Outside the Royal Albert Hall

Perfect.Murder took these outside of the Royal Albert Hall yesterday. Only 3 more weeks to wait.

Roger plays Paris tonight

Photo posted by @RogerODonnell

From Roger on Facebook: "Ive spent the last week preparing for a show in Paris on Wednesday performing at my friend Irakli's fashion show. Im going to play Les Kaleidoscopes and Les Menages a series of piano pieces I wrote for his website. You can hear them here www.irakli.fr... and I may just pay a few Strokes and Cure songs with the guys hahaha I can't wait!"

Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 (Thanks @jeremyWulc)

Also, Roger is planning a new Moog album. This from his Twitter: "Very excited to see @flarimore in Paris, she is going to be singing on my next Moog solo album! If you haven't heard her check her out......with beats of course by @_alka Who else?" 

Update (March 21st, 2014): Some video of Roger at this event here and a couple of photos here.  (Thanks Roger O'Donnell Discography)

Tim Pope is going to the Saturday RAH show

Going to see The Cure at the RAH, see you there!
— Tim Pope (@timpopedirector) March 5, 2014

@timpopedirector I am going on the Saturday and no cameras - well, I might sneak one in in me pocket!
— Tim Pope (@timpopedirector) March 6, 2014

Perfect.Murder is also going. Got his ticket yesterday.

More events for Roger

Very busy in my studio in Devon preparing for next weeks show for Irakli in Paris. I'll also be playing with The Strokes!!
— Roger O'Donnell (@RogerODonnell) February 27, 2014

Note on RAH tickets

From Johan: "I just got an e-mail stating that they (GigsandTours) won't ship them overseas (I live in Sweden and bought pre-sale tickets). All purchasers from foreign countries must pick up the tickets from the venue at the day of the event from 18:45 and onwards. Just bring confirmation number and credit card + ID and it should be OKAY they said. I hope the line won't be too long to get a good spot though."

Update (02-27-14): From Guillaume - "GigsandTours says that standing tix won't be sent to overseas purchasers. Only pickup at venue and day. They'll send the seated"

Cure Convention in L.A. this Saturday

Saturday March 1st, 2014
The Vex Arts L.A.
6 pm - 2 am
Featuring The Curse, The Cured, and Happy Haus
Facebook Event Page

Tim Pope says "No news on The Cure"

If you were hoping for an imminent DVD/Blu-ray release of 'In Orange' and/or the LatAm tour film, Tim Pope has some bad news for you in his latest update: "No news on The Cure, I'm afraid."

Cure's 'Purple Haze' 2nd best Hendrix cover

Guitar World says The Cure's 'Purple Haze' is #2 on their 10 Best Covers of Jimi Hendrix Songs list:
"If you heard this cover of "Purple Haze" with no context, it would be well over a minute into the song before you would have any clue this was a Jimi Hendrix cover.
Of course, anyone who thought Robert Smith & Co. would launch right into a fiery, tritone-laced rendition of arguably Hendrix's most famous song clearly had never heard Disingegration — which, according to Kyle from South Park, is the best album ever.
This synth-laden cut takes the No. 2 spot for being bold enough to push Hendrix's catalog into new territory, instead of trying to outdo the man. A nearly impossible feat, unless you're our choice for No. 1 ..." (Thanks Greg)

Cure on Sky Arts this Friday & Saturday

Couple of Cure shows on Sky Arts 1 & HD this week:

Friday Feb. 21st
8:30 PM - The Cure: Video Killed The Radio Star
9 PM - The Cure Live at Hurricane Festival 

Saturday Feb. 22nd
3:10 AM - The Cure: Video Killed The Radio Star
3:40AM - The Cure Live at Hurricane Festival
8 AM - The Cure: Video Killed The Radio Star
8:30 AM  - The Cure Live at Hurricane Festival
(Thanks Carl and @weathercade)

Roger update

From Roger on Facebook: "I have been in Los Angeles for the past four weeks working on several projects, probably the most important of which is coming very close to an end. I have about three more pieces to write and then we are done. There will be a press conference in early April where all will be revealed!"

Roger will be playing piano at Adam Donen's album launch for 'False Bay Echoes' in London on April 4th. Get tickets here. 

From Adam on Facebook: "Roger's contributions on piano and Rhodes are among the highlights of False Bay Echoes. As you'll hear, after a few Jacks, he becomes a mighty fine blues pianist."

Also, "In between his work for *that other band*, we're currently working on a couple of new works - a ballet of Roger's for which for which I'm contributing the libretto, and a new orchestral piece.

I'm difficult to work with at the best of times, and have never had a collaborator like Roger, and suspect I never will. A completely opposite and therefore like mind, and a melodic genius.

Its an honour to have my dear friend joining me on piano."

Adam also says they'll be bringing the Bernhard Suite to London in June, and hints at the possibility of a show in Berlin as well. (Thanks Roger O'Donnell Discography)

And more news tonight from Roger: "If you like electronic music, as I do, you might enjoy this mix I did for Squarewav.com. AND... a very interesting solo performance in Paris in March, more news to come!!!"

Update (02/21/14): From Roger on Facebook - "Im very very happy to be able to tell you that I have finished composing for our ballet project! Its been about a years process so far and of course I have been learning all the way. .. I have to thank Tattiana my producer for her belief and support for me and our project. Big announcement like I said the first week of April...Also sort of to do with both my current projects something very very special in July!!!! Hahahah so many secrets which Im terrible at keeping!"

And again, Roger makes it absolutely clear for those of you who don't get it: "Not quite sure how fucking explicit I have to be here about the distinction between my solo work which you will read about HERE and my work with The Cure which you will read about THERE www.thecure.com"

Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of the 80s EPs poll

Nominate your favorite EPs, mini-albums of the ’80s for Slicing Up Eyeballs’ next poll http://t.co/wR5CWq1Hgc pic.twitter.com/VpEg43Pjzm
— Slicing Up Eyeballs (@slicingeyeballs) February 17, 2014

Those great live Cure videos are back!

Remember all of the great live videos from Olivier at It's A Perfect Day, that he took at the recent Cure shows, uploaded to YouTube, and then were removed by whomever? Well they're back! Over 50 videos available here or here. (Thanks Olivier)

Rock in Love: Robert Smith & Mary Poole

Nice article at Rolling Stone Italy talking about our favorite couple. (Thanks madmax64)

Splintered In Her Head NZ tribute band

A new tribute band has formed in New Zealand - Splintered In Her Head. Their first show will be on April 5th, opening for Permanence, a Joy Division tribute band. And later in the year, they plan to play 'Seventeen Seconds', 'Faith', and 'Pornography', in their entirety. More info here. (Thanks Michel)

XFM's 50 Best Debut Singles of All Time

XFM says 'Killing An Arab' is one of the 50 Best Debut Singles Of All Time:
"Robert Smith's debut single was released on the indie imprint Small Wonder in December 1978, but reissued on the Fiction label the following February. Radio programmers freaked at the A-side, which they took to be somewhat racist... rather than the punky tribute to the existentialist novel The Stranger, by Albert Camus that it actually was. They favoured the impressive B-side, 10.15 Saturday Night instead." (Thanks @DarkkMokko)

Roger in new Mission book

Looks like Roger will be contributing to the new book about The Mission. (Thanks John)

NME's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time

NME isn't happy unless they're compiling a list, and their latest is The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. The Cure have 5 entries. The usual suspects. Yes, it's ridiculous. That's the NME.

#45 - 'Boys Don't Cry'

An insistent riff and guitar jangle forged the template for the following decade's British indie boom on this beer-soaked dancefloor anthem.
Read more at http://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-100-1/330996/1/1#C5M2CKkLbG5H83uM.99

#236 - 'Inbetween Days'
With the doomy Goth side of his ouvre set to one side, Robert Smith and chums were inspired by the breezy pop of New Order for this huge worldwide hit.

#356 - 'Close To Me'
Through Robert Smith’s confidential whispers, 'Close To Me' bristled with a jaunty yet longing romance.

#360 - 'Pictures of You'
The prettiest thing The Cure have ever done. A sparkling sonic expedition and damn, [i]that[/i] intro.

#366 - 'Friday I'm In Love'
Turned out you weren't the only one who loves the weekend. Irrepressibly joyful.

The Cure & Romcoms

Kristina Monllos at The Awl wonders Why Do So Many Romcoms Use Songs By The Cure? (Thanks David)

Is Trilogy 3 with the b-sides doable?

Some say there's no way The Cure could do a 'Reflections' style show (3 albums & b-sides) for the new Trilogy shows because it would be too long. Guillaume crunched the numbers, and ...

#TheCure Trilogy Top/Head/Kiss + singles b-sides : 50 tracks. 3 hours and 11 minutes. Wanna hear "A Chain of Flowers" live... @CraigatCoF
— Guillaume G_z (@guillaume_g_z) February 6, 2014

Doable! Actually shorter than some recent shows.
(Thanks @guillaume_g_z)

'The Top' is one of the 20 Great Stoner Albums

MetroWeekly says: "As stale and selfish as a sick dog, spurning sex like an animal of god. I'll tear your red hair by the roots and hold you blazing, hold you cherished in the dead electric light," Robert Smith sneers on "Shake Dog Shake," the opening track from "The Top." Launching with a sudden drum barrage and mad cackling laughter, "Shake Dog Shake" is an apt introduction to this schizophrenic album. "The Top” is dreamy, loopy, psychedelic, and a bit cracked...  the first time Robert Smith merged the sullen musings and manic aggression of albums like "Faith" and "Pornography" with the kaleidoscopic pop of singles like "Let's Go to Bed" and "The Lovecats."  This combination became the template of The Cure's greatest successes to come; a bipolar mix of kinetic and iridescent pop, anguished confessionals and venomous freakouts.  “The Top” propels the listener headfirst into a sickly sweet and mad world that's equal parts nightmare and daydream fantasy. Essentially a Robert Smith solo project -- The Cure had functionally ceased to exist as a band at this point -- "The Top" is a feverish album, careening madly around the big tent in Robert Smith's head.  It's "Sgt. Peppers" played by a cast of evil clowns lurking in dark hallways; they'll either butcher everyone in the house or throw the world's most demented sex-balloon party, or maybe both. (Thanks @banditFFX)