Robert: Hello, everyone
Simon: Hello
applause
- Do you want a question?
Robert: Yeah, our first question is could we have a drink, please?
- First question - most of the reviews that have come out of Wish have referred to this as being an upbeat album and talks about how the Cure are so mopey and downbeat and so forth and so on - do you feel that's true?
Robert: What - the mopey downbeat bit or the...?
- Either one.
Robert: Um, no I think that as with Disintegration a lot of the initial reviews are, um, quite flimsy, if that's the right word. I think that probably musically a lot of Wish is more accessible than Disintegration but I don't think that it's particularly more upbeat because I really think that Disintegration was perceived as a very downbeat gloomy album but it had things like Lullaby and Lovesong and Fascination St. and so likely this with Wish - I think people have picked up on Friday I'm In Love and High and Doing the Unstuck but they've kind of ignored some of the other ones. I think it's just as varied as anything that we've done - more varied than anything we've done, probably. That was a long-winded answer, isn't it?
- Hello, Chris Parry from London - would you like a drink?
Robert: Yes, please.
Simon: You won't get us one, but you just wanted to ask so you'd seem important!
Laura Clifford: I was wondering how many videos you're going to be shooting in support of the Wish album and also if you'll be doing another concert film during this tour?
Robert: Um, there'll be a third, um, there'll be three singles off the album so we'll be making another video, obviously, um..
Laura Clifford: Will those be released on videotape?
Robert: Um, I imagine when we've got enough to warrant...
(Band starts to laugh as namecards are handed out and the Cure mix them up.)
Robert: ...to warrant, um like putting out something that's a bit more long form.
Laura Clifford: any concert footage?
Robert: Um - yes! We will be doing, um, we'll probably be filming more than likely be filming at the N.Y. show at the end of the tour, cuz we'll have got good by then (smiles).
(Simon shows Boris a name tag and Boris says 'that's not Robert')
- Robert, have you got a venue picked out for that show?
Perry: We haven't decided on a venue for that yet.
Robert: (to Perry) Haven't we? Actually, we should ask where we're playing at the moment - we've just stepped off the boat. Everything's changed.
- I want to go to that show.
- So what did you do on the QEII? Did you play shuffleboard? Anything interesting? Why the QEII?
Boris: It's the only boat that goes over.
Robert: Well, um only us three (points to Simon and Perry) came across on the boat, um, really because we prefer it and Simon and I particularly don't like flying and just prefer it as a means of travel across the Atlantic as opposed to flying. And, yes, we do play shuffleboard and putting and deck courts...
- How was the food?
Simon: (sounding amazed at the question) the food?
- Yeah, I've never been on one of those things - I don't know.
Robert: It's very posh, yeah.
- Did they have special seating for you?
Robert: Yes, yes, you HAVE to sit in the same table every night - it's pretty fascist actually, when you think about it. No, it's good - they were very nice to us - they, they kind of tolerated us like idiots, basically. We sort of stuck out a bit. I think the other passengers didn't really like us being on board, a lot of them, but I think the staff did.
- Did they know who you were?
Simon: Nope.
Robert: They did, um, and they stuck our picture up in the photo booth!
Simon: But it's all right cuz we didn't know who we were, either.
- The last time you guys were here we were led to believe we wouldn't ever see you tour again. What has happened in the ensuing years to change that?
Robert: Say that again?
(question repeated.)
Simon: We haven't played yet, so you might....(laughs)
Robert: I didn't think we would come back, um, I mean when I was saying all that it was me saying that I really didn't think that we would come back to America and play. so I suppose it's become about a process of erosion, really. The demand's there, and we've sort of like been chipped away. I think once we're here, we're determined to enjoy it, but, it's, I think I've been reminded of all the good parts of the last American tour and I've been forced into forgetting about all the bad parts.
Simon to Robert: We haven't - I bet we don't play tomorrow night...
Robert to Simon: Why?
Simon to Robert: We're just too (inaudible - crap, maybe?)
- This is for Porl - how's your arm?
Porl: It's good, thank you (waves it in air).
- You can play alright?
Porl: Yup, well...
- Back at the diner I didn't hear who was opening for your shows.
Robert: Cranes. They're a group from Portsmouth in England.
- Um, I heard you just mention that you were kind of forced back here because of demand - are you happy to be back here?
Robert: Yeah (sounds unsure)
- That's good to know.
Robert: Yeah, well this is kind of a difficult - I mean we had to get up at 7:30 this morning and it doesn't feel very normal coming into something like this at the best of times so... But I think we did 12 British concerts before we left and they were getting better and better as we go along, so if we pick up from that...
Simon: We've peaked, now. (grinning)
Robert: It's the only part of it really that really makes any sense to me, to most of us really, that if it works on stage, the whole thing works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't.
- At the diner, I was the one that sent you the picture. Um, I was wondering if you liked it?
Robert: I did, yeah. Um, thank you very much. Underneath it I took it apart - I could see there was something underneath it.
- It was a design I really didn't like - it made a good back.
- So do you have any plans for anything off schedule you're going to do - someplace you're going to go? Something you're going to see? Something you're going to film? Somebody you're going to visit?
Robert: (laughs) If only it was like that! I can't remember the last time I actually went out and did anything on a tour - it's probably, um, 7 years ago. But, um, everyone else does a lot more than I do.
Perry: Maybe take in Disneyland because that seems to be what always happens. It just depends on how much time you're got off at a particular place at that time and how you feel from the previous night.
(Beers delivered! Simon keeps turning his back to he crowd and sucks down about 1/3 of a beer at a time - probably didn't want the mike to pick up the glugging sound.)
- (to Perry) So are you gonna buy a leather coat like the rest of the... that way you can at least...
Perry: Am I the only one?
Robert: No!
- Well there's 3 of them - you've gotta get 2 more!
Robert: No, uh, uh, uh! (laughing)
Perry: Mine's in England - I left it behind. It's being shipped out.
Robert: Most of the time on days off on a tour this long, it's like 11 weeks, the temptation's just like to do nothing because all the rest of the time you're meeting a lot of people and you're doing things, so it's not as if you're missing out.
Perry: Usually, a day off means you're happy not to have to do anything and just sleep.
- Robert, you said a few years ago in an interview that you hated making videos - do you think it takes away from the music at all?
Robert I hated making videos? Did I say...?
- Yeah
Robert: Um, I think the better videos that we make had something and that's why they're the ones that I like. I think the video for High was really poor.
Perry: The process for making videos is a bit tedious, but they're good.
Robert: But the video for the next single, for the Friday I'm In Love
one, is good because it actually brings something out of the group
that isn't necessarily in the song. So, when, when they work on that
sort of level it's worthwhile. But sometimes they're just so
gratuitous that you wonder why you're bothering. You know, you're
like 'so what? it's another video.'. But the I suppose you can start
to think that way about things like this as well.
- Um, I know you guys are tired, but um as you know this is an
election year here in the states - how do you feel about people from the
rock community coming forward and giving their political views and
influencing these young minds who are buying your albums?
(Simon's goofing around and getting a joint from someone off stage.)
Robert: just say that last bit again?
- (repeats) Do you think that's fair? Do you think there's a place
for that?
Robert: Um, um, two ways of looking at it is if you're stupid enough to
vote a certain way because there's someone in a group that tells you
to, um, then I mean, but at the same time there are by default I
suppose people in groups that are aware of what's going on. I mean,
you don't have to be a complete fool to be in a group. You can live
outside and be aware of things that are happening, but I don't think
any of us have ever proferred anything but the most kind of general
sort of liberal views. I would never try and influence the way
someone was voting. I suppose I have a great mistrust of all
politicians anyway, much as I think everyone has, so I don't know. I
think it's a matter of personal judgement. But then you're bombarded
by so much junk in the media anyway that I don't think someone in a
group saying something is gonna make that much difference. I don't
know - like maybe there's one or two like icons or role models that it
really would make a difference, but there's very few.
- Well do you feel that reporters are baiting them? You know - saying
'What do you think? Do you think this way or that way?'
Robert: Yeah, I mean when the elections were going on back home, we were
doing interviews and people would ask about what we think about the
political situation but except on very general terms you don't really
want to get involved in it because if you seriously had answers we
would get heavily involved, but we don't. We vote and that's about
it, really, I suppose.
- I have two questions. First one is on this tour, will you be doing
any cover tunes, specifically from the 60's?
Robert: Um, um, why are you interested to know that? (smiles)
- Well, actually the person that is sitting with me asked me that but
I'm curious as well, just, you know, out of curiousity.
Robert: Well in the past when we've done them it's just usually they're
just things we play in the soundcheck so that we don't overdo the songs
that we're gonna play in the set, so, I suppose it...they're never
really that planned. Someone will just start playing it and we'll all
join in and if we think 'Oh, well then we know this one', um I might
have had one beer too many and say 'Let's try it on stage', you know?
- Oh, OK.
Robert: There's no plans to. At the moment we've got so much of stuff
of our own to play that it would seem a bit stupid to start playing
cover versions. I mean, a lot of the old songs seem live cover versions
anyway now - it's like a different lineup and it's....
- right, right. Second question is, I know it's probably too early to
ask but do you see yourself - this is for all of you guys - as a band
5 years from now or is it just not in really your realm to think that
far ahead right now? I mean what do you see yourselves doing in 5 years?
Simon: I don't think any of us look that far ahead. I mean 10 years ago
I don't think we would have thought we'd be sitting in N.Y. now, um...
feeling weird, but... It's like whenever anything stops it could
stop for good or it might not, so we never look ahead that...I mean
if we've got something to...I mean the only reason that we do it is cuz
we enjoy it, um.
Perry: It's like Robert said earlier, that at the end of the last
American tour he didn't think he'd ever be coming back here again cuz
that's how he felt at the time and perhaps when this is ended he'll
say the same.
Robert Oh, definitely - I'm saying it now! The farewell tour, again, yeah.
I think that, um, obviously, when we, that at some point there is going to
be something that's the last thing that we've done, because there won't be
anything to follow it, but I don't really think that it will be a dramatic
sort of 'This is the end'.
Perry: the big farewell..
Robert: It will just be that we'll have a layoff that'll last indefinitely.
- Actually I was gonna ask you a question on that same sort of subject.
It's been a few years - what can your fans kind of expect from this tour,
just as a general overview?
Robert: Um, well there's nothing much dramatically different. It's the
same bloke that's designed the stage and the lights in conjunction
with us that like did it, um, for the Prayer Tour, the Disintegration
tour. We've got a different sound man, and, it's like I mean, we've
got different songs, I mean - obviously, that we play at least 12 of
the new songs off the album, maybe some new B sides or stuff and
probably trying to play some different old songs off the back catalog
that we haven't played here before so we try...the difference is gonna
be there musically. I mean I haven't like been taking tap lessons or
anything (smiles) it's not gonna be anything like...it's not gonna be
a spectacular or anything. I mean it is, but it's you know, not gonna
be fireworks or lurex or anything like that.
Simon: You promised me (that it is?)
Robert: Or we all arrive onstage on Harley Davidsons...
- I just wanted to ask what any of your members felt about the purpose
of your art. Like to me I really enjoy the way you express your
feelings whether it be relationships or whatever - not only the lyrics,
but the way it's played really works for me - I mean your art really does
work for me. I wanted to know your feelings about some of the
purposes, personal or artistic or anything - your goals or things that
you enjoy doing about art.
Robert: I think that the two, well there's a myriad of levels that the
group works on, but like from the point of view of actually creating
songs, the music comes just as something we enjoy doing. I mean, we
would play if the Cure stopped - we wouldn't stop playing music since
we've all been playing music since before the Cure started. I think that
the group is like a vehicle for expression, so a lot of it's down to me
and what I write lyrically, I don't know, and the difficult thing is
through the years I've become aware that I'm if I'm writing something I'm
now writing it for public consumption and public dissection and it sort
of worries me that I'm, I might sometimes be like contriving situations
and it used to be much purer, I just felt it was much more spontaneous,
but I think, think that's why the gap between records is getting so long
because a lot of it's been dependent on being motivated to do it, like
to have a genuine feeling to want to do something you want to communicate
to people and not to just like, just let's bang out another record
because it's time. So, um, I dunno, we started an instrumental album
when we were doing the Wish album and I think that'll be the next thing
we do cuz I think it'll shift the emphasis away from, um, me doing it
all. Ah - ha (throws his head back, eyes to the ceiling)
- I just wanted to ask you Mr. Smith, Why can't I be you?
Robert: I don't know. You wouldn't want to be, I think, at the moment.
- Obviously anyone who listens to the radio hears dozens of love songs
every day. I don't think I've ever heard a song which asks 'Please STOP
loving me', so I'm kind of curious what prompted 'End'?
Robert: Uh, it's a, again it's a mixture of, um, I suppose that the kind
of thing when we got off the boat and we walked into the cafe and
stuff this morning. You could see it from obviously two different
perspectives. One is that it generally excited that we're there which
is very hard to come to terms with cuz you start thinking you're just
sitting there and people are being excited. It's very...it's weird.
But our own perspective is, well, like we're doing it because it's
part of what we're over here to do. But that has gone into making me
very aware of, um, people building us up into something. I mean,
sitting here and just doing all this, um, I think I'm more acutely
aware of how absurd some of it's becoming and it's...that's coupled
also with the fact that I sometimes find myself believing a lot of it
and it's like the person in the song that I'm writing about is
actually me, a lot, a lot of that song just like I can just like keep
manufacturing and I'm actually responsible for a lot of the things
that irritate me. It's funny - it's a paradox really, but.. but it's
also... I had those words written on actually on the last American
tour, so they're quite old. It's a feeling I haven't had for a long
time but I've gotten an inkling back this morning. And it's being
driven home with every flash! (smiles grimly)
- Hi, um I hate to bring the topic back to your videos but I'm a little
bit curious about your working relationship with Tim Pope. I know that
he has been directing for you throughout your career and I'm a little bit
curious if you're going to continue working with him.
Robert: Um, I think we'll more than likely do the next video with him...
- Cuz he was joking around that he himself didn't think High was as good
of a video...
Robert: He thought it was what, sorry?
- Um, he himself admitted he didn't think High was good of a video.
Robert: No.
- as he would have liked. I'm curious about how you guys work together
coming up with the concepts.
Robert: I think the problem with High was that, um, we tried to make it
too clever. I think the videos that work best with Tim are the ones
where it's just that like we have a very simple idea that we know's gonna
work and we can just like react to it. But High took, took, um, two days
to make and that's why it's even worse than it would otherwise have been
because we, we knew we we, were like halfway through that day and it
wasn't working and he knew it as well. There wasn't much we could do
about it by then. Whereas with the Friday I'm In Love video we actually
did it in about two hours. We just, like had some beers and just did
five takes and that was it. That was the video done.
- I've heard that your personalities are very similar - would you say
that's true?
Robert: What, me and Tim? (a bit baffled by the question - ed.) How do I answer this? (looks around for help from rest of band)
- Yeah this came secondhand from a producer, so I'm not really sure.
Robert: No, uh I don't think they are actually. I, I don't think I'M
very much like him. I'm em, I hesitate like him, um, that's about
it really. I can see him thinking - I can see um, that part of it. I can
see we're similar but, um, he much more... (Perry says something and
Robert says 'yeah' and wrinkles his nose)... Why, it's difficult! I
would really hope I wasn't like him, you know, not in the privacy
of my own room, anyway (smiles).
- Um, a few of us at the fan table were curious as to why Christmas and
cats are often mentioned in your music.
Robert: Why?
- Well, um it seems to be a common theme um I mean there's Lovecats and
you mention cats in High...
Robert: yeah..
- and Christmas in several other songs.
Robert: I suppose a simple, dumb answer is that I LIKE cats!
- just wondering.
Robert: And, um, and Christmas is just, um, like an excuse for people
to be, I mean Christmas works as an excuse for people to be friendly.
Sometimes like when they don't really mean it. Other times like they
do.
Simon: It's a nice word, as well, Christmas.
Robert: Yeah, um, sometimes it's like a good way of breaking like down
barriers between people who are sort of more themselves at Christmas in
a funny way, but, um, and also it's said that Christmas is one of those
things that's never as good as you remember it used to be.
Simon: Easter's better than Christmas, but Easter doesn't sound as good.
Robert: (looking at Simon like he's got two heads) Easter's cack!
Simon: Easter's brilliant!
Robert: I hate Easter (much laughter)
- Um, I'd just like to add that, um, I'm glad you're back!
Robert: Thank you.
(applause)
***particularly animated discussion follows - ed.
Robert to Simon: I like Easter bunnies.
Simon: Do you?
Robert: But I don't like Easter eggs.
Simon: Um, not Easter eggs, but everyone always has a good time at Easter.
Robert: Do they?
Simon: Yeah.
Robert: I didn't even know it was Easter this year.
Simon: Didn't you?
Robert: No (laughter) I mean I realize there WAS an Easter this year.
(looks up) Sorry.
- It's Ok. First of all are you guys all comfortable?
(Simon is hauling away on a joint at this point.)
Robert: Are we comfortable? (looks down table at Simon, etc.)
- Yeah, cuz I'm not. Um, the other day - yesterday as a matter of fact,
I'm shaking so hard... I feel like, um... (Robert smiles broadly)
I asked someone if they wanted to come to your concert with me and
a passerby interjected, well the girl said she didn't know who you were,
and so a passerby interjected and said 'Do you like Depeche Mode?' and she
said she did so he said 'Well it's a given if you like Depeche Mode and
Erasure you've gotta like The Cure.' How do you feel about this 'given'?
(Robert screws his face all up.)
Robert: What, a given? Eh, I think we've always found it strange how
we're lumped in with Depeche Mode in America.
- Yeah.
Perry: It only happens here.
Robert: In the rest of the world it's like you couldn't find two more
disparate groups, really, although the strange thing is we know sort of like
Perry's brother works with Depeche Mode and, in fact, like Perry grew up
with Depeche Mode. (Perry laughs.) So we know them really well, but
that's why we know hat we're nothing like them and it's our music's
dissimilar, it's like...
- well I realize that you have distinguishable qualities, whatever..
Robert: Well, the common factors're like they're, they're the same age as us and
that they're, like, they're ENGLISH. (laughter)
Perry: They're lads.
- If it's only like that in America, what's it like..
Perry: People just don't draw those comparisons anywhere else, they
don't they don't compare us like musically and we find it weird that
we're compared musically to them.
Robert: I think it's more on the level that our careers have kind of
like reached levels at similar times and that way, we're in other
places... the thing is we're compared on that kind of level to, um,
different groups depending on who's successful on the same terms as us
in different countries. Like it used to be New Order a lot about 5
years ago and suddenly they stopped getting bigger, I suppose. So
Depeche Mode took over as the comparison. I don't know, I, I.. it
doesn't really, I mean between the 5 of us we joke about those kinds
of comparisons. We don't take them very seriously
- Well, I hope you enjoy your stay in America.
Robert: Thank you very much.
- The new album debutted here at #2 which is kind of amazing. What did
you think of that?
Robert: Disssssgusted that it wasn't #1! (smiles) AND, I'll go on
record as saying I despise Def Leopard and everything they're ever done!
- What was the reaction in England? I didn't catch the charts.
Robert: They showed marginally more taste. It went in #1 in England.
(audience goes 'oooh') No, I don't mean that. But I do, I sort of
do, actually mean it cuz I can't believe at how popular Def Leopard are and
also it sickens us they're always singing with Union Jacks and yet he
adopts that horrible fake rock American accent you see, .... good grief(???).
- They're from England and you're not lumped in with them.
Robert: Huh?
- (repeats)
Robert: No, I think the lot of us would walk out if we were!.
Simon: They're, they're not from England. They're from Sheffield.
(much laughter)
Robert to Simon: This'll make you some new fans in Sheffield, nd't it?
- If you weren't spending the next 3 or 4 months traveling, what would
you be doing? Or, what would you rather be doing - put it that way.
Robert: That's not a fair question because I think that whatever you're
doing even if you're really enjoying it there are always things that
you'd rather do so it's a bit loaded. I, I think hopefully that we're
all here because we're gonna enjoy it. So it's...there will be times
over the next few weeks when each one of us individually will wish that
we were somewhere else but I think as a group, we take a decision to
do something and everyone's happy with that decision, so...it would be
a bit negative, I think, to start thinking about what you'd rather be
doing.
- Do you consider this work though? I mean here's a level of tedium that, uh..
Robert: There's uh, there's certain elements that have become work but,
um, still very few. I mean, we're doing this like today and sort of
getting things out of the way so that we're not bothered by it, but
having said that, there'll always be things, you know. But, it's um,
no - it isn't work at all. It's really good fun, I mean, it's quite
hard, some of it, for each one of us individually I think we find
different aspects of it hard. But, um, generally, I he, the
constantly like moving onto somewhere else and never really feeling
that settled for more than, like, never spending more than 2 days in
one place, that makes me go a bit weird.
Perry: The concert make it worthwhile.
- Actually playing the shows?
Perry: Yeah
Robert: Yeah
Perry: Because like we just played like a dozen concerts in England and
everyone was really enthusiastic by that and it really made coming here, like
more, more enjoyable, to look forward to, knowing that.
- So then, you actually still enjoy playing?
Perry: Oh, yeah!
Robert: Yeah - we started off, oh, saying we're only gonna play an hour
and a half cuz I thought we should pace ourselves and I think we started of
playing two and a quarter hours and got p to about two hours 45 by
show 12, so...
Simon: Were you SERIOUS when you said do we still enjoying playing?
- Sure!
Simon: But, but, why do you think we do it if we didn't?
(Simon and interviewer talk over each other.)
Simon: But, but, but, but we're not OBLIGED to do anything! The only
reason why we're here is because we've said we're gonna be here. I
mean that it it makes a...I dunno, I, that's, that's really WEIRD.
- What I'm wondering how much of it is really enjoyment and how much
of it is an obligation?
Simon: I, I, I know some bands do, but um...
Robert: What you've got, um, you have to like draw like a sort of
balance between the enjoyment of being on stage and putting that along
side the things you don't enjoy and that's like um, we're coming back
to America like I said earlier there are certain parts of touring
which I really really hate and have a very bad effect on me and it's
just like as long as I personally think that the two balance in favor
of going on stage the feeling that I get from playing music with the
others on stage, then we'll keep playing concerts, but I mean there,
there probably will come a point when the balance shifts the other way
and it's just, it's not worth it. But at the moment, for like the 3
hours you're on stage, you forget everything else and that's why it's
such a brilliant feeling cuz no one can, like, impinge on that. It's
just like one of the best feelings in the world. So, I do know, I
mean people obviously do do it for other reasons, loads of factors.
Simon: Really?
Robert: A lot of people...
Simon: Why?
Robert: Cuz lots of groups are in it to do THIS bit aren't they? Not to play
fucking music.
Perry: Earn lots of money...
- What was that?
Robert: I mean, an awful lot of people LIKE the side of it that we actually,
that we're not very comfortable with which is like THIS part.
Simon: No, I think, I think everyone in the group must like playing else they
wouldn't do it.
Robert: No, no..
Simon: They might, like, they might like this side but they must like playing as
well.
Perry: Well,you get like bands that the individual members hate each other cuz
they've been together so long but they...
Robert: Yeah!
Perry: ...keep the group going cuz it's like a successful unit and then they
probably like...
Simon: Huh? That' sad...
(Boris and Porl are having an animated conversation throughout this and
are oblivious to the press conference going on.)
- Do you really not understand how that's possible? That bands find
themselves touring long after they want to or they're much more
comfortable turning out albums at the studio once every year or so and
then feel sort of obligated by economic pressures or record company
pressures or...?
Robert: Yes, I, I can accept that. I think that obviously a lot of people are
motivated by greed, but then I, we, we don't that has never been a motivation
for the group and certainly wouldn't ever be now because we, we've always
had a lot more than we need for years and years.
- Well then let me ask something...
Robert: I mean obviously we, we can - I see that we have to keep a check on, on
certain sides of the group cuz we can make money for other people and I see that
a lot and like I mean originally this American tour had been pushed up like
something like 16 or 17 weeks and I knew that that was purely for economic
reasons, not for any other reason and so it was reduced down to like 11 or 12
cuz I thought that that last month would like kill us. I mean we won't be very
good on stage so what's the point? We won't enjoy it. But, but people will
say but you could've earned THIS, you know, and then...
- If, if you weren't successful as a recording act and as a touring act would
you still be doing it do you think? I mean would you still be doing it if you
were making records and like 5 people bought them and that was it?
Robert: Yeah! We used to! (smiles, laughter) And they're just as good.
- Yeah, but you were younger then, ya know?
Simon: We're still young!
Robert: Yeah, I dunno
Robert: Well I suppose a certain amount of disillusionment would creep in if
you felt you were bashing your head against a wall but then there's
always a part of it you're doing for yourself and like a lot of what the
Cure's been based on is that kind of selfish attitude like we've made
records for ourselves a lot in the past - not we don't really care if
anyone else likes them and that feeling is still quite strong. I mean if we
play a concert and the audience, if the audience like doesn't react we
can all come off the stage and think 'well that was one of the best
concerts we've done' and so obviously if the audience reacts really well
it can make it even better. But like there's a certain part of the group
which is like untouchable and that's just like the selfish part and what
are reasons we do it for ourselves.
Simon: There's an overriding thing, I think, what a lot of bands do when
they um have a new album they tend to say 'well the last album was crap -
this is the one.' Which, I can understand that a lot cuz we're really
pleased with this album but that doesn't make anything we've done in the
past redundant or anything like that. I mean like I still think that Faith
is really really good um, so I dunno, I'm lost now...
(Robert says something out of the corner of his mouth to Simon.)
- I just wanted you to know that the show you did at Hurrah about 12 years
ago was one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life.
Robert: Thank you very much.
- and I still remember it very fondly.
Simon: The what one?
- It was at Hurrah in NY and it was like 1981, 82.
Robert: It was a long time ago, yeah.
- It was a really fucking great show.
Robert: Yeah, it had really tasteful pink decor, didn't it and the
(mumbles and looks around) very similar to this, actually.
- Speaking of older records one of my favorite things you guys have ever done
is the 'Carnage Visors' soundtrack and I was wondering now that you guys have
reached such a massive sales level here in America if that would ever be
coming out on compact disc.
Robert: I was really surprised that it didn't when they brought out the back
catalog on compact disc. I didn't understand why they didn't put it on
anyway with Faith, so yeah I suppose it could. I don't, actually, I think
it would be very difficult to track down the master tape of that, not, not
like that's any slur on Fiction's filing process at all, but, I think it's
probably stored next to a washing machine somewhere in London in 1980 and
doesn't exist anymore.
- You had mentioned that your next album would be more of an instrumental
and I was wondering if you've gotten to the point where you could say
that it's gonna sound like the Cure stuff without the words or quite a
departure from there.
Robert: When, when we started doing it we finished four like, some - they
were sort of like some pieces but what was tending to happen was that we
were treating them like um backing tracks and like um that isn't really
the way I think it would really work and that we should like go into the
studio and approach it as if, like a different way of summarizing(?), a
different way of making records.
Perry: The recording process would have to be approached differently, I
think.
Robert: Yeah cuz like a tendency to think like think in terms of songs, um
(Simon hands Robert a fresh beer.)
Perry: We were trying to do the two albums side by side. I think that
was probably why um they were coming out sort of similar, supposedly
like the backing tracks....oh, she's gone..
- Um where do you guys stand like spiritually?
Robert: Oooh, hoo, hoo, hoo (looks a bit taken aback, looks down and
smiles). It's very early in the day for this kind of question.
(Simon starts whispering to Robert.)
Perry: Could you be a bit more specific so we could get out of it a bit?
(laughter)
- Like, um religion, like just, like you beliefs, like existence?
(Robert starts to make a choking noise, smiling.)
Perry: Should we meet somewhere, like later on?
Robert: I think...
Simon: I think we're a bunch of hippies, really. We all believe in peace
and love.
(laughter)
Simon: (aghast) I'm serious!
Robert: I don't think that any of us...
- Do you guys like believe in God?
Robert: What, collectively? I don't like, um, like I mean none of us go to
church on a regular basis. None of us like have a regular place of worship.
I don't think any of us holds to the notion of an organized religion. We
don't adhere to one particular set of beliefs. As to whether or not
individually we believe in something that could be called God isn't
really something I think that matters. I don't, personally. I wish I did,
but I don't.
Perry: Of course, everyone's got their own view of like religion, the universe
as an energy force or something like that. See even when I say it it's
just...
Robert: It's a trick question!
Perry: So, you would have to ask everyone.
Simon to Perry: You've got a prism in your pocket, haven't you?
Robert: So, are you religious, then? Is that why you asked? Are you
like from the Catholic Herald Tribune or something?
Perry: What made you ask that question out of all the things you could've
asked?
- Well, like I wanted to know your views so I could like put some of my
views together with your views and see how they fit in.
Robert: I think that all religion is based on fear (his eyes widen)
Perry: I think there's something inside human beings to sort of believe
in all what there must be something bigger.
- Yeah, that's exactly what I believe in, ya know.
Perry: But then if you look at organized religion they're usually like,
they all appear corrupt in some way, to be like perverted through the
course of history, so personally I tend to
Robert: It's very difficult to accept that anyone else knows anything,
like you know, knows that much more
(camcorder battery replaced here - about 30 sec. lost)
- This is for everyone - will any of you be doing any outside production
projects now or in the near or distant future?
Robert: What, with other people?
- Yeah, outside the Cure.
Robert to Boris: Come on, answer that!
(Boris' answer unintelligible.)
Robert to Boris: Well, you have - played, you've played..
Boris With who? Oh yeah, I have done, yeah. I've done some things
outside of the Cure...
(Simon and Perry appear to be discussing Boris' amazing stream of words,
but it's difficult to make out - I think Perry was saying something about
Boris thinking he had to be funny or something.)
Robert: Um, um, no, I don't really feel the need. I think any type of
creative urge can be fulfilled most of the time within the context of
the group. i don't think we're really that tied down to playing or
performing in a certain way so um I dunno. I mean I never get I I don't
ever get that urge anymore.
Perry: To play with other people?
Robert: To do anything at all, really.
Perry: I think that when a band gets to a certain point if a member of
that band collaborates on a lesser known band's project it can work two
ways. One, it can sell the record just because fans will buy it and
that can, that can be good for the unknown band. Also bad because it's
just, it's not being sold on its own merit. I think, I mean Robert
probably gets lots of offers to do stuff, you have to consider that
aspect before...
- (question asked away from mike - inaudible)
Perry: No, but it's there and you have to consider it.
Robert: Well like the uh, on the British stakes(?) we've got a band
that hasn't got a record deal and just like we've seen them play in
London and they've supported us and so hopefully that can work a
sort of like an entree for them to use but it's difficult to like get
too involved, like Perry's right. You tend to overshadow, like the
only thing I've done recently is with a group And Also The Trees and I
produced a 12" single with them and it was overshadowed just by the
fact that my name was on the sleeve even though they've been going
for like 12 years. So um, it's difficult really. I think maybe at
some point in the future like when the Cure doesn't exist as it does
now that we'll probably get involved in other things.
- (this next woman had a REALLY strong, nasal, Brooklyn kind of accent and
Nancy recognized her from having been on MTV as a fan at the Wish laser light
show in N.Y.)
Now for something completely different. I don't have a question but I'd
like to ask you all
Robert: You're gonna do a routine! A funny thing happened to me...
Simon: We actually saw you on the boat, I think!
Robert: You won the talent competition!
- You saw me on TV?
Robert: No, no, no, no, did we? Is it you? It's difficult to see.
Perry: What were you up to then?
- MTV. Anyway I want to thank you for your music. I think you far
surpass any other band and I can't compare you to anyone else and so I
thank all of you. And Robert, can I give you these flowers?
Robert: Can you give me the flowers? Well, if course, yeah! Thank
you very much.
Perry: Why were you on MTV? (she tells Perry about the laser show, Robert
shakes her hand and Perry says 'See you at the show.')
(Meanwhile, about 4 other women from the same table all get up with more
red roses and bring them up.)
Simon: What, for me? Thank you - thank you very much.
Perry: Oh, thank you very much - very kind of you.
Robert: Thank you.
Perry: I'm not Robert, by the way.
Simon: Why doesn't Boris get any flowers?
Boris: Yeah, where are mine?
Porl: Here, have some from me.
Boris: No, I don't want your flowers!
Laura Clifford: The recent concerts you did in the U.K. were in fairly small
clubs and I wanted to know how come the people in Britain were so much
luckier than us in the U.S.
Robert: Well, because if we came all this way and only played in small clubs
there'd be an awful lot of unhappy people, wouldn't there? And we've have
to stay about three years.
Perry A lot in England were unhappy. That's always two sided, that.
Robert: The people that got in really liked it but there were an awful
lot of people outside that didn't like it and said well why couldn't you
have played somewhere a bit bigger so I could've got in, so...
Perry: And it leads to ticket forgeries and things like that.
Robert: And also inflated ticket prices outside and stuff, so..
Laura Clifford: Thank you.
Robert: That's why.
Perry We're well versed on that one.
Robert: Pat answer, that one. (smiles)
- I was just wondering if any of you liked the works of Morrissey at all.
(Robert sucks in his breath and the audience laughs.)
Robert: That sharp intake of breath is a no.
- The other question I wanted to ask is
Simon: Do, do you like him, them?
- Sorry?
Simon: Do you like Morrissey?
- I like some of the feelings he expresses and some of the ways he
Simon: Don't, don't you think he's a self-pitying twat?
- I, I understand your comment, um
Simon: Uh, uh, it's like, I'm, I'm not trying to do any of this on
purpose, but like anyone can write sixth form poetry and like feel
sorry for themself all the time. It is crap! He's really overrated
and crap! Sorry.
(Robert held his head down during this but comes up grinning.)
- No, that's quite all right - you don't have to apologize. And one
other question, I just wanted to ask
Simon: And, see what, what, what makes me really angry about it is, is
that he's, he's, he's meant to be this brilliant lyricist and yet, like,
say someone like Robert who spends a lot of time over words and rejects
things that are far superior to anything
Robert: You only say that cuz you like me.
Simon: (turns to Robert and screws up his face) Um, well I love you!
(Robert's grinning ear to ear.) Um, it's anyone, anyone can write about
being alone in a bloody room - it's shite! It's..... sorry.
Robert: Quick! Quick! Part two - the question!
- No, no it's OK
Robert: As long as it's not about the Smiths back catalog!
- No, no, the last question I had was
Simon: We love them!
- Um, there's a lot in the news these days about racism and all these things in
this country. I wanted to know, you know in South Africa these days they're
now hanging white cops for killing blacks and here we're hanging African
Americans, but I'd like to know if you think we're composed of like
American leaders and people are a bunch of moral coward, as Henry David
Thoreau said, one of the greatest American writers. I'd just like if you
can comment on what your perspectives are about Americans and your
government.
Robert: Uh, I think you're touching on such complex, uh...it's very difficult
for us to comment like legitimately I think on things that happen in
America. I mean there are parallel things that have happened in Britain
over the past few years like racial tension in the cities and it's still
there and obviously on a smaller scale we've had like, problems in Britain.
Um, and I think that obviously leaders are generally in both this country
and our country are out of touch with the general feeling of the population.
It's just been proven in the past few weeks to see how out of touch they
really are. I think it's probably shocked a lot of them into realizing
that they're desperately out of touch. As to whether it changes anything,
um, I don't know if it's moral cowardness, I think it's the kind of feeling
particularly in this country - it's so fucking big - that whatever you do
it doesn't make any difference.
Perry: And it goes back so far, that young people who are like causing riots
on the streets have grown up in a situation hat, that it was like put into
them by their environment which went back further and further and by the
time it explodes like it did just recently you can't solve those problems
in a short space of time.
Robert: The, the, I was reading a piece in one of the papers here the, I think
I don't know, but um the, a lot, lot of what solving the problems are
that no one can agree on what the solutions are.
Perry Everyone's got theories about where it comes from, what the causes,
what the root of the problem
Robert: So, it's tricky. It's not really the kind of question that we
can deal with in this sort of environment either, but I mean, I, I dunno.
I think I mean the trouble is it's very easy to take that kind of like um
righteous liberal approach to it all, but um, I think a lot of the
tensions that exist, I mean even we're aware of it and we know parts
of London where we wouldn't go to.
Perry: Yeah.
Robert: And like um there's a genuine fear there. Um, which is a terrible
thing to admit, but um
Perry: There's an easy, like we saw what happened in LA like on the news
and it's easy for us to probably sit around and discuss it and like
probably build your own view of what could be done, and like
Robert: Which we did. But even then we didn't arrive at any conclusions.
Perry: But we don't know the half of it, what goes on.
Robert: It's it's like any solution that you arrive at you can always
see that there's a way to undermine that and a way to be turned on it's
head because the other side of it is that there's not only the people
that are running this country, the ones that are the crooks, there's an
awful lot of crookedness at every level of society, 'nt there? So,
I mean whereas if, if you just throw money at people it's usually the
people who don't need it and don't deserve it that get it.
- Thanks a lot.
Perry to Robert: It's ended.
Robert: Thank you all very much.
Perry: Thank you.
Last Revised: Monday, 15-May-2006 14:59:58 CDT
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