He saved the world from Mecha-Streisand.
Posted on 08/19/2022 7:46:52 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Mainly due to their aesthetic, The Cure have been labelled as goth throughout their career. However, frontman Robert Smith believes it’s an inaccurate judgement of the group and one that’s based entirely on their look rather than their sound.
The goth movement began making waves in the early 1980s, and before that moment, no name was attached to people who looked like Smith. The Cure had existed for several years before the subculture truly got underway, and Smith is seen as the forefather to the scene. However, the frontman believes his association with goth culture has been exaggerated beyond reality.
The term gothic rock derived from the late 1960s when it was first used in an American publication about The Doors. It grew in prominence over the next few years, but there was no scene or movement, and it was merely used to describe the darker side of rock music.
It wasn’t until the Batcave opened in Soho in 1982 that there was finally a hub for goths to meet up, and it became the scene’s epicentre. While Smith would regularly go to the venue, he feels it is unfair to lump The Cure in with the clan of bands who were born out of the goth takeover of the post-punk revolution.
The Cure classic Robert Smith wrote feeling “utterly morose” Read More
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Smith explained: “I don’t think of the Cure as a goth band. I never have. I grew up in a world where goth hadn’t quite been invented in the way that we know and love it. And I was part of this subculture in as much as I went to the Batcave with [Steve] Severin”.
The singer added: “The Banshees were pretty much a goth band for a while. But even they really weren’t. But real goth bands were around — the ones that were part of that initial movement. They were goth bands, and I wasn’t. I was doing ‘Let’s Go to Bed’ when goth started. So we’d done Pornography and ‘Hanging Garden,’ and there’s a look and a kind of a vibe and an atmosphere, yeah. But was I responsible for goth? No. And if I was, I’d be very happy. But I wasn’t.”
While Smith might not be majorly responsible for goth, he concedes they played some role, albeit incidentally. He continued: “Inevitably, I think it had some kind of influence. ‘Cold’ from Pornography, I think, sounds gothic, in as much as you can say it’s got that particular sound. I’m aware we played a part in it, and I think that we’re part of the history of goth, without question, but like a footnote.”
He concluded: “The Cure just aren’t a goth band. When people say it to me, you’re goth, I say you either have never heard us play or you have no idea what goth is. One of those two has to be true because we’re not a goth band.”
While The Cure have some goth material, those songs only partially tells the story of the band’s identity, and Smith finds it a dismissive term which writes off the full spectrum of their talent.
They’re different I can only handle so much at once lots of angst
Huge fan of The Cure since the very beginning . They haven’t put out a great album since Boris Thompson left but they have my respect for carrying on all these years and still drawing massive crowds . I do think Robert ought to do something about his hair ( looking more and more like Tiny Tim every day ) and shelve the red lipstick / eye shadow . He is 63 , after all . Time for a change ?
Lol, that made me laugh…”…shelve the red lipstick/ eye shadow. He is 63, after all.” Also, a guy. 😂
Yeah, Smith does look a little crazy these days, like a bloated Edward Scissorhands. But, I agree; it’s cool that he’s still kicking it and still is true to himself.
He saved the world from Mecha-Streisand.
“Disintegration is the best album ever!”
And the live album ENTREAT !
Saw The Cure three time . Once on their very first USA tour to promote 17 Seconds album . It was their 2nd gig and at a relatively small club in NYC called Hurrahs . Stood 6 feet from the stage directly in front of Robert . Next time was the next year - FAITH tour - again in NYC but at The Ritz . 3rd time in 1984 just after Boris joined .
badda boom!...
Lovecats should put you in a good mood too. :)
I forgot about that one. That’s fun to listen to, too.
Back in the 80s, we called those who wore the style “corn chips,” not goth. But yeah, I always thought of The Cure as punk-pop.
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