Photo of The Cure
Photo: Bill Ebbesen · CC BY-SA 3.0

Band

The Cure

Active1978-present
OriginCrawley, West Sussex, England
Albums14
Tracks158

Most frequent collaborator: David M. Allen  ·  62 tracks

Gothic rockPost-punkNew waveAlternative rock
99%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 157 of 158 tracks

Does The Cure write their own songs?

Yes. The Cure are credited on 99% of their catalogue, and in practice that means Robert Smith, the only constant member. He writes nearly all the lyrics and shapes the music, with the band credited alongside him. Songs like 'Just Like Heaven,' 'Lovesong,' and 'Friday I'm in Love' are his work, backed by whichever lineup was in place.

By the Numbers

14
Studio Albums
158
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
more than 30 million
Records Sold
48
Years Active
9
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 157 / 158 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 158 tracks: how many The Cure wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

The Cure has a writing credit99%
93%
6%
1%
Sole author147tracks93%
Co-written10tracks6%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
The Cure's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 158 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)98%
Composer (music)99%
Producer92%
Performer99%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 158 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Robert Smith 1978-present
98%
99%
74%
99%
Simon Gallup 1979-1982, 1985-present
5%
69%
0%
0%
Roger O'Donnell 1987-1990, 1995-2005, 2011-present
0%
25%
0%
0%
Jason Cooper 1995-present
0%
25%
0%
0%
Reeves Gabrels 2012-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Perry Bamonte Died December 24, 2025 1990-2005, 2022-2025 (died December 24, 2025)
0%
25%
0%
0%
Lol Tolhurst 1978-1989
15%
37%
0%
0%
Michael Dempsey 1978-1979
8%
8%
0%
0%
Porl Thompson 1983-1993, 2005-2010
0%
35%
0%
0%
Boris Williams 1984-1994
0%
27%
0%
0%
Phil Thornalley 1983-1984
0%
0%
5%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

The Cure's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
92%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1979Three Imaginary Boys
1980Seventeen Seconds
1981Faith
1982Pornography
1984The Top
1985The Head on the Door
1987Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
1989Disintegration
1992Wish
1996Wild Mood Swings
2000Bloodflowers
2004The Cure
20084:13 Dream
2024Songs of a Lost World
Early · 98% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

92%
1970s
Three Imaginary Boys
100%
1980s
Seventeen Seconds, Faith +5 more
100%
1990s
Wish, Wild Mood Swings
100%
2000s
Bloodflowers, The Cure +1 more
100%
2020s
Songs of a Lost World

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where The Cure sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

The Cure
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Celine Dion2%
Selena13%
Ricky Martin25%
Kylie Minogue46%
Cyndi Lauper60%
Phil Collins78%
Gwen Stefani88%
99%The Cure
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

A Forest
Seventeen Seconds
Written by Robert Smith, Matthieu Hartley, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst
Co-wrote
Primary
Faith
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst
Wrote it
The Hanging Garden
Pornography
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst
Wrote it
The Caterpillar
The Top
Written by Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst
Wrote it
In Between Days
The Head on the Door
Written by Robert Smith
Wrote it
Close to Me
The Head on the Door
Written by Robert Smith
Wrote it
Why Can't I Be You?
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, Boris Williams
Wrote it
Just Like Heaven
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, Boris Williams
Wrote it
Lullaby
Disintegration
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
Lovesong
Disintegration
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
Pictures of You
Disintegration
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
High
Wish
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Perry Bamonte, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
Friday I'm in Love
Wish
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Perry Bamonte, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
A Letter to Elise
Wish
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Perry Bamonte, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams
Wrote it
The 13th
Wild Mood Swings
Written by Robert Smith, Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell
Wrote it
Mint Car
Wild Mood Swings
Written by Robert Smith, Perry Bamonte, Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell
Wrote it
Maybe Someday
Bloodflowers
Written by Robert Smith
Wrote it
The End of the World
The Cure
Written by Robert Smith, Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Roger O'Donnell
Wrote it
Taking Off
The Cure
Written by Robert Smith, Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Roger O'Donnell
Wrote it
The Only One
4:13 Dream
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Porl Thompson
Wrote it
Freakshow
4:13 Dream
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Porl Thompson
Wrote it
Sleep When I'm Dead
4:13 Dream
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Porl Thompson
Wrote it
The Perfect Boy
4:13 Dream
Written by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Porl Thompson
Wrote it
Alone
Songs of a Lost World
Written by Robert Smith
Wrote it
A Fragile Thing
Songs of a Lost World
Written by Robert Smith
Wrote it

Discography 14 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

The Cure158 tracks
DM62 CP23 MH18 PC17 SL14 RR13

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. DM David M. Allen · CP Chris Parry · MH Mike Hedges · PC Paul Corkett · SL Steve Lyon · RR Ross Robinson

The Writers & Producers Behind The Cure 6 key collaborators

DM
David M. Allen
Producer
The Top / The Head on the Door / Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me / Disintegration62 tracks
CP
Chris Parry
Producer
Three Imaginary Boys / The Top23 tracks
MH
Mike Hedges
Producer
Seventeen Seconds / Faith18 tracks
PC
Paul Corkett
Producer
Bloodflowers / Songs of a Lost World17 tracks
SL
Steve Lyon
Producer
Wild Mood Swings14 tracks
RR
Ross Robinson
Producer
The Cure13 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The Cure is, in authorship terms, essentially Robert Smith wearing a band's name: he writes virtually all the lyrics and is credited on every song, with the music credited either to him alone or collectively to the band's lineup of the moment. Long-serving members like Simon Gallup, Lol Tolhurst, and Porl Thompson share in the collective music credits, but no one else writes lyrics. The data shows one of rock's clearest cases of a single dominant author operating within a rotating ensemble.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHave sold more than 30 million records worldwide
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019
  • Robert SmithThe frontman, main songwriter, and only member present through every lineup
  • DisintegrationTheir 1989 album is regarded as one of the greatest records of its era
  • ComebackSongs of a Lost World (2024) was their first album in 16 years and topped the UK chart

Creative Fingerprint

Essentially one writer under a band's name: The Cure are credited on 99% of their catalogue, with Robert Smith, the only constant member, writing nearly all the lyrics and shaping the music across every lineup.

The Story

The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1978, built around the singular vision of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Robert Smith. Pioneers of gothic rock and post-punk who later crossed over into alternative pop, they produced landmark albums like Disintegration alongside hit singles such as 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Friday I'm in Love.' Across a shifting lineup spanning more than four decades, Smith has remained the band's only constant member and creative core.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019
Disintegration (1989) is widely ranked among the greatest albums ever made
Songs of a Lost World (2024) reached number one on the UK Albums Chart
One of the most influential and enduring bands to come out of post-punk and gothic rock, with over 30 million records sold

Frequently Asked Questions The Cure

Does The Cure write their own songs?
Yes. The Cure are credited on 99% of their catalogue, and in practice that means Robert Smith, the only constant member. He writes nearly all the lyrics and shapes the music, with the band credited alongside him. Songs like 'Just Like Heaven,' 'Lovesong,' and 'Friday I'm in Love' are his work, backed by whichever lineup was in place.
Who writes The Cure's songs?
Robert Smith is the band's frontman, main songwriter, and the only member to appear on every album. He has led the group through many lineup changes since 1978, which is why the songwriting stays recognisable across decades.
Who wrote 'Just Like Heaven'?
'Just Like Heaven,' from Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987), was written by the band with lyrics by Robert Smith. One of their most beloved songs, it showed the brighter pop side that balanced the band's darker material.
Why is Disintegration so important?
Disintegration (1989) is considered The Cure's masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of its era. Written largely by Robert Smith as he turned 30, it contains 'Lovesong,' 'Lullaby,' and 'Pictures of You,' and defined their lush, melancholic sound.
How many albums has The Cure released?
This catalogue covers fourteen studio albums, from Three Imaginary Boys (1979) through Songs of a Lost World (2024), their acclaimed return after a sixteen-year gap.
Are The Cure in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, recognised as pioneers of gothic rock and post-punk and one of the most influential alternative bands ever.
What happened to Perry Bamonte?
Perry Bamonte, a guitarist and keyboardist who played with The Cure from 1990 to 2005 and again from 2022, died on December 24, 2025, at the age of 65 after a short illness. The band announced his death, calling him a great friend and bandmate.
What genre is The Cure?
The Cure play gothic rock, post-punk, new wave, and alternative rock, swinging between bleak, atmospheric songs like 'Disintegration' and bright pop like 'Friday I'm in Love.'

Sources

Wikipedia: The Cure NPR: Perry Bamonte obituary