Why does Robert Smith always threaten to end The Cure?
Imagine you’ve bagged yourself a place on the lineup of one of rock’s most influential bands, getting the dream job by somehow smashing the ultimate interview. Then, once you’re just getting settled into the swing of things, your boss, who of course is the lead singer, throws a spanner in the works.
The spanner, in this case, is a tantrum. The work is The Cure, and the throwing hand belongs to Robert Smith, who is more than happy to admit that he can be kind of a brat. Realistically, he’s earned the right to be as he’s made himself one of the best-known and most beloved voices in the rock world, and managed to keep that voice sounding just as strong decades later.
But still, many would claim that tension like that, caused by a volatile leader, only hinders creativity. Smith, however, would say exactly the opposite.
When the focus is always on him, his voice and his songwriting, it’s easy to forget just how much changing of cast The Cure has gone through. They’re one of those bands that require a whole separate Wikipedia page to explain the comings and goings of members and the timeline of who left when.
Currently, Plant is the only original member from when they formed back in 1976. At first, it was just him and Lol Tolhurst on drums. Then, in around 1978, when they started taking it all more seriously, they brought in Michael Dempsey on guitar, Marc Ceccagno playing lead guitar, and Alan Hill on bass. Hill didn’t last long at all as by 1979, he was replaced by Simon Gallup, who is the second longest serving member, being present for all but two albums. But beyond that, it’s been all change all the time.
“That’s it, it’s over,” Smith seems to regularly throw out into the room, whether it be a rehearsal space, a studio or even a record label office. It’s been reported that the band were all done and splitting up many times as Smith’s tantrums hit the press, but when he sat down and was straight up asked about it, he said clearly, “Oh God, no, that’s bullshit.”
In a 2000 interview, Smith basically admitted to a strange tactic to keep things fresh – fear.
“I know I’m saying to my musicians ‘it will be our last album’ ever since Disintegration, but then I mean for that line-up of the group,” he said, seemingly admitting that he keeps his players on their toes by essentially threatening to fire them. He keeps the lineup changing and turning over, seemingly to keep them all working at their best and keep the creative blood fresh and pumping.
“The Cure changed its line-up almost on every CD, which is the reason we’ve such a varied and broad repertoire,” he said, crediting his strange leadership style for their evolution.
He credits it for his own personal evolution, too, as he added, “Saying ‘This is the last time’ all the time, also keeps me alert,” as if he managed to trick himself into trying harder again by even threatening to take away his own career.
“The problem is that record companies always start to panic when they hear such things,” he said, which is a pretty obvious and understandable thing. Seemingly keeping everyone around him on edge, from his bandmates to the suits at the label, Smith admitted that he is constantly kicking off about the end of The Cure, but really only so it can start up again with more motivation.
