Cure photos in new Schecter catalog

"I wanted to send along these photos I scanned out of the latest 2009 Schecter Guitar promotional book. It is very nicely designed, I thought everyone might enjoy looking at them and seeing the specs on the guitars." (Thanks Michelle)

Big Gig wav files

The full NME Big Gig show is available as wav files.
CD 1: the main set (alt. link) / CD 2: the encore (alt. link).
(Thanks Marcus)

Update: Get the full show in MP3 at Mad Bob's blog.
(Thanks Mad Bob)

Guess the Pearl setlist

"Curefans.com is holding a contest to see who can guess the Las Vegas setlist, or at least make the closest guess. First place wins a 4:13 Dream lithograph signed by Robert. So please stop on by and make a guess. (Thanks Brian/crowbi-wan)

4Play in Charlotte re-broadcast

HDnet will be re-broadcasting The Cure - 4Play in Charlotte on April 5th at 10pm & 2:30am eastern.

Robert in Munters

Robert made an appearance in the Munters comic strip.
(Thanks Dominic)

Reminder: The 30th Anniversary tribute book

"Greetings Cure fans and Cure friends! I just wanted to give you a gentle reminder that today, March 25th is exactly three weeks before the pages are due on Weds. April 15th for the 30th Anniversary Book!

So, you officially have 21 days from today to finish your pages and quit procrastinating sending them in to me! Get off the sofa, find an envelope and a bit of stiff cardboard and send that puppy onward! Yes, it is best if you actually mail them to me ahead of time so that the final pages don't end up in a last minute hack job down in Vegas or Indio." (Thanks Heron)

Robert on Siouxsie remastered cds

"Just thought I’d let you know about the forthcoming Siouxsie and the Banshees releases that feature Robert Smith. Firstly there's the remasters of Nocturne and Hyaena released April 6th. These have been digitally remastered and Hyaena features extra unreleased tracks.
Then there's the Siouxsie and the Banshees At the BBC boxset released on May 25th. This is a collection of every BBC session the band recorded, 2 full length concerts and also features a DVD which captures every BBC TV appearance the band ever made including all of the Top of the Pops performances. Robert features extensively throughout this boxset." (Thanks Simon)

New retro t-shirts at Everything English

There are 3 new retro Cure shirts at Everything English, but the real reason I'm posting this is because of what they say in their newsletter: "The Cure have just released 3 new retro designs in anticipation of their summer tour. Also a couple of the older designs have been put on sale while supplies last. Buy them here or pay heavy at the concerts!" (Thanks AndytheCurefan)

What do they know that we don't? : ) I really wouldn't get too excited about this. It's probably just an error on their part, or they're referring to the rumored European festival dates.

Update: Here's what EE had to say when they were questioned about this "summer tour": "Well at first there was going to be dates and then not. Then there were going to be Europe only dates and then not. The feeling is that dates will be added as warm up gigs around the Coachella and Pearl shows and there will be at least one "secret show" or two so keep your ears open..."

I think it goes without saying that this is merely speculation on their part, and is not confirmed at all.

Is Cartman a Parched Art fan?

"On the new episode of South Park, Cartman takes on a new identity as "The Coon"...look at the "C" on his shirt....very "Wishish" don't you think?" (Thanks April)

The Pearl is sold out

Looks like The Pearl in Las Vegas is sold out. (Thanks David)

Big Gig MP3s

Mad Bob has posted MP3s of the NME Big Gig TV special on his blog. (Thanks Mad Bob)

Piracy: Why Robert Smith Doesn't Get It

An editorial by James Hall at Neowin. (Thanks Kate)

Cure covers

"My name is Joshua. I've been a curefan since I was 12 (20 years ago). I am a vocal performance major @ Berklee College of Music. I'm in my last semester & last month played my senior recital, in which I sang 2 cure songs. I wanted to forward the links to you, to see if you could (and hopefully would) share them through the COF blog. the songs I did are From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea & To Wish impossible Things (yes, WISH is my fave cure album). I'd be overjoyed if you would share these with the curefan community. Also, should anyone be interested in more info about me, they can go here." (Thanks Joshua)

"A Hardcore/Drone Metal band named Rosetta out of PA has a wicked remake of Homesick posted to their MySpace page. While the band appears to be 180 degrees in the opposite direction of the Cure, it is plain to hear the influence that the Cure and particularly the album Disintegration has had on this band's song construction." (Thanks P)

"I'm not a fan of covers in general but I found an interesting Cure cover (in my opinion). The band is "Ambulancia" and although the members may look like a bunch of weirdos (specially the lead singer) they are actors and they make a kind of fusion where they act while they sing (and the other way round)." (Thanks Sandra)

Curespotting

"Last night (3/16) on BBC1 on 'Rogue Traders', a documentary, they played an excerpt of 'A Forest'. Also in the Sunday Times last weekend there was a piece about how badly Robert Smith was aging (with a recent picture) and the suggestion he should arrange a "visit to Madges' surgeon"." (Thanks Tom)

"This is perhaps silly but over the weekend I rented a a cheezy movie called "An East Side Story (1988)" starring Marc Anthony. It's slightly a music film (mostly freestyle and salsa), based in NYC. During the first scene a young bronx girl is recording a song in the studio and what made me smile is that she is wearing an Inbetween Days/head on the Door CURE T-Shirt with the coloured faces." (Thanks curemadgirl)