Questions and Answers.....
R = Robert / S = Simon / P = Perry / J = Jason / RO = Roger

When will the new studio album be released?
R 	Probably sometime in September '99' I think.

Who is producing the album this time around?
R 	Me and Paul Corkett (who mixed 'Mint Car' and co-produced 'World In My 
	Eyes' and 'More Than This' and 'A Sign Of God')

How different is the recording process to that of 'WMS'?
R 	The three biggest differences are...
	a - We've demoed most of the songs live as a band during the summer, so 
	everyone (notionally) knows what they're doing! b - I'd written all the 
	words already before I've started singing.. c - We're not looking for a 
	drummer this time!

Is it true that you demoed and recorded most of the songs yourself 
before entering the studio with the other band members to produce 
this album?
R 	I always do - the difference is (a) above...

How is the recording of the new album going? Any surprises for 
Cure fans?
S 	No one should look in their parents wardrobe on Christmas eve...
	Oh I don't fucking know, next year's specialised bikes look really good 
	though!
P 	Recording is going well - We might surprise Cure fans by releasing the 
	album on time.
J 	Very well, lots of surprises!
RO 	It's going very well, I don't think there are any surprises....

Do you enjoy the process of recording and spending time in the 
studio?
P 	There's a lot of waiting around to do sometimes but I keep busy and look 
	forward to the playing.
J 	I do very much.
RO 	I like the actual recording but so much of the process is waiting and 
	living together with so many people; it can be very trying at times...

Did you enjoy the secret gig you recently played in London? Were 
you surprised about all the fuss it caused with the British fans 
who were not able to attend it?
R 	It was ok - I agreed to do it because everyone expected me to turn it 
	down! (and I thought it was an interesting idea...) -Telling anyone about 
	it beforehand would have made the whole concept of the 'surprise concert' 
	a bit redundant! and anyway - there were no tickets on sale
	to the 'general public'. It was a 'competition winners only' bash - so 
	the 'fuss' couldn't really bother me!
S 	I hated the run up to it, then ten minutes in, I sort of liked it!
P 	It was a really good concert (sorry!)
J 	I wasn't surprised about the fans being angry about not being able to 
	attend it because they spend a lot of money getting to various places 
	where we play and when it's in England and they couldn't come it was 
	unfair, so yes we should do something.
RO 	Yes the concert was also one of the best we've ever played...I was very 
	saddened by the fan reaction, especially from certain people who I thought
	were friends...to be accused of not caring about our fans was very hurtful...but a lot of people understood and were supportive...

Was it your idea to record a song for the 'Orgazmo' project with 
Reeves and Jason? When and where did you record it?
R 	Matt and Trey asked me if The Cure would do a song for the film - I had 
	'A Sign From God' music written, and thought that it would be perfect - 
	I didn't really see it making it onto the new Cure album anyway - so I 
	did it with Reeves and Jason (and Paul Corkett!) at RAK Studios, London, 
	one weekend last summer.
J 	We all met up for a day in a Studio in London and just went for it. It 
	was good to work and at the end of the day to have a song there!

Did you enjoy the summer concerts? Which was your favourite and 
why?
R 	Of the thirteen, I thought Rothenburg and Brno and Odemira and La Coruna 
	were pretty good - Nimes and Lyon were pretty bad - and the others were 
	ok...
S 	Como - Daryl, Roger and I went cycling!
P 	I enjoyed them all except one, but I can't remember why!
J 	There were a couple in Spain and Portugal that I liked, we played well, 
	also I liked the Amphitheatre in France
RO 	Yes very much, after a few teething troubles at the beginning i think 
	they were some of the best concerts we've played as a group...Portugal 
	and Spain were / are my favourites....Portugal was an amazing gig and 
	Spain was also very special for other reasons.

Could you tell us a bit more about the wedding you played at and 
which songs you performed on the day?
R 	Ray Cokes asked me backstage at Shepherds Bush Empire last Christmas if 
	we'd play at his wedding and I said yes! we played 'Let's Go To Bed', 
	'Lullaby', 'Saturday I'm In Love', 'Love Song', 'Close To Me', Boy's Don't
	Cry', '10:15 Saturday Night', and 'Killing An Arab'... very, very badly... 
	(and yes, I wore a suit!)

Who decided on which songs you played over the summer concerts?
R 	I had a favourite 'Wish list' that was gradually whittled (worn?) down in 
	rehearsals...

During the summer festival dates, you sometimes played a 'Green 
bass" guitar. Was this because you had problems with your regular 
Gibson T-Bird guitar, or did you just fancy a change?
S 	They are tuned in a different way, so when I need to play a song with a 
	low 'D', Nick just shouts "Green bass" Also I broke the other one!

It is fairly unique that fans of The Cure travel world wide to see 
your concerts unlike any other other group of fans, are you aware 
of this enthusiasm and loyal commitment towards The Cure? Do you 
find it strange?
R 	Enthusiasm and loyalty are qualities I have always admired...
S 	I don't find it unique of Cure fans, even if it is (was) committed. 
	Whatever, it doesn't affect my life. I am aware of the enthusiasm towards 
	Robert and good luck.
P 	Obviously I'm aware of the loyalty of our fans - sometimes I'm amazed by 
	it!
J 	I am aware of the enthusiasm, no I don't find it strange, it can be very 
	uplifting though.
RO 	(You cannot quantify unique, something is either unique or not) ...
	I don't think it's unique a lot of people spend their lives following 
	bands around...Yes I do find it strange, It's not something that I would 
	or have ever done.

Once the album is recorded, are you going to do another World tour?
R 	Ummmm....I'm not sure...

Is there any truth in the rumour that you will be part of the 
'Australian - Big Day Out' tour early next year?
R 	No - They did ask us but I turned it down - It doesn't happen at the 
	right time to suit us...

Were you surprised at the lack of success in the U.K and Europe 
with 'Galore'?
R 	Not really - resigned is more the feeling I got...

Did you ever make a promo video for 'Strange Attraction'?
R 	Unfortunately not.

Any more plans for the B-Sides project?
R 	It will hopefully appear next year - honest!

Recently Polygram records have been re-mastering and reissuing 
back catalogue CD's. Do you have any plans to to this with earlier 
Cure albums adding extra tracks and sleeve notes?
R 	Yes - The early albums will most likely be 're-mastered' and have a few 
	pertinent extra tracks etc (e.g. 'Carnage Visors' will almost certainly 
	be added to 'Faith') - but I'm a bit fussy about what goes where, so I'm 
	not sure exactly when this will all happen...

You were recently listed in 'Q' (The British music magazine) as 
47th richest Rock/Pop star. Does having your estimated wealth 
published anger you, embarrass you or does it not bother you at 
all?
R 	I think an estimate of my spending would have been much more fun!

You once said that you thought 'The Top' album was mixed at the 
wrong speed. Did you mean too fast or to slow and which tracks 
were you referring to at the time?
R 	I honestly have no idea! (as is often the case with answers to questions 
	prefaced with "You once said"...)

There are so many Cure demos, live tracks and Radio sessions 
available as bootlegs, are you ever going to release this sort of 
material in the future?
R 	Why? I think 'Show' and 'Paris' are fantastic live albums that piss all 
	over 99% of any Cure live bootlegs, and they are always on the verge of 
	being deleted by Polygram due to 'lack of interest'... and as I don't 
	care one way or the other about the 'trade' in bootlegs anyway, I don't
	really see too much point in becoming involved...

Can you explain the connection between 'Plastic Passion' and 
'A Night Like This'?
R 	Musically, ' A Night Like This' is sort of 'Plastic Passion' slowed down 
	- I always liked the 'Roxy musicish' chord sequence of 'Plastic Passion', 
	but hated how it turned out - so seven years later...

When playing David Bowie's Birthday party a few years ago, were 
you given a choice of songs to perform?
R 	Not really... given 'carte Blanche' I would have loved to have done 
	either 'Drive In Saturday' or 'Life On Mars'... but 'Quicksand' was more 
	than I could ever have dreamed anyway - so I'm not complaining!

Have you seen the movie 'The Wedding Singer'? If so, what did did 
you think of Adam Sadler's portrayal of a Cure song?
R 	I haven't seen it yet - but I will soon (I've heard from a lot of people 
	that it's funny...)

Would you consider an official Cure convention as opposed to the 
unofficial one in L.A last year?
R 	No - Because I wouldn't go - so what would be the point?!

Are there any TV programmes you try never to miss?
S 	Everything the rest of the band hate!
J 	The Ashes (Cricket!), The News and Z-Cars.
RO 	Jerry Seinfeld...Grand Prix

Are you a fan of 'South Park'?
R 	Yes, I like it!
S 	I am a bit out of sorts on things like this (bit too late!) I haven't got 
	satellite T.V.
P 	Yes, very much!!
J 	I watch it sometimes, yes.
RO 	Yes, I love South Park.

Will Tim Pope direct future Cure videos?
R 	What future Cure videos?!

Would you like to reply to Perry's comments in CN19? Do you think 
playing keyboards is similar to standing behind a sandwich bar.... 
RO 	Teddy was only joking, he just assured me that he loves keyboards...
	"would you like Mayo or Mustard on that Sub....?"

Old punks never die, they just reform. What do you think of the 
recent reunions of Blondie, Bauhaus and Echo & The Bunnymen, to 
name but a few?
R 	I never liked Blondie or Bauhaus first time round, or the Bunnymen really 
	after 'Ocean Rain' - but then there's nothing too much wrong in 
	reminiscing with friends... (is there?... ) and anyway - good luck to 
	anyone that does anything I say... (well nearly anyone!)
S 	I suppose I'm meant to say something of worth here? But, those bands 
	were never punk bands. And if they were any good, why did they split in 
	the first place?
P 	I imagine enough time has passed for them to forget the reasons why they 
	split up, and they miss being in a band. Good luck to them.
J 	I liked them before. I don't think it dignified and for the right reasons 
	why not, on the other hand 'Bollocks'

What song best describes you?
R 	'39' (A new one...)

When playing the drum parts of Cure songs you have never played 
live before, do you listen to live versions of the songs featuring 
Boris, or the original studio recordings?
J 	Usually both.

What is your idea of Heaven or Hell?
R 	Heaven is peace...and hell is generally, so far, still other people...
S 	Good dream. Bad dream - We all have them, mine are no more poignant.
P 	Being in a group.
J 	Heaven - Sun, Sea, Nature, Films, Food. Hell - Tory party conference, 
	Traffic wardens, death.
RO 	I'm in both right now!

What is the first gig you went to?
R 	I think it was either 'The Sensational Alex Harvey Band' or 'Thin Lizzy' 
	or 'The Mahavishnu Orchestra' or 'Rory Gallagher' at the Brighton Dome 
	sometime in 1973...
S 	King Crimson or Incredible String Band (Both shit!)
P 	AC/DC at Southend Kursal.
J 	Captain Beefheart. Colston Hall, Bristol 1980.

If you had to recommend one Cure album to a non Cure fan to listen 
to, which one would it be and why?
R 	The new one - because it will be the best!
S 	The easiest one to answer! 'Wish'. Hard plus pop plus the happiest time 
	of my life!
P 	Disintegration "because it's Disintegration"
J 	Pornography, because of it's atmosphere and great sound.
RO 	Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

If you were invisible for a day what would you do?
S 	Go into lots of bike shops and nick the whole fucking lot.
P 	Be very, very naughty!
J 	Sneak into Simon's room - not really! Hold things in the air to scare 
	people!

You were pictured with a sport's car on the web site, what was the 
make of this car and do you ever get the chance to race or go to 
the Grand Prix?
RO 	Lotus Elise...yes I go to Grand Prix, but I don't race.

Recently the BBC have been playing a lot of Cure songs, using them 
as background music to various Television programmes. Do you feel 
strange when you hear a song like 'Other Voices' being used on a 
programme about cars?
R 	I never watch programmes about cars! but I know what you mean - and it 
	doesn't really bother me - I just don't allow our music to be used in 
	adverts... (and anyway, I couldn't stop the BBC using Cure music even if 
	I really wanted to!)

What do you think of the unofficial web sites about The Cure?
R 	Some are good, some aren't (so some are better than others - naah! 
	blistering insight... ) but I must admit that I have always found gossip and 
	rumour about anything or anyone pretty lamentable...
RO 	My favourite one is 'Chain of Flowers' Craig often knows things before 
	we do...Scott's concert page is also excellent, brings back lots of good 
	and bad memories reading the reviews.

Are you still responsible for updating the official Cure web site 
and what's happened to the chat room? 
RO 	Aha! The infamous Chat room....Well it's very complicated...We are still 
	waiting to move to a new server and until that happens we can't do 
	anything...so, it's all up in the air....but, do we really need all the 
	shit that goes with a Chat room?

What is your favourite song to perform live?
R 	Disintegration.
S 	From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea.
P 	Faith.
J 	It changes, at the moment 'Homesick'.
RO 	Prayers For Rain..

What are your views on Animal rights? Do you support this?
R 	Faced with a choice, I have always valued human rights more highly, but 
	I have always hated any kind of cruelty.

Do you keep in contact with your ex-band 'My Life Story'?
J 	Not really, but I write film music with the old cello player 'Oli'.

What have your personal highlights been whilst in The Cure?
R 	Retaining my sanity and my private life...
S 	Meeting 'Sarah'.
P 	Playing concerts. Travelling the world, meeting people...I love it all.
J 	Going to New York City for the first time. Playing songs that remind me 
	of a good time when I was young, having a laugh!
RO 	Come on Ten years of highlights...?

It is a great shame that alternative radio is unable to survive in 
the UK , following the sale of XFM Radio. Were you disappointed 
at the station's lack of success, what are your personal views on 
this?
R 	To my dismay, everyone involved had a price... the format should've 
	worked, and still could - if profit wasn't the only concern...

Over the summer months, you spent a lot of time flying to 
different countries to perform. Are you still afraid of flying, 
if so how do you cope with it?
S 	I still loathe flying. I tend to get to the airport twenty minutes 
	before anyone else...

After recording 'More Than This'. would you like to score a whole 
film soundtrack? If so what type of film would you like to work on?
R 	Yes I would - something mysterious and award winning!

Happiness is.......?
R 	Not wanting.
S 	27Ib 5' Back and front and rise bars. No wind, no rain and then down the 
	other side of the hill! Seven pints and then look at the other bikes, 
	Indian food, Morse on T.V....!
P 	Unexpected and fleeting.
J 	A Saturday sunny morning in the countryside, going to the pub, siting 
	outside eating Oysters. Walking along a beach...back to the pub, 
	listening to Owl's.
RO 	Happiness is....Going to sleep and never waking up...

Perry - you have been promising to draw a cartoon for Cure News, 
how about it then?
P 	I really don't think my cartoons would make any sense to anyone outside 
	the group, but I'll try...

If someone were to make a movie of your life, what actor would you 
like to portray you?
R 	Steve Buscemi? Jim Carey? Christopher Walker? Richard E Grant? Sandra 
	Bullock? This has the making of a good competition...

Do you care about the other's opinions?
S 	Yes I do! But Worlds apart!

What will you do after answering these questions?
R 	Drink Apricot brandy until I fall over...and then sing!
S 	Check some bits on my bike
P 	Playing guitar and writing.
J 	See if i can try to locate a clean pair of socks as I can never find any.
RO 	Go to sleep.