Slowdive are back together giving amazing show and they dream of playing someday with The Cure (mayby this would be a better idea than playing the december shows with AATT, giving that Slowdive are playing in London the same week).
    Anyway, i still dream of a new album, DVD blu rays realses and keep going to Cure shows until my last days on earth.
    Peace.


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    1. I'd love to hear the Cure interpret Shoegaze/Noise Pop/Dream Pop.

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    2. They already did. the album was called Wish and it came out in 1992.

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    3. Oh yeah. You mean like Friday I'm in Love? Right.

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    4. I'm sure Robert's future Cure plans include an album 'interpreting' the shoegazing scene that hit the UK in 1990.

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    5. no i mean FTEOTDGS, Open, Cut, End, High, This Twilight Garden, Lost Wishes, et.

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    6. Crimson, perhaps you meant the Cocteau Twins in the early 80s? I'm not making predictions about future plans. I'm just saying that musical styles come and go and come back again, and I'd love to hear the Cure take up a modern, crazy, out of control version of this type of sound.

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    7. Nope. I'd firmly plant Shoegazing in 1990 and link it to such as Ride. They were indeed the primary band of the genre.

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  26. The Cure are done. They just do a few shows now and then

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  27. "The Cure have been recording for well over 30 years. Have you learnt the entire back catalogue?"

    "learnt"?

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  28. Learned is the more common past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is a variant especially common outside North America. In British writing, for instance, it appears about once for every three instances of learned. In the U.S. and Canada, meanwhile, learnt appears only once for approximately every 500 instances of learned, and it’s generally considered colloquial.

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