The Story of The Cure: A rare combination of darkness and pop hits

The Story of The Cure: A rare combination of darkness and pop hits

Author: Dave Anthony September 2, 2026 Duration: 56:27

The Cure proved something very rare in the history of music: that darkness and beauty could coexist in the very same catalog. While navigating immense and shocking internal chaos, band leader and guitarist Robert Smith and The Cure inspired generations of artists, helped define the sound of alternative music, and showed millions of outsiders that they weren't alone.  In this episode you'll learn:

  • How Robert Smith managed to perform in two famous bands at one time
  • The surprising musical influences that inspired The Cure sound
  • Why Robert Smith was embarrassed by some of his biggest hits
  • The levels of The Cure's debauchery that rival rock's most controversial acts
  • The intellectual prowess of Robert Smith and its various influences

Guest Bio
Acclaimed music writer and journalist Ian Gittins is author of The Cure: Perfect Dream, a coffee table-like retrospective of The Cure's career, complete with album indexes, song listings and rare photographs included. Ian is a music writer for the British paper The Guardian, and has also written for Melody Maker, Q, MTV, The Daily Telegraph, and New York Times, and he is a best-selling author who has penned biographies of Bjork and Talking Heads.   

Want to learn more music history?  
Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels

Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:

  1. Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode drops
  2. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or Spotify
  3. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Cure including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast digs into the gritty, human stories behind the meteoric rises of rock's most iconic figures. Host Dave Anthony guides each episode, but the real depth comes from his guests-authors who have penned definitive biographies or filmmakers who have crafted intimate documentaries about these artists. Together, they unpack the pivotal moments, the forgotten early songs, and the sheer luck or stubborn determination that propelled bands from humble, often chaotic beginnings to selling out the world's largest venues. This isn't just a timeline of hits; it's a conversation about the struggle, the creative bursts, and the industry machinery that defines a journey from obscurity to legend. You'll hear the music that shaped them, the anecdotes that reveal their character, and a clear-eyed look at the price of fame. For anyone who believes the best rock and roll stories are found off the stage and in the van, the dive bar, and the rehearsal space, this podcast offers a compelling, detailed archive. Tune in for a masterclass in music history that feels less like a lecture and more like a backstage pass to the turning points that changed culture.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Story of Led Zeppelin: Game changers of rock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
Hop on the wild ride of Led Zeppelin that swings between euphoric triumphs and gut-wrenching tragedies. Delve deep into the Led Zeppelin story with Bob Spitz, the author of Led Zeppelin: The Biography, who sheds light on…
The Story of Stevie Wonder: The genius who changed popular music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:29
Travel back to early 1960s Motown when an 11-year old child prodigy mysteriously appeared on the scene. Stevie Wonder rose from deep poverty, a fractured home and a significant physical disability to become one of the mo…
The Story of AC/DC: The thunder from down under [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:25
Summer's here, time to crank some guitar riffs like only AC/DC can create. We're revisiting one of our most electrifying episodes: The Story of AC/DC. From gritty Sydney pub gigs to conquering stadiums worldwide, AC/DC's…