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The Cure's Simon Gallup

#61
One should then listen closely to "The Top" special edition. There are some Smith's demos. May be some source of info.
BTW The Top is clearly Robert's own album. He played and recorded all instruments parts except drums. To me it has its own sound, kind of different than others.
 
#62
I 'only' own the original release of The Top...But I actually seem to have read the "Stingray = Robert Smith's" theory somewhere before. Sounds plausible to me, even though a bit strange. Unless Smith had insisted on this being The Cure's bass sound, of course.

By the way, who was that in the mid 80's playing a black G&L bass in The Cure?? I used to have a gig from that era on video tape, and the bassist neither looked like Simon nor Thornally! (Andy Anderson on drums, Lol Tolhurst on keyboards) It says in the 'Ten Imaginary Years' book that some Derek Thompson (formerly SPK) was their bassist for a very brief period, but I doubt my recording actually was of the one and only gig he'd ever played with them.

Oh, and what a surprise I just got before: I'd had no idea that Reeves Gabrels is in The Cure now!!

Cheers
V.
 
#63
volker said:
By the way, who was that in the mid 80's playing a black G&L bass in The Cure?? I used to have a gig from that era on video tape, and the bassist neither looked like Simon nor Thornally! (Andy Anderson on drums, Lol Tolhurst on keyboards) It says in the 'Ten Imaginary Years' book that some Derek Thompson (formerly SPK) was their bassist for a very brief period, but I doubt my recording actually was of the one and only gig he'd ever played with them.



Cheers
V.
Click to expand...

Possibly Norman Fisher Jones who played with them for a pretty brief period in the 80's. Here's two shots of him in action, I'd say he was probably the mysterious bassist you saw :D
p-84-1-30-germany-42.jpg


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#64
Milk said:
...Of course for the past 15 years he's been favoring a Thunderbird but in the late 80's early 90's, those semi-hollows was all he played...
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Just been to Simon's Wikipedia page; His profile pic's from 2012 - and shows him playing that good old black Precision! Always thought that was a pretty cool looking bass, too :)

By the way, isn't it strange that the video to 'A Forest' shows Simon playing finger-style? Got to be the only time, ever!
 
#69
Simon used his fingers on what I believe is the acoustic Washburn in the video for "Lovesong"

I have read that Robert Smiths home demo set up over 10 years or more that he used a Stingray for demos and I would say based on the demo stuff I've heard, that "Fascination Street" and "Close To Me" as two examples that he pretty much wrote the basslines Simon ended up playing, more or less despite minor tweaks. Simon says he wrote Lovesong (the music end) so I'm pretty sure that is HIS composed bass line.

I've seen a late 70's/1980 era photo of Robert and Simon with matching black, maple board Fender P's so "I" think that is what Robert may have used on The Top album (now need to re listen as it's been years) but DEFINITELY think that is what he used for the dual bass lines on "Let's Go To Bed" with a pick. The main octave lines and likely "pulled" the "popped" notes with fingers; I believe he wrote the song with some parody of what was currently happening stylistically in the pop charts at the time, so to me, that would make some sense.

Please correct if this stirs up any other cool details. I DO think Simon's best tones are "Head On The Door" through most of "Wish" which seem to be mostly Stingray, which "I" (again) feel is what he used on "Fascination Street" on the the most simple yet coolest of bass lines ever, all on one string. Great player and even Reeves Gabrels has given Simon praise in print.
 
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#70
nofrets5 said:
Simon used his fingers on what I believe is the acoustic Washburn in the video for "Lovesong"...

...I've seen a late 70's/1980 era photo of Robert and Simon with matching black, maple board Fender P's so "I" think that is what Robert may have used on The Top album...
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True, he does! What a boooring video to such a great song, though!!

Robert and Simon also played matching P-basses in the video to 'Primary'. I've always been wondering if the song was actually recorded with 2 basses; In the credits on the 'Standing On A Beach' compilation, it says "Voice/Gtr - Smith". And in live versions such as the 'In Orange' one, there's only 1 bass, too.
 
#73
Couldn't find the 'In Orange' version of 'Primary', but Porl plays the Fender VI also in this live clip (which I think is from the same gig I had mentioned above, with 'mystery man' Norman Fisher-Jones on bass). So you must be right, nofrets5 - Good remembering! :)



By the way, I used to be in a heavily Cure-influenced band between 1987 and 1998, and our guitarist liked that black/white/maple neck Telecaster of Robert's so much, he went and bought one just like his! :)
 
#74
Simon played with fingers in a bunch of videos. Also most times they went on top of the pop and he faked his way through it, often not even trying... I don't actuallty think he's ever played with fingers for real or on recordings. It seemed to be his way of pisstaking it...

As for the Fender bass Vi, it is used in SEVERAL cure songs not just primary. However in the video for Fascination street Simon is seen playing a Fender VI and there is NO WAY that's actually what's used on the record. He also obviously liked to bring good looking basses on video shoots or tv shows faked performances that he never used otherwise. I've seen him with a Guild semi hollow among other things.


And yeah pretty much all basses Gallup has ever played live he still plays once in a while. you can still see him with the Dick Knight custom, the P. Not sure about the stringray though.


As for The Top being different, yes. It's the worst record of The Cure's golden years. :-p I like a few songs sure but most of it I think is subpar. And some songs got a lot better live (like dressing up).
 
#75
Milk said:
Simon played with fingers in a bunch of videos. Also most times they went on top of the pop and he faked his way through it, often not even trying... I don't actuallty think he's ever played with fingers for real or on recordings. It seemed to be his way of pisstaking it...
Click to expand...

And for those interested; here is the best pisstake they ever attempted! Featuring the two black P basses mentioned earlier, Robert's being COMPLETELY detuned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZFYh6B7Fr8
 
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#78
'To Wish Impossible Things' and 'The Same Deep Water as You' are more great examples of how essential the vi is for their signature sound. To Wish Impossible Things has two bass VI's AND Simon playing his traditional 4 string which is pretty cool!
 
#80
BassTapp said:
'To Wish Impossible Things' and 'The Same Deep Water as You' are more great examples of how essential the vi is for their signature sound. To Wish Impossible Things has two bass VI's AND Simon playing his traditional 4 string which is pretty cool!
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I always really liked this bassline and song. I think Wish is their last good record, and its more average than really good, but to wish impossible things is one of the best moment on the record. I was always annoyed that it was neither on Show or Paris though it is on the show DVD/tape and also was included on Sideshow, I should just make myself a mp3 playlist of the whole of Show, best "A forest" version ever.... I find it fitting that on show the first thing you hear and the last thing you hear is Simon's bass, the opening of Open (which has drums and guitars but is essentially at the beginning about the bassline) and at the end, the repeating four bass notes of A Forest, alone....until he violently starts strumming the open strings in some sort of rage (and then as he walks offstage Smith looks at him with a sort of...you mad bro? look). Smith might be the brain and composer behind The Cure, but the coolest member has always been Gallup. Not to mention, the most important member sound wise outside of Smith. When I was an impressionable teen I thought, I want to be THAT guy in the band. :-p It didn't hurt he had a great looking and sounding bass (the dick knight).
 

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