Robert Smith

Robert Smith in 2012

Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1957) is an English musician. He is best known for being the lead singer of The Cure. He has been the only constant member in the band's 37-year history. They have released 13 studio albums and 10 EPs. Their biggest UK hit so far is "Lullaby", which reached number 5. Their biggest US hit is "Lovesong". In 1983, he released an album called Blue Sunshine with Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias' John Scott under the name The Glove. He has worked with other bands like Crystal Castles. He has also sung songs on his own for movie soundtracks.

Personal life

Smith can play guitar, bass guitar, double bass, keyboard, violin, flute and trumpet. He has a tenor vocal range. He is married to Mary Poole, who he met at the age of 14 in a drama class.

Smith was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. In 1960, his family moved to Trafford, Manchester. In 1963, they moved to Salford, Manchester. He was raised Catholic but later became an atheist. His first band, The Salford Goat Band, was at the age of 14. In 1976, Smith was a member of a punk rock band called Malice. Smith then formed a band with members of Malice called Easy Cure. In 1978 they became The Cure. In 1979 they released their first album, Three Imaginary Boys. It got good reviews. In 1999, Smith was going to end The Cure but Ross Robinson persuaded him not to.

Awards and recognitions

Tim Burton gave Smith the Shockwaves NME Godlike Genius Award in 2006.

There have been lots of references to Smith in pop culture. In 2004 in episode 11 of series 2 of The Mighty Boosh Vince Noir says to Howard Moon that he can spend the evening with two goth girls if he dresses like a goth. Vince gives Howard a can of "Goth Juice: the most powerful hairspray known to man, made from the tears of Robert Smith". Lush made a hair gel inspired by this called Goth Juice that says 'made from the tears of Robert Smith' on the pot, but they don't make it anymore.

Smith appeared in the twelfth episode of season 1 of South Park, "Mecha-Streisand" in 1998. At the time the episode brought South Park their biggest number of viewers for an episode to date.