Stereo Warning: Robert Smith from The Cure -- Interview

This is the first part of a long conversation we had with The Cure's Robert Smith while he was working on his band's latest album, due in stores next spring. A very candid Robert talked about everything from his relationship with Porl to the trials and tribulations of writing the new record to his approach to the live show. He even talked about drinking, getting old and (maybe) working with Ashlee Simpson. Enjoy!

Once again, you made big personnel changes in your band. What happened?
At the turn of the year 2005 it was time for a change. Roger O’Donnell and Perry Bamonte left and Porl Thompson returned for his third time in the band. It’s very hard to leave a successful group. Sometimes it takes a little cajoling and a little nod to make people realize they’re not happy in what they’re doing and holding everyone else back. I’m always the driving force of the band and if everyone’s happy with what I want to do it’s a happy band, if they’re not it’s not. I’m not very good at compromising when it comes to music and art. I just find it ridiculous that I should have to do something I don’t want to do, so it leaves everyone only one option, to leave. That’s what happened to Roger and Perry.

Is that what happened to Porl the other two times that he left?
Porl actually had a little bit more courage. The first time Porl was squeezed out early on, before the first record. He was a part of the live band that came out of school and led up to “Three Imaginary Boys.” He was the fourth imaginary boy that never made it onto the record. But the second time he left in 1993 because he wanted to play with other people and follow a different musical path. I like that. I wish that everyone that left the band had that kind of courage to their convictions but unfortunately there’s the lure of a safe job and all that goes with it. Sometimes I like to shake things up because I’ve never seen The Cure as a job, it’s a vehicle of expression and that’s all it should be.

How’s your relationship with Porl now?
Porl is my brother in law, he married my younger sister a long time ago. He’s part of the family. It's strange, when he was in the band we had a difficult relationship, and as soon as he left our relationship got a lot better. This time around that he’s back into the band we’re all older and wiser and we know each other a lot better obviously. I think we want the same things now as a band, which is why he’s back. He’s brought back a sense of urgency, we’ve got a rock edge again. He’s such a fantastic guitarist -- the new record that we’ve been making is showcasing what Porl does.

Check back tomorrow for part II of this interview.

Tags: the cure robert smith