Two members of the Cure have exited the veteran U.K. rock act, which has long featured a revolving door of musicians backing up leader Robert Smith. Keyboardist Roger O'Donnell announced his departure today (May 27) on his official Web site ( http://www.rogerodonnell.com ) while a fan site ( http://www.perrybamonte.de ) dedicated to guitarist Perry Bamonte conveyed the same news about his fate."As of Tuesday this week I am no longer a member of the Cure," O'Donnell wrote. "It was sad to find out after nearly 20 years the way I did but then I should have expected no less or more."
Elaborating to Billboard.com today, O'Donnell reveals that he was informed by Smith that he is transforming the Cure into a three-piece, backed only by bassist Simon Gallup and drummer Jason Cooper. "There's not really much you can say when you are the fifth member," he says, adding that he found out about the Cure's upcoming live dates via a fan Web site.
O'Donnell has been working on a solo album, "The Truth in Me," for the past six months and will release it in the fall on an as-yet-unnamed independent label. The set is being mixed in Germany with Mario Thaler (Lali Puna, the Notwist), and remixes of select tracks are being prepared by Four Tet and the Album Leaf. In addition, a video is in the works from Mike and Matt Chapman, the masterminds behind the online animated site HomestarRunner.com.
Rumors are also circulating that Siouxie and the Banshees principal Steve Severin will fill in at the Cure's upcoming shows in some capacity. Severin and Smith are longtime friends who recorded a 1983 side-project album, "Blue Sunshine," under the moniker the Glove.
"It is true that we are talking again, but I haven't spoken to Robert since this story broke," Severin tells Billboard.com. "All I know is that we are working together on making the most exciting remaster of 'Blue Sunshine' possible."
Source: http://www.billboard.com
