'This is for Caroline"

Robert dedicated 'Last Dance' to Caroline Crawley, who passed away last week. Thank you, Robert.
(Thanks fmjews)

'In Between Days' book updates

From Matt at The Flood Gallery: "The first thing to say is that Robert Smith has written the foreword for the book. At the outset this wasn’t though possible because of his touring schedule, but obviously Tom (and us) are over the moon and we really want to shout about this and spread the word.

Also, See attached images of the final front cover (as it was, but without the text on the cover, as we felt the images did all the talking that was necessary), plus 4 spreads from within the book which look great. Tom Sheehan has also given me some background on a couple of these photos below:

‘These ware taken on  a sunny Sunday afternoon, June 1990 in Buckinghamshire. I think the band were doing demos or recording at an old house that was once owned by the actor Dirk Bogarde. I did a few shots in the garden, then set up inside with my make-shift portable studio; 3 Bowens flash units , umbrellas, soft boxes, honeycombs etc. They had laid on some food and drink for our arrival, which is very much them..’ Tom Sheehan

‘Robert Backstage while filming ‘The Cure in Orange’ at the Theatre D’Orange. France, August 1986.

It was baking hot outside so I pulled him in out of the sun to rattle off a few ‘cheesy’ shots with the clapperboard. We spent two days there, a run-through, camera check, close ups etc. on the Saturday. On the Sunday the concert itself filmed by Tim Pope and his team. The film was later released on VHS where if you look close enough I have a ‘walk off ‘ part! After the show there was a bit of a knees up / celebration at the hotel … all good knockabout fun.’  Tom Sheehan 

 

For the launch/signing event, we have provisionally booked this in for Wednesday 30^th November at The Cannick Tapps bar. Once this is absolutely confirmed, we’ll let you know but its 99%. Hope you all can make it!

Finally, the release date – a little later than planned as sheer volume of restoration work on many of the photos (old film, not digital!) took longer than we thought, but absolutely worth it. The book will be released officially on Monday 28^th November. We’ll begin shipping pre-orders out a few days prior to that."

This is obviously going to be a fantastic book! If you haven't already, you can pre-order it here,

Robert in Helsinki

Absolutely loves a photo @thecureofficial @thetwilightsad

A photo posted by AMF (@andyjmf) on Oct 8, 2016 at 5:51am PDT

The Cure in Helsinki (Oct. 7th, 2016)

October 7th, 2016
Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland
Doors at 6 PM / The Twilight Sad 7 - 7:40 / The Cure 8:09 - 11:05
Get there early for The Twilight Sad! They are excellent!

Setlist: Plainsong, Closedown, High, A Night Like This, The Walk, Push, In Between Days, Lullaby, Let's Go To Bed, Sleep When I'm Dead, Pictures of You, The End of the World, Lovesong, Last Dance, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Want, The Hungry Ghost, One Hundred Years, Disintegration

1st encore: It Can Never Be the Same, Prayers For Rain, Burn, A Forest

2nd encore: Shake Dog Shake, Never Enough, Fascination Street, Wrong Number

3rd encore: Friday I'm in Love, Doing the Unstuck, Just Like Heaven, Boys Don't Cry, The Lovecats, Hot Hot Hot, Close to Me, Why Can't I Be You?

Twilight Sad setlist:  Reflection of the Television, I Could Give You All That You Don't Want, Last January,  Mapped By What Surrounded Them, There's a Girl in the Corner, It Never Was The Same, I'm Taking the Train Home

Thanks so much to Antti, Steven, @ruegi88, @only42night_, @aandhmemorials, and @susannalucky for the help tonight!

Periscopes: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

Preview articles: Rumba

Reviews: Kommersant / Soundi / MTV / Turun Sanomat / YLE / HS / Dome / Iltalehti / Rumba

Photos: Live Nation TV / Rumba / Rex Features

Videos: Full show - Part 1 & Part 2 / 30 videos from Tanina1313 / 79 minutes of highlights / First 66 minutes of the show / Plainsong / A Night Like This / Push / In Between Days / Lullaby 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 / Let's Go to Bed / Pictures of You 1 - 2 / Lovesong / Last Dance 1 - 2 / One Hundred Years & Disintegration / It Can Never Be The Same 1 - 2 - 3 / Prayers For Rain / Burn 1 - 2 - 3 / A Forest 1 - 2 - 3 / Shake Dog Shake 1 - 2 / Never Enough / Fascination Street 1 - 2 / Wrong Number / Friday I'm in Love / Friday I'm in Love & Doing The Unstuck / Just Like Heaven / Hot Hot Hot / Close To Me 1 - 2 

Best of luck to the bands and crews and everyone involved with the tour! Be safe and have a great time! Same goes to all of the fans, whether you're going to one show or following them around Europe & the UK. Have a blast!

Helsinki! Tonight we support @thecure at the Hartwall Arena. We're onstage at 7pm. pic.twitter.com/lf40JyARdu

— the twilight sad (@thetwilightsad) October 7, 2016

Nyt puuttuu vain The Cure. Onneksi ei tarvitse enää kauaa ootella! #hartwallarena

A photo posted by Hartwall Arena (@hartwallarena) on Oct 7, 2016 at 2:49am PDT

European/UK Tour Merchandise

Hoodies pic.twitter.com/IfX99jc53t

— Aaron Law (@AaronLaw92) October 14, 2016

Beanie hats pic.twitter.com/8n35HdjV5l

— Aaron Law (@AaronLaw92) October 14, 2016

Update: Hoodies and beanies have been added. Thanks, Aaron!

Thanks, Michael!

Win Robert's Bestival guitar

Another new guitar. Possibly to be auctioned off for charity?

Update (09-29-16): Win Robert's Bestival 2016 guitar. Details from Radio X:

"Radio X is giving you the chance to win Robert Smith’s specially-designed Schecter "RS Ultracure Bestival 2016" guitar, as played on stage during the band’s headline set at this year’s Bestival.

Printed with Bestival 2016 artwork, the Schecter "RS Ultracure Bestival 2016" is so rare that only 2 of them exist in the world. One belongs to Robert himself and you can be in with a chance of winning the other one, signed especially for Make Some Noise and Radio X by the Cure frontman.

This is an incredible opportunity to own a piece of musical history by one of Radio X’s biggest icons.
To support our charity and be in with a chance of winning, text the word ROBERT to 83936

Entries close at 11.59pm on Friday 7 October 2016.

You must be over 18 to take part. Texts cost your standard network rate, plus once you've entered we'll do the bit that raises the money for all those good causes and will automatically take a donation of £3, unless you reply STOP to the first text message we send you. 100% of these donations will go to Global's Make Some Noise.

Full terms and conditions can be found here

Global’s Make Some Noise is Radio X’s very own charity, supporting small but brilliant projects across the UK which help youngsters and their families living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.

By supporting Global’s Make Some Noise, you’ll be helping small projects make a big difference, so thank you. Find out more here.

Thanks to Robert Smith and Schecter for kindly donating this prize."

Update (10-05-16): From Radio X - "Unfortunately, contrary to previous published information, fans outside the United Kingdom are NOT eligible to enter, we’re really sorry! We were given the wrong information from the competition organisers. However, anyone that texted will NOT be charged. If anyone has a query about any texts sent into this competition, please contact prizes@makesomenoise.com. Apologies for any disappointment and thanks for all your support.

Also, on Friday 7 October (the same day the European leg of the tour kicks off in Helsinki), we’ll be promoting the RS guitar on air.

Robert has given us two tracks from Bestival to play on Radio X. One will probably be played on John Kennedy’s show on Thursday night to launch the charity day, the other will be on daytime on Friday. The tracks are Lovesong and Just Like Heaven."

Our gorgeous Robert Smith guitar has arrived! If you want it hit the link 👉 https://t.co/tDU3iW2z4a #makesomenoise @thecure_ pic.twitter.com/vMVygQg3dE

— Radio X (@RadioX) October 6, 2016

Farewell, Caroline

Caroline Crawley (of Shelleyan Orphan and Babacar) has passed away. The announcement was made on Shelleyan Orphan's Facebook yesterday:

"It is with deep sadness and sorrow that my dearest oldest mate in life and music passed away today after a long illness. please play our music very loud today."

(Thanks @chriswhite65)

Was fortunate enough to see them open for The Cure 3 times on the Prayer Tour in 1989 and loved them. I think 'Tar Baby' became my favorite non-Cure song that year. And while I never had the pleasure of meeting her, everyone I know who did, said she was always so sweet and kind to them. A wonderful person.

Thank you for sharing your lovely voice and music with us, Caroline. We love you! We are all so sad to lose you, but take some small comfort in knowing your battle is over, and you are now at peace.

Sending all of our love and support to her family and friends.

Pitchfork has a great article up today, and there are more articles at Brooklyn Vegan, Stereogum, and Telerama.

Help From Europe?

As we gear up for the start of the European leg of Cure Tour 2016, time to send out a call for help with the live set reports!

If you're going to the Helsinki, Stockholm, or Oslo shows, and wouldn't mind helping me with the live setlist reports, photos, Periscope streams, or anything else, then please do! Updates via Twitter (@CraigatCof), email (craigatcof (at) gmail (dot) com), or Facebook would work best for me.

Thank you! Have a great time and enjoy the shows!