Robert Smith of The Cure

Couldn't move of from a particular look.

Age

Pre or post op?

That’s a shame. ™

Kathleen Turner?

Siouxsie Sioux put a hex on him.

Who cares? He's a legend.

She was never a pretty girl. Like most goths.

Have you seen Marilyn Manson without make-up? A real horror show.

He was never good looking so what's the problem, OP?

Damn. He looks a mess.

That's been his look since forever and yeah, he got old and gained weight. Don't we all.

[quote]What happened?

His ugly soul surfaced.

They were so good on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

I guess fulfilling the expectations connected to his image collided with the passage of time.

It’s bizarre that he feels that he has to continue with that look. The songs certainly don’t need it. Quite the opposite in fact.

Sorry, here's the full video.

He looks like a Goth Marty Allen.

I like that he's one of the queerest straight guys in rock n' roll.

R 10 my dad had the biggest fanboy crush on Siouxsie and my mom hated her because she had to look at a framed poster of this fug woman in our living room each day.

That'll make the boys cry.

He moved to Delaware and now works in a library.

Oh dear. He’s gone full frau!

When was their last hit?

Late 80s/ early 90s?

Cookies, cakes, and pies happened, that's wot!

R24 I think he's still active in collaborating and recording but his damn Wikipedia goes on for pages.

Wow they only had ONE big hit in the US, the #2 peaking Love Song in 1989 and one further top 20 hit in 1992, so they're technically "one hit wonders"

I'd like to see him do a YouTube a before and after makeup tutorial. Mainly for the 'before'.

He should have dropped the makeup and hair circa 1997 but when that window closed, it's like he can't and has to carry on until the grave.

He was a cute boy early, before the hair and makeup went full goth, albeit typical British no upper lip .

Really, just give him a quilt to wear and some cats to perfect the look.

I don't know her.

Has he and actress Margo Martindale ever been seen in the same room at the same time?

He's 60, and people tend to like him more for his music than his good looks although to be fair he was pretty gorgeous back in the day, even with his make-up.

Someone here claimed once they were in a men's room at the same time with Smith and they heard him asking some other guy if Smith could blow him. Could be total bs but you never know.

Is he still bald? A few years ago he used to shock his fans in the concerts by ripping his wig off suddenly and revealing his totally bald head.

The Cure was one of my favorites in their early years. It is unfortunate that he didn't develop a way to evolve his "look" to match his age. NO ONE looks good dressing or styling in the exact same way for their entire life. He was able to pull it off for years, but lately...

He is one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

I saw The Cure close Glastonbury on MTV LIVE, from a couple of years ago.

Even as one whose been a fan from the beginning (1977!!!??), I was enthralled.

The enormous, ethereal waves of sound had the gigantic crowd transfixed.

It takes a lot to carry-on together for so many years, I understand why a band like The Cure would just decide to be done.

I think the Glastonbury show may have been a one-off, because they hadn’t gotten back together, and I couldn’t find tour information?

They never put out a shit album either.

The Cure are great. Who cares what he looks like?

R35, isn't Smith famous for not getting along with his bandmates which is why he keeps replacing them all the time? I've always been more into Depeche Mode but I've absolutely loved some albums from The Cure. I've never just felt any need to be really a fan, like I was with DM and Kate Bush.

Here's some live magic from their 2003 Trilogy concerts where they played through the whole albums of Pornography, Disintegration and Bloodflowers.

The Cure was the band that kicked off my teen music fandom--buying music, music magazines and going to shows. Before that I just listened to radio. Alas, I don't listen to them anymore and probably haven't since the late 90's. Their music didn't age well with me. Or perhaps, I didn't age well...In any case, I hardly listen to any of the 80's music I was so rabidly into as a teen. The only one I listen to now is Echo and Bunnymen and they were way down on the list of my favorites. Maybe because I wasn't such a big fan then and didn't tire of them.

My favorite song from their last CD Underneath the Stars.  The intro is enchanting.

Well, I suppose if John Waters was looking for a replacement for Devine....

The Cure aren't a democracy--Robert rules, everyone else follows or they leave. Simon Gallup, the bassist, is his best friend and even he had to leave for awhile. To Robert's credit, he shares songwriting credit with the band even though everyone knows he's the main songwriter. He said he never wanted the Cure to break up over money. They haven't released new material in over a decade so not much songwriting going nowadays. Robert, again, to his credit, is honest that he's got nothing new or interesting to say.

I though I was looking at a post-menopausal Gender Studies professor at UMASS Amherst.

He’s giving off a very strong Stefoknee vibe in that pic^

He got old and fat.

But Siouxsie has been calling him Fat Bob for years.

It reminds me a bit of Matthew Sweet, who was gorgeous before and now looks like David Crosby's slightly less hideous younger brother.

I don't know if it's age, booze or a desire to not be seen as The Cute One.

R43

or Liz Taylor as a Transman.

R44, that’s so funny. I was going to comment that my roommate called him that back in 1987. She was the one who introduced me to The Cure. Just yesterday I was playing all the oldies on my Spotify and was sort of shocked how many of their songs I know and love.

Paul Anka does a cover of “The Lovecats”.

I heard it playing in a Morton Williams supermarket a few years ago and couldn’t place it for a minute. Bizarre.

[quote]or Liz Taylor as a Transman.

More like a Transman as Liz Taylor after a bender.

He does have a certain Rhonda Bates quality.

I guess it's hard to let go of a look. After a certain age, dark hair (especially long hair) is harsh against an aging face. At least get a wig with some gray highlights near the face. Or get a blonde wig. Even Brian May, who's desperately needed a new haircut for 40 years, has gone gray.

More guys should just go the Billy Corgan route. Shave it off and make that part of your "look". A bald head might be rough if your genre of music is heavy metal, but it shouldn't be a problem if your genre is mopey goth.. I mean, if you're goth, you're supposed to be depressed. So, the baldness situation fits right in.

“And now for my next tune, ‘I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy’!”

Love the hair. I mean, why not? It's not as if tidy hair would help anyway.

Age, slower metabolism, clinging to a very dated look. He was never actually good looking and always relied on makeup and hair theatrics to deflect from that. Those gimmicks never age well.

He was cute when he was young!

R7 oh, so because he's white and male, he's a legend. No bitch, he should receive the same treatment as all the female divas on the DL. He looks like a fat skank and he better lose weight and get his act together. He looks unseemly...

Young Robert Smith

Young Robert Smith

He looks way better than Grandpa Morrissey.

R59 OMG! LOL!

Poor Morrissey. He looks unwell there. Well, they were both really cute in the 80s. And had the best music at the time!

He's turned into Pat Ast!

James Levine

He is a god. Can look however he wants.

R64 Yes ^^^^

Love him. Don't give a shit if he is heavy. Awesome man. Just like heaven is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I send cookies if I knew his address.

Another classic...

Siouxsie & The Banshees is a better band than The Cure.

R48 The Paul Anka version is so chill. This was The Cure at their jazziest.

In a rare non-Goth appearance...

This clip always makes me LOL because of Robert Smith just standing there frozen.

Oi! Bloody Hell!

R69, is one of the stupidest things I’ve read here.

r74, artistic wise they were. And women like Shirley Manson from Garbage got inspired by Siouxsie

That photo was a little shocking.

That's one funny picture, OP. We wonder if he and his wife are a matching set.

He always had a biggish face which doesn't age well if the person gets fat. He reminds me a bit of Mick Hucknall. He looks gross now.

Ignore the Siouxsie troll.

they make good music, enough said.

He got fat and old in the 1990s, though. The surprise is that he held on to the look. Really thought he would have dropped it by now. His occasional jokes about it don't really explain his devotion to the frizzy grandma look.

Robert or Roberta?

Robert Smith's accent sounds upper class to my American ears, is he? He's one of the few people who don't sound American when he sings. I wonder why? The British age notoriously badly.

Anyway, I'm a fan, and so what he got old and fat? 97% of you did too. The other 2% will soon enough.

Great music! That's all that matters.

His fans don't really care what he looks like. Hawai'i 2016.

He was never a good looking man, but who gives a flying shit? He is one talented guy and that is what matters. I will be eternally grateful for the amazing songs he gave us.

Early Cure, in their first live TV performance c.1979. Strong punk influences are evident...

Has his mental infirmity been diagnosed? He is mentally ill, right? No sane man would go out in public looking like that.

Even in the late 80s he was heavy. He drinks a lot.

R87 Holy crap! He is cute there. Never saw him that young or looking so old as in the OP's pic. Funny I can't imagine those two people being in the same room together let alone being the same person.

Billy Idol looks frightening in those pics but his recent music sounds like an 80's time capsule. You could still imagine younger versions singing them if you didn't have to look.

He aged a worst than his music. I used to love the Cure when I was a young, now I can't tolerate most of the songs. I don't know many people that keeps the same look for more than 30 years, normal people adapt.

Brilliant musician. We all age. That being said, yeah, the 'cure' obviously didn't take....

Robert Smith is God and Simon Gollup is hot af.

1979 - and 40 years flew by just like that - a flash - boom - bang - gone - the thing is that clip, that music could be played today - it still sounds somewhat fresh. I am just freaked out how fast life streaks by. Also - Billy Idol was so damn beautiful in his youth.

He was beautiful as a young man.

Tim Pope indicates release date of the trailer for the "Live in Hyde Park" film will be released this Thursday, June 6.

I normally couldn't give two shits about breeders, but tbh, I've always admired and envied Robert and his wife's relationship. If there is such a thing as true love and soulmates, they would be it. They've been together since they first met at 14, each of them is the only one the other has ever been with (purportedly), and of course, their relationship inspired what I feel like are the most beautiful love songs ever written (Just Like Heaven and Lovesong).

Not to mention, it's gotta be true love if he's comfortable letting himself go like that.

He's channelling Andrea Dworkin these days.

Witch Hazel from Bugs Bunny cartoons. A certain resemblance. Well, sort of..

I think it involved overeating and the wrong shade of lipstick.

Interview in The Guardian.

He's always been very introspective.

Most famous people have a signature look that's little dated but predictable, familiar and in some ways reassuring. And there's nothing wrong with a little tipple now and again!

I read either an interview or article years ago where it stated that the time he spent working with Siouxsie was rather toxic.

Good to know he’s been able to stay true to himself and his artistic integrity.

[quote] I read either an interview or article years ago where it stated that the time he spent working with Siouxsie was rather toxic.

If you dig a little into the band's history Siouxsie & the Banshees always had troubles with their guitarists. When the previous guitarist left the band high and dry right before starting a tour Robert stepped in, but all in all the band seemed ungrateful. Though Robert did a little side project with Steven Severin as The Glove at some point.

Why is it so controversial to say that SATB was better than the Cure? I absolutely think so. It's just that the Cure has made more commercial music that's it. A Kiss in the Dreamhouse and Juju are better than any Cure album maybe except for Three Imaginary Boys. You can't convince me otherwise.

i've always loved the Cure. to me Robert looks his age. Sad that we all grow old

I met him once briefly after a show in the 80s. He seemed nice with a sense of humor.

I don't care about him or Morrissey, but how both have aged illustrates very well how much better gay men look in middle age.

you, soft and only, you lost and lonely. you, just like heaven.

^^^^ It really is hard to believe a straight man wrote the above lyrics. And yet it happened.

"He aged a worst than his music"

Accoo me?

Wasn't Gerry Goffin straight?

He is acting very bizarre here. Drugs, or is he just a weirdo?

R115 meet R85

Trailer for the concert documentary coming July 11.

I read an article once where he was talking about his family- apparently, his kids think he's a doofus,lol.

ALL kids think their parents are doofuses.

Paul/Porl/Pearl Thompson is giving him a run for his money in the beauty department.

r118, Robert Smith decided early on not to have any children. He never did. What kids are you referring to?

The make up was always a deliberate mess. But now he’s old and flabby so he looks like that weird hoarder lady in the neighbourhood, who doesn’t wash her hair and despite poor eyesight wont wear glasses so cant see what a bad job she’s going of her make up.

Porl Thompson married Robert's sister. Don't know if they are still together.

It’s the smile thing.

He is so cute at R72.

I think he's close to his nieces and nephews.

He is a legend and I used to lust after him in a ferocious manner when I was young.

Now, he’s a bit heavier and the hair is dry, and he could update the look a bit. Lighter on the eyeliner, maybe a nice nude lip.

Either way, still a god.

He looks like Paul’s mom (from high school) and we’re just hanging out until she passes out so Paul can grab the car keys.

Oh, and she knows Paul is trying to steal her keys in OP’s picture.