The Cure ‘considered quitting live circuit’ before taking Bestival headline slot

Robert Smith and co will top the bill at Isle Of Wight bash tonight (September 10)

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has revealed that the band considered quitting the live circuit before being offered a headline slot at this year’s Bestival.

The group, who will top the bill at the Isle Of Wight event tonight (September 10), returned from a two year live hiatus this summer, a break where Smith’s only notable musical contributions were guest vocal spots for Crystal Castles and Japanese Popstars.

The frontman told The Guardian he disappeared from the spotlight after growing fearful that the band could end up “going through the motions” after they completed a world tour in support of their 2008 album ‘4:13 Dream’.

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He explained:

I hated the idea of sliding into the twilight zone, going through the motions. My whole life I’ve played music for my own personal enjoyment and the idea of it becoming a machine or a business is just horrible.

Smith also admitted he feels “uncomfortable” with politicising his music, commenting:

Very few of them [political musicians] are clever enough to do it; if they’re good at the political side, the music side suffers, and vice versa. As a character, a public persona, I’m not perceived in that way; I don’t think I have the gravitas, the way I look, to pull it off.

After sets from Magnetic Man, Public Enemy and headliners Pendulum yesterday (9), Bestival continues today with sets from the likes of Crystal Castles and 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize winner PJ Harvey before The Cure play their headline slot.

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