curefans.com

News still in development. Personally this would mean to me the end of The Cure :(


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I didn&#39;t know Simon had a Facebook account. I will only believe this if confirmed by <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RobertSmith</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thecure?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecure</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCo35677578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JasonCo35677578</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EdVGallup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdVGallup</a>... So let&#39;s wait for official confirmation. To many fans, this news (if true) would mean the end of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheCure?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheCure</a> :( <a href="https://t.co/nKzZDsYFPt">https://t.co/nKzZDsYFPt</a></p>&mdash; curefans (@curefans) <a href="https://twitter.com/curefans/status/1426644529935945729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Richard Bellia (photographer, who knows the band in person) posted this on his FB:

QuoteLes points de suspension lourds de sens, l'attaque passive agressive (slightly / heavy), les espaces inutiles (avant le point d'exclamation et après to them all, comme des silences rajoutés), je pense que c'est du Malraux 2.0, ce statut.

Roger O'Donnell posted this on his twitter (ha ha):

QuoteA friend just told me they saw Lol in the Guitar Centre buying a bass???????

Quote from: Ulrich on August 15, 2021, 10:20:56Roger O'Donnell posted this on his twitter (ha ha):

Quote from: undefinedA friend just told me they saw Lol in the Guitar Centre buying a bass???????

Meow!  :angel

Multiple question/exclamation marks are a sure sign of an unstable personality.  :winking_tongue


(ETA - the next bit, and my subsequent posts in this thread, were a response to actually looking at the social media on this - which I hadn't made clear and should have.)

I dunno why some people are being so tragic about this. Nobody is obliged to keep doing the same thing forever and ever, and even marriages break up. The Cure have had various line-ups and have always been The Cure regardless. I've preferred some line-ups to others but haven't been unhappy with any of the line-ups they've had in the last 30 years or so, and even if I was unhappy about a line-up, that would just be my opinion and my problem and about as useful as a public opinion on a celebrity marriage. I am not those people, I don't live their lives, and what they do is up to them - it's everyone's right to determine their own life and to do what they think is best. We don't own other people.

And besides, there's still a possibility this is, for example, a drunken rant, or a practical joke played by a family member (or just a practical joke by the person themselves to see what would happen if the cat was thrown among the pigeons). We've got no idea what's going on, it's at this stage just speculation. If it's a drunken rant (and note I assign no probabilities here), what people say when they are upset and what they say when the dust has settled can be quite different. Or not.

At our house we think Simon Gallup is a fabulous bass player, and we'd miss him if he hung up his long gig with The Cure, but we'd likewise be interested in any musical project he might do next (and we'd also geddit if a person just wanted to retire from all of that). We'd also be interested in anything musical The Cure did next. And above all, the idea that's most important to us is that the people concerned are happy doing whatever it is they decide to do and not to do.

When Karl Wallinger split from The Waterboys last century, it ended a particular sound, but The Waterboys continued producing stuff I personally enjoyed and considered to be The Waterboys; while Karl Wallinger went on to do things with World Party which I also enjoyed, so I don't think these kinds of situations are necessarily creative losses.

Isn't it interesting though that often there's the perception that if the singer leaves a band it's necessarily the end of the band, because the vocal is such a signature etc. One counterexample of that is AC/DC, who did just fine with their second singer. In AC/DC's case this may be easier because they're all screamers, so it probably doesn't matter as much. We think Simon Gallup's bass is actually as signature a sound to The Cure as their vocalist is - but since The Cure have played so many different styles, it's not inconceivable in theory for them to do a change of direction if someone leaves (although in practical terms, they may not be that interested in making more albums etc).

And considering the COVID-19 deaths in the UK, frankly, we're happy none of them ended up on ventilators. There's things that are so much more important than what people do with their public lives, especially if they have already served the community well, and for a long time, which these people have certainly done. ♥

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 11:34:20I dunno why some people are being so tragic about this.

Because it would be the end of The Cure. Robert himself has said there's no The Cure without Simon.

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-cure-s-robert-smith-i-survived-a-lot-of-people-in-london-didn-t-1.3538003

First of all, just give it a week or two and see how it pans out. And if it does go that way, and stays that way, it's unlikely to mean all of them are going to stop making music in all forms. Even people who retire completely from public performance (and I doubt they're all going to do that simultaneously) still generally enjoy making music in their own circles, homes etc - and (!) they probably all have other pursuits that are highly meaningful to them. At the end of the day, what matters is that people are living lives that are fulfilling - not that a particular set of musicians stay together till death do them part. :)

Of course Simon has been a very important part of this band (and always will be). He played on many albums and many tours. (His son, who's his "bass tech", stepped in for him recently, when Simon had to go home for important matters. Plus the album has allegedly been recorded, so even if Simon left, they could still release recordings with him on bass.)

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 11:34:20Multiple question/exclamation marks are a sure sign of an unstable personality.  :winking_tongue

Who isn't unstable these days???? I guess many people are, especially artists.

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 11:34:20And besides, there's still a possibility this is, for example, a drunken rant, or a practical joke

Or a hack, identity theft etc. (There is a reason for the posts of both R. Bellia and Roger.)
Give it a few more hours for any official statements.

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 11:34:20One counterexample of that is AC/DC, who did just fine with their second singer.

Not an AC/DC fan here, but around the time Axl Rose stepped in for Brian Johnson temporarily (to finish a tour), I learned that Dave Evans was indeed their first singer (before Bon Scott).

Quote from: undefinedDavid Evans (born 20 July 1953) is an Australian singer. He briefly sang for the hard rock band AC/DC in 1973–1974, appearing on their debut single before being replaced by Bon Scott.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Evans_(singer)

Quote from: Ulrich on August 15, 2021, 10:20:56Roger O'Donnell posted this on his twitter (ha ha):

Quote from: undefinedA friend just told me they saw Lol in the Guitar Centre buying a bass???????

Quote from: Ulrich on August 15, 2021, 14:46:39

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 11:34:20Multiple question/exclamation marks are a sure sign of an unstable personality.  :winking_tongue

Who isn't unstable these days???? I guess many people are, especially artists.

Bwahahaha!  :lol:  (!!!! :angel)

Quote from: Ulrich on August 15, 2021, 14:46:39Not an AC/DC fan here, but around the time Axl Rose stepped in for Brian Johnson temporarily (to finish a tour), I learned that Dave Evans was indeed their first singer (before Bon Scott).

Me neither - but I've heard it said that the secret of that kind of singing is to gargle with Drano!  :-D  (Or was it three bottles of whisky and ten packets of cigarettes a day?)

And what did Dave Evans do after that? Get nicknamed The Edge and play guitar for a little band called U2.  ;)  The things we're discovering about rock'n'roll history.  :angel

Quote from: dsanchezPersonally this would mean to me the end of The Cure

At least now you need an update for your avatar. 😉

Heads up!

While music news channels pick it up, I'm becoming more and more certain that this is a scam!

Quote from: undefinedWhen asked by a fan if the exit was health-related, Gallup responded, "I'm ok... just got fed up of betrayal."

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-cure-bassist-simon-gallup-leaves-band-1212406/

Personally, I don't think Simon would post something like that in public (if he felt betrayed, he should talk with his band mates)!

Plus, allegedly he deleted his twitter. Why on earth would he do that just before posting a "news bomb" like that, doesn't make sense at all.  :1f62b:

Thus, until there's official confirmation, I will believe his FB has been hacked. (As well as his twitter, which the hacker then deleted.)

Imagine how many buckets of tears and cubic parsecs of angst will have been unnecessarily expended by people who start emoting about stuff before there's any kind of confirmation that it's real. What do we tell students when they do research assignments? Don't take any one source as truth, you need to consult a bare minimum of three different sources and they have to be trustworthy, and then you have to use your own brain, etc.

I think it's pretty irresponsible of music media outlets to be picking this up at such a stage and to be propagating it as news...but hey, that seems to be the standard of reporting that's commonly done these days, which explains a whole bunch of other things in this world at present...

But can you imagine the fun you could have, were you a keen student of humanity, if you knew this was misinformation and looked at the reactions? It'd be like a mini-project in social research.  :yum:

Actually, it would be a mini-project in social research whichever way you cut this!  :winking_tongue

...can anyone else smell an omelette? :angel

Quote from: MeltingMan on August 15, 2021, 18:02:41

Quote from: dsanchezPersonally this would mean to me the end of The Cure

At least now you need an update for your avatar. 😉

You're kidding! I always thought that was a photo of @dsanchez!  :angel

And by the way, is that a hammock on your own avatar, @MeltingMan? (One for reading rare books in, perhaps? ;)) My eyesight isn't what it used to be, and pushing "ctrl+" doesn't help either...

@Ulrich, why does your avatar indicate you have multiple personalities?

...I'm still happy with my own avatar. It's the most rational-seeming and least stoned-looking of them all! :winking_tongue

And so in Australia, as we wake up, nothing was added to verify or dispel this matter. We have a quantum state of uncertainty, and a Schrödinger's bass player who simultaneously may be in The Cure and not in The Cure.

Is this a good time to make a confession? Being a relatively new Cure fan, the first live film I saw of them was Trilogy, and I saw that about four years ago. (That is not the confession, that is just a context.) So that was the first time I saw any kind of prolonged visual on the band since I'd stopped watching Countdown as a middle teenager in the 1980s, and this was before I'd listened to any studio album except Bloodflowers - just before diving into their back catalogue - we ordered Disintegration off the back of enjoying Trilogy. And I thought, "Oh, they have a new bass player! This one is a surprisingly presentable specimen, looks intelligent too, and a bit younger than the rest of the old guard here, about the same age as the current drummer. I wonder when they changed bass players. They used to have this pretty-boy, inflatable looking thing who perpetually looked stoned."

And Brett, who's good with faces and changing faces, says to me, "That's actually the same person!" :1f62e:  No really?

Yes really. Some people really do improve visually as they get older and don't hit their peak until their 40s. Of course, many people would argue with me about that particular example's peak - but then, when most of my female students were fantasising about Leonardo DiCaprio, I was subconsciously looking for his air valve.  :angel


@Ulrich AKA music encyclopaedia: By the way, we'd assumed Bon Scott was the first and Brian Johnson the second and thank you for straightening us out on that front. On related matters, Brett says Pink Floyd had three singers and still sounded like Pink Floyd - different, but it still worked. Although I'm sure it really annoyed some people. We also agree that if The Cure had to record an album without Robert Smith, it would still sound like Cure instrumentals (and still be worth listening to!).  :yum:

Oh wow.

I'm not going to comment on this as long as there's no official (or second) source.

Quote from: SueC on August 16, 2021, 01:50:49Brett says Pink Floyd had three singers and still sounded like Pink Floyd

In fact the Floyd never had one dedicated singer, so if you put it all together there's four: Syd Barrett (who "left" after the first album), David Gilmour, Rick Wright, and Roger Waters. And by the way, the Pink Floyd sound (pun intended) has never really been influenced much on the singer.

What's it with music news portals these days? None of them can reach out to the band members and ask for a statement? Each and every one just seems to take their "info" from that one FB post...

https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-cure-bassist-simon-gallup-says-hes-left-the-band-3019159

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 20:19:13... why does your avatar indicate you have multiple personalities?

Because I have? (I guess?) And probably because I'm unstable??????????????

Quote from: Matti on August 16, 2021, 07:38:35

Quote from: SueC on August 16, 2021, 01:50:49Brett says Pink Floyd had three singers and still sounded like Pink Floyd

In fact the Floyd never had one dedicated singer, so if you put it all together there's four: Syd Barrett (who "left" after the first album), David Gilmour, Rick Wright, and Roger Waters. And by the way, the Pink Floyd sound (pun intended) has never really been influenced much on the singer.

I'll let him know he missed one. And despite of this, it didn't stop some people complaining really loudly when Gilmour started doing the main vocals because Waters left. Personally I think he does an excellent job.

@Ulrich, did you become significantly more unstable overnight? :angel

Quote from: SueCAnd by the way, is that a hammock on your own avatar, @MeltingMan?

It's a (symbolist) painting by Thomas Theodor Heine, Die Hängematte, 1892. (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlg.) Sorry for going off topic. 😬

Did anyone ever have a look at that FB "profile" by this "Simon Gallup"? I did today and the photos there are a very bad joke. Even an amateur like me can see that they are pics found on the internet!?

P.S.: In my humble opinion, to the title of this topic should be added a questionmark... because it is very questionable.

Saw this post from Pearl Thompson: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpFkD6IBPk/

Honestly, that could be about anything; like a horoscope, you can just choose to read it for a particular situation and read what you like into it. Confirmation bias (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias) is really common and we should work on training ourselves out of it - people have a tendency to interpret ambiguous data in ways that support their personal beliefs/fears, and to cherry-pick arguments in favour of their own world views.

I don't know why people can't just sit this one out and wait until there's some kind of clear and official statement about the situation, before becoming all emotional about this. (This isn't a comment directed at anyone specific in this thread, it's a general comment about how lots of people are responding, because I've gone and looked at the Curefans Twitter stream and various others and honestly...opinions and hunches aren't facts, not with anti-vax and not with this situation either.)

Two obvious possible reasons you just might have to be patient: 1) Because if there is a situation to sort out it will take time - and human situations often take a lot of time; and 2) Because if this was someone's practical joke, if you're bloodyminded enough you just might find it entertaining to see how people respond - and maybe create a bit of a life lesson for jumpers-to-conclusions.

I'm an educator so that's why I've thrown in (2) - it's commonly used in classrooms to foster critical thinking, and if you can get a person to recognise they were wrong about something they thought was a sure thing, they usually become more motivated to examine their own mental processes and tighten things up a bit. So in that sense a situation like this could become a public service. Again, not assigning probabilities here.

A couple of comments appeared on a Twitter page attibuted to Simon Gallup. They may be by him or not. If they were by him, there may be a situation and it may still be developing, and people may be trying to sort it out, in which case the general public isn't privy to that and nor should we be. And I think in that case the most helpful and respectful thing the general public could do is to back off, and get on with something positive that's going to make life better for themselves and other people.

I was told by an internet friend that he has friends in common with the Simon Gallup on FB and they confirmed it really was him. Make of that you will.

Still, I wonder why he uses "net-pics" on his FB and what all this talk of "betrayal" is supposed to mean?  :?

Quote from: Ulrich on August 17, 2021, 09:16:05I was told by an internet friend that he has friends in common with the Simon Gallup on FB and they confirmed it really was him. Make of that you will.

Still, I wonder why he uses "net-pics" on his FB and what all this talk of "betrayal" is supposed to mean?  :?

Re the photos: I'm thinking that if you're a public figure and privacy is a significant issue for you, you would perhaps want to make a distinction between your private images and already public images. If there's already enough public images to wallpaper a page and you don't want to get arty about it, then you don't have to put any of your non-public personal images into a public space. It may be about drawing boundaries that feel important when your face is already plastered all over the place no matter how you feel about it. That would be one possible explanation.

If they were genuine posts, then that looks like the kind of impulsive thing people do when they're angry, hurt etc and not thinking through the repercussions that might happen because of it - like huge volumes of public speculation and emoting - which by the way, IMO aren't the responsibility of either Simon Gallup or the band to address at this stage - but I do think it's the responsibility of the public to rein in their nosiness about the situation and give people space. It's like if you're a couple and have a tiff at a party; you don't have to send everyone at the party explanations afterwards and detail what marriage counselling you are undertaking etc. We simply don't owe our inside stuff to other people, no matter how curious they might be (even if we did slip up in public).

The kind, respectful, helpful thing the onlookers could do is to give the people concerned space and privacy to sort through the things they need to sort through - and to get on with positive, constructive things of their own. Not to beleaguer them with questions and demands for explanations and a front row seat to private situations that need to be resolved in private - as many people on social media are unfortunately doing.

This, by the way, is an attitude of love. Love is not about having to have a piece of someone, or demanding stuff from others, it's not "I can't live if you don't satisfy me."  It's about kindness and respect, and working on our own stuff, and letting other people work on theirs.

Meanwhile, we've got a Schrödinger situation, but not with a cat.  ;)

Quote from: Ulrich on August 17, 2021, 09:16:05I was told by an internet friend that he has friends in common with the Simon Gallup on FB and they confirmed it really was him. Make of that you will.

Still, I wonder why he uses "net-pics" on his FB and what all this talk of "betrayal" is supposed to mean?  :?

Assuming he has actually left The Cure, then he must / will have valid reasons and have resolved this amicably with RS. Who could seriously come up with this "bomb" and then communicate with the rest of the world in that form?! That's ... shabby. Simon is not 'just anyone'. So it is time to get things straight. 🙁

Quote from: MeltingMan on August 17, 2021, 11:03:37Who could seriously come up with this "bomb" and then communicate with the rest of the world in that form?! That's ... shabby.

I can't help but agree here. I'm assuming he has Robert's phone number (and other band members')! Then posting accusations of "betrayal", without going into detail, is not the thing to do in public. (IF it was Simon, which is more doubtful now.)

The band will probably remain quiet for the moment, until things are more clear and perhaps "official".

We might have to remember that no matter how old we get, we're still human and we still make mistakes, especially on impulse when we're rattled. Thank goodness my own life and my own mistakes and times I could have handled things better aren't under the public microscope like this. So I'm not going to judge a person on the basis of a couple of offhand Twitter posts that may have been made in distress or after too many pints of beer or whatever. (If he indeed posted these comments.) I think you'll find the Twitter page is now entirely deleted.

Quote from: SueC on August 17, 2021, 12:11:42So I'm not going to judge a person on the basis of a couple of offhand Twitter posts

I do not judge Simon until it is clear who is putting such news into the world and why. It's all about this.

Someone has drawn my attention the fact that the post on Simon's FB is gone now.

Not sure why it's been removed, but take it all with a pinch of salt...

Quote from: SueC on August 15, 2021, 13:54:17it's unlikely to mean all of them are going to stop making music in all forms

curefans don't care too much about solo-projects :)

Reeves, Roger, Robert himself all have side-projects, collaborations etc. We are all here because of The Cure, and once they are gone, it's like a part of our lives vanishing forever.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 16, 2021, 17:05:14Did anyone ever have a look at that FB "profile" by this "Simon Gallup"? I did today and the photos there are P.S.: In my humble opinion, to the title of this topic should be added a questionmark... because it is very questionable.

Why questionable? Simon himself published this in his own Facebook (yes, his Facebook account, not a fake account), what other proof do we need? The only reason why this was published in the "Unconfirmed news and rumours" board is because there's no official announcement of the band themselves yet.

Pearl Thompson on Simon's departure:

Quote✷Time for another history rewrite...
and The Special wording to slip between the lines
another step into your own mind
a perfect truth for the blind
while others drown in tired promises and undefined lines
artistic freedom wins over in the end
even after we have all gone
your lies and betrayal flitter in the dust
making the only tears i shall shed
⌽
(...even Bootsy Collins said he was one of the best!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpFkD6IBPk/

So, to sum up:
- I don't understand why people thought it's not Simon's real profile. It is his real profile and he really posted that. The reason, why he has almost no photos there - Simon is already in his 60ies, he can't be professional influencer and post photos like most of the teenagers 24/7;
- the fact about his departure was confirmed also by Lily (his daughter);
- no, Lol is not buying a bass (why the hell he would be) - it was just joke by Roger;
- Pearl hinted the departure with his IG post.
HOWEVER:
- Simon has deleted the status. That means he might changed his mind. That would also explain why The Cure or Smith himself hasn't given any official statement - because it was still being discussed. Simon just probably acted hot-headed and wrote the status, Roger joked about it, probably because he knew that the departure wasn't on table.

And that's quite it.

A great first post & summary by Rezortine.

The Cure WILL NOT be the same without Simon. If the new album is ever released I believe it will definitely be their last. After Robert, Simon has the greatest input in creating new material.

Simon has the best stage presence out of all current & past band members. I've seen them in concert for almost 40 years & I won't pay to see them live again if there's a session bass player just going through the motions playing material that means nothing to him/her. Cure concerts are emotional events for Cure fans. How can a 'Cure' band perform any material from Pornography without the 2 men who created & survived the experience?

I'm not quite as old as the band members but I also hate social media & only created accounts out of necessity. I deleted my accounts a few years ago because of all the bull on the platforms. If you are in the limelight, every sentence you post will be (over)analysed.

My biggest concern is of the use of the word 'betrayal' which is a particularly strong word to use.

Quote from: Rezortine on August 17, 2021, 22:05:31So, to sum up:
- I don't understand why people thought it's not Simon's real profile. It is his real profile and he really posted that.

Hiya and welcome, @Rezortine. :)

It is possible for people to make prank posts from someone else's social media account, especially if they have access to the in-home IT and an automatic password saver has been used - and sometimes this happens. Related example: One of Bono's daughters once pranked various famous people through her father's contact list.  :beaming-face

Objectively speaking, we don't have any proof it was definitely the owner of the account making those posts because we weren't witnesses to this, and because it's not been officially confirmed. In a science classroom, this goes under the topic of "observation versus inference" - we were able to observe the social media posts, but we can only infer who made them. That the posts appeared is fact, but who made them isn't entirely black and white. It may have been the owner of the account, or it may not have been. @Ulrich was also considering the possibility of account hacking.  (And wondering whether the FB profile was real or bogus - which I can't comment on because I don't do FB.)

None of the speculation about what's going on re the band is particularly helpful IMO - best to just see what happens down the track.


@dsanchez, I'm going to have to disagree with you: It's possible to be a fan of a band and not be devastated if that band breaks up (or a key member leaves and gets replaced), especially if they've already served the community super well with decades and decades of amazing music. People need to do what they think is right with their own lives, and to me, it's way more important that people live happy, fulfilled lives than that they continue to be in a band they've been in for a long time, no matter how much I or anyone else likes that band - and when being in a band/any kind of job or activity starts to interfere with a person's happiness and other goals, and this can't be resolved, it's my opinion that they do the right thing if they decide to do other things instead. Whether they're in The Cure or anything else. We all have just one life.

And whatever happens, I'll still be listening to their back catalogue and enjoying their concert films.  :smth023

Also, if any of the Cure members' side projects ever tour in our part of the world, we'd totally go see them. To us, a good musician is a good musician and we're interested in what people have to offer individually as well as collectively.


Related Postscript

I'm a longtime fan of Australian band The Church, from way before they released Under The Milky Way. Here's a track I've loved since the 80s:


The Church made such ludicrous amounts of albums when I didn't even realise they were still going, it will take me a long time to get through their complete back catalogue, but I've not struck anything I've regretted acquiring yet (and I'm really looking forward to listening to The Hologram of Baal  bwahahaha :lol:). I got to know and love their music initially via their 80s incarnation - this is a drums, bass, multi-guitar, keyboards band and each of the four in their longtime 80s line-up were fabulous musicians. And then their line-ups changed over the years, similar to what happened with The Cure - and just as with The Cure, that didn't bug me (I think every person they've had in The Cure over the years has made a valuable contribution in some way, and I think everyone in their current line-up is excellent).

Regrettably, I never got to see The Church live, for various reasons. Then a few months ago, my husband informed me that Steve Kilbey and friends were playing at our town, did I want to go see them? Steve Kilbey, for those who don't know, is the lead singer and bassist of The Church. I ummed and aahed - it wasn't cheap, but it wasn't The Church. Then I gave myself a push and said yes - we're lucky to be able to see live performances in WA this year because even though the Australian vaccine rollout has been shithouse (I finally got my second shot last week - I'm in a priority group because I'm at risk of aspiration pneumonia when I get respiratory infections, but my husband is still on the waiting list) the strict border closures, quarantining and snap lockdowns if anything gets out of quarantine have almost totally prevented community transmission for the entire pandemic so far. It's a difficult time for music though and we should be supporting our artists - so we went.

At the venue I was surprised to see that the advertised programme was a complete electric play-through of the first and third Church albums, from way back in the early 80s. How was that going to work, with only one of the original members there? And without Marty Wilson-Piper on guitar? Who were these dudes standing in on guitars and drums? - The lights went up. The support act started and I personally found it woeful, and I thought, "Is it all going to be like this? Have we wasted our money?" And I gritted my teeth and hoped for better things.

But I needn't have worried. From the opening bars of the first song, the main act turned in an excellent performance. The guitarists were very good, even if they weren't Marty Wilson-Piper - and some of the loss of atmosphere because they didn't sound like him was compensated for by two ladies on violin and cello who completely electrified the atmosphere with their playing. The music had been slightly rearranged to make this work; Steve Kilbey often stopped and chatted about those alterations, and the technical side of things - not to mention kept us in stitches with his recounts of what various music critics had said about various songs when they came out. :rofl

It was an excellent night - I'm so glad we went, and I'm also glad that I had my misapprehensions about how this could possibly work totally busted. It wasn't The Church, but it wasn't trying to be - it was something else, but it was A+ and I will remember it as one of the best musical performances I ever went to, and one of the best demonstrations of creative problem-solving. Not only totally worth the money, but a bargain at the price. Full review and photos here (http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=3458.msg774845#msg774845)!

Quote from: dsanchez on August 17, 2021, 21:14:38Why questionable? Simon himself published this in his own Facebook

Did he? Why has it been deleted then? What happened to his twitter?  :?

We have a nice saying in Germany (wiser person as me has pointed it out to me), which goes like this (translated):
nothing is being eaten as hot as it is being cooked!

Quote from: Rezortine on August 17, 2021, 22:05:31So, to sum up:
- I don't understand why people thought it's not Simon's real profile.

Because it looked like a "fake"? (Look at other "wannabe" pages to see the difference to the real accounts.)

And also because you can create an artists' page on FB if you want, this can even be confirmed by FB as "real".

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 09:20:46Did he? Why has it been deleted then? What happened to his twitter?  (http://curefans.com/Smileys/twitter/1f615.png)

He took a wise decision by deleting twitter. Deleting social media is good! As why he deleted his post - only he knows. I suspect he didn't expect his one line post would be echoed by CNN, Rolling Stone, etc.

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 10:47:18As why he deleted his post - only he knows. I suspect he didn't expect his one line post would be echoed by CNN, Rolling Stone, etc.

Lol. (And I don't mean the ex-Cure-member with this.)

And why is it that Pearl's instagram is suddenly unavailable too?  :?

Could it all just have been a "hack"? Or drunken rumblings?

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 00:48:25Objectively speaking, we don't have any proof it was definitely the owner of the account making those posts because we weren't witnesses to this, and because it's not been officially confirmed. In a science classroom, this goes under the topic of "observation versus inference" - we were able to observe the social media posts, but we can only infer who made them. That the posts appeared is fact, but who made them isn't entirely black and white. It may have been the owner of the account, or it may not have been. @Ulrich was also considering the possibility of account hacking.  (And wondering whether the FB profile was real or bogus - which I can't comment on because I don't do FB.)

I prefer Ocram's razor. The simplest explanation is usually the right one. And here the easiest explanation is that Simon did write this post (even he replied to one of his friends, Vicky Carroll (http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=8852.0), to confirm the reasons)  and not that his account was hacked, or some relative got to his computer etc. He just wrote, he deleted it, and now we just need to see what happens.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 10:51:30And why is it that Pearl's instagram is suddenly unavailable too?  :?

he has done it in the past. when he ranted during the time of the RHOF induction, he also deleted that post. nothing new here. Obviously he and Bob did not end in the best terms.

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 00:48:25@dsanchez I'm going to have to disagree with you: It's possible to be a fan of a band and not be devastated if that band breaks up (or a key member leaves and gets replaced), especially if they've already served the community super well with decades and decades of amazing music. People need to do what they think is right with their own lives, and to me, it's way more important that people live happy, fulfilled lives than that they continue to be in a band they've been in for a long time, no matter how much I or anyone else likes that band - and when being in a band/any kind of job or activity starts to interfere with a person's happiness and other goals, and this can't be resolved, it's my opinion that they do the right thing if they decide to do other things instead. Whether they're in The Cure or anything else. We all have just one life.

And whatever happens, I'll still be listening to their back catalogue and enjoying their concert films.  :smth023

Also, if any of the Cure members' side projects ever tour in our part of the world, we'd totally go see them. To us, a good musician is a good musician and we're interested in what people have to offer individually as well as collectively.

Most (can't speak for everyone) curefans are hardcore fans. Did you see Lol's European tour some years ago? barely 20 people per show. When Perry Bamonte toured his band some years ago, a friend of mine went to see him in Vienna. Same thing, barely a handful of people. So history shows cureheads care little about the individuals, and put the band above. Maybe if Robert Smith starts a solo career it would be the exception.

"People need to do what they think is right with their own lives". Totally agree. And no-one here says otherwise. But I guess most curefans were expecting a farewell tour and not a one-single FB post of one of the core-band members announcing his departure therefore by breaking up the world's finest band.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 10:51:30

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 10:47:18As why he deleted his post - only he knows. I suspect he didn't expect his one line post would be echoed by CNN, Rolling Stone, etc.

Lol. (And I don't mean the ex-Cure-member with this.)

And why is it that Pearl's instagram is suddenly unavailable too?  :?

Could it all just have been a "hack"? Or drunken rumblings?

Personally I think that everyone started suddenly DMing Pearl on his IG. Guess he just wanted to prevent all the questions, which could be found annoying, and got his IG private

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 10:55:17...he also deleted that post. Obviously he and Bob did not end in the best terms.

And then he ducks out by deleting posts (or his whole insta profile)? Nice. :winking_tongue

Quote from: dsanchezBut I guess most curefans were expecting a farewell tour and not a one-single FB post of one of the core-band members announcing his departure therefore by breaking up the world's finest band.

Lol (once again)!  :lol:
As mentioned before, nothing is confirmed, the whole "news" is based on one singular (now deleted) posting on FB!

Once again: I believe there is a reason that Roger made fun of the whole thing! (He knows more than we do.)

Here's to why I question things (especially in times of "fake news") ;)

(http://img.picturequotes.com/2/718/717159/assume-nothing-question-everything-quote-1.jpg)

Quote from: dsanchezObviously he and Bob did not end in the best terms.

This morning I had the crazy idea that Simon will become a consultant / manager of Iron Maiden, but seriously: we are really no smarter at the moment, and since the word 'betrayel' was already around, a conflict must have been going on for a long time . When Robert cooperates with other artists over a longer period of time, it sends a clear signal to the 'others'. That social media messages have been deleted, on the other hand, is a good sign. I hope they get 'the cow from the ice' (German saying). 🙂

That's a hilarious saying, @MeltingMan!  :lol:  It's very good to be getting this "Nachhilfeunterricht" in German sayings etc.  :smth023  Also we were vastly amused by the Iron Maiden career options. :beaming-face


@dsanchez, I think you mean Occam's Razor.  :winking_tongue
It's a far better tool than a crystal ball, which seems to be in great employment on this topic.


@Ulrich, German is full of good sayings. I like the one which says, "Der wurde mit einem Klammersack gepudert!" - great imagery - but have to confess I don't fully understand it!  :-D

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 11:20:19As mentioned before, nothing is confirmed, the whole "news" is based on one singular (now deleted) posting on FB!

and we agree 100%. That's why this post is not in the "official news" board.

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 12:35:48@dsanchez, I think you mean Occam's Razor.  (http://curefans.com/Smileys/twitter/1f61c.png)
It's a far better tool than a crystal ball, which seems to be in great employment on this topic.

A typo there :) I don't think anyone here is trying to guess what happened or what will happen. The discussion seemed focused on if the post was real or not, and it was real (Occam's :)).

Occam's Razor doesn't tell you what's real and what isn't, @dsanchez - it's just a philosophical view that the simplest explanations are usually better explanations. I think there is far too much assuming going on around here - e.g., unless you've got some information I'm not privy to, you don't actually know what Thompson's poem is about, you're just assuming it is about Simon Gallup leaving. Plus there's a heck of a lot of assuming what people in the band are doing, thinking, feeling etc when in reality we know the square root of bugger all about it, and I think speculations like this are not just pointless, I think they are really inappropriate (not to mention cringeworthy).

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 12:56:56you don't actually know what Thompson's poem is about, you're just assuming it is about Simon Gallup leaving

Not assumption here, again, Occam's. Pearl's reference was clearly about Simon, and he already wrote something similar during RHOF. Typical Pearl I would say. And now he deleted his post, same as he did with that post back then.

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 12:56:56Plus there's a heck of a lot of assuming what people in the band are doing, thinking, feeling etc when in reality we know the square root of bugger all about it, and I think speculations like this are not just pointless, I think they are really inappropriate (not to mention cringeworthy).

that's mostly on social networks not on curefans (thankfully!). I personally don't care, let alone don't know what Bob or Simon are thinking or feeling.

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 12:41:12and we agree 100%.

No we don't. Assumptions like "most curefans were expecting a farewell tour" are ridiculous. I for one expected news about the new album (RS said he might've "in about 6 weeks", these are long over now).
No one has talked about a "farewell tour" recently.

Btw, to me the real "hardcore" fans are those who take the trouble go to these small gigs by side-projects, buy solo albums, are really interested in the music and not just the "image".

@dsanchez, I'm afraid I have to conclude you don't have a particularly good understanding of what Occam's Razor actually is. What it is not is a bit of jargon you can throw in to make your assumptions about certain situations sound like they are facts.

Another point:

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 11:02:19Most (can't speak for everyone) curefans are hardcore fans.

I don't think you can speak for most people, either, and you're certainly not speaking for me, for my husband, or for the people in my own circle who like this band's music. They like the music and don't go in for all this BS about which members were allegedly more meritorious, which was the "best" line-up, which were the "best" albums, etc; they don't cite Robert Smith as if he's some kind of Great Oracle of Superlative and Superhuman Understanding (or as if he might never change his mind, even though people do, and he's a "people"), they don't have a paparazzi-like interest in the band members and their personal business and don't think they can read their minds or are endowed with some kind of special transcendent understanding of The Cure; and they wouldn't dream of constructing polls asking other people to speculate on the situation that's apparently happening with their bass player at the moment. They'd be backing off and leaving it alone. They'd get it that personal situations are personal.

Imagine if you were the target of such social media polling, next time you have a situation with someone. Sort of like, "Hey, let's get out the popcorn and speculate on David's business." How would you like it?

Maybe you'd like to define what you think a "hardcore fan" is for me - if it's not someone engaged in the kinds of BS I've outlined in that paragraph above. But I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan, for sure.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 13:15:29Assumptions like "most curefans were expecting a farewell tour" are ridiculous. I for one expected news about the new album (RS said he might've "in about 6 weeks", these are long over now).

This was an example. Anyone could have expected a last album and then end, a last concert and then end, a farewell tour and then end. But a one-line FB post and then end? I don't think anyone saw this coming, hence it caused such a 'storm'. If Bob said they are splitting after releasing the album, it would be totally normal and within the "expected", IMO.

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 15:00:08Maybe you'd like to define what you think a "hardcore fan" is for me - if it's not someone engaged in the kinds of BS I've outlined in that paragraph above. But I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan, for sure.

A hardcore Cure fan only cares about The Cure, and nothing else. I have met many - people seeing the band +150 times and having separate bank accounts to save money to go to their concerts. But, I think that's for another topic. And this definition is from my 25-years as a fan (and my favorite band is Slowdive, not The Cure -- hence I am not too hardcore :))

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 15:00:08@dsanchez, I'm afraid I have to conclude you don't have a particularly good understanding of what Occam's Razor actually is. What it is not is a bit of jargon you can throw in to make your assumptions about certain situations sound like they are facts.

Simon post was Simon's and Pearl's post was about Simon. Those are not assumptions. Now, if we want to over think this then we are over complicating.

Anyway, Simon's post was deleted so end of the story, at least for now.

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 15:22:27

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 15:00:08Maybe you'd like to define what you think a "hardcore fan" is for me - if it's not someone engaged in the kinds of BS I've outlined in that paragraph above. But I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan, for sure.

A hardcore Cure fan only cares about The Cure, and nothing else. I have met many - people seeing the band +150 times and having separate bank accounts to save money to go to their concerts. But, I think that's for another topic. And this definition is from my 25-years as a fan (and my favorite band is Slowdive, not The Cure -- hence I am not too hardcore :))

Thank you for that, @dsanchez, and have a good rest of the day.  :)

We still have vastly different ideas on what's a fact and what's an assumption, and what's overthinking and what's confirmation bias, but that's how it's going to have to stay, I think.

Goodnight from the Antipodes.

Quote from: SueC on August 18, 2021, 15:27:03

Quote

QuoteMaybe you'd like to define what you think a "hardcore fan" is for me - if it's not someone engaged in the kinds of BS I've outlined in that paragraph above. But I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan, for sure.

A hardcore Cure fan only cares about The Cure, and nothing else. I have met many - people seeing the band +150 times and having separate bank accounts to save money to go to their concerts. But, I think that's for another topic. And this definition is from my 25-years as a fan (and my favorite band is Slowdive, not The Cure -- hence I am not too hardcore (http://curefans.com/Smileys/twitter/1f600.png))

Thank you for that, @dsanchez, and have a good rest of the day.  (http://curefans.com/Smileys/twitter/1f600.png)

this is for those who want to continue the discussion on the typical curefan: http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=7980.0

...and that won't be me!  :winking_tongue

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 15:18:04But a one-line FB post and then end?

No one said it was "the end" (not even Simon), that's why I questioned things right from the start.

(Even if he quit, they could always "reform" for a farewell show in 2028 or whenever.)

P.S.: I'm glad I don't even know what Occam's Razor is or means.  :lol:

Quote from: Ulrich on August 18, 2021, 15:53:59

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 15:18:04But a one-line FB post and then end?

P.S.: I'm glad I don't even know what Occam's Razor is or means.  :lol:

I think it's similar to  Bic but is only used by intellectuals

Bwahahaha, @sandgrounder!  :lol:  :beaming-face

Here's something else funny:

https://www.classicshaving.com/products/occams-razor

...because of course, it just had to be commercialised...


By the way, apologies if anyone thought I was jumping on them - that wasn't the intention. It's a combination of two things: Being trained to avoid making assumptions because that's really important when you're trying to figure things out objectively (and making assumptions is the main cause of bad science, of which there is more than you'd like to think - and it ties into the whole public gullibility/misinformation thing, which it's possible to avoid by erring miles on the side of caution). And secondly, just the way people jump on things on social media, which I normally avoid like the plague for that and other reasons - and this time, I'd had a look at how social media was reacting. It's like vultures flocking around a carcass. Or like people rubber-necking when there's a car crash, or like kids in the playground when there's a fight, flocking to it and going, "Fight, fight!"  And all these demands for explanations from people whose business it really wasn't, even though they apparently feel entitled to information. The pointless speculating. All that fawning by commenters on celebrity pages, I find that sickening too. Social media seems in some ways to be like a social lobotomy. It's done a few good things, but it also seems to bring out the worst in people.

I've also always hated gossip rags, because I don't think people should make up stories about other people for money or any other reason, and I don't think people should have their privacy invaded, or their personal business discussed and speculated on. I detest two sides of that - the people who produce this muck, and those in the public who buy it, therefore financing this shiitake.

And meanwhile, because of stuff like this, we're collectively not paying enough attention to the things that actually need our attention - like the unfolding ecological disaster, like the kind of things politicians get away with when the public gets complacent and looks the other way.

Sorry again if anyone here felt in the firing line. The world just gets to me sometimes. Hope you all have a decent day.

Quote from: dsanchez on August 18, 2021, 15:30:45this is for those who want to continue the discussion on the typical curefan: http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=7980.0

Personally, I think this is the better topic (to show how different and colourful all the Cure fans are):
http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=3872.0

For anyone interested in speculation about what happened between Saturday & Tuesday, look here (but be warned, it's mainly for people with insomnia):
http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.0

I've no idea how to embed a Twitter link - maybe it embeds itself, but:

https://twitter.com/EdVGallup/status/1429704756650553347

QuoteYes, very frustrating. So is being inundated with messages of speculation said with such vindication yet not having an ounce of truth. Unfortunately I have been dragged into all this by default due to a certain Facebook post. I've ignored 99% of it.

...just thought I'd draw people's attention to this speck of sanity in all this BS. When one sees a speck of sanity these days, one is thoroughly impressed.  :smth023  Just as I was and am thoroughly unimpressed with the fans who seemed to think they were entitled to explanations. Just because you really like someone's songs, doesn't give you the right to a front seat to anyone's personal conflicts they may have to sort out, which all of us humans periodically have to sort out, and hopefully while being afforded some privacy and space in which to do it, and not this incessant, childish sticky-beaking and pestering all over social media on this topic.

If a couple you know have a tiff at a party, do you all go hanging out at their front door afterwards, knocking and knocking and asking what it was all about and feeling entitled to explanations about their private lives? Do you natter to each other about the situation and speculate endlessly? Or do you accept that all of us have stuff to sort out, and a right to do that without being badgered by others, even if others were aware there seemed to be a problem? Can you back off respectfully, and let people be human, and get on with your own business, and understand that this isn't actually about you, but about being tactful and respectful to fellow humans?

There's a nice saying I'm going to translate into English: "Always sweep your own doorstep, not other people's." Plenty to do on our own doorsteps, and let's let other people tend to theirs.

Like others I want to know whether Simon is still a member of The Cure or not? I am not interested in the reasons why he (may have) left the band. I certainly wouldn't harrass his children, former & present band members etc seeking an answer. Similarly I wouldn't ask someone "Why did your mother & father separate"?

Let's wait for an official statement from an official source. In the meantime listen to the lyrics of the track "End".

Quote from: sandgrounder on August 26, 2021, 13:47:10Let's wait for an official statement from an official source.

It seems unlikely that there will be any official communication on this now. I decided to just take SG at his word and have removed them from social media feeds. Otherwise, this remains an unanswered question that hangs around endlessly. It was better in the days when they could just have a quick punch-up in a bar and some time apart, without anyone being any the wiser.

This is not going to be a popular opinion but dropping that post into the social media sphere was not kind. It was such a perfunctory "ta rah" to dear friends and loyal followers. The allusion to "betrayal" just muddied the waters further. And although other members chimed in on "Cure fans" not having a sense of humour, it was a poor reading of the room.

Human is what they are though. I really disliked how some people began contacting SG's family for clarification. They were probably none the wiser, and it put them in a corner if they were. But bless them, most people who follow the band seemed more concerned that the friendships within it have fractured.

It will be incredibly sad if they choose to dissipate quietly, particularly under these circumstances, but perhaps it is for the best.

Who knows?!

Very nice that you've popped in, @Ms_Mephistopheles - I've missed your thoughtful posts.  :cool

Hello Sue. I am more of a lurker. I pop in reasonably regularly, but today I felt impassioned and added my thoughts for whatever that is actually worth XD

Quote from: Ms_Mephistopheles on August 28, 2021, 00:49:24...today I felt impassioned and added my thoughts for whatever that is actually worth XD

If I didn't have emotions I'd not bother to make a single post (and I'd never have bothered with journalling) - I'd probably just sit in a corner making robot sounds and looking for a powerpoint.  :winking_tongue  I know that certain schools of Greek philosophy considered reason superior and emotion wimpy and useless, but they work best hand in hand, informing each other. Emotions motivate us - hopefully to have a good think!  :)

Not necessarily to arrive at exactly the same conclusions, since we're not sheep!  :smth023

Apologies to actual baa-baa sheep!

Anyone else think meta discussions are far more fun than just case studies? (Especially if the case studies are highly opaque? :winking_tongue)

Quote from: Ms_Mephistopheles on August 27, 2021, 23:21:49It was better in the days when they could just have a quick punch-up in a bar...

Ha ha, made me laugh, that one!  :lol:

Quote from: Ms_Mephistopheles on August 27, 2021, 23:21:49This is not going to be a popular opinion but dropping that post into the social media sphere was not kind.

Why should this be "unpopular"? I tend to agree. It's never a good idea to "drop" such news in public without any real background (or without talking to the other members before).

Quote from: Ulrich on August 28, 2021, 12:22:16Why should this be "unpopular"?

I suppose it is because it never feels good to feel disappointed in your heroes. But, when you get over the sense of disloyalty, it is actually just acceptance of their humanity and their capacity to make mistakes like anyone else, followed swiftly by the realisation that you still love them anyway 😉

So far as interpersonal relations go, never let it be said that the passion has died in The Cure! Silly buggers! 😅

Quote from: Ms_Mephistopheles on August 28, 2021, 17:02:53...when you get over the sense of disloyalty, it is actually just acceptance of their humanity and their capacity to make mistakes like anyone else

Wise words! :smth023

Since nothing (anymore) gets out, but Roger and Pearl have already made certain hints, each in his / her way, I no longer doubt the "rumor". However, it is up to others to decide whether or not to leave the question mark behind the topic. If there's one thing I've learned, had to learn, in the forum, it's the fact that it's not good to have too high an opinion of The Cure and the fans. This inevitably leads to disappointment, as in this case. However, it is not "the end". After all, my opinion is still high enough that I don't want to face it. Not now, anyway. I beg your forbearance if I should have got too close to one or the other.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 19, 2021, 09:37:09For anyone interested in speculation about what happened between Saturday & Tuesday, look here (but be warned, it's mainly for people with insomnia):
http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.0

Now with aliens!  :angel

And looking for more contributors, because Ulrich and I can't do all the heavy lifting around here! :P

Quote from: MeltingMan on August 29, 2021, 10:25:01Since nothing (anymore) gets out, but Roger and Pearl have already made certain hints, each in his / her way, I no longer doubt the "rumor".

Please, let's not forget that one of the persons mentioned has been out of the band for a number of years! Seemed just like "sour grapes" to me.

Quote from: Ulrich on August 29, 2021, 09:56:40

Quote from: Ms_Mephistopheles on August 28, 2021, 17:02:53...when you get over the sense of disloyalty, it is actually just acceptance of their humanity and their capacity to make mistakes like anyone else

Wise words! :smth023

Well, not necessarily wise, but it's easy to forget though, isn't it?

It seems out of character for SG to have a public outburst, but for a start, he's been through the unimaginable personally during the last couple of years, and he's still a Dad with all that entails under the circumstances. The basic information which we've been privy to does put things into some perspective.

I honestly don't know how anyone expects public figures to be more perfect than we are, or less human. Is there anyone here who's not done really stupid things? Or who's not done things on impulse that they've regretted on reflection, including in public?

There's a difference between people doing stupid, damaging things constantly and without reflection and improvement and giving a damn about others (e.g. Trump), and people doing the odd unwise/regrettable thing because they're human, which they will likely be sufficiently critical of themselves in retrospect to absolve anyone else of the necessity to be critical on their behalf...

Good news everyone - seems like everything has been sorted out (https://twitter.com/CraigatCoF/status/1448796009077911559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) again.

And in vain did they wail and gnash their teeth!  :winking_tongue

(Especially on Twitter!  :angel)

...told you it was aliens (http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.msg775309#msg775309)!  :beaming-face 👾 👾 👾 👾 👾

Told you on Aug 17th, to take it all with a pinch of salt...

Music news outlets have picked up on it, e.g.:
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/simon-gallup-update-on-his-position-in-the-cure/

Quote from: undefinedHowever, interestingly, the band never released a public statement confirming his departure, and now Gallup appears to have backtracked on his original statement.

A new project that Gallup appears to be a part of, entitled Alice Blue Gown, posted a picture of him in the studio. In the comments section, a fan named Thomas Creegan asked: "Looks interesting, will definitely check out the music when released, I do have that one question: Is Simon still a member of The Cure?".

Somewhat unexpectedly, the bassist commented from his personal Facebook account and said, "Yes I am".

Happy news indeed!

In a world that is so horribly at odds with itself right now, it's of small consequence, but for all of us who have a Cure-shaped corner in their heart, it brings a great deal of cheer to know that they have straightened things out and are buddies again.

The daft thing is that pre-social media, they would have had a hiss at each other, followed by a beer and a hug, and we'd have been left in blissful ignorance! XD Anyhow, everyone loves each other still, and in this context, that is all that matters.

Stay away from Twitter next time you have a tiff, chaps  :D

No Simon No Cure
It is as simple as that
And for the reason that Robert is a wise man
or at least he used to be
Everything has been solved
And now...waiting...waiting for something to happen...

;-)

"Happily Ever After"

QuoteA new project that Gallup appears to be a part of,

This seems to be an important aspect to me, especially against the background of the (past) Covid restrictions (for artists, bands, etc.). Only we fans still have to be patient; the mod has already symbolically eaten a hat and I'm listening to Modern Talking (!). All the alarm bells should go off for you, Robert. 🔔

Quote from: MeltingMan on October 17, 2021, 20:37:04Only we fans still have to be patient; the mod has already symbolically eaten a hat and I'm listening to Modern Talking (!).

Rather worrying indeed, don't make me eat anything else...  :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Quote from: MeltingMan on October 17, 2021, 20:37:04...the mod has already symbolically eaten a hat and I'm listening to Modern Talking (!). All the alarm bells should go off for you, Robert. 🔔

Indeed - you realise I could hear that music in the Southern Hemisphere?  :winking_tongue

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 09:18:58Rather worrying indeed, don't make me eat anything else...  :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Maybe this time around, for this Christmas, you could swear to eat a Butterbrezel instead of a hat if the album isn't released. Problem solved. :yum:

(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betzold.de%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F07%2FDSCN0968-e1467099797526.jpg&f=1&nofb=1)


And if it wasn't for this whole situation, we'd have had "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmfckyy-YvM) but not "The Cure Short Plays" (http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.msg775291#msg775291) and "The Cure and Aliens" (http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.msg775309#msg775309)...  :beaming-face

Which once again proves that you can grow pretty flowers in old manure! :angel

I can't believe you are buying this story that he is back. He called me last evening and asked how I would vote if there had been an election today. I asked if he had returned to the band. He had no idea what I was talking about. Anyway, I thanked him for everything he had done and told him that he had laid down some really fantastic bass lines over the years. He  must have been drunk or something because he said that, "yes, baselines are important in statistics", then he sort of thanked me for my responses and hung up.

Quote from: Pongo on October 18, 2021, 13:41:22I can't believe you are buying this story that he is back.

Well, I don't! I never believed he was really out, so he can't be "back", eh? :?

As for strange theories & stories, please post them in this topic:
http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.0

Quote from: Pongo on October 18, 2021, 13:41:22I can't believe you are buying this story that he is back. He called me last evening and asked how I wouldi vote if there had been an election today. I asked if he had returned to the band. He had no idea what I was talking about. Anyway, I thanked him for everything he had done and told him that he had laid down some really fantastic bass lines over the years. He  must have been drunk or something because he said that, "yes, baselines are important in statistics", then he sort of thanked me for my responses and hung up.

Bwahahaha, @Pongo!  :winking_tongue

Would you like a spoon?

(https://homeofjuniper.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/wood-spoon-cherry-homeofjuniper.jpg)

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 14:30:12As for strange theories & stories, please post them in this topic:
http://curefans.com/index.php?topic=9465.0

That is such a fun topic!  :lol:  It would be great if more people contributed. Spinning yarns is so amusing.  :angel

Quote from: Matti on October 16, 2021, 06:21:28Good news everyone - seems like everything has been sorted out (https://twitter.com/CraigatCoF/status/1448796009077911559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) again.

So Simon Gallup confirms on Facebook that he is no longer a The Cure member, and people question if he really wrote that, if someone didn't take his computer and wrote instead him etc

Then Simon Gallup confirms on Facebook that he is still a The Cure member, and people don't question anything.

By applying the "don't question" logic to both announcements, we could say Simon indeed was no longer a The Cure member (and hence the news should not be labeled as false) and now simply he is back to The Cure (maybe Bob begged him to stay etc.)

:unamused:

Schrödinger's bass player

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 15:29:31people don't question anything

Oh yes I do! I still question the original rumours.
Nothing has ever been confirmed by any official statement from "Cure camp", thus the only logic is: he never was out of the band (or maybe for 2 days).

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 15:43:27

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 15:29:31people don't question anything

Oh yes I do! I still question the original rumours.
Nothing has ever been confirmed by any official statement from "Cure camp", thus the only logic is: he never was out of the band (or maybe for 2 days).

And nothing has been confirmed by thecure.com that he is still in The Cure.

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 15:43:27thus the only logic is: he never was out of the band (or maybe for 2 days).

He was out of the band, Robert convinced him otherwise, he is back now - seems the most logical explanation to me if we are going to rely on what he publishes on FB.

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 15:29:31

Quote from: Matti on October 16, 2021, 06:21:28Good news everyone - seems like everything has been sorted out (https://twitter.com/CraigatCoF/status/1448796009077911559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) again.

Then Simon Gallup confirms on Facebook that he is still a The Cure member, and people don't question anything.

That is one heck of a generalisation. A number of us never bought into this shiitake in the first place because social media is not a great place to get accurate information and no formal statement was ever made by the band. Hence all the talking in the world was going to be idle speculation. Which is what I said at the time but you didn't like that either.

:P

Quote from: Matti on October 18, 2021, 15:40:28Schrödinger's bass player

 :lol:  Do you know if Schrödinger's bass player has a cat?

What Cure fans think on the matter:

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 15:44:25

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 15:43:27

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 15:29:31people don't question anything

Oh yes I do! I still question the original rumours.
Nothing has ever been confirmed by any official statement from "Cure camp", thus the only logic is: he never was out of the band (or maybe for 2 days).

And nothing has been confirmed by thecure.com that he is still in The Cure.

They also haven't confirmed anyone else is in the band.  :angel

Does the band still exist at all? Nothing's been confirmed, they have been inactive since 2019. ;)

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 16:02:28What Cure fans think on the matter...

Those are not enough options. "Other" needs to be specified. "He was persuaded to return"; "He changed his mind after 2 days" are just 2 options missing.

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 16:02:28What Cure fans* think on the matter:

* who have a Twitter account

Quote from: SueC on October 18, 2021, 15:59:47Do you know if Schrödinger's bass player has a cat?

No I don't, but according to some comments on his FB profile picture he has a dog.

Quote from: SueC on October 18, 2021, 16:05:53They also haven't confirmed anyone else is in the band.  :angel

No need to troll @SueC :)

All this was started by Simon himself and there has not been any comment of the band whatsoever on his FB posts.

Quote from: Pongo on October 18, 2021, 13:41:22I can't believe you are buying this story that he is back. He called me last evening and asked how I would vote if there had been an election today. I asked if he had returned to the band. He had no idea what I was talking about. Anyway, I thanked him for everything he had done and told him that he had laid down some really fantastic bass lines over the years. He  must have been drunk or something because he said that, "yes, baselines are important in statistics", then he sort of thanked me for my responses and hung up.

Sounds believable simply because it wasn't communicated through social media. Do we have clarity at some point? It starts to get on my nerves. 😕

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 17:35:41No need to troll

All due respect, sir, but you started that exchange about what's not confirmed on their website!

Quote from: Ulrich on October 18, 2021, 17:51:21

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 17:35:41No need to troll

All due respect, sir, but you started that exchange about what's not confirmed on their website!

Yes, nothing of what Simon has said has been confirmed by The Cure official sources. Neither his leaving, nor his re-joining. Don't think I said anything wrong by stating this.

Of course, there was nothing wrong in your sentence (but also not in Sue's reply).

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 17:55:04Yes, nothing of what Simon has said has been confirmed by The Cure official sources. Neither his leaving, nor his re-joining.

There's no need to confirm a re-joining, if one has never (officially) left. (There were no gigs played anyway, thus no one got to see the band together.)

Won't discuss this further as everyone has made their opinion already - however, we got 200 new followers on Twitter thanks to this mess caused by Simon ;)

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 18:08:04we got 200 new followers on Twitter

Well, I was hoping it was the start of the marketing campaign for the new album. :winking_tongue

He is back

. & -

And now just waiting for the real news (album announcement)

Quote from: dsanchez on October 18, 2021, 17:35:41

Quote from: SueC on October 18, 2021, 16:05:53They also haven't confirmed anyone else is in the band.  :angel

No need to troll @SueC :)

Interesting definition of trolling. I think being accused of trolling when you're not is a form of trolling. I also think making over-extended generalisations that misrepresent some of the people present in this discussion is a form of trolling.

I don't think pointing out something obvious and pertaining to the logic of the discussion is trolling. I was playing the ball - contributing to/critiquing the arguments - while you're crossing over into playing the persons, myself included - first by misrepresenting them, and then by suggesting I am a troll. Not a way to treat a keen contributor to this forum who cares about the people present, yourself included. I think you owe me an apology.

You're welcome to your opinions, as is everyone. But crossing the line like this is not OK.

You've accused me of trolling before when I pointed out that tennis player Taylor Fritz could be made up to look like a young Robert Smith, when you asked us who we thought could play the young RS in a movie. I thought that was incredible too. You didn't like my answer, for whatever reason, and therefore I was a troll...

(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.U1gplbndpHybesrneC-EPwHaFg%26pid%3DApi&f=1)

A definition of "trolling":

Quotethe act of leaving an insulting message on the internet in order to annoy someone

As mentioned further above, I don't see it here, as it was a reply to an on-topic comment.

I think it's best to close this topic now, until any official statement will come (and maybe this will never happen).

Thanks, better this way Ulrich. By the way, the definition of trolling is more extense than the one quoted, and for the record I personally didn't take that comment as insult.