REVIEW: Stills – The Cure Paul Cox photo book

Visually The Cure come across as haunting figures able to poke fun at themselves whilst being part of one of the most distinctive rock groups to appear from the British shores, forming back in 1976 and still going strong in 2022.

A new picture book by the bands mainstay photographer Paul Cox, published by Moonboy, delves deep into the spider webbed history of the band with previously unseen photos, compelling nuggets of information from Cox and The Cure kooky frontman Robert Smith preceding each photo shoot plus a foreword by Smith who describes Cox’s personal relationship with the band have initially bumping into the band in the BBC studios in 1980. Smith confirms ‘A very good job he wasn’t putt off by the very weird job that was The Cure on Top Of The Pops in 1980’.

Cox starts the book describing how he was a regular photographer within the Wood Lane Top Of The Pops studios in the late 70’s and early 80’s, this would be the start of a visual love affair with The Cure who were a 3 piece band when he first engaged them. There are what looks like a fragile and nervous pre lipstick Smith fronting the band in the hallowed TOTP studios playing bass with Michael ‘Mick’ Dempsey on the 6 string and initial band co-anchor Laurence ‘Lol’ Tolhurst on the drums. Fast forward a few months Smith can be seen wearing his favourite shade of red with Tol, both suited up with their hair growing like overgrown oak trees.

Further visual moments of interest include a palm tree style effect photo, a similar effect was used with Madness in photo sessions from the 80’s, eye catching, showing The Cure in an aloof mood. As the suits became baggier with the decade progressing so did Smith’s tangled wiry hair, the lip stick became thicker plus the sharp line in Burton suits morphed into the well worn look of what looked like oversized Dr Martens, oversized jumper, plus the songs became more familiar to households.

There are photo sessions for tour rehearsals; Top, Head On The Door, Disintegration, Wild Mood Swings, the Blood Flowers albums; Boys Don’t Cry, Never Enough, Wrong Number singles; Why Can’t I Be You?, Lovesong video shoots, all depicting the band in their different line up changes through the years, attire is a mixture of colours mainly from the 80’s and early 90’s, with latter years becoming darker and broodier black becoming the prominent staple wardrobe choice. Smith cant help but be the focus of attention in all the photos, he has that sort of magnetic appeal which turns heads and could stop traffic.

With one option to purchase which comes with; the book, set of 12 photos, 2 posters and 2 bookmarks for £56.00, this is no doubt a must purchase collector’s item for fans of The Cure.

Stills can be purchased via the following link