Cured

The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys

By: Lol Tolhurst

Narrated by: Lol Tolhurst

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

A deeply moving and engaging memoir by Laurence "Lol" Tolhurst, cofounder of The Cure, detailing the origins and creation of one of the most beloved bands of all time and Tolhurst's own return from the brink of self-destruction.

"On a damp September morning in 1964, my mother threw Robert Smith and me together. A bus had been arranged to take children from the outlying areas to St. Francis of Assisi School in Crawley. 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 14 years later would result in the formation of The Cure, a quintessential postpunk 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 nonconformist 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. Now, more than a quarter century sober, Tolhurst looks back on those days with clear-eyed honesty, delivering an inspiring account of his redemption and the process of coming to peace with The Cure and its continuing legacy.

©2016 Laurence A. Tolhurst (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Glorious

Giggle enticing at times and heart wrenching at others. No one could tell this story better than Lol. Truly the tale of best mates, the way life tends to smack you around, living as an artist and balancing on the line of “art as a job”, and what happens when it all falls apart to build you back up again. Well read by the author and I would not have wanted anyone else to have done so.

A Gift!!

Beautifully written. An epic story of human resilience. Thank you, Lol. I hope you keep writing.

Great insight into early music of The Cure

If you are a fan of the early Cure albums, this is a really fascinating read, told from the inside by someone who was there. The dignity of Robert Smith also really shines through.

Definitely worth your time!

An honest take. I read a lot of music auto bios and this one was refreshing. I liked the way he just told his story without editorial and without avoiding that his actions had cause and effects both good and bad. I like The Cure but not so much I follow all their details. But, this made me start listening to the back catalogue and enjoying it all in a new light! Good stuff.

Splendid and brutally honest

Unlike any band memoir you are likely to read. Well done on every level. Anyone with even a passing interest in The Cure will find this well worth their time.

Lovely listen

One of the better rock memoirs I’ve chanced to listen to. Very touched by the story of redemption after struggles with alcohol.

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, easy to follow, and very well read. When I finished, my impression was that Lol is a truly likable person and I never felt that he was trying to rewrite history in his favor. He faced his transgressions head on, and I loved that he easily admits his mistakes and truly regrets them without making excuses or blaming other people. Thank you for sharing your story, Mr Tolhurst.

Not a bad introduction to a band I vaguely knew of

I had always known and enjoyed the music of the Cure without realizing it before, but now plan to revisit.

Excellent

Would you listen to Cured again? Why?

I've started it over already

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cured?

The younger stories were great to hear. It's hard to imagine Lol or Robert fighting skinheads!

What about Lol Tolhurst’s performance did you like?

He seemed genuine in his performance. You could tell this meant a lot to him.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but of course it's to long for that.

Any additional comments?

As a Cure fan I'm biased admittedly. But I thought this book was really well done. It puts a new light on the songs up through Disintegration for me and I'll take any reason to go back and listen to those albums. Nice job Lol!!! Write more!

loved it

this book is honest, transparent, sets you in the place and time with new perspective.