The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976, led throughout by Robert Smith. Disintegration (1989) is the masterpiece most people start with, in a catalog that swings from the bleakness of Pornography to bright pop singles — and 2024's Songs of a Lost World proved they still have it. Find The Cure vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The Cure formed in Crawley, West Sussex, England in 1976. Robert Smith has been the band's constant member, principal songwriter, and creative leader through an ever-shifting lineup that has included Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst, Boris Williams, Porl Thompson, and others. The Cure grew from punk and post-punk roots into one of the most enduring and influential alternative bands in the world, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
The Cure are widely cited as pioneers of gothic rock and a defining post-punk and alternative act, though Smith has often resisted the goth label. Their music spans stark, despairing soundscapes and exuberant pop, unified by Smith's distinctive voice, layered guitar and keyboard textures, and emotionally direct lyrics. Disintegration in particular is frequently named among the most influential albums of its era.
The Cure's Fiction/Elektra catalog has been reissued in expanded deluxe editions with demos and live material, and Disintegration and other key titles appear in anniversary and picture-disc variants. Original UK pressings and the 2024 return album in multiple formats are actively collected.
Listeners new to The Cure often start with Disintegration (1989) or the compilation Staring at the Sea. For related listening, see and .
