Artist

The Cure

1976-present·Crawley

Robert Smith's band started out closer to punk-pop before turning toward the atmospheric melancholy of Seventeen Seconds (1980) and Faith (1981), records that helped set the template for gothic and alternative rock afterward. The turn had a specific catalyst: in September 1979, John McKay and Kenny Morris quit Siouxsie and the Banshees mid-tour, and Smith stepped in on guitar, learning the songs in soundchecks to help salvage the Join Hands tour. Playing that material night after night left a mark, and the Cure's subsequent records carried some of that same sparseness and emotional bluntness, setting the band apart from punk's noisier instincts even as it grew out of the same scene.

At a glance

Active
1976–present
From
Crawley, England
Records in the issues
3 (1980–1989)
Original label
Fiction
Listening guide track
“The Top”

Listen

In the UK Post-Punk listening guide: “The Top”

Spotify

In the issues

  • UK Post-Punk
    Supporting cast · 1977-1984

    UK Post-Punk is a music scene from United Kingdom, 1977–1984. Its principal artists include Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Fall and Public Image Ltd. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 18 dated events.

  • UK Goth
    Principal · 1978-1985 · Members

    UK Goth is a music scene from London, Leeds, Northampton, UK, 1978–1985. Its principal artists include Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sisters of Mercy and The Cure. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 14 dated events.

Records

Family tree

Bands that shared members with The Cure, and who.

  • Robert Smith
  • The Easy Cure1977–1978
    Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey, Porl Thompson, Robert Smith
  • The Glove1983–1983
    Andy Anderson, Robert Smith
  • Presence1990–
    Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey