My Cultural Diet

As its title implies, Simon Price’s Curepedia isn’t a biography or memoir, but rather, an encyclopedia of minutiae concerning one of the greatest bands of all time. As expected, there are detailed bios for Robert Smith and all of the other Cure members, past and present, as well as in-depth articles for all of their albums and various hits and singles (e.g., “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Lovesong,” “Friday I’m in Love”). But Curepedia also covers the band’s birthplace in Crawley, their influences (musical, literary, etc.), related musical projects, Robert Smith’s marriage, their favorite soccer teams, their views on politics and the British Royal Family, and Smith’s iconic hairstyle and preferred footwear — to name just a few topics. Curepedia even delves into the less savory corners of Cure history, including run-ins with the law, the bullying of founding member Lol Tolhurst, their disastrous tours in the late ’90s, and of course, the band’s long history with drugs and alcohol. Whatever the topic, though, Price tackles it with an eye for detail and verve to spare, making it abundantly clear that Curepedia was a labor of love. With a new album on the horizon, now seemed like a good time to delve into Price’s tome, which proves itself to be an essential resource for Cure fans.

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