Andy Fletcher on “the problem” with The Cure and fan expectation
With 13 studio albums, a career spanning over 40 years, and legions of dedicated fans, you would be forgiven for thinking The Cure are without their problems. It would certainly seem that way; after all, how many bands can still sell out arenas around the globe multiple decades on from their inception? So, what exactly is the ‘problem’ with Smith’s group? Well, Depeche Mode keyboard player Andy Fletcher once aimed a friendly jab at Smith to set the record straight.
The Cure and Depeche Mode have something of a shared history. Indeed, both groups were titans of alternative music during their 1980s heyday, amassing a colossal audience for their dark, often melancholic, sounds. Both groups have explored a vast array of genres during their tenure, with goth stylings suiting the two groups particularly well. Seemingly, the shared history of The Cure and Depeche Mode gave way to a blossoming friendship between Robert Smith and the core members of the synthpop giants.
Over the years, both parties have paid tribute to each other, with Smith even listing Mode’s 1989 track ‘Personal Jesus’ as one of his favourite songs from the 1980s. Furthering this interband relationship, The Cure were eager to take part in the 1998 tribute album For the Masses, which saw groups like Deftones, Foo Fighters, and The Cure cover classic Depeche Mode tracks. For their part, Smith’s group took on the 1990 song ‘World In My Eyes’ – perhaps one of Depeche Mode’s most underappreciated hits.
Despite their clear friendship, or perhaps because of it, the two camps have often taken the opportunity to engage in some friendly ribbing in interviews. The topic of live shows often gave way to these exchanges, with both bands noted for their incredible performances. While Depeche Mode favour visual spectacles involving impressive visuals and frontman Dave Gahan’s innate ability to expertly control the crowd, The Cure are noted for their epic shows, often topping three hours, and taking audiences on an unforgettable journey throughout the extensive discography of Smith’s group.
In a 2009 interview with The Washington Post, Depeche Mode founding member Andy Fletcher was asked about the tracks that receive the best reception at their shows. “Well, I mean, ‘Enjoy the Silence’. And ‘Never Let Me Down Again’,” the late musician replied, “Which has this amazing crowd-waving effect that Dave gets going that’s pretty exciting. The hardest thing about our set list is actually compiling it. It’s so difficult with so many songs.”
Continuing to talk about their live craft, Fletcher managed to slip in a friendly dig at The Cure, saying, “We can’t do a Robert Smith and play for three-and-a-half hours. I don’t think Dave can run around and dance for that long. The problem with The Cure is they did it a couple of times, and then when they went back to a normal set, people complained.”
The long performances by The Cure were also criticised by long-time adversary of Smith, Morrissey. The ex-Smiths frontman, when asked why his live shows were so short, fired back a thinly veiled critique of The Cure frontman, saying, “I think it’s easy to stay onstage for hours if you just fiddle about with a guitar and keep your head down, but if it’s a vocal assault, then it’s harder to maintain energy levels.” Nevertheless, it is hard to imagine any Cure fans complaining about the extensive setlists consistently delivered by the band.
