As frontman of Goth-rock icons, The Cure, Robert Smith has left an undeniable mark on the history of pop culture. The Cure made gloom into candy with songs like “Friday I’m In Love” and “Lovesong.” Putting a melancholy spin on the sweetest of emotion, Smith can create a snapshot of sadness that speaks straight to all of our hearts. It’s always fascinating to know who or what inspires influential artists and, while The Cure definitely verge closer to the dark side than Bowie ever did, Smith has never been shy about discussing his deep admiration for the singer.
In this interview, Robert Smith discusses the impact that Bowie’s ever-evolving persona and strident individuality had on his younger self; ultimately guiding his own vision for The Cure. Bowie's ability to vividly reinvent himself with seemingly boundless creativity was captivating and, while a legacy like his can never be matched or recreated, he empowered others to embrace what makes them different, rather than hide it.
Drawn into a conversation about how Bowie had influenced his approach to music, Smith answers: “I listened to music before Bowie, obviously. I have an older brother and he played me Hendrix, Cream and Captain Beefheart… all that type of stuff from the 1960s but David Bowie was probably the first artist that I felt was mine. He was singing to me. He [Bowie] was the first album I ever bought; Ziggy Stardust was the first vinyl album I ever bought. I always loved how he did things as much as what he did. I love that idea of being an outsider and creating characters.”
Watch the interview below:
Bowie’s song, “Heroes” from his 12th studio album of the same name, was released 42 years ago this week. To mark the occasion, a new video has been released featuring previously unseen footage sampled from the original “Heroes” video outtakes reel. The creator explained in a statement: “In considering the many possible ways of making my own re-cut version of the ‘Heroes’ promo video, I eventually decided on trying to salvage the wonderful Complete Take 1.”
David Bowie | “Heroes” [Previously Unreleased Alternate Take 1] [1977]
Listen to "Heroes" on Spotify:
Listen to Heroes on Apple Music:
