The Cure — Crawley, West Sussex Origins

The Cure formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1976, when Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst were schoolmates at Notre Dame Middle School and later St Edward's Catholic Comprehensive. Crawley was a New Town — purpose-built in the 1940s and 1950s to absorb London overspill — and its soulless, planned character gave the young Smith both something to escape and something to write about. The band's early sound, developed in suburban rehearsal rooms, was raw post-punk that gradually evolved into the cavernous gothic rock and dream-pop that made them one of Britain's most beloved and influential bands.

Smith's songwriting moved from the spare three-chord attack of Three Imaginary Boys (1979) and Seventeen Seconds (1980) through the gothic depth of Pornography (1982) and back toward pop with the singles 'The Lovecats,' 'In Between Days,' 'Close to Me,' and 'Lovesong.' Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (1987) and Disintegration (1989) are widely considered their twin masterpieces. Smith's image — black hair, smeared lipstick, oversized cardigan — became as iconic as the music.

Crawley has no formal Cure museum or landmark. The New Town character of the city — built to a master plan with neighbourhood shopping centres and pedestrianised precincts — is slowly being altered by development. St Edward's School still operates. Crawley is easily reached by train from London Victoria, and the surrounding area of West Sussex is pleasant countryside.