The Cure this afternoon – in concert from Paris at Rock en Seine 2026, recorded on August 30th by Radio France International.
To think The Cure got started in 1976 and are still going on strong (although, to be dead-honest, Robert Smith is the only original member of the band), gives you some idea of just how loved this band is and what a pivotal figure Robert Smith has become.
The Cure are often regarded as one of the most significant alternative artists of the 1980s. They were one of the first alternative bands to have chart and commercial success in an era before alternative rock had broken into the mainstream; in 1992, NME declared that the Cure had during the 1980s become “a goth hit machine (19 to date), an international phenomenon and, yet, the most successful alternative band that ever shuffled disconsolately about the earth”. Pitchfork dubbed the Cure the “unlikeliest alt-rock heroes” of the 1980s.
The Cure have influenced a number of musical artists spanning multiple genres. Artists who have cited their influence by or appreciation for the Cure include Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, Slowdive, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Miki Berenyi of Lush, Britt Daniel of Spoon, Beach House, Chvrches, Blink-182, Interpol, Manic Street Preachers, AFI, Deftones, Placebo, Mogwai, Korn, Foals, Failure, Drab Majesty, Converge, Tim Kasher of Cursive, Geoff Rickly of Thursday, Olivia Rodrigo, Alvvays, and Brandon Flowers of the Killers.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame chose the Cure for induction in its Class of 2019. Although the Cure had been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2004, they were only nominated once previously, in 2012. The formal induction ceremony was held 29 March 2019 at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York. The members named by the Rock Hall for induction as part of the band were Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Michael Dempsey, Reeves Gabrels, Simon Gallup, Roger O’Donnell, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, and Boris Williams. Gabrels was initially not included in the induction, but was added in February 2019. At the ceremony, the Cure were inducted by Trent Reznor before performing five songs.
The Cure’s best-known songs include “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979), “Close to Me” (1985), “Just Like Heaven” (1987), “Lovesong” (1989), and “Friday I’m In Love” (1992).
Thanks Wikipedia for the leg-up – grab lunch, have a seat, get comfy and crank it up – two hours will seem like nothing.
Being a non-profit has it’s benefits:
