The Cure‘s Robert Smith gave a hilarious response to a reporter while being interviewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Friday. Check out the video below.
Ahead of the iconic Crawley group being inducted at the New York ceremony, Smith and co. took to the red carpet to discuss receiving the accolade, their lengthy career, and the progress on new music.
At the top of the chat, the band were introduced by an enthusiastic interviewer, who also admitted to being a huge fan. “Congratulations The Cure – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees 2019! Are you as excited as I am?!” she asked.
Offering a typically-deadpan and blunt reply, Smith said: “By the sounds of it, no.”
this is the funniest start to an interview i have ever seen i love robert smith man pic.twitter.com/7H4okzPX0L
— al (@_jxnesyy) March 30, 2019
The clip has since gone viral, with fans hailing the moment as “priceless”, “wonderfully British”, and “a hilarious joy”.
“This is the funniest start to an interview I have ever seen I love Robert Smith man,” one viewer commented. Another said: “I didn’t think it was possible for me to like Robert Smith any more than I already did. I was wrong.”
The Cure’s longtime video director Tim Pope also tweeted the video, saying that the exchange was his “favourite moment” from Friday’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame event.
See more reactions along with the full interview below.
My favourite moment from RARHF. Introducer: ‘On my God! The Cure! Robert Smith! Are you as excited as I am?’ Robert: ‘By the sound of it, no.’ pic.twitter.com/u1qllywa5f
— Tim Pope (@timpopedirector) March 30, 2019
Met Robert Smith once and he was exactly as great as this. https://t.co/n5ThMpQG2T
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) March 31, 2019
@TheBeardOfChaos@ABNTHockey @jenniefirtree
Priceless! ???
"Robert Smith's blunt response to an excited interviewer is attracting a lot of attention" https://t.co/iRPJlv25s9
— John McKinstry (@JMcKWriter) March 31, 2019
Robert Smith you are the BEST https://t.co/3bWqcx2vuj
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 31, 2019
Robert Smith from @thecure is the best. https://t.co/lB6aeZp1Xh
— ?????? ? ?????? (@DanielPCarter) March 31, 2019
The whole interview with Robert Smith is a hilarious joy https://t.co/JBzAykBto5
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) March 31, 2019
When Robert Smith gives you this look, you know it's not going to end well ?? pic.twitter.com/xwrugi4Drg
— Scott H (@Scottdiavolo) March 31, 2019
Robert Smith's wonderfully British responsepic.twitter.com/0f78vLd7WE
— Will Gavin (@WillGav) March 31, 2019
Robert Smith is my spirit animal https://t.co/lRruYfCLod
— Alix Robertson (@AlixHRobertson) March 31, 2019
That Robert Smith video is as good a reason as any to remind people that Disintegration is one of the best albums of all time.
— kevinbiegel (@kbiegel) March 31, 2019
Robert Smith in a single sentence. https://t.co/EbUuaavDig
— Lawson Clarke (@Malecopywriter) March 31, 2019
Following their induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Cure took to the stage to perform a special five-song set. The band played ‘Shake Dog Shake,’ ‘A Forest’, ‘Love Song’, ‘Just Like Heaven’, and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’.
Meanwhile, Robert Smith has shared further details on the band’s upcoming new album – described by the frontman as “so dark” and “incredibly intense”.
“I think it will delight our hardcore fans,” the singer explained, “and probably really, really infuriate everyone else. At my age, I’m still doom and gloom.”
In other news, The Cure were confirmed to be headlining this year’s Glastonbury Festival earlier this month (March 15). They join Stormzy and The Killers at the top of a bill that also includes the likes of Janelle Monáe, Liam Gallagher, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, Bastille, Billie Eilish, and more.