Cure and Depeche Mode 1987 studio footage

Thanks to the always excellent Slicing Up Eyeballs for posting this as their Vintage Video today.

Update: And here's more from Miraval.
(Thanks Perfect.Murder and Impression of Sounds)

Robert works with Rebecca Black!

As unlikely as it might seem, Robert has recorded a new version of 'Friday I'm in Love' with teen internet sensation Rebecca Black. (In case this wasn't obvious, it was an April Fools joke from Funny or Die)

Cure parties and events

April 1st: Sheffield, England - Cure Special at Offbeat Indie Night.
April 7th: Fullerton, CA - The Curse at The Slide Bar.
April 9th: Rome, Italy - Cure party with Concura.
April 9th: Mexico - The Cure & Siouxsie night at Allende Red (The Djs: ROBAS * MAYOR TOM * VRK * KAT VAMP) FREE ENTRANCE
April 21st: Chicago, IL -The Cure Tribute Night/Robert's B-Day Celebration at Neo (10pm - 4am) FREE ALL NIGHT IF YOU DRESS LIKE ROBERT
April 21st: Seattle, WA - Fascination Street at Tractor Tavern.
April 22nd & 23rd: Berlin, Germany - Cure Fan Weekend and A Strange Night party.

Rumor: Cure South American tour

The Cure rumor mill continues to work overtime. This time it's a rumor of a full South American tour: "One of the most important bands of the English post-punk hits concerts in Brazil. The Cure arrives in late September / early October as part of a South American tour that also goes for Argentina, Chile and possibly more countries." (Thanks Fabinho)
Read the full article at Area VIP (English translation).

My now standard disclaimer for these rumors - As of today, the only officially confirmed Cure show in 2011 is Bestival. You want to make sure you see them this year? Get to Bestival. Until Robert says otherwise, that is the only Cure show for this year.

30 Day Song Challenge: SDWAY

Audio Justice is doing a 30 day song challenge, and for Day 1: Your Favorite Song, Dan picked 'The Same Deep Water As You'. (Thanks @AudioJustice)

Rumor: Cure in Chile this October

Here we go again...so this time it's a Chilean newspaper (English translation) claiming that possibly, maybe, they think The Cure are playing in Chile the 3rd week of October, but they're not quite sure because it's all top secret.
I don't mean to sound so negative about it. After all, this one is more plausible than some of the other rumored shows, given Robert's tease of "(HOWEVER, IF YOU LIVE IN SOUTH AMERICA, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER WAITING A WHILE BEFORE BOOKING YOUR TICKET... YOU NEVER KNOW... )", but I'll repeat what I said for that false Germany rumor. As of today, the only officially confirmed Cure show in 2011 is Bestival. You want to make sure you see them this year? Get to Bestival. Until Robert says otherwise, that is the only Cure show for this year.
Still, good luck to the South American fans. Hope this gets confirmed for you. (Thanks Raul)

Charity Auction Prints for Japan: Robert Smith

"This is a link to a Japan relief fundraiser auction. Ive donated a photo of Robert Smith for the auction. I took the photo in 2009 at Coachella.

Photographers donating prints for auction to help the people of Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. You can bid on and win photographic prints with 100% of the money going direct to a charity helping with the relief effort."
(Thanks sad giraffe)

'Disintegration' is #9 on Rolling Stone poll

The Cure's 'Disintegration' came in at #9 on Rolling Stone's 10 Best Albums of the 80s Readers Poll. (Thanks Scott/@swig75)

Rumor: Cure in Germany this Autumn?

Update (03/28/11): False. Wilco contacted concert organizer Norbert Döpp, and he says that while there will be another tour, it won't be this year: "Da ist leider nichts dran. Diese Schreiberlinge vertreten einem das Wort im Munde. Es wird eine CureTour geben, aber sicher nicht in diesem Jahr. Sobald ich was höre, bist Du der erste der davon erfährt." (Thanks Wilco)

Original story (03/25/11): Interesting comment in the online version of German magazine Zitty. While talking about the concert industry in Berlin, the organizer of Cure concerts in Germany says that The Cure will play there this Autumn, and talks a bit about the root canal Robert had to have before the 2008 Velodrom show. Here's a rough English translation of that part:

"What really helps are growing contacts, says Döpp. Close friendships. For example, with Robert Smith, the lead singer of The Cure. That would never happen here without Döpp as partners. Especially not since the thing with the molar tooth: pre-concert at the Velodrome last Cure tour Smith was plagued by terrible pain, Döpp brought him to his dentist who proceeded to perform root canal treatment. Something welded together. In the fall The Cure will return to Germany. Döpp has already received an email."

Again, as of today, the only officially confirmed Cure show in 2011 is Bestival. You want to make sure you see them this year? Get to Bestival. Until Robert says otherwise, that is the only Cure show for this year. But let's hope we get some very good news from RS soon. (Thanks Boris)

Pitch-corrected version of Bananafishbones

"As I'm sure you're aware, the Remaster of The Top has "Bananafishbones" playing a little bit faster than the original studio version (which gives Robert's voice an unnatural, almost helium sounding quality to it). I used some software to correct this problem because I hated hearing this song at the wrong pitch whenever it would come on in my car but I do like the loudness of the remaster. I was just doing this for myself at first but I thought I would send it your way so we can share it with other Curefans.

Here's Bananafishbones (Remastered) at the ORIGINAL studio tempo of 144bpm and with the correct pitch.
And here's Bananafishbones (Remastered) at the REMASTER tempo of 151.95bpm and with the correct pitch."
(Thanks to Brian from the The Curse)

Note: As I've been reminded, Robert says the original version is the wrong pitch. The remastered one is the way he intended it to sound. Still, if you prefer the old "wrong" version, now you have a choice.