Tom Waits - In the Neighborhood
(We have to stop somewhere, and where better than alphabetically? Finally, from one of the greats, a song from Swordfish Trombones, an album that drowned post-Cure show ? around the world, through the 1980s and beyond. The very magical Tom Waits and In The Neighborhood.)

Suzanne Vega - Small Blue Thing
(Next is one of the most beautiful songs from one of my all-time favorite artists. Cool and smooth and curious. This is Suzanne Vega with Small Blue Thing.)

Sugarcubes - Birthday
(Next up is one of those Peel show songs. Like White Riot, or Alison, or One World, or Waiting In Vain, where I just stopped, and listened. This is The Sugarcubes. The Sugarcubes and Birthday.)

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
(The next song is a bit of an obvious pick. It's probably on more 80s collections than any other song I can think of, but it does, somehow, for 3 short minutes, manages to whirl me back 27 long years. This is Soft Cell and Tainted Love.)

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Dear Prudence
(It was going to be a song called Christine, which is a gorgeous song, but then I came over all psychedelic and sentimental. So, from Robert Smith & the Banshees, this is Dear Prudence.)

Psychedelic Furs - Heaven
(Next up is another seminal 80s track but so much more than that. Another really outstanding band, instantly recognizable sound, 3 great albums in a row, cool tunes, cool words, cool shades, so how come Richard Butler didn't end up owning the world, too? This is the Psychadelic Furs, and Heaven.)

Prince - Starfish & Coffee
(Psychedelic rhymes, backwards drums, harp drills, hand tambourines, surf harmonies. This is so 196...80s, it hurts. From one of the really great albums of the decade, this is a song that reminds me of a particularly lovely time in my life. Prince, with Starfish & Coffee.)

The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong
(Next is another of those songs that just jumps out and gets you. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, ow!, love at first listen. One of the best feelings in the world. Voice, melody, structure, and the sound of this song. Don't Get Me Wrong, The Pretenders.)

The Pixies - Gigantic
(Next up from another one of the best bands I ever saw or heard, going on after them on the Prayer Tour in 1989 pushed the Cure to a new level and they'd really only just started! This song sounds heartfelt, effortless, carefree, gorgeous and fun, and it always makes me feel very very happy. Cue the best stick-click intro ever, this is the Pixies, and Gigantic.)

Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice
(The next up is yet another post-show Club Smith 3 am favorite, one of the all-time great weird late night singalongs. I, I, I love this song, even the rap bit! This is Yoko Ono, Walking on Thin Ice.)

New Order - Everything's Gone Green
(Next up is another song that was a Steve Severin "Clockwalk Club flap Christmas" (?) staple. I hold on to my picture of this as it was then - possible and New Order, Everything's Gone Green.)

Mel & Kim - Respectable
(What can I say about the next song? One of those secret, guilty pleasures? Except it's not secret and I don't feel guilty, BUT it is a pleasure, not many days went by on the Cure Kiss Me tour in 1987 when this wasn't played very very very loud. Mel and Kim, Respectable.)

My Bloody Valentine - Lose My Breath
(Next song up an absolutely beautiful piece of music from one of my all time favorite groups. I particularly love the way in this song that the sound of every breath being taken is the loudest thing in the mix. Absolute genius. This is My Bloody Valentine and Lose my Breath.)

Madness - Return of the Lost Palmas Seven
(The next song's one of those "I can't help it, I just love it" things. 2 and a half minutes of "sharp suited, out with the naughty boys, good time music" Another song I almost learned to dance to, this is Madness, with the Return of the Los Palmas Seven. Waiter.)

Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
(There were more than a few songs in the same kind of style as the next one. Whatever the kind of style is or was. And in the right place, at the right time, in the wrong mind, I could really enjoy this kind of style a lot. This song in particular stuck with me, as it was, and is, one of the best examples of this kind of style. Despite the rapping. )

Joy Division - The Eternal
(Another song that would have to be in my Top 30 of all time. Although this is the sound of the end of the 70s, it was the sound of the start of the 80s. It's effects on me as an artist, and an individual, were pretty profound. It's one of the saddest, and best, songs I ever heard. This is Joy Division and The Eternal.)

Jesus and Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking
(The 1960s via the 1970s via the 19880s or something. So much fun, too much fun. This is the Jesus and Mary Chain, Some Candy Talking.)

Human League - Human
(From one of the giants of the 1980s, yet another song that would be there in my Top 30 of all-time, I think. The group that kind of did what we did. Went from underground to overground. As soon as I heard this song, I fell in love with it. And despite, or maybe because of, the four line Yorkshire rap in the middle, I still love it. Very loud and very often. This is The Human League with Human.)

Peter Gabriel - Red Rain
(While Sledgehammer caused a much bigger stir, it was this next song that moved me a lot more. Another seminal sound & vision. The vast gated drum reverb, the auto wah sub-bass, and on top of it all, the voice of Peter Gabriel singing Red Rain.)

Echo & The Bunnymen - Killing Moon
(Next is another song that would make my Top 30 of all-time, I think. One of the mysteries of the 1980s, as a decade, is how it ended up with so many idiots on top. How come Ian McCulloch didn't trip? until 1990 ruling the world? This is Echo & the Bunnymen and The Killing Moon.)

Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene
(Would make his Top 30 of all time. The sound of the 80s turning into the 90s. One of the best guitarists he's ever seen.)

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
(Really fun watching them grow from a tiny synth pop band into a huge synth rock band, with at least one great single on every album. This is probably one of the best.)

D.A.F. - Sex Unter Wasser
(Another Severin flat memory. This had a strange influence on the Glove project, but he's not quite sure how.)

Christina - Things Fall Apart
(takes him back to Steve Severin's flat during Christmas 82.)

Cocteau Twins - Persephone
(played their album Treasure as he was getting ready on his wedding day.)

Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

Bananarama and Funboy 3 - It Ain't What You Do
(It's the Way that You Do It)

David Bowie - Lets Dance

The Associates - Tell Me It's Easter on Friday

ABC - Look of Love




Over Memorial Day weekend, Sirius XM channel First Wave (Sirius 22 - XM 44) will present "4 For The Cure Memorial Weekend" - 4 days honoring Robert Smith and The Cure! Tune in to hear an exclusive, unreleased 3-hour Cure concert from LA's Hollywood Bowl recorded May 31st, 2008. It airs May 22nd at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. It will be re-broadcast on May 23rd at 12 Noon EST, May 24th at 10 PM EST, and May 25th at 4 PM EST.


Then on May 24th at 11:00 AM EST, listen in at First Wave host Richard Blade interviews Robert. They'll be discussing the band's music - new and old, song writing, recording, and playing live.


Additionally, Robert will guest deejay throughout Memorial Day weekend, introducing Cure songs and offering his insights into the band's music, including the New Wave classics "Let's Go to Bed," "Just like Heaven" and "Friday I'm in Love," as well as presenting his very own 'Top 30 of the 1980's'!


Get a three-day free trial of SiriusXM to hear the concert, Robert Smith's 1980's Top 30 and other programming by clicking on http://www.sirius.com/1stwave and then selecting “Free Online Trial."

Here is my attempt at transcribing the (very short) RS interview.
I am sure this was shot backstage at the Vieilles Charrues Festivals in France in 2002
(other interviews filmed there aired on French TV at the time)

"The fact is that you stop asking questions when you get older you know, for a variety of reasons.
Usually because you get a family and your perception changes.
I haven't got any children and I think in that way,
on a very fundamental level my perception of my place in the world
has remained the same since I was a teenager so in that,
I think there's a connection between what I write and people over a certain age
who are probably starting to question their own existence.
I mean I still do, that sounds absurd and I realize that's actually part of the problem you know."

"It's really nice how they appreciate, even if they don't really like The Cure that much,
most of the other bands at the festivals appreciate(?) for us to still be doing this so there's a certain respect there.
Because (?) still a certain amount of integrity. We kind of do thing because we want to do them."

Interview de Dave Allen pour le fanzine Anomalie en 92
Propos receuillis à Londres par Muriel Drouineau

je l'ai ce fanzine !!