I was 15 years old when I first discovered The Cure. My musical tastes were just beginning to develop, and I discovered that the more poetic and creative an artist was, the more attracted I was towards their music. Those teen years, as I suspect is the case for most of that age group, were a bit emotionally turbulent. However, music seemed to solve all of life’s problems. The Cure became a lifeline for me, and for that, this band has remained special to me for nearly 30 years.
My discovery of The Cure came right about the time of Disintegration. I found them on a college radio station and after hearing their single, “Love Song”, I was smitten. Right away, I made my way to Record and Tape Traders to buy the album as well as their previously released recordings. Despite the fact that Disintegration took over the airwaves and was the album that initially “put The Cure on the musical map”, I found that I preferred some of their older releases, such as Seventeen Seconds and Head on the Door.
Every one of their songs had the ability to stand alone lyrically without the music. The Cure were more than just musicians. They were creative song writers. Robert Smith’s ability to create imagery is outstanding. I feel that this is what drew me in as a listener. Songs such as, “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea”, “Open”, and “Letter to Elise”, all from The Cure’s 1992 album, Wish, tell stories from start to finish. All three of these songs lack the traditional chorus/verse frame and just flow from start to finish, leaving the listener hanging onto every word. The Cure has many story-telling songs in their catalog. I think that many people miss that about The Cure’s music.
I was often teased for liking The Cure. “You always wear black and listen to that depressing music”, is what I heard regularly. However, what many people do not know is that The Cure is far from depressing. There are a number of songs that address fighting depression and celebrating life. Songs such as, “Fight” from the album, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, and “Gone!” from their 1996 release, Wild Mood Swings, encourage the listener to fight off those feelings that pull you down. The Cure reminded me that it was okay to experience the lows, and there was always something to live for. There was comfort in knowing that someone else understood you. Then created an art that expressed what you were feeling inside.
In addition to their music, The Cure opened the door to many friendships in my life. Cure fans are truly kindred spirits and many of them I have known for more than 10 years. I’ve traveled to see The Cure several times… New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and even London. Not only do I get to see my favorite band perform, but I get to meet with friends who live all over the world. And that is the best part. Last summer, I had the privilege of seeing them perform in London for their 40th Anniversary, and they were on fire!
Tonight, The Cure is being inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails will be representing them making this induction even more special. I’m very proud of The Cure and how far they have come as a band. They regularly perform shows that are nearly 3 hours long. They have an amazingly devoted fan base and have influenced so many younger musicians. The Cure truly deserve this award.
HBO will be airing the induction ceremony on April 27th at 8pm. In the meantime, enjoy a few photos from shows that I have photographed over the years. All photos copyright and courtesy of Shantel Mitchell Breen/These Subtle Sounds.
