Robert Smith (musician)

Robert Smith
Smith in 2012
Background information
Birth nameRobert James Smith
Born (1959-04-21) 21 April 1959
Blackpool, England
OriginCrawley, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • bass
Years active1972–present
Member ofThe Cure
Formerly of
  • Siouxsie and the Banshees
  • the Glove
Spouse
Mary Theresa Poole
(m. 1988)
Websitethecure.com

Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1959) is an English musician who is the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the Cure, a post-punk rock band formed in 1976. His guitar-playing style (including his use of the Fender Bass VI), distinctive singing voice, and fashion sense (often sporting a pale complexion, smeared red lipstick, black eye-liner, unkempt wiry black hair, and all-black clothes) were highly influential on the goth subculture that rose to prominence in the 1980s.

Smith's other work includes playing the lead guitar as a member of Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1982 to 1984 and being the co-founder of the short-lived band the Glove in 1983. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cure in 2019,[1] and Rolling Stone magazine ranked him as the 157th greatest singer of all time in 2023.[2]

  1. ^ "Class oF 2019 Inductees". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  2. ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.