Time to call it quits

[dsanchez]

like many people said above, currently the band is
- repeating set lists
- using terrible guitars which destroys their live sound
- incapable of finding a good drummer
- badly missing a keyboard player

Most of the things you list here are the thoughts of (some) Cure fanatics. 80% or more of people who attend any concert are just the "average people". They don't know about setlists, model of guitars or the current members in the band (besides Bob).

So the "time to call it quits" thought might be ok for a tiny group of die hard Curefans, but for many fans (including me and others I can see) and the vast majority of non-Cure fans The Cure is a band that should continue playing, just as any other "big" band.

[japanesebaby]

80% or more

everybody's entitled to an opinion. yet higher percentages don't mean some opinion is better or more valid than another.

besides, it's actually completely irrelevant what fans like or want or prefer - the artist himself should make the decisions and to work to keep up the standards of his art as high as possible. an artist should do this for himself first, otherwise he's not a determined artist but just another entertainer.

So the "time to call it quits" thought might be ok for a tiny group of die hard Curefans, but for many fans (including me[...])

oh. and i thought you were a die hard fan/ the true fanatic here:
 

Personally, I will follow them until my death 8)

see: you do seem happy to go with it and follow them, whatever they did. it's totally fine by me, to each his own.
but see that it actually makes you a lot more fanatic/fundamentalist than i am (or all the others here who stated the same), not the other way round.

[dsanchez]

80% or more

everybody's entitled to an opinion. yet higher percentages don't mean some opinion is better or more valid than another.

Agree. All I can say is: hope The Cure continue playing. 

[dsanchez]

but see that it actually makes you a lot more fanatic/fundamentalist than i am (or all the others here who stated the same), not the other way round.

I see your point, my mistake. What I wanted to say is that there are hard die curefans (like me) who accept everything and there are some other fans who would want the band to stop (or would critisize the drummer, the guitar model, the band's sound, etc.) and I respect that.

As stated above I just hope The Cure will make the right choice and will continue playing, with the drummer, guitars and anything they want to play with. After all Robert will do finally wathever he wants, as he always did.

[Trust...]

Having see many bands in Europe, Cure shows are still in the top of my list  8)

And on n°1 at my list

[Trust...]

What I wanted to say is that there are hard die curefans (like me) who accept everything and there are some other fans who would want the band to stop (or would critisize the drummer, the guitar model, the band's sound, etc.) and I respect that.

Yeah there are many different curefans  And I know it sound fanatic to say you want to see them whatever they do, of course not everything, in my eyes The Cure are playing still great shows, for me they are still magic and totally not boring, I never had an empty feeling after a Cure-gig, and the moment I have I shall think maybe the same ?

I've saw only one gig with Roger on the keyboards and honestly I like it more to have Porl on the stage for some reason and really don't miss Roger. And I really hope they shall tour again in future

[sullen]

like many people said above, currently the band is
- repeating set lists
- using terrible guitars which destroys their live sound
- incapable of finding a good drummer
- badly missing a keyboard player

Most of the things you list here are the thoughts of (some) Cure fanatics. 80% or more of people who attend any concert are just the "average people". They don't know about setlists, model of guitars or the current members in the band (besides Bob).

So the "time to call it quits" thought might be ok for a tiny group of die hard Curefans, but for many fans (including me and others I can see) and the vast majority of non-Cure fans The Cure is a band that should continue playing, just as any other "big" band.

Not true, sorry.

For example, I brought an "average person" to one of the 4tour shows, it was boston, that was one of the better sets (plainsong/disintegration mainset)
First time seeing the cure.
Her thoughts = disappointed, not was she was expecting, sounded like a rock band and not like "the cure"

So it's not just the fanatics.
Even the casual listener who likes the dark atmospheric sound that makes the cure what they are (WERE) isn't enjoying the shows as they did/could have pre 2004.

[dsanchez]

For example, I brought an "average person" to one of the 4tour shows, it was boston, that was one of the better sets (plainsong/disintegration mainset) First time seeing the cure.
Her thoughts = disappointed, not was she was expecting, sounded like a rock band and not like "the cure"
So it's not just the fanatics.

I dont think we can generalize based on the impressions of one person.

[dsanchez]

like many people said above, currently the band is
- repeating set lists
- using terrible guitars which destroys their live sound
- incapable of finding a good drummer
- badly missing a keyboard player

except for the good drummer (although some people do like Jason), all the rest of points were accomplished during the Sydney concerts

[TheRedSinger]

The Cure performance at Bestival, kind of disappointed me... I felt Mr Smith much more ALIVE and happy in the Sydney concert. I also felt the other members of the group bored like "yeah yeah, I'm doing my thing...."
I think that maybe, all the things that a lot of cure fans are complaining 'bout, could have been compensated with a great attitude coming from all the cure members. I'm not asking for a permanent smile while they play, just a little energy that says "It feels good to be back".

I'm worried, because if The Cure comes to Mexico, to play like they did yesterday, my first, and maybe only expirience with The Cure alive, will leave me empty, and I will feel what the friend of Sullen felt at Boston. 

But yes, definitely I would love to see The Cure (with any formation, no matter the instruments) before  I die or they quit playing in public hahaha guess that's why I'm still a fan, and I think I'll still be.

The Cure must continue playing! And they muuuust come to Mexico

[Plainman]

Robert imo made a rod for his own back with his image in the 80's. He's way too old to be looking like he does but then again 'cause he's the only person, male, to make that look then who's to say it's not appropriate or w/e for a man in his 50's. I just think he'd have been better off dumping the make up in the early-mid 90's and found a new style. He looks a bit desperate wearing make-up like he does now. But utimately it's if he's happy or not with his style if he is then great...good luck to him!

[Lady]

I'd like to post this comment written by a fan on www.thecure.com, because imo it's perfect to explain the point of view of the most of us. It's a very good comment!

Bestival set list / Future / News

Good job at Bestival but it's a bit the same set up for several years and you have so many songs you should play live : Lost, Dressing up, Jupiter Crash, Bare, Lament, Pornography, The Promise, Watching me fall, A boy I never new, Sinking, Numb, Fight, Labyrinth, Cut here, One more time, The exploding boy, The big hand, Harold and Joe, Just one kiss, Going nowhere, Trap, 39, The snakepit, Want, Trust, Out of this world... All of them deserves to be on a set, as much as Maybe someday, Fascination street, Disintegration or 10:15. When touring those past years you used about 100 songs which is a big number but we know what to expect more or less. Imagine the kind of reaction you'd get including much more surprises in your gigs. Remember the noise when you started to play 'The Kiss' or 'Push' again ? And 'The Cure', 'WMS' and 'The Top' are f****** good albums, you know. I would love to see things change for the next gigs if continuing live. And new stuff of course. And please give us some real and reliable news. The Guardian interview about London riots... I mean, too policized for a musician who feels uncomfortable with his politicized pairs. So let's go for information about the line up, the dark album, re releases, Mixed up 2, Paris 2008 DVD, Porl... much much more interesting subjects than all day long repeated news on CNN we're all conscious about. I agree : musician and citizen are two sides that need to be kept a bit seperate if they're not brought together through something as brilliant as 'Us or them'.

[ghanisbuli]

I realize that I've stumbled upon a very old thread, but I feel the need to throw in my two cents.

Lately, I've been wishing that he ended after the dream tour or 2002 and left us with nothing but good memories....

Maybe this would've left you with good memories, but I didn't really discover The Cure until about 2003.  I first saw them in 2004 (An Evening With The Cure, Everett, WA) and it was life changing.  If they stopped in 2002, I obviously never would've had this chance.  In fact, the thought of that actually makes me feel a little sick.  Those memories are so precious to me.  I think I was on a post-concert high for about a year.

I will agree that the 4Tour was lackluster, especially because Robert was sick.  Vegas was a bit of a train wreck, but I still had a good time.  My issues were mainly with Porl's noise... because that's what it sounded like to me--noise, not melodies.

And then Porl left again.

I went to Reflections LA and it was AMAZING.  Robert sounded as young as ever, in my opinion.

Now, this summer, Robert's voice has been incredible.  I think the whole band's energy has been fantastic, and they seem to be having a really good time.  The band dynamics really influence the shows.  Reflections + the Summer shows have been a complete turnaround from the lackluster 4Tour.  Just watching the webcasts has made me a giddy 16-year-old girl again.  I've also been seeing a lot of posts from young people who saw The Cure for the first time at Reading or Leeds and say it was the best night of their lives.

The Cure will obviously end sooner than later.  I have faith that Robert will know when the time is right.  Honestly, I don't believe they have the capacity to tour and tour and tour anymore, and from his interview responses, I think Robert understands that.

In conclusion, I guess the current Cure isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean that some of us aren't wholly enjoying it.

[Ikissedyoursmile]

I realize that I've stumbled upon a very old thread, but I feel the need to throw in my two cents.

  Now, this summer, Robert's voice has been incredible.  I think the whole band's energy has been fantastic, and they seem to be having a really good time.  The band dynamics really influence the shows.  Reflections + the Summer shows have been a complete turnaround from the lackluster 4Tour.  Just watching the webcasts has made me a giddy 16-year-old girl again.  I've also been seeing a lot of posts from young people who saw The Cure for the first time at Reading or Leeds and say it was the best night of their lives.

The Cure will obviously end sooner than later.  I have faith that Robert will know when the time is right.  Honestly, I don't believe they have the capacity to tour and tour and tour anymore, and from his interview responses, I think Robert understands that.

In conclusion, I guess the current Cure isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean that some of us aren't wholly enjoying it.

Yes!! Totally agree. I cant believe how incredible his voice was this summer!!!

[MeltingMan]

With all that said, I really have no desire to see the band live again.

I hope that I never reach this point.In these days you must be glad that The Cure
is still appearing anyway from time to time,but when I look back at 2008,aware that
this is an old thread,how many attendees in fact noticed that there was e.g. no keyboard
on stage? Maybe...ten? All I can tell is that The Cure improved their live performance
in a spectacular manner.Other questions were largely discussed earlier without a solution
to date.