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Cured: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys
"On our first day of school, Robert and I stood at the designated stop at Hevers Avenue with our mothers, and that's when we met for the very first time. We were five years old."
So began a lifelong friendship that fourteen years later would result in the formation of The Cure, a quintessential post-punk band whose albums-such as Three Imaginary Boys, Pornography , and Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me -remain among the best-loved and most influential of all time.
As two of the first punks in the provincial English town of Crawley, Lol Tolhurst and Robert Smith didn't have it easy. Outsiders from the start, theirs was a friendship based initially on proximity and a shared love of music, from the punk that was raging in nearby London to the groundbreaking experimentation of David Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy." First known as The Easy Cure, they began playing in pubs and soon developed their own unique style and approach to songwriting, resulting in timeless songs that sparked a deep sense of identification and empathy in listeners, songs like "Boys Don't Cry," "Just Like Heaven," and "Why Can't I Be You?," spearheading a new subculture dubbed "Goth" by the press. The music of The Cure was not only accessible but also deeply subversive, challenging conventional notions of pop music and gender roles while inspiring a generation of devoted fans and a revolution in style.
Cured is not only the first insider account of the early days of the band, it is a revealing look at the artistic evolution of the enigmatic Robert Smith, the iconic lead singer, songwriter, and innovative guitarist at the heart of The Cure. A deeply rebellious, sensitive, tough, and often surprisingly "normal" young man, Smith was from the start destined for stardom, a fearless non-conformist and provocateur who soon found his own musical language through which to express his considerable and unique talent.
But there was also a dark side to The Cure's intense and bewildering success. Tolhurst, on drums and keyboards, was nursing a growing alcoholism that would destroy his place in The Cure and nearly end his life. Cured tells the harrowing and unforgettable story of his crash-and-burn, recovery, and rebirth.
Intensely lyrical and evocative, gripping and unforgettable, Cured is the definitive story of a singular band whose legacy endures many decades hence, told from the point of view of a participant and eyewitness who was there when it happened-and even before it all began.
So began a lifelong friendship that fourteen years later would result in the formation of The Cure, a quintessential post-punk band whose albums-such as Three Imaginary Boys, Pornography , and Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me -remain among the best-loved and most influential of all time.
As two of the first punks in the provincial English town of Crawley, Lol Tolhurst and Robert Smith didn't have it easy. Outsiders from the start, theirs was a friendship based initially on proximity and a shared love of music, from the punk that was raging in nearby London to the groundbreaking experimentation of David Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy." First known as The Easy Cure, they began playing in pubs and soon developed their own unique style and approach to songwriting, resulting in timeless songs that sparked a deep sense of identification and empathy in listeners, songs like "Boys Don't Cry," "Just Like Heaven," and "Why Can't I Be You?," spearheading a new subculture dubbed "Goth" by the press. The music of The Cure was not only accessible but also deeply subversive, challenging conventional notions of pop music and gender roles while inspiring a generation of devoted fans and a revolution in style.
Cured is not only the first insider account of the early days of the band, it is a revealing look at the artistic evolution of the enigmatic Robert Smith, the iconic lead singer, songwriter, and innovative guitarist at the heart of The Cure. A deeply rebellious, sensitive, tough, and often surprisingly "normal" young man, Smith was from the start destined for stardom, a fearless non-conformist and provocateur who soon found his own musical language through which to express his considerable and unique talent.
But there was also a dark side to The Cure's intense and bewildering success. Tolhurst, on drums and keyboards, was nursing a growing alcoholism that would destroy his place in The Cure and nearly end his life. Cured tells the harrowing and unforgettable story of his crash-and-burn, recovery, and rebirth.
Intensely lyrical and evocative, gripping and unforgettable, Cured is the definitive story of a singular band whose legacy endures many decades hence, told from the point of view of a participant and eyewitness who was there when it happened-and even before it all began.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2016
175 people are currently reading
2,000 people want to read
About the author
Lol Tolhurst
2Ìýbooks135ÌýfollowersLol Tolhurst is an Author, musician
and performer.
He is best known as a founding member of the band that virtually invented alternative music, The Cure. Formed in 1976, The Cure is one of the most influential, successful and critically acclaimed bands of its generation.
�
As The Cure’s drummer, Lol toured the globe many times over, supporting the ground-breaking albums Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. He took on keyboard duties in the mid-eighties until his departure from the band in 1989, at the time of their masterwork Disintegration.
�
In the early nineties, Lol relocated to Southern California where he continues to write, record and tour with his own band, Levinhurst.
More recently, 2011 saw a momentous reunion tour with his former bandmates and Lol performing with The Cure again for the first time in over twenty years.
�
Lol’s first book was published in 2016. Cured � The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys is a memoir that draws together the threads of his life and art� so far!
and performer.
He is best known as a founding member of the band that virtually invented alternative music, The Cure. Formed in 1976, The Cure is one of the most influential, successful and critically acclaimed bands of its generation.
�
As The Cure’s drummer, Lol toured the globe many times over, supporting the ground-breaking albums Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. He took on keyboard duties in the mid-eighties until his departure from the band in 1989, at the time of their masterwork Disintegration.
�
In the early nineties, Lol relocated to Southern California where he continues to write, record and tour with his own band, Levinhurst.
More recently, 2011 saw a momentous reunion tour with his former bandmates and Lol performing with The Cure again for the first time in over twenty years.
�
Lol’s first book was published in 2016. Cured � The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys is a memoir that draws together the threads of his life and art� so far!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
October 21, 2022
In the late 80s/early 90s, my friends and I (all huge Cure fans) used the name “Lol Tolhurst� as slang shorthand for doing something dick-ish, for being a bad friend. So we’d say things like, “Dude that was super Lol Tolhurst of you to bail on me at the party last night with no ride to get home.� We did this because one of us had read a pointed and withering quote by Robert Smith about Lol Tolhurst in Rolling Stone, or Spin, or some such magazine shortly after Lol was kicked out of the band that struck us as really funny. (I so wish I could track down that Smith quote cause it was Oscar Wildeianly witty and cutting.) We also did this because “Lol Tolhurst� is such a great! name, unique and fun to say with all of the “L� and long “O� sounds.
I grew up in Orange County, California. I was 10 years old when Three Imaginary Boys (aka Boys Don’t Cry in the USA) was released but did not discover The Cure until 1983 when their trilogy of pop singles (Let’s Go to Bed, The Walk, and The Love Cats) came out and received heavy airplay on KROQ, the influential modern/alternative rock station in Los Angeles. I discovered their back catalogue of albums shortly thereafter. It was love at first gloom. My friend’s mom, exasperated by the sound coming from the Panasonic boom box in the bedroom described The Cure’s sound as “cats dying at the bottom of a well.� I agreed, “But in a good way, right?� She was not amused.
So discovering earlier this year that Lol Tolhurst had written a book about his life in the Cure triggered memories my teen years and using his name as a punchline. I had to read it.
And I’m so glad I did! Lol is a disarmingly humble and self-aware memoirist. His prose is neither flashy nor florid, but compulsively readable. He’s at his best in the last third of the book, after he has been kicked out of the Cure. It’s here where Lol the man, and where the arc of the story, really comes to life. His reconciliation with Smith, and his later redemption with The Cure on the Reflections Tour is achingly human and true.
I wish Lol had had more to say about each of the Cure albums he chronicles, but I’m guessing these details are scant due to the ravages of time on memory, to his ubiquitous inebriation during those years, and to the fact that he probably contributed little to the making of those albums, Lol’s contribution to The Cure being more about brotherhood and being a key strand in the tendrils that connect band members (maybe like Andy Fletcher in Depeche Mode?).
Nevertheless, “Cured� is a great read. It will make you appreciate anew Robert Smith’s genius; it will make you listen to your Cure records nonstop whilst reading; and it will make you appreciate Lol Tolhurst as a Man more than as one of the founding members of The Cure. Were my friends and I still immature enough today to use the name “Lol Tolhurst� as slang shorthand for something, it would be for overcoming adversity, for an adult finally growing up, and for being a true friend.
I grew up in Orange County, California. I was 10 years old when Three Imaginary Boys (aka Boys Don’t Cry in the USA) was released but did not discover The Cure until 1983 when their trilogy of pop singles (Let’s Go to Bed, The Walk, and The Love Cats) came out and received heavy airplay on KROQ, the influential modern/alternative rock station in Los Angeles. I discovered their back catalogue of albums shortly thereafter. It was love at first gloom. My friend’s mom, exasperated by the sound coming from the Panasonic boom box in the bedroom described The Cure’s sound as “cats dying at the bottom of a well.� I agreed, “But in a good way, right?� She was not amused.
So discovering earlier this year that Lol Tolhurst had written a book about his life in the Cure triggered memories my teen years and using his name as a punchline. I had to read it.
And I’m so glad I did! Lol is a disarmingly humble and self-aware memoirist. His prose is neither flashy nor florid, but compulsively readable. He’s at his best in the last third of the book, after he has been kicked out of the Cure. It’s here where Lol the man, and where the arc of the story, really comes to life. His reconciliation with Smith, and his later redemption with The Cure on the Reflections Tour is achingly human and true.
I wish Lol had had more to say about each of the Cure albums he chronicles, but I’m guessing these details are scant due to the ravages of time on memory, to his ubiquitous inebriation during those years, and to the fact that he probably contributed little to the making of those albums, Lol’s contribution to The Cure being more about brotherhood and being a key strand in the tendrils that connect band members (maybe like Andy Fletcher in Depeche Mode?).
Nevertheless, “Cured� is a great read. It will make you appreciate anew Robert Smith’s genius; it will make you listen to your Cure records nonstop whilst reading; and it will make you appreciate Lol Tolhurst as a Man more than as one of the founding members of The Cure. Were my friends and I still immature enough today to use the name “Lol Tolhurst� as slang shorthand for something, it would be for overcoming adversity, for an adult finally growing up, and for being a true friend.
April 15, 2023
As a rock biography or memoir, this is pretty bad.
As an insight into the Cure, this is fairly good. Slightly tame. Nothing unexpected.
As an alcoholic´s whatever it is - this is part of the therapy. Dull as dull.
As Rock History - this is not good. Not one winner.
But the overall impression is warm.
Mr T is obviously a good man.
Not much insight.
But he made Pornography. He´s on it.
So he can basically tell anyone and everyone to fuck off.
He doesn´t know quite how he got there
But he did
It doesn´t matter if we all die
Ambition in the back of a black car...
By the way, if you like The Cure -
As an insight into the Cure, this is fairly good. Slightly tame. Nothing unexpected.
As an alcoholic´s whatever it is - this is part of the therapy. Dull as dull.
As Rock History - this is not good. Not one winner.
But the overall impression is warm.
Mr T is obviously a good man.
Not much insight.
But he made Pornography. He´s on it.
So he can basically tell anyone and everyone to fuck off.
He doesn´t know quite how he got there
But he did
It doesn´t matter if we all die
Ambition in the back of a black car...
By the way, if you like The Cure -
September 6, 2017
Cheesy as it may appear, this book moved me: there’s something elegiac about it, and it’s a poignant love letter to Robert Smith. I don’t think I’ve read such a positive portrayal of a musical collaborator (Robert Forster’s Grant and I comes close). So we have the ostensibly jilted Tolhurst, who suffered from full-blown alcoholism and infamously took his childhood friend to court, offering his memoir as a virtual 12-step style apology. It’s as if he’d siphoned off all the bile early on with that misguided court case; only the sweet stuff remains. From Robert taking him under his wing as a child through their steady unwavering rise as the Cure, a picture emerges of Smith as both an emotional rock and a canny operator, practical with money, affectionate and charming with fans, stubbornly artistic, and physically tough. Best of all for fans, Tolhurst manages just enough insider observations of studio time and the band’s early days to give an impression of the Cure that I doubt has been glimpsed before. Not that it’s heavy on facts, but you can find facts elsewhere. As a young fan I read the first serious Cure biography, Ten Imaginary Years, and never gained this perspective, despite that many details overlap. Later I read the woeful Never Enough, and got the impression that Smith was retreating ever further from his public, and that possibly no biographer would ever get near him. Only after reading Tolhurst’s book did it strike me how adept Smith is at maintaining his enigma, because only Tolhurst has shown a glimpse beyond that facade.
As to literary quality, as these things go, it ain’t bad. Sure it’s kind of slight and tends to purple in places, but in a way I like Tolhurst’s style: it’s wry yet earnest, doesn’t take itself too seriously but doesn’t have to, because the sense of loss it conveys is palpable. I thank you, Lol Tolhurst, for being a true gentleman. This is how a Cure memoir should be! A work of love and deep regret by a man who, almost by accident, lived the dream.
As to literary quality, as these things go, it ain’t bad. Sure it’s kind of slight and tends to purple in places, but in a way I like Tolhurst’s style: it’s wry yet earnest, doesn’t take itself too seriously but doesn’t have to, because the sense of loss it conveys is palpable. I thank you, Lol Tolhurst, for being a true gentleman. This is how a Cure memoir should be! A work of love and deep regret by a man who, almost by accident, lived the dream.
October 7, 2016
A moving account of an extraordinary friendship that stretches from postwar England, is tested through post-punk London and disintegrates, as so many things did, in the 80s, only to be reborn in the new century. Like most fans of The Cure I have my favorite songs, my favorite videos, my favorite era, and while I'm hardly a scholar the book contains many happy surprises. Though Lol saw many band members come and go before he himself was sacked, his respect for Smith's integrity as an artist never wavers. Highly recommended for readers of rock memoirs and a must for fans of The Cure.
May 29, 2021
Cured: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys is the first memoir I have ever read (quite shocking, I know) and I have to say, even though I am slightly disappointed by its contents, I'm glad I picked it up. I've been a huge fan of The Cure for a very long time now, so as soon as I heard about Tolhurst's book I knew I had to buy it. The backstory of the band's frontman Robert Smith has always been somewhat vague to me (that man really values his privacy, jeez) and so I was hoping to find some insight here.
The first half presented me just that, with touching anecdotes about young Tolhurst and Smith meeting in their dreary hometown and attending the same dreary school. They meet Michael Dempsey and bond over their love of music, and soon they are able to play various gigs in venues in and near Crawley, England.
Something I found very amusing to read about is to what extent these boys were social outcasts. The prologue, titled 'The First Punks in Crawley', draws up a captivating image:
"For as long as I've known Robert people have been out to get him. On stage, in the pubs, or on the street, he's always been a target. I've never seen Robert instigate a fight, yet there's something about him that provokes people."
"When I was told that an earring in my right ear was the equivalent of declaring to the world that I was gay, which I wasn't, I promptly had it pierced twice. The time for being polite was over. We were confrontational because we had to be."
I love how Tolhurst went into detail about the so-called 'new towns' close by London (these popped up everywhere after WWII) and the way the stuffiness of the atmosphere in Crawley, along with its many aggressive inhabitants, practically drove this band out into the world of music and creativity.
They then proceeded to prove to the world that they were not just eyeliner-wearing freaks, but actual artists. A point that would ultimately be solidified in their 1982 album Pornography. I was glad Tolhurst mentioned that it was his favourite Cure album he'd worked on (Robert himself has questionable taste nowadays)...
The second half of the book miserably spiraled into something I had no interest in reading. Tolhurst removed the focus on recording the albums and his experience with the band and started to give lengthy descriptions on the topic of his, at this point full-blown, alcoholism. Very understandable, might I add, as it was such a big part of Tolhurst's life and impacted his relationships with the band members very much, but it just wasn't something I was particularly interested in.
“We moved into Outside Studios at Hook End Manor, which was once the house of the Bishop of Reading and was more recently owned by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. A beautiful place for me to finally fall apart."
In conclusion, the first half of the book was everything I wanted it to be, and the second half was not. This added to the fact that Tolhurst's writing is repetitive and at times irritating (calm down with the exclamation marks, buddy) made it quite a conundrum to finish the book.
---------------
Additional Notes:
- I was so excited to learn more about Robert Smith and Simon Gallup's feud but I was SO DISAPPOINTED. Even Google can tell me more about this than Tolhurst did
The first half presented me just that, with touching anecdotes about young Tolhurst and Smith meeting in their dreary hometown and attending the same dreary school. They meet Michael Dempsey and bond over their love of music, and soon they are able to play various gigs in venues in and near Crawley, England.
Something I found very amusing to read about is to what extent these boys were social outcasts. The prologue, titled 'The First Punks in Crawley', draws up a captivating image:
"For as long as I've known Robert people have been out to get him. On stage, in the pubs, or on the street, he's always been a target. I've never seen Robert instigate a fight, yet there's something about him that provokes people."
"When I was told that an earring in my right ear was the equivalent of declaring to the world that I was gay, which I wasn't, I promptly had it pierced twice. The time for being polite was over. We were confrontational because we had to be."
I love how Tolhurst went into detail about the so-called 'new towns' close by London (these popped up everywhere after WWII) and the way the stuffiness of the atmosphere in Crawley, along with its many aggressive inhabitants, practically drove this band out into the world of music and creativity.
They then proceeded to prove to the world that they were not just eyeliner-wearing freaks, but actual artists. A point that would ultimately be solidified in their 1982 album Pornography. I was glad Tolhurst mentioned that it was his favourite Cure album he'd worked on (Robert himself has questionable taste nowadays)...
The second half of the book miserably spiraled into something I had no interest in reading. Tolhurst removed the focus on recording the albums and his experience with the band and started to give lengthy descriptions on the topic of his, at this point full-blown, alcoholism. Very understandable, might I add, as it was such a big part of Tolhurst's life and impacted his relationships with the band members very much, but it just wasn't something I was particularly interested in.
“We moved into Outside Studios at Hook End Manor, which was once the house of the Bishop of Reading and was more recently owned by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. A beautiful place for me to finally fall apart."
In conclusion, the first half of the book was everything I wanted it to be, and the second half was not. This added to the fact that Tolhurst's writing is repetitive and at times irritating (calm down with the exclamation marks, buddy) made it quite a conundrum to finish the book.
---------------
Additional Notes:
- I was so excited to learn more about Robert Smith and Simon Gallup's feud but I was SO DISAPPOINTED. Even Google can tell me more about this than Tolhurst did
September 27, 2024
Lol Tolhurst was a co-founding member of The Cure and a friend of Robert Smith from early childhood. I really enjoyed this memoir about his early life, the beginnings of the band and the early albums, gigs and tours (some of the best parts of the book for me). He then talks about his sacking from the band due to his alcoholism and his life post Cure. There are some funny anecdotes, touching moments and insights. A great read for the big obsessive fans and minor fans like me (they were certainly a feature of my teenage years!)
October 20, 2016
Probably not for non die-hard Cure fans, but compared to other recent music memoirs I've read (Morrissey, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner) this is 100% more mature and better written. It probably doesn't hurt that the Cure was a very important part of my formative years, but I found it absolutely heartfelt--although I could have done with more details about the songwriting and recording.
July 19, 2017
Despite being a big fan of The Cure, the only thing I knew about Lol Tolhurst was that he was their drummer. Lol wasn’t even playing with the band when I saw them live in 2014, so I was curious how he slotted into The Cure story. Being a fellow drummer, I jumped at the chance to read this!
Unfortunately, all too often the book reads like: “we did this, then we did that, I was wearing this, I got drunk, I urinated on this.� I would have loved more focus on the creation of songs and how they came to be. Instead such moments are just vague and often repetitive. Crashing a jeep while drunk was the only thing mentioned about the making of my favourite Cure album, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.
The more I read, the more I realised I was just wanting to learn bout Robert Smith, instead of Lol himself (felt strange reading a memoir about someone to learn about someone else!).
“Robert doesn’t play half-heartedly; when he plays his songs he has to inhabit them for them to work. I remember some tours where he would literally collapse after the gig and lie on the floor for thirty minutes to recover from the effort he put out.�
Descriptions like that perfectly reflected my own experience seeing The Cure live and why it remains one of the best concerts I’ve experienced. Robert’s charisma to win over the unlikeliest of fans is showcased numerous times.
Apart from the occasional Robert Smith anecdote, there were far too many disconnected ramblings and unnecessary details. After a while, I began forgetting key names of people in the book; not through any drunk amnesia like Lol, but through sheer banality and lack of care factor while reading. These are mundane stories with no relevance except to the guys who lived them. It seems a waste of time when your own inebriated teenage stories are better than what you’re reading in this book.
Some of the most interesting parts were simply snapshots of the world during that era � Berlin Wall and the paying of bribes while on tour in Europe, dismal working class suburbs in Thatcher’s England. Sadly, these were often followed by “diva tales�; like forcing mud-covered Glastonbury fans to wait ages while they watched soccer on TV or Lol relishing in describing himself as a “hard man� people avoided getting into fights with.
One touching moment, was Rita Smith (Robert’s Mum) reminding me of my own Mother, while telling neighbours to mind their own business when the band first began rehearsing in her home. It was also tough reading about Lol’s Mum dying, and how that further contributed to his alcoholism.
As a tale of rock n roll or alcoholism it is poor. Both these tales have been told countless times before and often better than in Cured.
I’m proud of myself for even finishing this book, much like Lol is proud of himself for achieving sobriety. At least the book ends on a somewhat upbeat note � I’m glad you learned how to enjoy life sober and repair friendships with The Cure, Lol.
“…the real purpose, if there ever was one, of the Cure: to serve as the template for a kind of emotional therapy�
Unfortunately, all too often the book reads like: “we did this, then we did that, I was wearing this, I got drunk, I urinated on this.� I would have loved more focus on the creation of songs and how they came to be. Instead such moments are just vague and often repetitive. Crashing a jeep while drunk was the only thing mentioned about the making of my favourite Cure album, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.
The more I read, the more I realised I was just wanting to learn bout Robert Smith, instead of Lol himself (felt strange reading a memoir about someone to learn about someone else!).
“Robert doesn’t play half-heartedly; when he plays his songs he has to inhabit them for them to work. I remember some tours where he would literally collapse after the gig and lie on the floor for thirty minutes to recover from the effort he put out.�
Descriptions like that perfectly reflected my own experience seeing The Cure live and why it remains one of the best concerts I’ve experienced. Robert’s charisma to win over the unlikeliest of fans is showcased numerous times.
Apart from the occasional Robert Smith anecdote, there were far too many disconnected ramblings and unnecessary details. After a while, I began forgetting key names of people in the book; not through any drunk amnesia like Lol, but through sheer banality and lack of care factor while reading. These are mundane stories with no relevance except to the guys who lived them. It seems a waste of time when your own inebriated teenage stories are better than what you’re reading in this book.
Some of the most interesting parts were simply snapshots of the world during that era � Berlin Wall and the paying of bribes while on tour in Europe, dismal working class suburbs in Thatcher’s England. Sadly, these were often followed by “diva tales�; like forcing mud-covered Glastonbury fans to wait ages while they watched soccer on TV or Lol relishing in describing himself as a “hard man� people avoided getting into fights with.
One touching moment, was Rita Smith (Robert’s Mum) reminding me of my own Mother, while telling neighbours to mind their own business when the band first began rehearsing in her home. It was also tough reading about Lol’s Mum dying, and how that further contributed to his alcoholism.
As a tale of rock n roll or alcoholism it is poor. Both these tales have been told countless times before and often better than in Cured.
I’m proud of myself for even finishing this book, much like Lol is proud of himself for achieving sobriety. At least the book ends on a somewhat upbeat note � I’m glad you learned how to enjoy life sober and repair friendships with The Cure, Lol.
“…the real purpose, if there ever was one, of the Cure: to serve as the template for a kind of emotional therapy�
March 9, 2017
I don't think it's mere nostalgia that causes me to finish a book on new wave/gothic musicans' lives. I say finish, because while I might start a book for nostalgic reasons, I don't stick around if the writing isn't good (according to my own subjective version of that, of course).
Lol Tolhurst, aside from having a very fun to pronounce name, is a solid writer. He engages readers with his love for what he does (and did) musically and his (perhaps hard won) good humor and humility about his life. If you are a Cure fan, I've no doubt this book would be interesting to you. It's not a "tell all" or lurid in really any sense, and for that I'm grateful. He's followed the AA dictum to accept responsibility for his life and to blame no one else for its shortcomings. That's refreshing, and a good model to follow, I think. Full disclosure: I listened to the audio book of this (long work commute of driving across town). His charming English accent definitely added to my happiness while listening.
Lol Tolhurst, aside from having a very fun to pronounce name, is a solid writer. He engages readers with his love for what he does (and did) musically and his (perhaps hard won) good humor and humility about his life. If you are a Cure fan, I've no doubt this book would be interesting to you. It's not a "tell all" or lurid in really any sense, and for that I'm grateful. He's followed the AA dictum to accept responsibility for his life and to blame no one else for its shortcomings. That's refreshing, and a good model to follow, I think. Full disclosure: I listened to the audio book of this (long work commute of driving across town). His charming English accent definitely added to my happiness while listening.
April 9, 2024
As Tolhurst stated clearly in the intro, one should not expect this to be accurate or tightly edited.
The first section on growing up in smalltown UK is really not that different from many memoirs of the period, though there are amusing stories about standing down racist skinheads and assembling punky outfits. (And not so amusing stories about alcohol consumption and the general boredom of teen life.)
Things do pick up with their first gig (as Malice). I'm a big fan of early Cure (ah youth) up to Pornography; this period is covered in the second section. I was hoping for more specifics on their creative and songwriting process, backstory for the more cryptic lyrics, etc, but the section is entertaining enough.
The 3rd section is intense, covering Tolhurst's downward spiral from alcoholism. It's admirable that he lays it all out there, and I'm happy to see he was able to turn things around in the last few years.
The first section on growing up in smalltown UK is really not that different from many memoirs of the period, though there are amusing stories about standing down racist skinheads and assembling punky outfits. (And not so amusing stories about alcohol consumption and the general boredom of teen life.)
Things do pick up with their first gig (as Malice). I'm a big fan of early Cure (ah youth) up to Pornography; this period is covered in the second section. I was hoping for more specifics on their creative and songwriting process, backstory for the more cryptic lyrics, etc, but the section is entertaining enough.
The 3rd section is intense, covering Tolhurst's downward spiral from alcoholism. It's admirable that he lays it all out there, and I'm happy to see he was able to turn things around in the last few years.
October 5, 2016
Nothing short of amazing.
Well done, Lol:)
Well done, Lol:)
November 9, 2016
It takes guts to write about yourself with any degree of honesty, and Lol Tolhurst has chronicled his rise and fall with The Cure in a very poignant and candid way. The style of prose is conversational and warm, easily accessible; sure, there's a little naivete in the writing style - way too many adjectives - but by the time I'd finished reading I felt a kind of connection with this man and total empathy for his suffering and desperate self destruction. Being around the same age as Tolhurst, this book was really nostalgic for me, and one gets a real feel for the era of the 70's and 80's, the mindset and daft things we did growing up in Britain at that time. There's humour and pathos, and some parts are really heart wrenching. In particular, his description of losing his mother, the loneliness and sense that he was adrift with no real emotional or familial anchor to help stop his inexorable slide into alcoholism. Some parts I could really identify with that were uncannily similar to my own experiences, from losing my mother to lung cancer, to discovering how truly vile Twinkies are! What's so refreshing here is that there's no mudslinging, no nasty finger pointing or blame, no big I am or trite platitudes - just utter honesty and holding up of the mirror to his own shortcomings and dear damaged self.
Cured is an entertaining read and a must for Cure fans. It doesn't go over old ground that's been published over and over. It highlights the vulnerability certain people suffer when raised to the giddy heights of fame before life hardened them or taught them how to survive in an environment that encourages you to believe you can do and think anything you damn well please. It also highlights how only the individual can truly save themselves or change their own lives, and that reaching an all time low is not necessarily the end the world. After reading this, I truly believe Robert Smith probably saved Tolhurst's life by sacking him from the band. As you read deeper into his descriptions of his most out of control moments, you just wish you could have been there to give him a shake and great big hug. But you also understand the frustration that the rest of the band must have felt, and their need to distance themselves from such a destructive and negative energy. There's also no mention here of the well documented bullying that Tolhurst suffered at the hands of his bandmates.
I guess there's only so much information you can put into one book, and I really do hope Lol Tolhurst has another one in him to share. Cured is about absolution and healing, about friendships so deep they're almost karmic, about fun and fame, tragedy and survival.
The book reveals his inexorable slide towards rock bottom, his �40 days of Wilderness� in the Mojave Desert, his connection with his soulmate, his salvation and absolution and ability to let go of the pain and burn away the damage done as he journeyed through this life. Best of all, Tolhurst becomes the father his own father should have been; loving, devoted and there.
There’s one really poignant part of the book, where Tolhurst and Smith, both five years old, go hand in hand onto the school bus, their mums telling them to look after each other. I think they both did, through the years, but somehow one got lost and the other didn’t quite know how to save him.
Cured is an entertaining read and a must for Cure fans. It doesn't go over old ground that's been published over and over. It highlights the vulnerability certain people suffer when raised to the giddy heights of fame before life hardened them or taught them how to survive in an environment that encourages you to believe you can do and think anything you damn well please. It also highlights how only the individual can truly save themselves or change their own lives, and that reaching an all time low is not necessarily the end the world. After reading this, I truly believe Robert Smith probably saved Tolhurst's life by sacking him from the band. As you read deeper into his descriptions of his most out of control moments, you just wish you could have been there to give him a shake and great big hug. But you also understand the frustration that the rest of the band must have felt, and their need to distance themselves from such a destructive and negative energy. There's also no mention here of the well documented bullying that Tolhurst suffered at the hands of his bandmates.
I guess there's only so much information you can put into one book, and I really do hope Lol Tolhurst has another one in him to share. Cured is about absolution and healing, about friendships so deep they're almost karmic, about fun and fame, tragedy and survival.
The book reveals his inexorable slide towards rock bottom, his �40 days of Wilderness� in the Mojave Desert, his connection with his soulmate, his salvation and absolution and ability to let go of the pain and burn away the damage done as he journeyed through this life. Best of all, Tolhurst becomes the father his own father should have been; loving, devoted and there.
There’s one really poignant part of the book, where Tolhurst and Smith, both five years old, go hand in hand onto the school bus, their mums telling them to look after each other. I think they both did, through the years, but somehow one got lost and the other didn’t quite know how to save him.
July 14, 2017
The first half of the book, describing how three friends came together to form a band in a dead-end English suburb, is the strongest. During the years covered in the second half Tolhurst's alcoholism led to blackouts and memory loss, with the result that he seemed to have few anecdotes to relate for some of The Cure's most vibrant years.
The passages involving Robert Smith seemed mostly tentative, as if Tolhurst was worried about damaging his recent reconciliation with Smith by writing anything less than glowing. This was a nice story, gently told, but fans hoping for detailed insight into the inner workings of The Cure are likely to be disappointed.
The passages involving Robert Smith seemed mostly tentative, as if Tolhurst was worried about damaging his recent reconciliation with Smith by writing anything less than glowing. This was a nice story, gently told, but fans hoping for detailed insight into the inner workings of The Cure are likely to be disappointed.
June 29, 2021
I first heard music by The Cure back in 1983, January to be exact, when I was living in Forest Hills-Queens, NYC. There was an incredible punk/new wave radio station, WLIR, that played everything new. One of their top tracks at the time was Let's Go To Bed, which literally changed my life. From the electronic instruments to the whimsical lyrics "shaking like milk", I was blown away. I soon caught up with all the music The Cure recorded up to that time: Three Imaginary Boys/Boys Don't Cry, Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Pornography. Their music opened the door to all the great music I still listen to today, which includes Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division/New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc.
Lol Tolhurst's memoir was a revelation, as it traced the very beginning of the band up to Disintegration. I was taken by the details of record labels, signing contracts, making music videos, and touring. The Cure were "road-tested" to the nth degree. Their dedication was and still is astonishing. Lol's struggle with addiction was heart-wrenching but so glad he came out of it, in his words, cured.
Lol Tolhurst's memoir was a revelation, as it traced the very beginning of the band up to Disintegration. I was taken by the details of record labels, signing contracts, making music videos, and touring. The Cure were "road-tested" to the nth degree. Their dedication was and still is astonishing. Lol's struggle with addiction was heart-wrenching but so glad he came out of it, in his words, cured.
October 6, 2016
I got this in the mail about a week ago. I have a stack of other books I wanted to read first, but this one called. I'm thrilled to be reading about a young Robert Smith and getting to connect with Lol in a way that I didn't in all my years as a devoted Cure fan. It is beautifully written, so sweet, so honest. Although my eyes are flying through the words because I'm hungry for more, I'm trying to read it in bits so that it lasts longer. I love the background of Crawley and the 60s when Lol, Robert, and Michael Dempsey were growing up. He makes the gloomy, post-war town they grew up in seem like a place that one might still be nostalgic for. I love his description of Robert as being so innocently provocative to others, a curse of being born an artist. I like reading about Lol's childhood, his caring, older brother that left him the drum set before relocating to Australia. I'm happy to know that Lol has risen from the ashes, yet has this enriching, unforgettable story to tell. A good read for anybody, even if you're not a Cure fan.
February 4, 2017
I'm a huge fan of the music of The Cure, but previous to reading this book, knew next to nothing about their history or even how they became a band in the first place. Lol's memoir is an engaging and heartwarming read! I loved his stories of growing up in England with Robert Smith (future Cure singer), who he met when they were just 5 years old, to the many shenanigans he and the band got into, especially in their earlier days! Lol is also brutally honest about how he spiraled out of control in the late 80s with his addictions and about his feelings of helplessness, despair, and disappointment with himself that he ever let his relationship with his friends in the band become so strained! The book had me reaching for some tissues when he recalls how he wrote Robert an apology letter and repaired their friendship, and how years down the road in 2011, he reunited with his former bandmates for a couple shows in Australia, performing their first three albums. It was a fitting, nostalgic and beautiful way to end the book! I loved every minute of it!
August 12, 2017
It's an easy read. Trouble is I didn't feel there was anything much remarkable going on. Not much insight into the relationships between band members. I get the sense he was so drunk he might have missed a lot. The lineup changes often so maybe that's why the bonds seem a bit loose?
Maybe the story of the Cure needs to be told from Roberts perspective? But in the end this is Lol's (somewhat hollow) story, not the Cure's.
Maybe the story of the Cure needs to be told from Roberts perspective? But in the end this is Lol's (somewhat hollow) story, not the Cure's.
December 26, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed by .
met The Cure's leader Robert Smith at primary school when they were both five years old. 14 years later they released their first, rather splendid single, Killing an Arab, and the rest is history.
What makes more interesting than many a rock memoir is that descended into alcoholism as a way of coping with his demons. His behaviour became so erratic that he was asked to leave The Cure and, whilst still feeling bitter and rancorous, unsuccessfully started legal proceedings against Robert Smith.
After overcoming his alcoholism, and coming to terms with his past behaviour, Lol wrote to Robert Smith to make amends. Robert wrote straight back and the two were able to resume their friendship. In 2011, Lol was invited to join the band on some anniversary shows.
is a classic tale of Lol's rise, fall, and rise. It is further elevated by some really evocative chapters about growing up in Crawley in the 1970s with all its accompanying bleakness and violence. Punk rock offered an escape route for Robert and Lol which they gladly seized with both hands.
If you like The Cure, quality rock memoirs, or tales of redemption, then this is well worth reading.
4/5
met The Cure's leader Robert Smith at primary school when they were both five years old. 14 years later they released their first, rather splendid single, Killing an Arab, and the rest is history.
What makes more interesting than many a rock memoir is that descended into alcoholism as a way of coping with his demons. His behaviour became so erratic that he was asked to leave The Cure and, whilst still feeling bitter and rancorous, unsuccessfully started legal proceedings against Robert Smith.
After overcoming his alcoholism, and coming to terms with his past behaviour, Lol wrote to Robert Smith to make amends. Robert wrote straight back and the two were able to resume their friendship. In 2011, Lol was invited to join the band on some anniversary shows.
is a classic tale of Lol's rise, fall, and rise. It is further elevated by some really evocative chapters about growing up in Crawley in the 1970s with all its accompanying bleakness and violence. Punk rock offered an escape route for Robert and Lol which they gladly seized with both hands.
If you like The Cure, quality rock memoirs, or tales of redemption, then this is well worth reading.
4/5
March 25, 2017
I didn't think I was going to like this memoir... I've been a fan of The Cure for years and as such, the name 'Lol Tolhurst' has mostly negative connotations. However, I can honestly say I loved this book.
Lol comes across as very humble, self-aware and honest. He knows he's not the best musician and will be the first one to admit it, while also letting you know just how creative he is because he knows his worth. My opinion of him gave a complete 180 after reading this, and I now understand why he was in The Cure and the huge impact he had on the band. His journey is impressive, to say the least; he's experienced success as few people ever get to experience but it came at a price and he paid in full. The way he powered through the struggles in his life is admirable, although painful to read at times. His prose is, in my opinion, excelent and his vocabulary is so poetic that it keeps you hooked for the sheer beauty and honesty in the words. A truly great book and a must-read for every single Cure fan out there.
Lol comes across as very humble, self-aware and honest. He knows he's not the best musician and will be the first one to admit it, while also letting you know just how creative he is because he knows his worth. My opinion of him gave a complete 180 after reading this, and I now understand why he was in The Cure and the huge impact he had on the band. His journey is impressive, to say the least; he's experienced success as few people ever get to experience but it came at a price and he paid in full. The way he powered through the struggles in his life is admirable, although painful to read at times. His prose is, in my opinion, excelent and his vocabulary is so poetic that it keeps you hooked for the sheer beauty and honesty in the words. A truly great book and a must-read for every single Cure fan out there.
October 24, 2016
The Cure are a band who have meant a great deal to me over the years.
I've felt as if I've been involved with them for a long time and so was very interested in the story Lol would tell. I remember when he took Robert Smith to court and the hurtful and bad things that were said on both sides. It left me disillusioned with Robert and unhappy with Lol for airing the dirty linen in public. It actually affected my relationship with the music and so this was important to me.
Overall, Lol has been very fair and careful. I don't think this book will hurt anyone involved. He's worked through a lot of things that have happened and written about them honestly and with much thought. It's his voice and that is sometimes touching and moving and sometimes made me wish he'd got a writer to guide him a little. There is repetition and cliché, but it's really interesting to read and has reignited my love of the band. Thank you Lol, for sharing this with everyone.
I've felt as if I've been involved with them for a long time and so was very interested in the story Lol would tell. I remember when he took Robert Smith to court and the hurtful and bad things that were said on both sides. It left me disillusioned with Robert and unhappy with Lol for airing the dirty linen in public. It actually affected my relationship with the music and so this was important to me.
Overall, Lol has been very fair and careful. I don't think this book will hurt anyone involved. He's worked through a lot of things that have happened and written about them honestly and with much thought. It's his voice and that is sometimes touching and moving and sometimes made me wish he'd got a writer to guide him a little. There is repetition and cliché, but it's really interesting to read and has reignited my love of the band. Thank you Lol, for sharing this with everyone.
October 26, 2020
Very well-written account of the iconic life of Lol Tolhurst, one-time drummer and keyboardist with the rock band The Cure. Lol’s story is packed with wonderful anecdotes and titbits of information that only a band member would be a party to. Every Cure fan will love this book. Non Cure fans who are interested in band stories and rockstar biographies will also find plenty to enjoy! The book charts the roller coaster ride of fame, addiction, self-destruction and the making of amends between childhood friends. A heart-warming happy ending is on the cards for the two Imaginary Boys, Robert and Lol: “I had the strong realization that none of this - the book, the journey back from destruction - was about me or even Robert. It was about the thing that we had been given that had changed so many people’s lives and had once again changed me. The Cure.� Finally Lol has been Cured.
February 4, 2017
First book I managed to finish in 2017 & what a great start to the year.
A very honest, raw & heartfelt reflection on the formation of one of the greatest bands in the world, The Cure, and the trials of one of the founding members.
I am a big fan of The Cure, but had never looked into their story or beyond just their music before. Fascinating to learn that people that played such a big influence on my younger life & are still a frequent soundtrack to my daily life are just a couple of lads who just loved each other and felt happy with their own sense of being.
Warning: expect to stop reading frequently to go off and listen to a song/record that is being discussed in the book!
A very honest, raw & heartfelt reflection on the formation of one of the greatest bands in the world, The Cure, and the trials of one of the founding members.
I am a big fan of The Cure, but had never looked into their story or beyond just their music before. Fascinating to learn that people that played such a big influence on my younger life & are still a frequent soundtrack to my daily life are just a couple of lads who just loved each other and felt happy with their own sense of being.
Warning: expect to stop reading frequently to go off and listen to a song/record that is being discussed in the book!
October 16, 2016
This is a book for Cure fans.
No, really. That's who's going to read it. I am not excepted from this number. I had watched the Story of Lol from afar, from his being jettisoned after Disintegration to his surprising (and a bit tearjerking) reappearance with the band for their Reflections gigs at the Sydney Opera House. I knew, more or less, the story of the band, but obviously the focus is generally on Robert Smith rather than ol' Lol.
People outside the Cure's fanbase most likely don't know who Lol Tolhurst is, and are probably wondering why he's got an abbreviation for a first name. They're probably not going to be that interested in the work, and that's a bit of a shame, as this is a pretty entertaining (and deeply sad, in places) memoir of one muso's life, and battles with addiction. (With some excellently gross Billy Idol bodily fluid anecdotes to add the flavour of the times.)
Importantly, this is a memoir, not an autobiography. Tolhurst is upfront about why this is so: there's times where his recollection was fucked over by an eventually all-encompassing addiction to alcohol. There's times where what's said might diverge from other histories, written in the shadow of lawsuits or during the author's times in the doldrums, but it's intensely personal. That's really the pull of the book: there's no finer portrait of Robert Smith, really. Here, there's an undoubted respect for the man's songwriting abilities, but there's also the love of a mate who met him at age five. It's a bond that has persisted - despite some truly horrific problems - and there really is nothing to be found within but love.
Well, scratch that - there's anger and sadness, too, but they're aimed straight at the author, and at the satellite town that kicked the band into existence. Tolhurst's upbringing - his mother died young, and his father was mostly belligerent, drunk or both - sounds grim, and it's unsurprising given the locale and the year that booze became a respite, before ultimately becoming his master. But as much as there's lamentation over blackout drunks, on things that've been fucked by it, there's celebration. Tolhurst survived. The book very much has the feeling of a sobriety project, but it's a successful one: it shows a portrait of a guy who finally had to face up to what was eating him, and to apologise to others - but mostly himself - for what it'd done to him. This is a big part of the book, and it leaves the reader feeling hopeful, and curiously proud of how far its author has come.
There's some periods in the book where things become a little repetitive, but I suspect that could be the result of moving reminiscences into a chronological arrangement after they'd been written. There's occasional repetition of phrasing that doesn't appear intentional, but catches the eye oddly. Still, it's pretty minor: this flows pretty well and conveys Tolhurst's personality pretty well - at the end he'd transformed from a guy who I only knew as the recipient for a bit of Cure fan snark into a dude who sounds pretty solid, and certainly one who's been through the wringer.
If you're interested in the Cure, particularly in their early years, this is definitely a book to read. The band are pretty hermetic, and outside of books like Ten Imaginary Years - which Tolhurst used as a reference, among other resources - you don't get much in the way of real nitty-gritty. There's plenty here of interest, and most of it's sent out with love. If you want to know what it's like to hoon around grey England with a teenaged Lol and Robert, this is your jam.
No, really. That's who's going to read it. I am not excepted from this number. I had watched the Story of Lol from afar, from his being jettisoned after Disintegration to his surprising (and a bit tearjerking) reappearance with the band for their Reflections gigs at the Sydney Opera House. I knew, more or less, the story of the band, but obviously the focus is generally on Robert Smith rather than ol' Lol.
People outside the Cure's fanbase most likely don't know who Lol Tolhurst is, and are probably wondering why he's got an abbreviation for a first name. They're probably not going to be that interested in the work, and that's a bit of a shame, as this is a pretty entertaining (and deeply sad, in places) memoir of one muso's life, and battles with addiction. (With some excellently gross Billy Idol bodily fluid anecdotes to add the flavour of the times.)
Importantly, this is a memoir, not an autobiography. Tolhurst is upfront about why this is so: there's times where his recollection was fucked over by an eventually all-encompassing addiction to alcohol. There's times where what's said might diverge from other histories, written in the shadow of lawsuits or during the author's times in the doldrums, but it's intensely personal. That's really the pull of the book: there's no finer portrait of Robert Smith, really. Here, there's an undoubted respect for the man's songwriting abilities, but there's also the love of a mate who met him at age five. It's a bond that has persisted - despite some truly horrific problems - and there really is nothing to be found within but love.
Well, scratch that - there's anger and sadness, too, but they're aimed straight at the author, and at the satellite town that kicked the band into existence. Tolhurst's upbringing - his mother died young, and his father was mostly belligerent, drunk or both - sounds grim, and it's unsurprising given the locale and the year that booze became a respite, before ultimately becoming his master. But as much as there's lamentation over blackout drunks, on things that've been fucked by it, there's celebration. Tolhurst survived. The book very much has the feeling of a sobriety project, but it's a successful one: it shows a portrait of a guy who finally had to face up to what was eating him, and to apologise to others - but mostly himself - for what it'd done to him. This is a big part of the book, and it leaves the reader feeling hopeful, and curiously proud of how far its author has come.
There's some periods in the book where things become a little repetitive, but I suspect that could be the result of moving reminiscences into a chronological arrangement after they'd been written. There's occasional repetition of phrasing that doesn't appear intentional, but catches the eye oddly. Still, it's pretty minor: this flows pretty well and conveys Tolhurst's personality pretty well - at the end he'd transformed from a guy who I only knew as the recipient for a bit of Cure fan snark into a dude who sounds pretty solid, and certainly one who's been through the wringer.
If you're interested in the Cure, particularly in their early years, this is definitely a book to read. The band are pretty hermetic, and outside of books like Ten Imaginary Years - which Tolhurst used as a reference, among other resources - you don't get much in the way of real nitty-gritty. There's plenty here of interest, and most of it's sent out with love. If you want to know what it's like to hoon around grey England with a teenaged Lol and Robert, this is your jam.
December 27, 2016
It's difficult to give this a star rating because I really enjoyed it, yet I recognize that it's not a terribly well-written work overall. It does have its moments in that regard. I found that it really moved in the middle. Maybe the emotional aspects of the time period he was discussing in the middle (the band's early heyday from about 1981-1987) were a little easier to convey than some of the more complicated material concerning his home life. Early on the attempt to convey dialogue felt stilted at best. Later there was a lot of repetition and cliche. If I weren't as connected to the material, I'd probably give this 3 stars.
BUT I gobbled up this book. For all the clunkiness in the delivery, the story is there (and the stories!), the perspective is there, the personality is there, and all of that is great and well worth a read, especially (obviously) for hardcore Cure fans or once-upon-a-time hardcore fans like me. Really, this covers the perfect span for me. I never thought about it before, but it was really around Lol's departure that my mania for the band began to very slowly wane (not because he left, I don't think, though maybe the breakup of that early nucleus of the band did have an effect that contributed to it). I still love them, and Lol captures a lot of the community--the philosophy if you like--of The Cure. The book gets at what they were (are?) all about as an idea--a way of looking at things. He gets at why they have brought so many people together and how they and their music are cathartic for many people. The articulation is a little fuzzy in parts, but the message absolutely comes across. I appreciate that.
I think it's a sign of just how connected I was to The Cure at one time that I am tangentially acquainted with a couple of the people Lol thanks in the acknowledgements. It's also a sign of what he was doing in writing this book. He thanks a lot of people. I think he wrote this book as a part of his process of coming to terms with his past, mistakes he'd made, and relationships he wanted to repair. His comments on his relationships with various band members--especially, of course, his old friend Robert--feel appropriate. It is tempting to want to hear how the others would paint things. But on some level it doesn't matter. This is Lol's book, and it's a worthwhile one. He had a good reason to write it and a lot to say--good ingredients for a fine memoir.
BUT I gobbled up this book. For all the clunkiness in the delivery, the story is there (and the stories!), the perspective is there, the personality is there, and all of that is great and well worth a read, especially (obviously) for hardcore Cure fans or once-upon-a-time hardcore fans like me. Really, this covers the perfect span for me. I never thought about it before, but it was really around Lol's departure that my mania for the band began to very slowly wane (not because he left, I don't think, though maybe the breakup of that early nucleus of the band did have an effect that contributed to it). I still love them, and Lol captures a lot of the community--the philosophy if you like--of The Cure. The book gets at what they were (are?) all about as an idea--a way of looking at things. He gets at why they have brought so many people together and how they and their music are cathartic for many people. The articulation is a little fuzzy in parts, but the message absolutely comes across. I appreciate that.
I think it's a sign of just how connected I was to The Cure at one time that I am tangentially acquainted with a couple of the people Lol thanks in the acknowledgements. It's also a sign of what he was doing in writing this book. He thanks a lot of people. I think he wrote this book as a part of his process of coming to terms with his past, mistakes he'd made, and relationships he wanted to repair. His comments on his relationships with various band members--especially, of course, his old friend Robert--feel appropriate. It is tempting to want to hear how the others would paint things. But on some level it doesn't matter. This is Lol's book, and it's a worthwhile one. He had a good reason to write it and a lot to say--good ingredients for a fine memoir.
September 9, 2018
I’ve been a diehard Cure fan since the age of 16, back in 1991. My boyfriend (now husband) and I saw them play at Earl’s Court in London on 1 June 1996, when I was 21. It was an experience of such significance in my life (the first time I experienced Stendhal syndrome), that I am actually dedicating a scene to it in my second book (manuscript currently in progress).
Last week I bought us tickets for their very first show in South Africa - in Johannesburg, on 16 March 2019. It’ll have been almost 23 YEARS since our last Cure gig, and needless to say, we are ridiculously excited.
Anyway, this was a book I had been wanting to read ever since I first heard about it from a friend of mine, who’s a musician and also a Cure fan. (Many of my most instant and enduring friendships - some of them going back almost three decades - were forged on a mutual love of the band.)
My husband gave me a Kindle for my 44th birthday on 18th August, and ‘Cured� was the very first ebook I bought on Amazon. Just five days later, we heard about the upcoming tour to SA, and it honestly felt like all my Christmases had come at once!
While I do think it needs another good edit (lots of little typos and quite a bit of repetition), it’s still a great read. I got immersed in the band’s world during those exciting formative years, and learnt a bit more about their amazing chemistry, and what made each member tick.
My four favourite Cure albums are all from the Eighties - ‘Seventeen Seconds�, ‘Faith�, ‘Pornography�, and ‘Disintegration� - so it was really cool that Lol was able to offer so much insight into that *specific* period in their history. And one of my most treasured possessions is their 2004 ‘Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities� box set, which contains loads of material from that same era. It’s an item I’d literally grab and save if my house was burning down.
I have always been fascinated by the inspiration behind art, and the methodologies employed in the creative process. I absolutely LOVE a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the private lives of artists I admire. And so I am incredibly grateful to Lol, for taking the time to share his story with us - the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. He sounds like a really decent bloke, with a heart of gold, and I wish for him all the very best in his future endeavours.
This book is a must-read for EVERY Cure fan.
Last week I bought us tickets for their very first show in South Africa - in Johannesburg, on 16 March 2019. It’ll have been almost 23 YEARS since our last Cure gig, and needless to say, we are ridiculously excited.
Anyway, this was a book I had been wanting to read ever since I first heard about it from a friend of mine, who’s a musician and also a Cure fan. (Many of my most instant and enduring friendships - some of them going back almost three decades - were forged on a mutual love of the band.)
My husband gave me a Kindle for my 44th birthday on 18th August, and ‘Cured� was the very first ebook I bought on Amazon. Just five days later, we heard about the upcoming tour to SA, and it honestly felt like all my Christmases had come at once!
While I do think it needs another good edit (lots of little typos and quite a bit of repetition), it’s still a great read. I got immersed in the band’s world during those exciting formative years, and learnt a bit more about their amazing chemistry, and what made each member tick.
My four favourite Cure albums are all from the Eighties - ‘Seventeen Seconds�, ‘Faith�, ‘Pornography�, and ‘Disintegration� - so it was really cool that Lol was able to offer so much insight into that *specific* period in their history. And one of my most treasured possessions is their 2004 ‘Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities� box set, which contains loads of material from that same era. It’s an item I’d literally grab and save if my house was burning down.
I have always been fascinated by the inspiration behind art, and the methodologies employed in the creative process. I absolutely LOVE a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the private lives of artists I admire. And so I am incredibly grateful to Lol, for taking the time to share his story with us - the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. He sounds like a really decent bloke, with a heart of gold, and I wish for him all the very best in his future endeavours.
This book is a must-read for EVERY Cure fan.
August 6, 2018
Over the course of the past decade, many memoirs and autobiographies have been written by major players in the post-punk explosion of the late 70s and early 80s. While Tolhurst does not necessarily fit in that "major player" category, Cured is not only the first book written by past or present members of The Cure, but perhaps it is one of the most down-to-earth accounts of that era and one of the most honest and heart-warming tales of personal redemption from a contemporary musician. Although fans of The Cure have already accesss to more detailed and precise information about concert dates, line-ups, etc., this is the first-hand account of the beginnings of the band, their rise to success in the 80s and early 90s, and their acclaim by both fans, musicians, and critics alike in the early 21st century. From his childhood and teenage years in the boredom/apathy of the band's tiny native town to world tours and his rellocation to California and his new found love of life, Tolhurst opens wide the doors of his life, from his life-long passion for making music, to his struggle with alcoholism (which caused so much pain to himself and disruption in the band). Certainly, there are books and other sources that will provide any avid Curefan with more precise information, but this book actually shines when Tolhurst provides little details and insights about the beginnings of the band, their struggle to leave Crawley behind, and particularly when the recounts how he overcame his alcoholism and how he reconciled with Robert Smith and the rest of the band. Although he might not have been the most accomplished musician of his generation, Tolhurst is in more than one sense a true Everyman and his love for his friends and bandmates shines forth with greater strength and none of the bitternes that permeates many other books by better or more famous musicians of his generation.
December 13, 2016
This is one of the most eloquent, intimate memoirs I have ever read. It is so beautifully descriptive, in a way only a true artists can express. He is able to paint a picture of bleakness and colour with the same flair. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this book, not just because I love The Cure and am interested in hearing what Lol has to say, but because it is also easy and gentle to read.
The book feels incredibly personal - not because it is the story of one man, but because it's the story of one man's perspective. Lol clearly knows what his readers want to hear. The focus of the book is largely dedicated to The Cure, what went well and what went wrong. That is what his readers are interested in, and his almost twenty five years away from the band get a mere mention. Lol will not become best friend to the reader. But the reader will understand him better.
The intimacy comes from exorcism, because the whole book reads an exorcism of personal demons, displayed on the page, asking for understanding and redemption. The final step in exploration and healing to tackle his alcoholism. I expected to hear stories about a band I love that I'd never heard before - and I got that. But I also got a closeness to a previously aloof character. When I heard of The Cure, Lol was long gone. He now feels very present in the music I hear, in a way he always but I never acknowledged.
The book feels incredibly personal - not because it is the story of one man, but because it's the story of one man's perspective. Lol clearly knows what his readers want to hear. The focus of the book is largely dedicated to The Cure, what went well and what went wrong. That is what his readers are interested in, and his almost twenty five years away from the band get a mere mention. Lol will not become best friend to the reader. But the reader will understand him better.
The intimacy comes from exorcism, because the whole book reads an exorcism of personal demons, displayed on the page, asking for understanding and redemption. The final step in exploration and healing to tackle his alcoholism. I expected to hear stories about a band I love that I'd never heard before - and I got that. But I also got a closeness to a previously aloof character. When I heard of The Cure, Lol was long gone. He now feels very present in the music I hear, in a way he always but I never acknowledged.
September 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, firstly because I have been a huge Cure fan ever since a was old enough to buy records, but equally for the story of a man dealing with his demons, the story of a wonderful friendship and forgiveness, and for the knowledge that recovery from alcoholism is possible (which is sadly not the case for many people). I knew that Lol had gone to court, but I had no idea that he had made amends and that Robert and the rest of the band had forgiven him. I found that part of the book very touching. To me, it just goes to show that they share tremendous moral values and are genuinely great people. Even if you are not a Cure fan, you will enjoy this book for its positive message that, even in the darkest of times, nothing lasts forever and things can always get better. You will also certainly enjoy this book if you are interested in the music scene in the late seventies and early eighties, and in how hard working and dedicated musicians had to be to make it.
March 20, 2021
There are three major characters in this memoir -- Lol himself, Robert Smith, and Lol's alcoholism. I'd known nothing of the latter before I picked up the book, so I guess I was a bit disappointed by how much ink it got, but I suspect writing this book was pretty cathartic for Lol, and if that's the case, more power to him for wrestling with his demons.
I would recommend this book for any fan of The Cure. It's a bit light on details about specific songs, but you do get a good sense of what it was like to be there. He's not going to win any awards for great writing, but there are some great anecdotes and some fascinating characters.
One thing I was genuinely disappointed by was the shortage of photos. There's one 8-page section of black and white photos, and that's it, which is really a shame when you're telling the story of a band like The Cure.
I would recommend this book for any fan of The Cure. It's a bit light on details about specific songs, but you do get a good sense of what it was like to be there. He's not going to win any awards for great writing, but there are some great anecdotes and some fascinating characters.
One thing I was genuinely disappointed by was the shortage of photos. There's one 8-page section of black and white photos, and that's it, which is really a shame when you're telling the story of a band like The Cure.
August 31, 2017
I've been reading a lot of musician memoirs lately, especially those about 80s post-punk/new wave/alt-rock bands. It's fun nostalgia and escapism. This one had all the regular components, rocketing to fame as teenagers, hilarious backstage anecdotes, addiction, depression, personality conflicts, lawsuits, personal redemption . . . but I'll say this for Lol Tolhurst, and the Cure in general, there's no anger, no bitterness, no vicious gossip about their celebrity cohorts. If you love the Cure, this is an interesting read with none of the bitchiness or self-pity that many other musician memoirs fall prey to. It's a book worthy of the 80s most iconic band.
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