Shopping Cart
Cured
The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys
Description
A deeply moving and engaging memoir by Laurence “Lol” Tolhurst, cofounder of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Cure
As two of the first punks in a provincial English town, 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. They began playing together 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 and spawning a new subculture dubbed “Goth” by the press. But there was also a dark side to The Cure’s intense and bewildering success. Tolhurst was nursing a growing alcoholism that would destroy his place in The Cure and nearly end his life.
Intensely lyrical and evocative, gripping and unforgettable, this is the definitive story of a singular band whose legacy endures many decades hence, told from the point of view of a participant and eyewitness who was there when it happened–and even before it all began.
As two of the first punks in a provincial English town, 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. They began playing together 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 and spawning a new subculture dubbed “Goth” by the press. But there was also a dark side to The Cure’s intense and bewildering success. Tolhurst was nursing a growing alcoholism that would destroy his place in The Cure and nearly end his life.
Intensely lyrical and evocative, gripping and unforgettable, this is the definitive story of a singular band whose legacy endures many decades hence, told from the point of view of a participant and eyewitness who was there when it happened–and even before it all began.
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Praise
Pitchfork, 9/27/16
“What begins as a coming-of-age story—and a fascinating snapshot of late '70s small-town Britain, a world rapidly fading from view—ends up as a remarkably moving redemption narrative, one fueled by Tolhurst's considerable wit and welcome candor.”
Yahoo Music, 9/28/16
“Compulsively readable…a fascinating chronicle not only of one man's disintegration and renewal, not only of two boys' unique friendship, but also of an incredibly important era in music.”
Salon, 10/5/16
“Tolhurst's truths are wildly entertaining, to be sure, especially where music is concerned…the musician is also, however, an unsparing narrator who has been honest about his sometimes-difficult upbringing and his own flaws.”
Washington Times, 10/5/16
“Part rock bio and part cautionary tale, [Cured] is easily the best rock book in some time.”
Billboard, 10/6/16
“Fascinating.”
AXS, 10/11/16
“A beautiful, yet emotional tale of friendship, loss, fighting demons, and redemption.”
PopMatters, 10/18/16
“Fans of The Cure will find much to love in this book.”
“What begins as a coming-of-age story—and a fascinating snapshot of late '70s small-town Britain, a world rapidly fading from view—ends up as a remarkably moving redemption narrative, one fueled by Tolhurst's considerable wit and welcome candor.”
Yahoo Music, 9/28/16
“Compulsively readable…a fascinating chronicle not only of one man's disintegration and renewal, not only of two boys' unique friendship, but also of an incredibly important era in music.”
Salon, 10/5/16
“Tolhurst's truths are wildly entertaining, to be sure, especially where music is concerned…the musician is also, however, an unsparing narrator who has been honest about his sometimes-difficult upbringing and his own flaws.”
Washington Times, 10/5/16
“Part rock bio and part cautionary tale, [Cured] is easily the best rock book in some time.”
Billboard, 10/6/16
“Fascinating.”
AXS, 10/11/16
“A beautiful, yet emotional tale of friendship, loss, fighting demons, and redemption.”
PopMatters, 10/18/16
“Fans of The Cure will find much to love in this book.”
"There's a treasure trove of great stories in Cured."—Houston Press, 11/16/16
"Tolhurst's slow dive into an alcohol-and-drug-fueled bottoming out drives the narrative...there's plenty of Merlot-infused gristle to gnaw on."—Austin Chronicle