Décibels, French TV, November 1985 (Interview sitting in a bed...)

- Have you read this book called "Like Punk Never Happened" which is the story of pop and culture club ? What do you think of this idea, like Punk never happened ? As a sort of date for a look.

Lol : It's pathetic. Punk's a state of mind anyway. It's not a particular fashion. I'm still punk.

Robert : Despite the cowboy boots.

Lol : Despite the cowboy boots, despite the 6-star hotels, despite the endless stream of people wanting to give me money... I'm still Punk. (laughs)

Robert : The thing is, with Punk, when it started in 1976, it was entertainment. It had nothing to do with a social appeal or politics. It later became that. Because people wanted it to be seen as a mouvement of everyone... And all of it came from the disatisfaction with listening to Yes or Genesis. And people wanted to hear something they could dance to. It was that. We used to go out and we just used to dance for fun. There was nothing else. It was only the older people that wanted it to be something else. Individually, everyone can become involved in anything they want but I don't think the Cure is really... I don't think it works. Even the people we think are socially aware and then they name people like Paul Weller or something, it does no good at all. Ultimately. Because you have to be particulary stupid to believe someone like Paul Weller. And you have to be particulary stupid to believe someone like me... Do you believe me ?

- One says in the English press, that each track from this new album was quite influenced by the early Cure material or by New Order or by stuff like that. What's the difference between influence and inspiration ?

Robert : It doesn't matter anyway. I'd be quite happy to steal something if I could get away with it. If the group could nick a Frank Sinatra's song like New York and we'd put different words to it and noone noticed and they thought "Bloody hell ! They're real masters". It would be fine. There's nothing wrong with it. I mean, some things we're gonna do are going to be similar to other people. The New Order thing... They'd be the last people to inspire me, New Order. They're there to be listened to. I mean, there's hardly any inspiration now, there used to be. Now they're just boring I think. So, no there's no difference at all between influence and inspiration.

Simon : The only reason why people say that thing about New Order is because there's a 6-string bass we used in it...

Robert : Anyway, that means people think they know what New Order sounds like. It's worse for New Order than it is for us. It's only one song out of 307, or how many we've made ? 307 or 306 ?

Robert : I don't see it as an evolution ever, what we do. I never think of it in a kind of linear way. Because everytime we do something, it seems like we're doing something for the first time. And also the group that made Boys Don't Cry isn't the same group that exists now and isn't the same group that made the Lovecats or made Pornography. Each group made a different record. It's not necessarily the line-up because the atmosphere in the group when the three of us made Pornography or Faith was different. The Cure is like a flag of convenience. It's not like we started with 10:15, it was all right and now with The Head on the Door it's completely brilliant. There's been lots of really brilliant bits. All the time.

- Is the group more like a band or something like a friendship between people ?

Robert : I can only speak for the 4 of us but I'm not sure about Larry (talking to Lol), why are you there ?

Lol : Let's put it this way. How many people that you hate do you sit on a bed with ?

Robert : The thing is we wouldn't have met Boris if it hadn't been for the group. I mean, it's a bit of both really. There has to be some reasons for us. And the reason is the group. I wouldn't spend as much time with this lot if it wasn't for the group. Because I know I'm shortening my life every time I'm with them.

- It sounds like the Cure has been doing songs like Let's Go To Bed, The Lovecats or In Between Days just for the fun of doing the videos ?

Robert : No. Completely wrong. The only reason why we made videos is because we have to. Really. They never get shown and that means they show Billy Joel's new video instead of ours. We made a video for that (LGTB) to make sense of the song. Otherwise people would have thought we were being serious about it. It was intended to make us look completely stupid. Because it got to people wanted salvation when they came to see the Cure or something.

- Did you lie during this interview ?

Robert : Of course we did. Our sitting here is a lie. Isn't it ? Yeah... or what ?

Lol : We don't normally sit in bed all together.

Robert : No, by this time we have our clothes off...