List_of_the_Cure_band_members

List of the Cure band members

List of the Cure band members

Add article description


The Cure are an English alternative rock band from Crawley. Formed in May 1978,[1][2][3] the group originally consisted of vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Robert Smith (the only constant member), bassist Michael Dempsey and drummer Lol Tolhurst. The current lineup includes Smith, bassist Simon Gallup (from 1979 to 1982, and since 1984), keyboardist Roger O'Donnell (from 1987 to 1990, 1995 to 2005, and since 2011), guitarist and keyboardist Perry Bamonte (from 1990 to 2005, and since 2022), drummer Jason Cooper (since 1995) and guitarist Reeves Gabrels (since 2012).

Two lineups of The Cure performing in 2007 (top) and 2013 (bottom).

History

The Cure formed in May 1978, evolving from the previous outfits Malice and Easy Cure.[1] The band's original incarnation featured vocalist and guitarist Robert Smith, bassist Michael Dempsey and drummer Lol Tolhurst.[4] After the release and promotion of Three Imaginary Boys, Dempsey was replaced by Simon Gallup in November 1979, when keyboardist Matthieu Hartley also joined the band.[5] Hartley performed on Seventeen Seconds, but by August 1980 had left the band.[6] Keyboards on Faith and Pornography were performed by Smith, Gallup and Tolhurst.[7][8] Following the end of the Pornography touring cycle in June 1982, Gallup left the Cure and the band was placed on a temporary hiatus.[9] Later in the year, Smith and Tolhurst – now the band's keyboardist – returned with the single "Let's Go to Bed".[10]

After several performances with stand-in musicians, the Cure returned in 1983 with new bassist Phil Thornalley and drummer Andy Anderson.[6] Former Malice and Easy Cure guitarist Porl Thompson performed saxophone on the 1984 album The Top, before returning to the group on a full-time basis on guitar and keyboards.[6] During the Top World Tour, Anderson was fired from the band due to problems stemming from alcohol abuse; he was briefly replaced by Vince Ely and later by Boris Williams, the latter of whom was subsequently offered the position full-time.[6] Thornalley also left the band upon the tour's conclusion, replaced by the returning Gallup.[6] The five-piece lineup of Smith, Thompson, Gallup, Williams and Tolhurst released two studio albums: 1985's The Head on the Door and 1987's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.[10]

For the tour in support of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, the Cure added Roger O'Donnell as a second keyboardist.[11] Tolhurst eventually left the band entirely, after limited contributions to both Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and its follow-up Disintegration.[12] His departure was announced in April 1989,[13] when Smith claimed that he "wasn't taking it seriously enough".[14] O'Donnell remained only until the following June, when he left due to "personal differences" and was replaced by the band's guitar technician Perry Bamonte.[15] The new lineup released Wish in 1992, before Thompson left in early 1993 and Bamonte took over as main guitarist.[10] The Cure spent much of 1994 on hiatus, as Smith was involved in a legal dispute with former bandmate Tolhurst.[10] By the time they returned to the studio later in the year, Williams had left.[16]

In spring 1995, the Cure commenced recording for their next album with new drummer Jason Cooper and returning keyboardist O'Donnell.[16] This lineup remained active for ten years, releasing three studio albums and one live collection, before Bamonte and O'Donnell were dismissed in May 2005.[17] The keyboardist later claimed that Smith would be reducing the Cure back to a three-piece, with Bamonte and himself the two members culled from the lineup.[18] The remaining trio recorded a cover of John Lennon's "Love" for the Amnesty International album Make Some Noise,[19] before Porl Thompson returned for summer tour dates starting in July.[20]

In May and November 2011, the band performed a series of shows with former members Tolhurst and O'Donnell as special guests, although Thompson was not included.[21][22] On 1 May 2012, after not performing with the band since 2009, Thompson announced that he was no longer a member of the Cure.[23] He was replaced for subsequent tour dates by Reeves Gabrels,[24] who became an official member after a few shows.[25]

In 2019, Eden Gallup filled in on bass guitar for two shows when his father, Simon Gallup, was prevented from playing, due to personal circumstances.[26] On October 6, 2022, Perry Bamonte returned to the lineup on the first show of the Lost World Tour in Riga, Latvia.[27]

Members

Current

More information Image, Name ...

Former

More information Image, Name ...

Substitute performers

More information Image, Name ...

Timeline

Lineups

More information Period, Members ...

References

  1. McPherson, Sam (17 April 2018). "The Cure working on new music as part of 40th anniversary". axs.com.
  2. Peacock, Tim. "Searching For The Cure". Record Collector. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  3. "No Simple Cure". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 10 November 1979. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  4. "A History of The Cure (Part 2)". Record Collector. London, England: Diamond Publishing. 1 August 1993. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  5. "Faith - The Cure: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  6. Azerrad, Michael (7 September 1989). "Searching for the Cure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  7. Stratton, Sally (29 April 1989). "The Cure – Intimate Disintegration" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 17. London, England: European Music Report. p. 28. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  8. Hey, Chrissy (6 May 1989). "If You've Got The Fever, We've Got... The Cure" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 52, no. 43. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  9. "Cure Keyboardist Quits" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 846. Los Angeles, California: Radio & Records. 29 June 1990. p. 39. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  10. "The Cure". Hip Online. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  11. "The Cure Change Line-Up". NME. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  12. "Update: Two Members Exit The Cure". Billboard. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  13. Apter, Jeff (5 November 2009). Never Enough: The Story of The Cure. London, England: Omnibus Press. p. 415. ISBN 978-0857120243. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  14. "Cure Recruit Former Guitarist". NME. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  15. Cooper, Leonie (27 September 2011). "The Cure to perform first three albums live at Royal Albert Hall – ticket details". NME. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  16. Gourlay, Dom (9 July 2018). "Live Review: The Cure at British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 07/07/2018". Gigwise. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  17. Trendell, Andrew (6 October 2022). "The Cure debut new songs and welcome Perry Bamonte back to band as they kick off 2022 tour". NME. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  18. "Gallup home for The Cure". NME. London, England: IPC Magazines. 14 November 1992. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  19. Corcoran, Nina (29 July 2019). "The Cure bassist Simon Gallup replaced by his son for Fuji Rock performance: Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 5 August 2019.

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article List_of_the_Cure_band_members, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.