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The Cure (Michael Dempsey, Simon Gallup, Phil Thornally)

#41
Ray man said:
I saw them August 20th 1989 at Giant Stadium. I think it was possibly there first show ever in the US.
I was the 12 year old, standing right next to a tower of loudspeakers, I was wearing a Cure jacket.
We even got an audience Bootleg of that very show. :smug:
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That's a cool memory especially being 12. It definitely wasn't their first show in the USA. I saw them in 1985 and in 1987 in Boulder and Denver, Colorado.
 
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#51
1573761dc014cfa70e95d969cfffa211.jpg.cf.jpg

Simon definitely had better hair than Robert!
 
#53
Do not, please do not listen to this if you're not equipped with studio or high-fi quality speakers or headphones. It'd be a sacrilege.
This is like a Ph.D. in basseology, or in "bass phraseology". It's got everything down to its most elegant expression. Chord progression, tone, attack, mood... Everything.
It's almost scary how Gallup keeps his cool through this task.

 
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#55
Raman said:
Do you mean that Joy division did it before?
If so, I disagree. True, like many post-punk bands, they had started putting the bass toward the forefront. But The Cure went beyond. In Joy Division, the guitar (and later the keyboard) still is the lead melodic instrument. Whereas with The Cure, the guitar becomes completely atmospheric.
Do a test: Ask someone to whistle a Cure song. In most cases, they'll spontaneously whistle the bass line, without even realizing it if they're non musicians!
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Go ahead whistle: Love will tear us apart again. Do you think that melody started with the lyrics? Granted, in a lot of songs the guitar doubles the bassline, but I would not say it is the lead melodic instrument. In most songs the bass sets the melody and afterwards the guitar and lyrics double that line. Songs where the bass provides the hook are pretty common and were pretty much standard for post-punk and new wave. Someone else already mentioned the Smiths in this thread and there are lots and lots more. I like the Cure, but you're giving them to much credit.
 
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#57
Matthijs said:
Go ahead whistle: Love will tear us apart again. Do you think that melody started with the lyrics? Granted, in a lot of songs the guitar doubles the bassline, but I would not say it is the lead melodic instrument. In most songs the bass sets the melody and afterwards the guitar and lyrics double that line. Songs where the bass provides the hook are pretty common and were pretty much standard for post-punk and new wave. Someone else already mentioned the Smiths in this thread and there are lots and lots more. I like the Cure, but you're giving them to much credit.
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I'll stick to my guns. I do believe there is a qualitative difference that was reached in this bass vs guitar/keyboard role reversal with The Cure. (Note that I never claimed they originated the movement: Only that they completed it.) Maybe another way to buttress my point would be to suggest that you whistle Smith's guitar part in most Cure pieces... Impossible! Not only is the bass at the forefront, but the guitar takes a significant step backward, leaving the melodic field altogether, which didn't happen, or never as much with Joy Division. You named Love will tear us apart. That's a great example, along with titles like Colony, Exercise One, Candidate, etc. Yes, the bass is way in front, but just besides the guitar and keyboard. Now compare to A forest, Charlotte Sometimes, Other Voices, Seventeen Seconds...
But, you know, I'm sure that we could argue about this fruitlessly forever. :)
 
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#60
SteveCS said:
Can't tell you when, but Indeed he did.
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He covered for them twice, once in 1979 and then in 1983 or 84 as he was on the live album Nocturne and the studio album Hyaena.

Nocturne has a live DVD that is a great time capsule of that era and the video for Dear Prudence is pretty entertaining if you can stomach Siouxsie's armpit hair. Both feature Robert Smith, I also think he is in the video for Swimming Horses although I've never seen it. Smith also had a side project with Steve Severin called the Glove.

Simon Gallup was in a group called Fools Dance after he left the Cure. Interesting project as it featured Simon singing horribly on one song and JJ Burnel playing bass on a track, if I'm correct it was the one Simon sang on. I have a CD copy I made of the two vinyl EPs. Sold the vinyl as it was rare and needed the money. Good luck ever finding it though.
 

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