XFM giving away RAH tickets and a box

From XFM: Suede are playing, there’s a comedy night featuring Micky Flanagan, Jason Manford and John Bishop and The Cure will be performing two very special shows. You'll be able to win tickets to these shows, plus help us raise money for XFM's Fund For Teenage Cancer Trust all this week on XFM.

PLUS... We're giving one lucky winner the chance to WIN A BOX at The Cure's show on Saturday 29 March - that's tickets for you and four mates to watch this mammoth three-hour gig from some of the best seats in the house.

We've taken TEN Cure album covers and cropped a tiny detail from each one and stuck them in a very special gallery. All you have to do is name the album.

Think you know which albums they are? Pick your answers from the multiple choice selections below, input your details and hope for the best. Good luck!"

And listen all week for your chance to win tickets to the show. 104.9FM in London, 97.7FM in Manchester, on digital radio around the UK, via the apps or via XFM.co.uk. Good luck!
(Thanks Martin)

The secret of the blue hat

Many people asked me where I got my blue hat - that aside, this is Lima, Peru. pic.twitter.com/ppLkPTgjBg

— Tim Pope (@timpopedirector) March 17, 2014

Notice how Tim, master of subterfuge, distracts everyone with a photo of Robert, while avoiding giving up the secret source of the blue hat.

Saffron picks 'Head on the Door' in her Top 10

Saffron from Republica placed 'The Head on the Door' at #5 on her top 10 favorite albums list. From Louder Than War:
"Very hard to choose I Love so many Cure albums especially Faith, Pornography, Boys Don’t Cry and Bloodflowers but Head on the Door has 2 of my favourite songs ‘Inbetween Days’ and ‘A Night Like This’

I was honoured to sing a duet with Robert Smith on the track ‘ Just Say Yes’ which is on The Cure’s Greatest Hits Album.we did a video and I performed with them in Paris."
(Thanks @greyhairpink)

5) The Cure ‘Head On The Door’
Very hard to choose I Love so many Cure albums especially Faith,Pornography,Boys Don’t Cry and Bloodflowers but Head on the Door has 2 of my favourite songs ‘Inbetween Days’and ‘A Night Like This’
I was honoured to sing a duet with Robert Smith on the track ‘ Just Say Yes’ which is on The Cure’s Greatest Hits Album.we did a video and I performed with them in Paris.
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/saffron-from-republica-my-top-10-favourite-albums-6/#sthash.5H590rCX.dpuf

5) The Cure ‘Head On The Door’
Very hard to choose I Love so many Cure albums especially Faith,Pornography,Boys Don’t Cry and Bloodflowers but Head on the Door has 2 of my favourite songs ‘Inbetween Days’and ‘A Night Like This’
I was honoured to sing a duet with Robert Smith on the track ‘ Just Say Yes’ which is on The Cure’s Greatest Hits Album.we did a video and I performed with them in Paris.
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/saffron-from-republica-my-top-10-favourite-albums-6/#sthash.5H590rCX.dpuf

5) The Cure ‘Head On The Door’
Very hard to choose I Love so many Cure albums especially Faith,Pornography,Boys Don’t Cry and Bloodflowers but Head on the Door has 2 of my favourite songs ‘Inbetween Days’and ‘A Night Like This’
I was honoured to sing a duet with Robert Smith on the track ‘ Just Say Yes’ which is on The Cure’s Greatest Hits Album.we did a video and I performed with them in Paris.
- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/saffron-from-republica-my-top-10-favourite-albums-6/#sthash.5H590rCX.dpuf

Q says '4:14' will be out "later this year"

From the April 2014 issue of Q. (Thanks Perfect.Murder)

The Cure play BottleRock Napa Valley!

As posted on The Cure's Spacebook, and now on TheCure.com, The Cure will play BottleRock Napa Valley in California on May 30th. Tickets go on sale March 17th at 10 am PST, but you can get discount 3 day passes now with promo code ROCKNAPA. Single Day tickets will be released April 10. (Thanks Gerald)





Articles: Slicing Up Eyeballs / Consequence of Sound / Napa Valley Register 1 - 2 / SFist / San Jose Mercury News / Examiner / Alice 97.3 / City Sound / JamBase / KTVU / CBS SF

Robert in Dom Joly's kitchen

Posted by Dom Joly on Facebook: "Robert Smith of The Cure drunk, in my kitchen" (Thanks Pete)

The Guardian has the story behind the photo (from 2001): "For a spoof documentary going out on Channel 4 on December 28, Being Dom Joly, he managed to get Robert Smith to pretend to be his best man. "He was totally into Trigger Happy, which was so cool. We went for a drink afterwards and he was such a nice bloke. I was thinking: 'I can't believe I'm having a drink with Robert Smith, my hero.'

"Then we ended up here which was even more incredible. I had to hide the photos of me looking like him. We were chatting and drinking for hours, and I was thinking, 'This is just too cool.' Then it turned at about four in the morning. I started thinking: 'I wish Robert Smith would leave. I've got to get up in the morning!' "

(Thanks to Ronan for remembering this and finding the article)

"Lovecats" used on The Voice UK

From Adam (@ghostfinder): "The Love Cats was used on The Voice UK last night in one of @iamwill’s battles. Starts at 59 mins in here."

And on YouTube. (Thanks HG)

A couple of articles

Stuff has an article about an interview with Robert from 7 years ago. (Thanks Monghi at thecure.sk)

And WhatCulture has a Top 20 Cure Songs article from Beau Jones. (Thanks Beau)

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)