The Cure at Optimus Alive 2012

Setlist: Plainsong, Pictures of You, Lullaby, High, The End of the World, Lovesong, Mint Car, Push, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Trust, Want, The Hungry Ghost, Wrong Number, Bananafishbones, The Walk, Sleep When I'm Dead, Friday I'm In Love, Doing the Unstuck, Play For Today, A Forest, Primary, One Hundred Years, Disintegration

1st encore:  The Same Deep Water As You
2nd encore: Dressing Up, The Lovecats, The Caterpillar, Just One Kiss, Close To Me, Let's Go To Bed, Why Can't I Be You?, Boys Don't Cry
3rd encore: 10:15 Saturday Night, Killing An Arab.

Thanks to Tiago for the setlist updates after the webcast ended.

Reviews: NME / Latercera (English) / tvi24 (English) / Blitz (English) / Publico (English) / DN (English)

Photos: Robbie Ramone / Jérôme Cousin / Marsworld / Palco Principal / Robert 1 - 2 - 3 (Publico) / tvi24 / RTPPT

Audio: SummerCure / FM broadcast (DIME - JumboFiles)

Video (webcast): Plainsong / Pictures of You / Lullaby / High / The End of the World / Lovesong / Mint Car / Inbetween Days / Just Like Heaven / From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea / Want / The Hungry Ghost /

Video: Plainsong 1 - 2 / Lullaby 1 - 2 / Lovesong / Push / Inbetween Days / Inbetween Days & Just Like Heaven / From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea / Trust / Want / Bananafishbones / The Walk / Friday I'm In Love 1 - 2 - 3 / A Forest 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / Primary / One Hundred Years / Disintegration (brief) / The Same Deep Water As You 1 - 2 / The Lovecats 1 - 2 - 3 / Just One Kiss 1 - 2 / Close To Me / Why Can't I Be You? / Boys Don't Cry 1 - 2 - 3 / 10:15 Saturday Night / Killing An Arab / 10:15 Saturday Night & Killing An Arab / Who wants to be Robert Smith?

Kazuko, Junko, and the Cure fan

"I attended the Heineken Jammin’ (Milan) and Rock in Roma (Rome) in Italy with my friends. I enjoyed the shows very much! At Heineken Jammin’, before the show, so many photographers were interested in my FAN that I made. They took my photo with my Cure FAN! I was in these videos (1 - 2) with the FAN!"

I met Robert at Fiumicino Airport in Rome! He wrote his autograph on my fan! And I took a photo with him!!!"
More photos here. (Thanks Kazuko)

Update: "When Kazuko met Robert and Simon at Fiumicino Airport, I was there, too. We went to Heineken Jammin' Festival and Rock in Roma together.
It was 20 minutes before our boarding time and we were walking down toward the security checkpoint when I noticed the band's bodyguard and Simon passed by. I suddenly turned about and asked Simon if there would be time to take some pictures. He said there would be after they finish check-in. As he promised, both Robert and Simon kindly took some time to be in some pictures with us although they didn't have much time before getting on board.
It was my third encounter with the band - twice in Sydney last year after the Reflections show and at the airport- but I'd never got so close to Simon like this. I felt like I was in a sweet dream." Photo of Junko & Robert here. (Thanks Junko)

Another question for the Cure guitar experts

From James: "Seeing Robert's beautiful acoustic spot was hugely inspiring. I also happen to be in the market for a new acoustic guitar (black of course). So, naturally I'm looking at Schecter's RS-1000, but I note that it's lacking any pick-ups. Does anyone know what specification of pick-up Robert has added to his stage edition/s to get them plugged into the PA?"

Robert interview after Bilbao BBK Live 2012

Robert talks to EITB after the Bilbao BBK Live show.
And to those worried about Robert's declaration of being a Republican, he has a clarification for you, "I fucking hate the Republican Party in America!"
There's also a brief bit of it here.

Close Encounters in Milan

"My friend and I met the band in Milan as we were staying in the same hotel, Roger, Jason and Simon arrived back after the concert around 1.30 with Robert around 3 hours later.

In the picture with Robert I joked with him "Can you smile in this photo please as the one I had with you 10 years ago you looked miserable in it" so he did this great exaggerated smile, then a miserable face again!!!" More photos with the band here. 

(Thank Tom (Cureboy) & Katerina)

Update: "Sending you just a few more pics from Milan with Robert! Despite the lateness of the hour he was so polite and talkative..simply adorable!

He signed some 7 inches i had with me..we chatted a bit and then he went up to his room :)

luv luv luv the 'IF ONLY' comment right next to 'happy the man'!" (Thanks Katerina)

Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig 2009 DVD

"This is a first time share for this video...It's the complete pro-shot "Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig 2009" show (all 23 songs complete).

I recorded this from Australian cable TV in June 2012, there are some slight imperfections eg. it was broadcast in 4:3 instead of 16:9, and there's a little bit of broadcast compression which make it look a little choppy, most obvious during the end credits, it's no big deal, most people probably won't even notice... I recorded and am sharing in the best quality possible for standard definition DVD, so any imperfections were in the original TV broadcast...

To keep the quality as high as possible I'm sharing it as a "dual layer DVD" (complete show on 1 disc), but as dual layer DVD's aren't always available to everyone I'm also sharing it split over 2 standard size DVD's.... Both are exactly the same quality...

Cure at Hurricane special on ZDF Kultur

"There will be 1 hour of the Cure's gig at Hurricane Festival on German television (zdf Kultur) on 13th July, 5 p.m. cet. It can also be seen online at the same time (and for the next 7 days)." (Thanks Tina)

Update (July 12th, 2012): The video is up! Watch it here or on YouTube.
Webcast setlist: Pictures of You, High, Lovesong, Robert Interview, Sleep When I'm Dead, The Hungry Ghost, Bananafishbones, Robert interview, The Walk, Friday I'm In Love, Doing the Unstuck, Robert interview, Want, Wrong Number.
And the audio rip at SummerCure. (Thanks Secamfr)

Robert's solo set at Bilbao BBK Live

Robert Smith - Three Imaginary Boys, Fire In Cairo, Boys Don't Cry
When The Cure have technical problems with the keyboard, and have to delay the start of the show, Robert decides to do a quick solo set.
And here's Part 1 and Part 2 of the webcast.
(Thanks Heron/@HaloCure13)

The Cure at Bilbao BBK Live 2012

Setlist: (Robert solo set while they fix the keyboards: Three Imaginary Boys, Fire In Cairo, Boys Don't Cry.)
(Tape), Open, High, The End of the World, Lovesong, Sleep When I'm Dead, Push, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Want, Pictures of You, Lullaby, The Caterpillar, The Walk, Play For Today, A Forest, Primary, Bananafishbones, Shake Dog Shake, The Hungry Ghost, Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, End.

1st encore: The Same Deep Water As You
2nd encore: Dressing Up, The Lovecats, The Blood, Just One Kiss, Let's Go To Bed,Friday I'm in Love, Doing the Unstuck, Close To Me, Why Can't I Be You?, Boys Don't Cry.

Show started about 50 minutes (not counting Robert's solo set) later than planned, due to technical problems with the keyboards.

Reviews: El Mundo (English) / El Correo (English) / Deia (English) / Perfect.Murder / David Fargier

Articles: Exclaim / NME / XFM / Slicing Up Eyeballs / Consequence of Sound /

Photos: Xav Monax / Antonio (Cure towards bottom) / Juan / Reeves & Robert - Robert 1 - 2 (GEMELOSBILBO)

Audio: SummerCure (webcast)

Webcast video: Robert's acoustic set / Part 1 - Part 2 / Just Like Heaven

Video: Robert solo set / Three Imaginary Boys & Fire in Cairo / Three Imaginary Boys / Tape & Open / Open (pro-shot) / High 1 (pro-shot) - 2 / Inbetween Days / Just Like Heaven / Lullaby / A Forest / The Same Deep Water As You / The Lovecats / Just One Kiss / Friday I'm In Love 1 - 2 /

Why do you love The Same Deep Water As You?

"I was hoping that you and the Cure fan community could aide me with an putting together a magazine article piece for my independent publication Meuse Magazine. I am wanting to compile a piece based around why The Same Deep Water As You is to many Cure fans considered to be the best song ever written.

Lovecats on So You Think You Can Dance

'Lovecats' was used for one of the dance routines on 'So You Think You Can Dance' tonight.
(Thanks Charlotte Sometimes & @ebbhhead)

The Same Deep Water As You in Roma

The Cure - The Same Deep Water As You (Rock In Roma 2012)
The most beautiful & perfect song ever composed.
Thank you, Sven!

Porl Thompson painting for sale

A Study by Porl Thompson of The Cure signed 1996
Pencil and water colour abstract figure on paper
Painting size 60cm x 46cm
Frame size 71cm wide 87cm long glazed 2.5cm under glass 4cm thick. Signed and dated on the reverse of the frame.
We acquired the painting directly from Porl Thompson in 1996.
(Thanks Tim)

Question for Cure guitar experts

From Matt: "I am wondering if you happen to know info on guitar picks that Robert uses and strings?"

New SummerCure merchandise

A new t-shirt (has festivals/countries on back) and tote bag have been added to the SummerCure merchandise. Both are also available in white.
(Thanks @cookiepusher)

Recent Robert Smith interviews

There have been quite a few lately, so I figured I'd gather them all together, and make them easier to find.

Vieilles Charrues Press Conference
Le Matin (English) (after Paléo)
24heures (English) (after Paléo)
RTS (after Paléo)
StageD (YouTube) (after Paléo)
DR2 (at 9:45 & 16:25) (after Roskilde)
DR2 (Robert intro) / DR2 (Robert Smith, Hypnotist outro at 52:59)
EITB (after Bilbao BBK Live)
Last Tour TV 1 - 2  (after Bilbao BBK Live)
Telerama (also here) 
Virgin Radio Italy (YouTube) (after Heineken Jammin' Festival)
La Repubblica (English)
BBC 6 Music (after Roskilde Festival - UK only)
Corriere TV (YouTube) (after Heineken Jammin' Festival)
The Word (iPad)
Corriere della Sera (English)
ZDF (direct link - YouTube) (after Hurricane Festival)
Radio Maximum (after Maxidrom Festival)
XL (scans)
Afisha (some sort of English)
R3voor12 (English) (YouTube) (after Pinkpop)

Berklee College of Music (Reeves Gabrels interview)

Robert interview with Telerama

This article from Telerama (English) confirms that they will have a new interview with Robert soon. (Thanks David)

Update: A brief preview (also here) of the interview has been posted. (Thanks SL, @guillaumegrivaz and @AaronLaw92)

Update (July 10th, 2012): And here's the full 15 minute interview (also here). (Thanks @guillaumegrivaz)

Robert interview with Virgin Radio Italy

Robert did another interview after Heineken Jammin' Festival, this one with Virgin Radio Italy. They also have a nice pro-shot video from the show (Lullaby, Pictures of You, Plainsong). (Thanks fmjews)

Minimalistic Cure Album Wallpapers

"I just did a collection of minimalistic wallpapers for all albums of The Cure. 13 lovingly crafted wallpapers for your iPhone, each a minimalistic representation of one of the 13 studio albums of The Cure. All of them in two styles – clean and grunge – to give you something to choose from. Each is optimized for the hi-res retina screen of your iPhone and can be used as either home or lock screen wallpaper (or both). As an extra I also created a special logo wallpaper. Have fun guessing which logo is from which album!" (Thanks Michael)

The Cure at Rock In Roma 2012

Happy 25th Cure anniversary, Roger! Photo by Luigi Orro

Setlist: (Tape), Open, High, The End of the World, Lovesong, Sleep When I'm Dead, Mint Car, Friday I'm In Love, Doing the Unstuck, Play For Today, A Forest, Bananafishbones, Pictures of You, Lullaby, The Caterpillar, The Walk, Push, Inbetween Days, Just Like Heaven,From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Trust, Want, The Hungry Ghost,Wrong Number, One Hundred Years, End

1st encore: The Same Deep Water As You
2nd encore: The Kiss, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, Fight
3rd encore: Dressing Up, The Lovecats, Close To Me, Just One Kiss, Let's Go To Bed,Why Can't I Be You?, Boys Don't Cry

Note from @katemaddock1: There was an encore of Cold, A Strange Day, and Hanging Garden listed on the setlist, but obviously not played.

From Roger on Twitter: "Last night marked the 25th anniversary of my first show with The Cure, playing SDWAY made me very emotional as all those memories came flooding back, lots of very hot hugs back stage and a few tears. Thank you to everyone for being a part of this amazing journey with me"

Huge thank you to Bruno, David Fargier, Maciek, @fons36, @MikyGothic, @object29, @alex_meehan, @Andysabre, @marsworld, @MarbleAndStone and everyone else that helped tonight. We all appreciate it so much! For those of us who can't be there, you help us share the experience of the shows.Thank you!
 
Photos: Optimus Facebook (Cure near the bottom) / Lacricure / AndrewV127 / Bastard:Angel / Disordininquieti / Afarfalle / Malocchio / Rockoteque / Irene Nocentini / Marsworld / Riccardo Arena / Robert (SottoPalco) / Robert (luigioss) / Claudia Picone / Robert (Sergio Gzr) / Rock in Roma Facebook / Newspaper ad

Audio: DIME / Dark Circle Room / Guitars 101

Videos: Italian news report (pro-shot clips of The Kiss, Fight, Lullaby, Boys Don't Cry) / Open 1 (brief) - 2 - 3 / The End of the World 1 - 2 - 3 / Lovesong 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 / Sleep When I'm Dead 1 - 2 / Friday I'm In Love 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 / Doing the Unstuck 1 - 2 - 3 / Play For Today 1 - 2 / A Forest 1 - 2 (Part 1 - 2) - 3 - 4 - 5 / Pictures of You 1 - 2 / Lullaby 1 (sideways) - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 / The Caterpillar / The Walk 1 - 2 / Push 1 - 2 / Inbetween Days 1 - 2  / Just Like Heaven / From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea 1 - 2 / Trust 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 / Want / One Hundred Years 1 - 2 - 3 / The Same Deep Water As You 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / The Kiss / If Only Tonight We Could Sleep 1 - 2 / Fight 1 - 2 - 3 / Dressing Up 1 - 2 / Close To Me 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 / Just One Kiss 1 - 2 / Let's Go To Bed / Boys Don't Cry 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 

Reviews: Francesca Norcia (English) / Blow Up Rock (English) / Recensito (English) / Onstage (English) / Chas / Benj (fatpie1664) / David Fargier / Lorenzo / Maciek

Articles: La Repubblica (English) (Robert interview) / Il Messaggero (English)

Robert interview on BBC 6 Music

"BBC 6 Music is running a number of small interviews with Robert today. Talked about performing and image. Mention of new album, though it was the 6 music reporter who mentioned they were working on a new album rather than Robert."
Update: Listen to it on the Shaun Keaveny show. Robert bits at 47:15, 2:47:10.
Also, Full 2 minute interview here. Only available in the UK.
(Thanks @ian_c_reid)

One Week, One Band: The Cure

The Cure are the featured band this week at One Week, One Band. And while that is a very nice mention, I swear I'm not that bad! No way I'd ever post about what Robert has for lunch! : ) I know it's an exaggeration, but just saying that I stick strictly to band stuff. I try very hard to keep the personal stuff out, though you can argue that the hotel photos do cross a line.

Vieilles Charrues schedule

The schedule for Vieilles Charrues is out, and The Cure play from 22:05 - 00:35. (Thanks @guillaumegrivaz)

Cure RSD colored vinyl at Universal

If you missed out on those Cure colored vinyl LPs released for Record Store Day this year, here's another chance to get them. All 5 are in stock at Universal for their Uvinyl event.
(Thanks Matthew)

Update (July 11th, 2012): Another option is 2 Many Records.(Thanks Wornmouse)

Inbetween Days skateboard wheels

Corey Duffel's Inbetween Days wheels from Pig. Also, Matt Bennett has some Depeche Mode wheels. (Thanks Colin)

Update: Also at Skate Warehouse. (Thanks filthypit)

Look familiar?

Do these t-shirts from Diamond Supply Company remind you of anything? Shameless! (Thanks Colin)

Kiss Me on Vintage TV tonight

"Vintage TV in the UK has an in-depth review of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (alongside Bob Marley’s Legend) on the Janice Long Review Show, Sun 8 July 20:30, repeated Thu 12 July 23:00 (UK time)." (Thanks Artwwweb)

From Crimson Tonight: "Anyone who missed this....you didn't miss anything!! Love her genuine enthusiasm though. Show was pants however."

Robert interview with Corriere TV

Interview with Robert (also on YouTube) after the Heineken Jammin' Festival. (Thanks Aaron)