The Cure’s Robert Smith slams free music downloads (and bloggers)
Two things we’ve learned about Cure frontman Robert Smith from this article: he prefers to blog in ANGRY CAPITALS, and he’s not a big fan of Radiohead’s In Rainbows campaign. Oh, three things: he’s not too keen on bloggers either.
“Any famous artist with a huge and devoted fan base (often arrived at with a little help from a wealthy and powerful `patron’ or two?) can afford to do what he, she or it wants… including giving their art away as some kind of `lossleader’ to help `build the brand’” he writes – we’ve spared you the caps.
“However, if this `art for free’ idea becomes the cultural norm then how do artists earn their living?… An artist has to value the art they create otherwise I don’t believe they can believe it to be art.”
Oh, and as for bloggers (with original caps this time): “I JUST WROTE ALL THIS BECAUSE I GOT PARTICULARLY FEDUP TONIGHT WITH THE SQUEALING HIGH DRAMA OF THE 101 STORIES A DAY AND NONE OFTHEM PARTICULARLY TRUE BRIGHT AND BRAVE NEW WIRED WORLD MEDIA THAT WHINES ONAND ON WITHOUT RESPITE OR REFUTATION… CRETINS!”
God bless him. And we say that with no sarcasm intended.
Tags: Radiohead, robert smith, the cure
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I get the feeling that Robert is either wildly out of touch with popular culture or is just looking for some cheap publicity. Strange rant all around.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Dave, I have to agree on both counts.
Wait…did Fat Bob just hate on bloggers…on a blog? Now, I love irony as much as the next former goth, but c’mon.
In fact, here it is done better: The fact that I love The Cure, I truly do, but the most interesting they’ve been in the last 10-15 years to me was around the time of “Bloodflowers” when they were crudely running their own website, posting blog/vlog-like updates from the studio almost daily, and (now get this–I’ll even do it in caps) GIVING MUSIC AWAY OFF OF THE SITE. I got I know at least one or two “Disintegration” b-sides/outtakes that way (I know “Pirate Ships” was one of them).
Thanks, Bob. You gave me free music, and yet I still managed to pony up for new Cure albums AND overpriced tickets to see you live last year (it was an amazing show, worth every service fee).
Walk the walk, please, if you’re going to talk the talk.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I may not agree with everything he’s written, but he has some interesting arguments (especially about valuing art).
He’s completely right about the bloggers though. Look at this particular article. He’s completely mis-quoted and the title is pure Digg bait.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Hi Charbarred,
Thanks for your comment but, er:
1. As the last sentence of the post was intended to make clear, we love Bob, and we’re not having a go at him. And as you say, he is making some serious and interesting points.
2. Misquoted? That’s quite an accusation. Have his words been changed? Have we made any of his quotes up? If you mean selectively quoted, then that’s a different thing. But then quotes are selective surely?
3. His name’s Robert Smith, he’s in The Cure, he’s criticising free music downloads, and he has some very stern words for bloggers. I’d say it’s a pretty accurate summary. But of course, I would say that.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Sorry mate, didn’t mean mis-quoted, just meant “has his quotes highlighted and arranged so incur the wrath of those 90% of the readers who only read the title and skim through the article”
I totally agree Bob is in over his over head. He’s also not very good at making his point. All I’m saying is that if we all turned our efforts into helping him explain himself he might not become so reviled by the next generation of music listeners who could stand to be exposed to his amazing music.
March 4th, 2009 at 12:11 am
He’s probably under contract with a label; therefore standing-up for the hand that feeds him, rather than biting it. Or perhaps, ‘D’…all the above.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
LOL, by a strange co-incidence, I’m listening to The Cure on Youtube as I write this, but don’t worry your pretty little head MR SMITH, I’m watching it on an official channel.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:01 am
its very nice and amazing