The Cure

Out of all bands that emerged after the punk rock wave of the late '70s, few were as enduring and popular as the Cure. Originally called the Easy Cure, the band was formed in 1976 by schoolmates Robert Smith (vocals, guitar), Michael Dempsey (bass), and Laurence "Lol" Tolhurst (drums). Led through numerous incarnations by Smith, the band became well-known for its gloomy sound and Smith's ghoulish appearance. At first more leaning into pop music, The Cure’s sound later set the foundations of goth rock, layering melancholic guitars and textured synthesizers. When the goth sound became popular in Europe in the mid 80s, The Cure had already moved away from the genre. By the end of the '80s, the band had crossed over into the mainstream not only in their home country, England, but also in the US and various parts of Europe. The Cure remained a popular live act and reliable record-seller throughout the '90s, and their influence could be heard in the sounds of many new bands of the following millennium, some of which had little to do with goth.