Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor introduced the The Cure for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the March 29th ceremony Barclay Center in NYC.
Earlier in the evening, Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, and Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey were interviewed on the red carpet .
Michael Dempsey being in attendance is special, as he, Lol, and Robert Smith made up original lineup for The Cure’s 1978 debut single “Killing An Arab”, and 1979 album Three Imaginary Boys.
Rock & Roll HoF induction red carpet live stream. The Cure minus Robert! /cc @CraigatCoF pic.twitter.com/0XLu4FXlOl
— Christie Koehler (@christi3k) March 29, 2019
Guitarist Pearl (Porl) Thompson arrived separately, looking the most flamboyant of all inductees during the evening, wearing a shimmering gold dress, and a black jacket with a burgundy bow.
When it was Robert Smith and the rest of the active members of The Cure’s turn to be interviewed on the red carpet, where the interviewer asks ‘”On my God! The Cure! Robert Smith! Are you as excited as I am?”, with Robert responding “By the sound of it, no, but I am sure we will get there eventually.”
He then continues his nervous introduction by stating:
“This is where a part of my brain says “Come on, say the right thing!”
During the interview Robert remarked on the new album, stating that the band played demos for each other in the studio, and decided what they would do from there, and then Robert would write the words, going into the session with an idea, and then turning it into a song.
Robert then commented on the 30th anniversary of Disintegration remarking that the band will probably be doing more anniversary shows “here” in NYC, in addition to Sydney, mirroring what was done with Reflections back in 2011.
Robert also promises the band will be playing new songs later in the year.
Watch the full red carpet below:
.@thecure is here #RockHall2019 pic.twitter.com/8uVbrz8QII
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) March 29, 2019
During the ceremony, Trent Reznor introduced the The Cure as an “instantaneously recognizable” band that “changed the face of popular music.” He then went on to say:
“One of the most important aspects of being swept away by this tidal wave of new music was getting to hear the Cure for the first time. Immediately, this band struck a deep cord with me. The first album I heard was [1985’s] The Head on the Door. I hadn’t heard anything like it before. A lot of darkness I felt in my head was coming back at me through the speakers; it blew my mind. It was like this music was written just for me. I’ve struggled my whole life feeling like I don’t fit in or belong anywhere.”
“Hearing this, suddenly I felt connected, and no longer quite so alone in the world. That’s one of the things I find so unique and special about the power of music. It wasn’t just the sound, the words or the presentation. All of it was anchored by the most exquisite of instruments – Robert Smith’s voice. That voice, capable of such a range of emotion and expression, from rage, sorrow and despair, to beauty, frailty and joy. It might sound naive, but until I heard The Head on the Door, I just didn’t realize it was possible to write about such difficult and profound ideas – but do it in the context of accessible songs, that might even get played on the radio, challenging norms from the inside.”
When Robert Smith takes the stage, the audience gave him a standing ovation.
Robert Smith then remarks how “doesn’t seem that long” since the band’s 1st album, although it’s been 40 years. He also thanks a lot of the various band members who have been in the lineup, including the late Andy Anderson who passed away earlier this month.
Read Robert Smith’s full speech below:
“I’d like to thank everyone at the Rock Hall… everyone that voted for us. It’s a surprise. It’s a very nice surprise to be inducted into the Rock Hall. And I’d like to congratulate everyone else that was inducted tonight as well. As Trent said, it’s 40 years since our first album came out—doesn’t seem like it though. And in that time, there’s obviously been a lot of people who played a part in the Cure story, for better or worse. I’m not gonna stand and read of a lot of names… I shouldn’t say too much really, it is quite tedious. I’m no good with stories and I’m a very bad communicator. But I would like to thank everyone that’s been in the band: Boris Williams, Pearl Thompson, Laurence Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey, Perry Bamonte, Matthieu Hartley, Phil Thornalley, and the much-missed Andy Anderson. And everyone that’s in the band: Jason Cooper, Reeves Gabrels, Roger O’Donnell, and of course, Simon Gallup, who’s been with me every step of the way.
I was thinking as I was walking up, if I start naming people I’ll just go on and on. But there is one person when we very first started, when we were a teenage trio in 1978 playing in the south of England, this small bloke came along, and we weren’t really sure who he was. And he saw something in us that most people didn’t and that’s Chris Parry, proving that he did get something right, after all. And finally, I’d like to thank all the fans, because, everyone that’s bought records—I mean, obviously that’s going to get a cheer! Everyone that’s bought the record, or listened to the music, been to a show, just enjoyed what we do, it’s been a fantastic thing, it really has. Thanks. We love you too, that’s the point
Where’s my “wrap it up!”? I need my wrap it up sign! Anyway, I’d rather use that allocated time to play some music… thank you very much!”
For the opening song of their live performance, The Cure open with The Top’s Shake Dog Shake, a song choice possibly in tribute to Anderson, whose percussion was a strongpoint for the 1984 era song.
Tribute to Andy Anderson on Robert’s guitar tonight. Thanks, @fictionforest! pic.twitter.com/7gevGzjAIT
— Chain of Flowers (@CraigatCoF) March 30, 2019
Next “A Forest,” with an extended intro. With this performance you almost expect Simon to say “Fuck Robert Palmer, and fuck Rock and Roll” at the end.
Next The Cure play “Love Song”, followed by “Just Like Heaven”, and “Boys Don’t Cry.”
None of the old members performed during the songs.
The 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air April 27 on HBO.
Meanwhile The Cure will continue to perform festival dates and special gigs throughout the year, along with mixing their highly anticipated new album this summer for a future release.
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