John Martyn tribute update

Update: Robert's track is now available at Amazon UK & iTunes UK for £0.79. Unfortunately, it looks like Amazon US is making it an "Album Only" track, but you can get it from iTunes US for $0.99.


Set includes 2 CDs, a DVD (no Robert interview or performance), and a 40 page booklet (see Robert's page here). (Thanks Chris)

Robert Smith - Small Hours (BBC 6 Music) by CoF (Thanks Aaron)
If you like the track, please buy it, or the album, when it's released on Aug. 15th/16th. Pre-order links - HMV and Amazon US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan.

“I first heard ‘Small Hours’ on the John Peel Show late in 1977 and fell instantly in love with it... ‘One World' very quickly became my favourite John Martyn album... And these beautiful songs were, are and always will be an inspiration and an enchantment.” - Robert Smith (from the press release)

Reviews: The Telegraph, The Morton Report, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, Direct Current, RTE

Original story: Both NME and Timber & Steel have news on the John Martyn tribute CD, which includes Robert's cover of 'Small Hours'. The CD has been rescheduled for release on Aug. 15th in the UK and Aug. 16th in North America. Previous story here. (Thanks Lovecat)

Cure Bestival guitar contest

WIN A CURE GUITAR AT BESTIVAL
Bestival has teamed up with The Cure and Schecter to offer an exclusively designed guitar to three lucky winners. The guitar of choice for Robert Smith, these beauties have been specially pimped in honour of The Cure’s Bestival 2011 appearance and will be signed by the man himself!

Robert Smith has told us: "The UltraCure limited edition Bestival Curetoon Schecter is the grooviest guitar in the world!"

While Rob da Bank commented: "This guitar is a work of art. Take Robert Smith's favourite guitar, Josie da Bank's ace psychedelic artwork and some fancy printing and this really will be a collectors item. I just wish i could play the guitar!"

And its makers Schecter Guitars say: “We are proud to partner with The Cure for this amazing event! These UltraCure guitars are adorned with special Curetoon/Bestival art which are destined to be a collector's item. The UltraCure, designed by Robert Smith has been his main guitar for both the stage and studio for the past 5 years!”

Robert Smith will draw three names 'out of a hat' backstage just prior to The Cure's Saturday night headline performance, and the Curetoon Schecter guitars will be shipped to the winners once Bestival 2011 has ended.

To win, simply text ‘Cure Guitar’ followed by the answer A, B or C to 70099. What time do The Cure dream?
A) Midnight
B) Noon
C) 4:13

Texts will cost £2, you can enter as many times as you like and best of all, the dosh will be donated to the charity lovecats of Ataxia UK, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and St Catherine's on the Isle of Wight.

Bernard Sumner on The Cure

"I just wanted to share this article (from the 'Ask Fred' section of the September 2011 edition of Mojo magazine), particularly as it addresses the sophistry perpetuated by the music press that The Cure are merely New Order copyists. There was an accompanying photo of Robert and Lol from 1983 but I considered this superfluous as most fans would have already seen it." (Thanks Dylan)

Robert wrote an unused score for Ferris Bueller?

"I was just watching a video from the Onion's AV club and at the end it says that Robert wrote a score for a scene in Ferris Bueller, but they decided not to use it. I'd never heard of this before and figured I'd share with you." (Thanks Steve)

Update: Thanks to Deadboycraved for pointing this out...In the 'Disintegration' deluxe booklet, Robert mentions being sent various movie clips from studios, hoping to get him to write music for them. And in Mojo's review of the set, they say that 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' was one of the films he was offered, though it doesn't say he wrote anything for it. Very interesting. If this truly exists, I'd love to hear it.

'Boys Don't Cry' Peel Session on BBC 6

The Peel Sessions version of 'Boys Don't Cry' got an airing on BBC 6 Music's Late Night Jukebox (starts at 1:10:10) last Friday. (Thanks JC/Perfect.Murder)

Cure article in Clash magazine

"I've written a full page Cure trivia 'Stalker' feature for the new issue of national British music mag Clash. Out August 7th." (Thanks Sam)

If anyone can get me a photo or scan of the article, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

'Trilogy' DVD goes Double Platinum

"From the RIAA's searchable database: 'Trilogy' got a double platinum certification in April 2011, which means more than 200,000 copies. It’s the 22nd certification for The Cure in the US, among the 110 I identified worldwide for albums and videos/DVDs (never managed to find reliable information for singles). And it’s also the first multi platinum (or at least the first officially registered one) they get for a long form video/DVD." (Thanks David)

The Cure and Me

Jason Eaton shares his story of growing up a Cure fan. Memories sparked by the 'Reflections' shows. Wonderful! (Thanks Jason)

I've also been meaning to post this, and Walter's recent meeting with Robert has reminded me of it: "I've got a nice Cure story that happens to me during the Dream Tour and would like to share it. It's been 10 years now but I just found the video that I sent to Robert without answer...yet. It was made from a popular soccer TV show that talks about how the supporters are fans of their teams and so on, but I added another idea...hope you like it." (Thanks Walter)

Update: "I just made a radio interview mentioning my story with The Cure and the recent Sydney shows. It's in spanish but as you got lots of spanish readers, thought it can be nice to share. The link is here, and then you have to click on Descargar Emision 193 (31.07.11)." (Thanks Walter)

The Cure vs The Smiths dance party in DC

August 13th at Black Cat in Washington, DC
The Cure vs. The Smiths Dance Party w/ DJs Steve EP, Missguided, Killa K, Krasty McNasty $10 Mainstage / Doors at 9:00.
(Thanks Paivi)

Robert's page from John Martyn tribute CD

Also, no Robert interview or performance on the DVD.
(Thanks Chris)

Excel Gum ripping off The Cure?

"Don't know if you've seen this as its a Canadian commercial which obviously rips off The Cure's Just Like Heaven and In Between Days..." (Thanks Lisa and Brad)

Update: This Italian commercial is even worse. Total ripoff of 'The Loudest Sound'. (Thanks Andrea B.)

Compact Space update

From Daryl on Twitter: "Compact Space - writing in August, in the autumn the international release of Nameless plus a 2nd EP with new mixes and a brand new track."

Roger & the Electrons

"You might be interested in a side project Roger is involved in called Electrons. They just worked on a project for director David Lynch. Check out the cool line-up from their new Facebook page:

ERIC ALEXANDRAKIS - John Taylor from Duran Duran discovered him
WARREN CUCCURULLO - Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, Duran Duran
STEVE FERRONE - Tom Petty & the heartbreakers
ROGER O'DONNELL - The Cure
ANTHONY J. RESTA - big producer of Duran Duran, Elton John, Perry Farrell, Blondie,
(Thanks Marie)

Fire In Cairo shows

Fire In Cairo, the Irish Cure Tribute band, have some upcoming shows:

Workman's Club Dublin - August 4th

An Cruiscin Lan Cork - August 13th

The Forum Waterford - October 8th

Spirit Store Dundalk - October 29th (Halloween Show)

(Thanks Manolis)

Cure Party in Germany

"On 04.08.11 is the 21st Years Anniversary: The Cure Prayer Tour in Leipzig. The first concert of The Cure in the "German Democratic Republic" (GDR) called East Germany (German: Ost-Deutschland)

The facts: Meeting up on 04/08/11 at 6.30 p.m. with "The Cure Fans" at "Festwiese am Zentralstadion" to chill out, laugh and take some drinks together.
Afterwards chill-out party at "Darkflower - Alternative Club (2nd Floors)" at 10.30 p.m. Admission only 2 €uro. Musik by Dj Knüfi & DJ Wilco. Info here." (Thanks Wilco)

Vintage Video: The Cure in Glasgow 1984

Slicing Up Eyeballs' Vintage Video for the week is The Cure performing live in Glasgow from 1984.

Robert judging ISC again

Robert will once again be a judge for the International Songwriting Competition. (Thanks David)

Roger reviews Mac OS X Lion

Just for you Apple disciples/cultists, Roger has reviewed the new Mac OS X Lion for Side-Line.

Peter Murphy on Robert & The Cure

From Spin:
You've been called the Godfather of Goth. What does that make Robert Smith?
Robert Smith is like my pale elder brother, with a no-image vibe when he was in the early Cure. They were an interesting early 4AD [Records] type with no ego, whereas we immediately [hit the scene] saying, "Fuck you -- this is the theater of Iggy and Bowie. We're here." We spurted. We ejaculated. And in the petit mort, the little death after ejaculation, we split up. Around then, the Cure were obviously losing their caché -- and suddenly I see pictures of Robert Smith with high black hair, lipstick, and badly applied eye makeup with black clothes. I'm thinking, Okay, all right, so he's now goth, right?

It's so bad to be lumped in with the Cure?
Actually, the Cure were cool. They made very cool alternative pop music. Robert's bloody talented. It's just that Joy Division was closer to Bauhaus than anybody else. (Thanks Kate)

The Cure are one of the Q 25

Q magazine is celebrating their 25th anniversary by selecting the Greatest Act of the Last 25 Years, and The Cure have made their short list of 25. You can vote here by creating your own list of 25. You just have to drag and drop the artists around the grid, then submit it. (Thanks JC, Jeremy, and Barry)