The Cure’s Robert Smith on Quitting Smoking
The Cure’s Robert Smith has disclosed that the choice to quit smoking was the “biggest” decision he made to preserve his voice.
- READ MORE: The Cure – ‘Songs from a Lost World’: A Masterful Meditation on Loss
The frontman discussed his choice in a recent interview with Radio X presenter John Kennedy, as part of a special track-by-track playback of the band’s new album “Songs Of A Lost World”.
Candid Reflections on Longevity
During the discussion, Smith openly addressed his thoughts on mortality and the initiatives he undertook to prolong his career with The Cure. He shared that after forming the band as a teenager in the 70s, he neglected his health and voice until he turned 40.
“I’m fortunate to have good genes because I didn’t focus on longevity in my personal life until I was 50,” the now 65-year-old musician explained. “I was astonished to have reached 50, and then I started considering that I would probably like to see 60. So, I began to moderate my lifestyle a bit. With each passing year now feeling like a kind of bonus, it seems my voice has lasted much longer than I ever expected.”
One pivotal choice he identified was quitting smoking at age 40 to protect his voice and improve his health. “It truly was the most significant decision I made. I hit 40 and told myself: I will never smoke again. But I don’t,” he remarked.
“That, along with various other measures, has allowed me to continue my work. Still, I know many singers who take good care of themselves but eventually lose their voices. It’s just one of those things.”
Future Plans and New Music
He added: “At some point my voice will fade… but I recently told someone that my father would sing every day until he is 90. He always advised me: just keep singing until people tell you to stop.”
According to the timeline Smith provided, his decision to quit smoking at 40 would have occurred around 1999, a year before the release of their 11th studio album, Bloodflowers.
In another part of the interview, Smith revealed that the band “wrote a really catchy pop song” intended for a Christmas single. He also mentioned that they are making preparations to release two more albums, one being a “companion” to Songs Of A Lost World, while the other will take a different direction.
This isn’t the first instance of Smith hinting at new material: back in 2020, he mentioned to NME that The Cure was diligently working on “two new albums and an hour of noise.”
Songs Of A Lost World marks The Cure’s first album since 2008’s 4:13 Dream. The album topped the UK charts for the first time in 32 years, receiving a five-star review from NME. “Ruthless? Yes, but in the dark there’s always enough soul and richness of sound to hold you in and place these songs among The Cure’s finest,” read the review.
It was also included in NME‘s list of the best albums of the year, with the lead single “Alone” featured in NME‘s best songs of 2024. “Alone ends a 16-year drought and proves that The Cure have lost none of their magic. Featuring swirling synths and cinematic instrumentation, combined with Robert Smith’s poignant lyricism, this epic is a masterpiece of ethereal beauty and raw emotional depth. “One of their most exciting songs to date.”
Recently, the band released a new EP titled A Fragile Thing, which features a live version and a remix by Robert Smith, and they announced a new live album from their London special, which was released last week (December 12).
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