{"id":3062,"date":"2026-06-22T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/?p=3062"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:31:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:31:56","slug":"3-surprising-facts-about-the-cures-robert-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/3-surprising-facts-about-the-cures-robert-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Surprising Facts About The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You know The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith for his band\u2019s alternative rock anthems \u201cBoys Don\u2019t Cry\u201d<\/a>, \u201cJust Like Heaven\u201d, \u201cLovesong\u201d, and many others. Equally identifiable is the frontman\u2019s iconic and perfectly disheveled look: black, unkempt hair, crooked lipstick, and general goth couture. For my fellow Cure nerds, here are three facts about Smith that may surprise you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He Studied Classical Guitar as a Child<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might not think that a touchstone of goth and post-punk would have classical music origins. However, Smith told<\/a> Guitar Player<\/em> in 1992, \u201cI started on classical guitar, actually. I had lessons from age nine with a student of John Williams, a really excellent guitarist. My sister was a piano prodigy, so sibling rivalry made me take up guitar because she couldn’t get her fingers around the neck. I learned a lot, but got to the point where I was losing the sense of fun. I wish I\u2019d stuck with it. I still read music, but it takes me too long to work through a piece.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modest Gear<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are a guitarist, you\u2019ve likely seen endless videos of Rig Rundowns in your social media feed. In these videos, famous guitarists offer a glimpse of expansive guitar rigs<\/a>, and perhaps a few of you have experienced gear envy. But Smith, on the other hand, sticks to a modest rig of pedals<\/a>\u2014most of which can be found used for less than $100. It proves you don\u2019t need fancy equipment to be a rock legend. Though you do need the skills to write a masterpiece like Disintegration<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Real-Life Nightmare<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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