JANUARY

21st
The band went to Brazil to give two concerts in Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro (a 20 000-signature petition convinced everyone). Robert and Simon both decided to overcome their fear of flying that year. They took this as an opportunity to film plenty of video footage on the trip. The films would serve for a home video of Mint Car (that would only be shown online).

The live repertoire was the same as the one from the previous year and Robert said a few sentences in Portuguese in Sao Paulo, thanks to the notes he had written on one of his hand : "Estamos muito felizes por estamos aqui hoje" (we're very happy to be here tonight). The concert in Rio De Janeiro was filmed and a bit of Aquarela do Brazil on guitar closed the end of A Forest to please the audience.


MARCH

21st
London, Bow Film Studios
The 13th video filming. Two versions were made : the first one was known as the "Fantastico" version but the other one would be widely shown on TV. To date, that was the only Cure video in which Robert slow-danced with a transvestite.


APRIL

Intense promo era : many press and radio interviews and TV appearences... On Radio One, Chris Evans asked Robert Smith if he was a compulsive liar. To which Robert replied : " How can I answer that ? You won't know, will you ?".

The 13th was released as a single on April 06th. Simon Gallup explained : "We did a TV program a few months back and there was a sort of proper Latin American band on there. We could see how well they played. So it is us doing an impression of a Latin American band, but we're not good enough musicians to do it. It just sounds like a dodgy nightclubbish band. We just thought it was so tongue in cheek. A lot of people didn't get the joke because it was mildly received."


MAY

06th
Wild Mood Swings release. An Electronic Press Kit was also distributed. The band gave three promotional shows in Paris, London, New York and appeared on the national TV in America (NBC's Saturday Night Live) for the first time ever (as incredible as that seemed, the major networks there always ignored the group because they were "punks").

The Swing Tour was due to start on 21st of May in Aberdeen, Scotland. But the first dates were postponed to December, as unfortunately technical problems with the lighting occured during the rehearsals. Robert Smith also suffered from an ear infection, so that was better to reschedule.

The first concert then took place in London, Earls Court on the 31st where Charlotte Sometimes was dedicated to Penelope Farmer (who wrote the book that inspired the song), as she attended the show. A good show with a pretty short encore Primary/Boys Don't Cry (were they afraid people would miss the last train ?).

JUNE

01st
London, Earls Court
That was Simon Gallup's birthday so Robert actually sang a bit of Happy Birthday to him before Just Like Heaven. Rare songs such as The Drowning Man and If Only Tonight We Could Sleep were played during the encores (and rehearsed during the soundcheck). Matthieu Hartley (ex-Cure member) hanged out with the band after the concert and even made the trip to the next date in Ireland.

06th
London, Bow Film Studios
Mint Car video filming. Billy Mc Kenzie, Roberto Soave were invited to appear in it. The single was shortly released after that.

The European Football Cup just started in England, so the band followed the event while promoting the album here and there. Robert told Blah Blah Blah magazine about the similarities between some music bands and the football teams.

In France, Robert, Simon and Jason took part in Lovin' Fun, a radio show giving advices to teenagers who phoned the program with pathetic questions about the "G spot" and so on... Fortunately, Robert was drunk and the three-piece also played acoustic versions of This Is A Lie and Just Like Heaven live in the studio.


JULY

02nd
Launch of the US Tour. The group had a repertoire of 59 songs to do a different set every night. Truly a new beginning for the band with Robert Smith being incredibly relaxed and excited on stage. He would also wear the local football/hockey jersey shirts ("a cheap attempt to win over the home crowd"). Worth mentioning as well was the rollercaster ride going from one side of the stage to the other, looking like a fun fair setting.

Repertoire : Killing An Arab, 10:15 Saturday Night, Three Imaginary Boys, Fire in Cairo (acoustic), Boys Don't Cry, Play For Today, A Forest, M, Primary, The Drowning Man, Faith, Forever, Charlotte Sometimes, One Hundred Years, The Figurehead, A Strange Day, Let's Go To Bed, The Walk, The Lovecats (extract), Dressing Up, Piggy In The Mirror, In Between Days, Push, Close To Me, A Night Like This, The Kiss, Catch, If Only Tonight We Could Sleep, Why Can't I Be You ?, Just Like Heaven, Hot Hot Hot, Like Cockatoos, Shiver and Shake, Plainsong, Pictures Of You, Lovesong, Lullaby, Fascination Street, Prayers For Rain, Disintegration, High, From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea, Friday I'm In Love, Trust, End, Want, Club America, This Is A Lie, The 13th, Strange Attraction, Mint Car, Jupiter Crash, Round And Round And Round, Return, Gone!, Trap, Numb, Treasure, Bare.

06th
The Cure's offical web site was launched. Roger O'Donnell did the design, he and Robert would maintain the site, updating it, deciding what to add etc.



GO TO 1996 PART 2