Robert Smith (The Cure)
The Cure are the original iconic English Goth Rockers, formed in West Sussex in ’76. Known around the world for his wild hair, front man Robert Smith has been the band’s powerhouse and only constant member. Smith’s creativity has brought us the memorable numbers ‘Love Cats’, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, ‘Close to Me’ and ‘Just Like Heaven’. But, Smith’s creativity almost got the label dropped when their first single “Killing An Arab” was gravely misinterpreted by several critics as racism. The song was actually based on a French existentialist’s tale “The Strangler” (Albert Camus).
Their greatest commercial success came in ’89, when their single Lovesong reached #2 in the US pop charts, although their die hard fans will tell you, it’s what didn’t make it that mattered. Their latest album, ‘4:13 Dream’ is scheduled to be released on 27th of October, 2008. Smith recently turned 50, but says, “I don’t feel it (50). It’s worrying. When I’m in the studio singing or on the stage, I don’t feel any different from when I started… I’ll wake up one morning and my skin will have fallen off.”
David Bowie
If the changing face of pop has an icon, his name is David Bowie. Originally christened David Robert Jones in ’47, David Jones was producing singles and even an album before he was 20. Unfortunately, David was often confused with the Monkey’s sensation Davy Jones, and so Bowie renamed himself after the historical Jim Bowie and the military knife by the same name. Once David Bowie got started, you never really could be sure of what he was doing.
In the early years, he wrote showy tunes, ditching that to become famous in ’69 with the lunar landing’s global theme song “A Space Oddity”. He moved from space man to glam rock (playing with Queen in the unforgettable “Under Pressure”), to our cinemas with the release of Labyrinth in ’86.
Again, the face of Bowie would change in the public eye in ’89 with the release of the release of the contemporary Tin Machine and the less successful Tin Machine II. Finally, in the last decade, Bowie has indulged in the 90’s fascination of Electronica, performing songs like “Without You, I’m Nothing” with indie-rockers, Placebo. Bowie’s last album, ‘Reality’, was released in 2003.
Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
The band known as The Rolling Stones appeared in the Marquee Club in July, ’62. The band’s success was almost instantaneous, as they were signed up to play alongside such greats as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. The Band would go on to write their first original UK #1 hit, ‘The Last Time’ and their first international room shaker “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.
The bands latest album release, in 2005, titled “A Bigger Bang” drew both controversy and applause as the lyrics of “Sweet Neo Con” were interpreted as an attack on the presidency of George Bush. But, the Jagger’s fame has extended beyond the music scene, ironically under a magazine by the same name. His success independent of the Stones includes a long list of films including Ned Kelly (1970) and Shine a Light (2008).
Regardless of his other affiliations, Jagger’s success can be seen as a product of his dedication and energy put into The Stones, which was recognised even by his arch nemesis (the establishment) when he was knighted Sir Michael Jagger, under Prince Charles in 2003. Jagger is estimated to be worth $425 million, but his contribution to the arts makes his value unmeasurable.
Duran Duran
Ok, maybe not one of the ‘stick it to the man’, or heartbreaker inspirational bands. But, the ’78 born Birmingham romanticists defined a new era in pop culture that let the punk spirit fall through for something more. They were lovers and proud of their iconic hair and neo-mod fashion. Duran Duran (named after the evil villain Dr Durand Durand, in the sci-fi Barbarella) made a dash to fame when their first, self-titled album reached #3 in the UK #9 is Aus and #10 in the US, featuring the club hits “Planet Earth” and “Girls on Film”.
Their other hits include “Hungry Like The Wolf”, “Union of The Snake” and “Notorious”. Their latest album, ‘Red Carped Massacre’ was released in 2007 with less success than their previous work, but none the less, retaining the band’s crash-pop perspective on life, teaming up with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.
