British guitarist Robert Smith, leader of the post-punk band The Cure: biography, creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 19:44

The Cure is one of the few rock bands that has been raving with the public for over 30 years. Over the years, the direction of the team's creativity, name, and composition have changed several times, but the leader of the project, Robert Smith, has remained unchanged.

Robert's life is an amazing musical adventure that never seems to end. At 57, he still writes music and lyrics, communicates with journalists and finds more and more listeners. What is the true leader of The Cure, every fan of classic rock should know.

Robert Smith's childhood

Robert James Smith was born in Blackpool, England. Already at the age of 6, having picked up a guitar for the first time, he quickly learned the chords and showed everyone his musical talent. At 13, the older brother gave the future rock star the first electric guitar, which Robert mastered at the age of two.account.

Even while studying, the musician created his first bands. They did not exist for long, the performers never got on the big stage, but they were able to get the experience necessary to start a career. Later, Robert is expelled from school, this gives him the opportunity to completely “dive” into music and develop his group: in those years, Easy Cure. The name that Robert disliked so much was changed in 1977.

First musical failures

The Cure started her career by covering songs by famous musicians: David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and others. After the first author's songs written by Robert appeared, Paul Stephen Thompson and Peter O'Toole joined the group. Together they began their musical career. Robert himself, no matter how he avoided it, took the place of the frontman.

In 1977, Hansa Records organized a music competition for young talents, where the group won first place. But the success did not last long, Hansa Records refused to sign a contract with the young band and record an album.

The start of a grand career

Already in 1977, the studio Fiction Records "took" the group, and soon the first album was recorded. Songs written by Robert Smith were poorly received, accusing the band of racism because of the Killing an Arab single. The listeners did not understand that in fact the composition was written under the impression of Robert from the book by Albert Camus "The Outsider", but it was difficult to explain this to the public.

Until 1980, the band was the opening act for S&TB, and Robert Smith himself was "torn" between S&TB and TheCure. At the end of the tour, the band was waiting for a huge success and new loyal fans of their work.

Gothic moods

Soon the band will release their second album called Seventeen Seconds, the single of which hits the Top 10 in the UK. The mood of the songs is getting sadder, but that doesn't stop fans from appreciating the creativity.

Robert Smith doesn't even notice how the songs he wrote are making listeners more and more sad. Although Robert did not suffer from constant depression, his songs were too suicidal, and because of this mood, Matthew Hartley left the group.

The guys worked hard. The image of real rebel rockers and songs filled with terrible sadness drove every performer crazy. Robert himself catches himself thinking that he does not understand anything, is in some kind of trance. In addition, he begins to use hard drugs. Such brain stimulation gave a new mood to the songs of the group - now they were not sad, but aggressive.

From a leader, Robert turns into a dictator, and soon only Tolhurst remains in the group. For some period, the team ceases to exist literally at the peak of its popularity.

Rebirth of The Cure

Robert's fiancee Mary Pole takes her groom to Wales. There, his condition improves significantly, an adequate perception of reality returns to him.

For several years the group has been working only on separate joint songs. Robert performs in S&TB, uses drugs and again returns to the previousrhythm of life. He communicates with former members of the group, under the onslaught of producers he writes individual songs, which, to my great surprise, even win success.

After some time, Robert Smith participates in three groups, then two. Drug addiction returns, the musician loses control of the situation, soon decides to leave S&TB and work only in The Cure. The previous period took a toll on Smith's he alth, both physically and mentally, but he leaves no hope.

Robert, Lawrence and Severin perform for a while with drummer Andy Anderson and bassist Phil Thornelly, starting a new page in the band's life. True, Anderson soon leaves the line-up due to aggressive behavior, and the band goes on the next tour with a new talented musician Boris Williams.

New group with new line-up

Simon Gallup will soon return to replace Thornelly, no one in the band uses drugs during the recording of albums.

In 1986, fans were stunned by the change in the image of the leader of the group: he cut his hair, changed. During this period, The Cure regularly releases albums, tours around the world. However, already in 1989, the leader of the group kicks Lawrence out because of his constant drinking. The latter did not come to rehearsals, practically did not take part in the life of the group. It was difficult for Robert to make such a choice, since they had a long-term friendship with Lawrence, but the interests of the group were more important.

In 1990, again due to disagreements with the leader,O'Donnell, who has been with The Cure for the past two years, leaves the band. In his place came Perry Bamont, who had previously taken part in organizing the work of the band. Already in 1991, the team was named the "Best Group in Great Britain".

Robert Smith's personal life

Despite a rather wild lifestyle, constant concerts and crowds of female fans, the rock star has been faithful to one girl for many years - Mary Poole Smith. They married in 1988, had known each other for many years before, and remain faithful to each other to this day.

The British guitarist himself does not really like to talk about his wife, keeping his personal life a secret. From the very beginning of the relationship, Robert Smith and his wife decided that they would not have children: according to Robert, he is a terrible father and will not be able to give children a decent upbringing. But he diligently fulfills the role of an uncle with his nephews.

Robert Smith's life views

• Hated studies and teachers. Already from school I decided that I would create a rock band and be a popular musician.
• Robert is a leader both in life and in the group. He can't stand things going wrong for him.
• Rockstar admits he's pretty lazy about anything outside of music.
• In life, despite the rather depressing mood of the songs, Robert is a cheerful and cheerful person.
• He often gets together with current and former members of the group to record songs together and "justchat.”
• The musician's hobby is astronomy.
• Robert loves the sea and often goes to his small house on the coast.
• The musician can play the guitar, violin, keyboards and double bass. But, according to Robert, his vocal talent is not so unique.
• Among all members of the group, the leader is the one who "survives" concerts and tours the best. He remained faithful to The Cure to the last and even today continues to delight fans with new songs, albums and concerts.
• Even in his school days, Robert began to use stage make-up and wear long hair. Today, he stays true to his image as his wife likes him.
• Musician admits: they drink a lot of alcohol at concerts, but can't imagine how the performances would be otherwise.
• Tim Burton wanted The Cure to write a song for his film "Edward Scissorhands", but at that time Robert refused. Many years later, the director will give the leader of the group a special award and admits that in his youth, the group's songs helped him survive depression.