Robert Smith Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

After several days filled with complaints about excessive fees on the $20 tickets to see The Cure – including complaints from its frontman Robert Smith – a report indicates Ticketmaster will give back some of its fees.

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has revealed that after speaking to Ticketmaster regarding the “unduly high” prices for the band’s upcoming US tour, the ticketing system will be issuing small refunds to verified ticket buyers.Smith announced the news on Thursday night (March 16) through Twitter following the launch of The Cure’s US tour tickets. “After further conversation, Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged are unduly high, and as a gesture of goodwill have offered a $10 per ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for Lowest Ticket Price (‘LTP’) transactions,” the frontman wrote.1 OF 2: AFTER FURTHER CONVERSATION, TICKETMASTER HAVE AGREED WITH US THAT MANY OF THE FEES BEING CHARGED ARE UNDULY HIGH, AND AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL HAVE OFFERED A $10 PER TICKET REFUND TO ALL VERIFIED FAN ACCOUNTS FOR LOWEST TICKET PRICE ('LTP’) TRANSACTIONS…— ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023He continued, saying that all other ticket price transactions through verified fan accounts will receive a $5 per ticket refund for all Cure shows at all venues.

Robert Smith, frontman of the U.K. rock legends The Cure, is the latest artist to take aim at Ticketmaster for its business model.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor The living hell of concert ticket-buying loomed into the foreground again this week, but this time it was not millions clamoring for a limited number of Taylor Swift or Bruce Springsteen tickets but rather attempts by long-running British alternative band the Cure to avoid gouging fans for its forthcoming “Lost World” North American tour. While the group had managed to avoid such controversial policies as platinum packages and variable pricing, frontman/founder Robert Smith was appalled to see hefty service fees added to the cost of “Verified Fan” tickets, which are intended to protect fans by keeping tickets out of the hands of scalpers, for the tour.

The Cure’s Robert Smith has responded to criticism about ticket fees for shows on their upcoming North American tour, which in some cases exceed the price of the actual tickets being sold.The band, he said, had opted to sell tickets though Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system in order to limit the number that ended up on the big bad touting sites (or ‘scalping’ sites if you prefer, given these are US shows). Despite seeing positives with that approach, Smith said that he was also angry about the high fees charged by the Live Nation-owned ticketing platform.“I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster fees debacle”, he wrote on Twitter last night.

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has said he is “sickened” by high Ticketmaster fees for the band’s upcoming North American tour after they vowed to keep prices affordable for fans.Last week the band announced a 30-date tour across the US, which is set to kick off at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on May 10 before closing out at the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida on July 1.In an email to fans, Smith said they would keep ticket prices reasonable, writing: “The Cure have agreed all ticket prices, and apart from a few Hollywood Bowl charity seats, there will be no ‘platinum’ or ‘dynamically priced’ tickets on this tour.”The band also said that tickets would not be “transferable” to minimise “resale and keep prices at face value”. Smith has since elaborated on the ticketing strategy, acknowledging “real problems” with the system and that it wasn’t “perfect”, but did clarify that the band had a “final say” over pricing.However, after the Verified Fan sale went live yesterday (March 15), some fans reported that Ticketmaster fees, including service fee, facility charge and order processing fee, exceeded the price of actual tickets.Smith has now responded, tweeting that he was “sickened” by the “ticketmaster ‘fees’ debacle”.He continued: “To be very clear: the artist has no way to limit them.

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has elaborated on the band’s decision to partner with Ticketmaster for the “non-transferable” ticketing strategy for their upcoming North American tour.On March 10, The Cure announced that tickets to their North American tour would not be transferable in order to minimise “resale and keep prices at face value”. Smith has since taken to Twitter to shed light on the ticketing strategy for the tour, first announcing on Wednesday (March 15) that Ticketmaster had informed the band that “ALL tickets for The Cure Shows Of A Lost World Tour will be made available during tomorrow’s Verified Fan Sale”.Smith then thanked fans for their support before going on to acknowledge “real problems” with the ticketing system.

The Cure have said that tickets for their North American tour will not be “transferable”.The band announced their North American tour yesterday (March 9), with a run that kicks off at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on May 10.With ticket registration for the tour opening today (March 10), the band made the announcement about tickets not being transferable, with a view to minimise “resale and keep prices at face value”.Sharing a statement on their social media, the band wrote: “If something comes up that prevents a fan from being able to use a ticket they have purchased, they will be able [to] resell it on a face value ticket exchange.”The statement continued: “Unfortunately, despite our desire to protect our low ticket prices for fans, the states of NY, IL and CO make this very difficult – they actually have laws in place that protect scalpers! For shows in these states we urge fans to buy or sell tickets to one another on face value exchanges like twickets.live and cashortrade.org.”TICKET REGISTRATION OPEN NOW AT https://t.co/PkDGUv9w7c #ShowsOfALostWorld23 #TheCure #NorthAmerica pic.twitter.com/KgYQNu3S4F— The Cure (@thecure) March 10, 2023The Cure’s tour includes stops in Austin, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Tampa and many more, before closing out at the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida on July 1.The band also have three consecutive dates at both LA’s Hollywood Bowl (May 23, 24, 25) and New York’s Madison Square Garden (June 20, 21, 22) with support across all dates from The Twilight Sad.Verified fan registration is open now until Monday, March 13 at 10am EST and can be accessed here.

Thania Garcia The Cure is hitting the road for a North American trek that includes three dates each at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl and New York’s Madison Square Garden. This will be the first time the band plays any North American shows since their 2019 festival appearances and their first tour in the region since 2016. Following a slate of 2022 European concerts, the Cure’s “Shows of a Lost World” tour will kick on May 10 in New Orleans and hit 30 stops across the U.S. and some parts of Canada with a closing show on July 1 in Miami. The Cure will be supported by Scottish post-punk band the Twilight Sad at all shows. See the full lineup below.

The Cure have announced a 2023 tour across North America – find all the details below and purchase tickets here.The band will kick off the 30-date tour at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on May 10, with stops planned in Austin, San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Tampa and many more, before closing out at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami on July 1.The run also includes three dates at both LA’s Hollywood Bowl and New York’s Madison Square Garden, with support across all dates from The Twilight Sad.“The Cure return to North America in May for a 30 date tour #ShowsOfALostWorld23,” the band wrote on social media, the hashtag being the name of their much anticipated first new album since 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream’.Verified fan registration is open now until Monday, March 13 at 10am EST and can be accessed here.

Britpop: The Music That Changed Britain will kick off this weekend to celebrate the genre’s 30th anniversary.The series will document the story of the integral British genre from start to finish. There will be “exclusive new interviews with the key players”, who will tell “fascinating behind-the-scenes stories”, and a “rare and unseen archive of all the era’s big names”.The first episode tells the story of Britpop’s rise to fame and the infamous rivalries between Blur, Oasis, Suede and Elastica.

teasing its release, Noel Gallagher has released The Cure‘s Robert Smith‘s remix of High Flying Birds‘ ‘Pretty Boy’.The remix – which you can listen to below – features on the deluxe limited-edition of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ upcoming album ‘Council Skies’, due for release on June 2 via Sour Mash.Smith said of his remix via a press release: “I was surprised and delighted when Noel asked me to remix this gorgeous song, and I had a lot of fun slowing it down and spacing it out – Cure drummer Jason Cooper gave me a great vibey drum track to play along with – and the rest just phased into place under the starry sky of my distant moon…”The deluxe edition of ‘Council Skies’ will be available in triple vinyl and 2CD formats featuring a BBC Radio 2 session version of ‘Live Forever’ and a Pet Shop Boys remix.All versions of album pre-orders via the official store will come with a printed handwritten lyric sheet of ‘Council Skies” title track. Pre-order your copy here.

Noel Gallagher has shared a preview of Robert Smith‘s remix of ‘Pretty Boy’ – check out the video below.The original version of the track (featuring Johnny Marr) arrived last October and is due to appear on Gallagher’s fourth High Flying Birds album ‘Council Skies’, which comes out on June 2 via Sour Mash (pre-order here).Back in January, the former Oasis singer-songwriter explained that Smith’s upcoming reworking “sounds exactly like The Cure” while talking about how the team-up with the frontman came about.Gallagher has now posted a brief snippet of Smith’s take on ‘Pretty Boy’ on social media. A portion of the song soundtracks a video that contains screenshots of various news articles about the collaboration.The new teaser suggests that the remix could be arriving soon, but a release date is not yet known. You can listen below:A post shared by Noel Gallagher’s HFB (@themightyi)Earlier this year, Gallagher recalled: “‘Pretty Boy’’ as it was unfolding became reminiscent of the golden age of The Cure.

Pet Shop Boys have said they have collaborated with Noel Gallagher on a remix of one of his new songs with his band, High Flying Birds.The duo confirmed the collaboration while speaking to students at Cambridge University. “We have just remixed Noel Gallagher. All collaborations are interesting,” vocalist Neil Tennant said.He went on to explain that he and keyboardist Chris Lowe think that the aim of a collaboration is to “work with someone who makes you sound 10 times better”.“I would like more good singers to sing more of our songs, as I think they have great potential,” continued Tennant. “As you get older you learn how music works.

CNN and PBS took home two prizes apiece, headlining Monday’s duPont-Columbia Awards handed out by Columbia Journalism School.

The Cure are the latest act to deny that they are playing the Qatar World Cup – as criticism of those who have chosen to play events surrounding the football competition continue to face criticism.“Hate to disappoint everyone, but despite the rumours we will not be headlining the World Cup opening ceremony”, tweeted frontman Robert Smith yesterday.Covering any other questions people might have, he added: “I have also informed [England manager] Gareth Southgate [that] I am unavailable for selection. And if you’re interested, Psychic Bob predicts no one will win but Qatar”.At the weekend, Dua Lipa also denied rumours that she was due to play the opening ceremony, saying that she would not perform in Qatar at all until “it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup”.Rod Stewart, while not rumoured to play any World Cup events, has commented on other artists who have accepted the offer, saying that he turned down a lucrative opportunity to play in the Middle Eastern country last year, telling The Sunday Times: “I was actually offered a lot of money – over $1 million – to play there fifteen months ago.

Brandy Norwood has reportedly suffered from a seizure and remains in hospital where she is being monitored.MORE: Tim McGraw reveals long-term effects of multiple surgeries after health battleTMZ reported the news, sharing that LAPD sources claimed there was a EMS call to her home on 11 October and her parents remain at her bedside. Her reps have not yet shared any official comment.

The Cure debuted a new track called ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ during their show in Stockholm last night (October 10) – check out the footage below.Robert Smith and co. were performing at the Avicii Arena in the Swedish capital as part of their current European tour, which has already seen the band preview two new songs: ‘Alone’ and ‘Endsong’.Those cuts returned to the setlist yesterday, with ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ making its first appearance six songs into the gig (via Setlist.FM).The dreamy, six-minute number – featuring typically-lush synth and piano – includes the opening lyrics: “Promise you’ll be with me in the end/ Say we’ll be together, and with no regret/ However far away/ You will remember me in time.”Later, Smith reflects on how his “world has grown old, and nothing is forever“.

Gorillaz’ huge London show at The O2 last summer for NHS workers.Now, on October 20, it will go under the hammer as part of the Bonhams Pop X Culture auction at New Bond Street in London, where it’s expected to raise between £5-7,000 for Brian Eno’s climate change charity EarthPercent.Claire Tole-Moir of Bonhams said in a statement: “Both Robert Smith and Gorillaz are true innovators and pioneers of new music, and we are thrilled to be able to work with them by offering this unique customised guitar in aid of Brian Eno’s charity EarthPercent. To be able to own a one-of-a-kind guitar that is both a piece of art and a piece of music memorabilia is already a rare opportunity, but to be able to support EarthPercent’s ongoing campaign of tackling climate change at the same time, is very special and exciting for collectors and fans alike.”EarthPercent added: “We are thrilled to offer this gorgeous, signed guitar so kindly donated by Gorillaz and Robert Smith to EarthPercent.

The Cure kicked off their 2022 world tour in Latvia tonight (Thursday October 6), debuting two new songs and welcoming guitarist and keyboardist Perry Bamonte back to the band. Check out footage and the setlist below.The icons, supported by now-regular touring partners and one of frontman Robert Smith’s favourite bands The Twilight Sad, began their long run of 2022 dates with a show at Arena Riga in Riga this evening – airing two new songs fans assume are from their long-awaited new album, ‘Songs Of A Lost World‘.Opening their 25 song set – where they were also joined by Bamonte, returning to the band having been a member between 1990 and 2005 – The Cure started with the sprawling and bittersweet ‘Alone’; a tender track that saw Smith begin with the line: ‘This is the end of every song we sing‘.At the end of the first set, which included classics and fan favourites such as ‘Pictures Of You’, ‘Trust’, ‘Fascination Street’ and ‘In Between Days’, The Cure debuted another new song ‘Endsong’ – a much more sombre number where Smith lamented how ‘it’s all gone‘ repeatedly, in a life with ‘no hopes, no dreams, no love – I don’t belong‘.The band then returned for more more encores, delivering the likes of ‘Plainsong’, ‘Close To Me’, ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’.The new band #thecure #TheCureLostWorld22 (thanks lyse) pic.twitter.com/xaFSV1d882— Jeremy Wulc ©️ (@jeremyWulc) October 6, 2022The new songs are excellent.

A man who messaged a child decoy online was found to have been having vile conversations with three actual kids. Joseph Cooper, 22, added the ‘girl’ on Facebook before sparking a sexual chat with her.

HIM frontman Ville Valo has announced details of his debut solo album ‘Neon Noir’.Coming January 13, 2023, ‘Neon Noir’ will feature recently released singles ‘Loveletting’ and ‘Echolate Your Love’ as well as the three tracks that made up 2020’s ‘Gothica Fennica Vol. 1’ EP – ‘Run Away From The Sun’, ‘Salute The Sanguine’ and ‘Saturnine Saturnalia’.Announcing the record, Vallo said: “‘Neon Noir’ is a sonic step-by-step guide on how to survive, and perhaps even enjoy, the realm of VV with its abundance of things that go bump in the night.

Yungblud has shared the official music video for his latest single ‘Tissues’ – you can watch it below.Released on Tuesday (August 30), the song sees the Doncaster artist – real name Dominic Harrison – sample The Cure‘s classic track ‘Close To Me’. ‘Tissues’ appears on Yungblud’s self-titled third album, which came out today (September 2).In the single’s accompanying visuals, we find Harrison dancing on-stage in a theatre full of party-goers who’ve been frozen in time.

Yungblud has sampled The Cure‘s ‘Close To Me’ on ‘Tissues’, the latest cut from his self-titled album arriving this Friday (September 2).The singer-songwriter, who grew up listening to the influential British band, has spoken about how the sample came about, including convincing singer Robert Smith to allow it.It’s the latest song shared from his third album ‘Yungblud‘, following ‘The Funeral‘, ‘Memories‘ and ‘Don’t Feel Like Feeling Sad Today‘.Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison) explained to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 earlier today (August 30) how he retroactively sought permission for the sample.“As I enter a new vector of Yungblud, I wanted to dance. I remember when we were making it I was like, ‘I just want to dance!’ I remember we were writing in the studio and the session wasn’t going well it was like midnight.

The Cure have released a 1990 demo of ‘Cut’ from their forthcoming 30th anniversary reissue of ‘Wish’ – listen below.Announced last month, the special deluxe edition of the band’s ninth studio album will arrive on October 7 via UMC/Fiction/Polydor.It’ll include 24 previously-unreleased tracks – including demos, instrumentals and rare 12″ mixes – as well as four songs that will be coming to CD and digital platforms for the first time.Having already previewed the collection with ‘Uyea Sound’ from the 1993 ‘Lost Wishes’ cassette, Robert Smith and co. have today (August 26) shared ‘Cut (1990 Demo)’ on streaming platforms.It was recorded at Farmyard Studios in the Cotswoldsduring the ‘Wish’ demo sessions.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards will now feature gender-neutral film and television acting categories ahead of its 2023 show. In addition to the new terms, and "in response to rising costs of production," the nonprofit also raised its budget cap by nearly $8 million to $30 million, the organization said Tuesday.

The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell has confirmed he’s working on his first film score.Taking to Twitter yesterday (August 22), the keyboardist said he had “just delivered the 27 cues for my first movie score.”“Very exciting and will share the details when I can. What an experience,” he continued.I just delivered the 27 cues for my first movie score.. Very exciting and will share the details when I can.

Gorillaz co-creator and animator Jamie Hewlett has announced a new art book called Phoo Action: Silver Jubilee.Hewlett, who founded the cartoon band along with Damon Albarn in 1998, will release the 368-page hardcover title in late November via Z2 Comics. It’s priced at £41.56, and is available to pre-order here.The book contains an oral history of Phoo Action, the TV pilot that was created by Hewlett and Mat Wakeham.

The Cure have announced a 30th anniversary reissue of their ninth studio album, ‘Wish’ – find all the details below.Released in 1992, the record features the singles ‘Friday I’m In Love’, ‘High’ and ‘A Letter To Elise’. It reached Number One on the UK albums chart, and Number Two on the Billboard 200 in the US.Today (July 28), The Cure confirmed that the special deluxe edition of ‘Wish’ will arrive on October 7 via UMC/Fiction/Polydor.

Ellie Goulding has gone FULL pop – so, thankfully, CHVRCHES is giving us old school Ellie Goulding with How Not To Drown.

Foals‘ Yannis Philippakis has recalled a drunken encounter between himself and The Cure‘s Robert Smith at the NME Awards in 2020.At the awards, which took place just before the first COVID lockdown, Foals won Best Live Act while The Cure picked up Best Festival Headliner.As he recounted to Shaun Keaveny on his podcast The Line-Up, Philippakis encountered Smith backstage at the Brixton Academy event.“We were at the NME Awards, which is famously sloppy,” he began. “And I think that I’d quit smoking, and I was drinking quickly, you know.

Adele, Sex Pistols, Wet Leg and more acts have been added to the White Label Auction next Tuesday (June 7).Buyers will have the chance to get their hands on white label pressings of Adele’s ’30’, the Sex Pistols’ single ‘God Save The Queen‘, a signed pressing of Wet Leg‘s self-titled debut and a white label pressing of Robbie Williams’ ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’.Also in the additions are: Mark Knopfler’s ‘Sailing To Philadelphia’, signed by the artist; the Human League’s ‘A Very British Synthesizer Group’, and Tom Speight’s ‘Everything’s Waiting For You’, which is also signed.The new collectible lots join previously announced test pressings by The Cure, Spice Girls, Coldplay, The Police, Eric Clapton, Simple Minds, Muse and many more.The Cure LP’s include the band’s albums ‘Disintegration’, ‘Pornography’, ‘Seventeen Seconds’, ‘Head On The Door’ and ‘Acoustic Hits’. You can view images of the signed copies by frontman Robert Smith below.Net profits from the auction will go to support the work of music industry charity The BRIT Trust, which since 1989 has donated around £28million to charities and causes that promote education and wellbeing through the power of music and the creative arts, such as the BRIT School and Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.

Grace Jones-curated Meltdown festival 2022 is just around the corner, and NME has tickets to select gigs to be won. See below for your chance to win.With a line-up hand-picked by the iconic Grace Jones, this year’s bill features the likes of John Grant, Sky Ferreira, Peaches, Hot Chip, Greentea Peng, Blancmange, Skunk Anansie, Nova Twins, Honey Dijon and many more – as well as two performances from Jones herself.Jones follows in the footsteps of the likes of David Bowie, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, David Byrne, John Peel and Ray Davies in being asked to curate Meltdown at London’s Southbank Centre.“In the face of adversity, there is no pandemic in the world that will stop me from curating the Meltdown festival,” said Jones of the upcoming run of shows.

Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin has told NME about the “honour” of being asked to play the Grace Jones-curated Meltdown festival 2022, and revealed the memorable request letter that the icon sent her.Having been handpicked by Jones to perform at this June’s Meltdown festival in London alongside the likes of John Grant, Sky Ferreira, Peaches, Hot Chip and Greentea Peng, Skin described the invitation as “an honour”.“I was aghast because we were the first band she asked,” Skin told NME. “She wrote us a letter saying: ‘If you don’t do it, I’m going to break your neck!’ Something like that! It was a typical Grace Jones letter and it cracked me up.”In the ‘90s, Skin resented constant comparisons to Jones, considering it reductive to equate the two trailblazers because they are both outspoken black female performers.

The Cure have spoken to NME about progress on their long-awaited new album ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, as well as what to expect from their upcoming tour.Having long teased the band’s long-awaited “merciless” new record – after telling us that two new albums were on the way back at the last NME Awards back in 2020 – Smith revealed to NME earlier this year that one of them would be “real very soon” and would be called ‘Songs Of A Lost World’.Then today (Thursday May 19), after he and bandmate and songwriting partner Simon Gallup picked up the Icon Award at the Ivor Novellos, Smith again gave reassurance that the album was on the way and would be out before their upcoming winter tour.“We will be releasing a new album,” Smith told NME. “I get fed up of saying this now! We will be playing from October and the new album will be out before then. We walked on [stage at the Ivors today] to a bit of new music, actually. Hopefully no one recorded it!”At this point, Shakira interrupted the interview to shake hands with “her favourite band of all time”, before Gallup replied: “It is a surreal day”.Back to ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, Smith then confirmed that “it’s almost finished”.“Reeves [Gabrels] our guitar player has come over from America for the day just to finish a couple of solos, I’ve got to finish a couple of vocals,” he revealed.

Sam Fender, Dave and Little Simz were among the winners at The Ivors 2022, which took place at London’s Grovesnor House tonight (May 19).The annual award ceremony celebrates songwriting and composing in both popular music and in film, TV and video game scores.Fender took him the trophy for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Seventeen Going Under’, the title track from his second album, which was released last year. The win marks his first Ivors victory.Dave was named Songwriter of the Year for his work on the Top 10 single ‘Titanium’ and his chart-topping second album ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’, as well as collaborations with Fredo.