Taking a page from ex-Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder, guitarist Porl Thompson this month will auction off dozens of personal items spanning his tenure(s) in The Cure, including a guitar played on Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me and Wish, album artwork proofs and clothing ranging from a “black net catsuit” to leather corsets.
The sale will be conducted by Omega Auctions at 6 p.m. May 19 in Cheshire, England, although bids can be made online. Check out the preview video posted above, or browse the full catalog.
Other items of note: a gold record for Page & Plant’s No Quarter album, which Thompson played on; a signed Disintegration songbook; rare “The Caterpillar” 7-inch picture discs; the French 5CD Mixed Up box set; art proofs from the sleeves of Faith, “The Caterpillar” and “Primary”; and an initial and unused prototype of the CD artwork and disc label for 4:13 Dream.
UPDATE 5/2/11: Porl Thompson, who now goes by the name Pearl, provided the following statement about the auction, which also confirms his departure from The Cure, to our friends at Chain of Flowers:
“thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and support…
as for all the comments; good and bad!
keep the freedom flag flying ; )for those who do care…..
i apologise if i upset you with this decision
but i will no longer be playing in this inspirational band, (hence the auction;)i am working on a lot of new projects..jewellery, music, art and mixed media;
all of which will take time to ferment…paint still flows and my mind state is better than it has been for long while;
much love ~Pearl
formally porl RIP xxx”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Video: The Cure, ‘Play Out’ — out-of-print ‘Wish’-era collection of live performances
- The Cure’s ‘Entreat Plus’ live album to receive double-vinyl U.S. release on Record Store Day
- The Cure headlining Reading, Leeds festivals
- The Cure to headline ‘series of major European music festivals’ this summer
- The Cure reissuing ‘Wish’ in 2012, prepping ‘Friday I’m In Love’ Record Store Day 7-inch
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys make Rock Hall of Fame — The Cure snubbed
- The Cure’s Robert Smith hints at 2012 tour, tells New York: ‘We’ll see you again next year’
Who cares?
Proofs from Faith and Primary would be the only things i’d really be interested in.
Porl has always been a weird dude. Is he that hard up for cash that he needs to sell this stuff?
And it is interesting how some of these guys like Porl and Alan Wilder who haven’t been with the band for awhile start selling ‘memorabilia’.
Tough road when those royalties slow down and no touring paycheck is coming in I guess!
AWild has been upfront about the fact that divorces have wiped him clean. (i type this while sitting under a poster i bought in his auction.)
I used to love coming to this site, not only for the info, but because the comments were always respectful. Readers kept their bitter thought to themselves. Those days are gone.
I saw the Cure a few times when Porl Thompson “re-joined”, he actually took the quality of their performances down a notch, never a fan of the guy’s guitar playing.
Not being bitter, just my opinion, but the Cure should have retired well over a decade ago.
Porl always danced to his own beat, and continues to do so I guess… I was hoping Wilder was going to reunite with DM, wasn’t there some news in that direction? After Gore and Clarke re-teamed for VCMG I was optimistic that fences were mended on all sides.
Wilder appeared on stage with DM in London back in 2010 and rumours suggested it was going to happen, but unfortunately he’s not even in the studio with them at the moment as a producer, which was the least i had hoped for, instead its boring ben hillier again.
OH I am so sorry you are leaving again, Pearl but you are so amazing as an artist! I’ve admired you for 2 decades now! I wish I had the funds to be part of this. You are an inspiration! XX
SEEM LIKE THE TOP MORON COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN UP BY 6 YEAR OLD KIDS THAT THINK MONEY GROWS ON TREES.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE’S GETTING RID OF STUFF EITHER TO CLEAR OUT OR HAVE MORE MONEY FOR HIS FUTURE PROJECTS.
I HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE CURRENT CURE IS STUCK BEING SORTA LIKA A TRIBUTE BAND RATHER THAN CREATING NEW MATERIAL T___T SO CAN’T BLAME HIM IF HE GOT BORED.
Pearl (rip porl) has always contributed to the band either by artform or playing in it so much respect
Those bands put up being in such a bullshit industry like the music indrusty full of money grabbing assholes thats why Justin Buber is popular and will never have to worry bout cash churning crap
but while talented bands with heart like cure fiona apple smashing pumpkins need to keep coming back struggle :(
So I hope his solo stuff an Cure keep on !
By the way, wasn”t it already obvious that he had left the band after 2009? He wasn’t part of any of their has-been concerts in 2011.
I wish him well in all endeavors but did he have to go off the deep end with his appearance? I thought Robert Smith needed to tone it down these days but geez.
@ Paul …” The Cure should have retired over a decade ago …” Must agree . It’s like they are in self-parody mode now . They are fortunate to have such a devoted following that will , for the most part , support them no matter what they do . It’s been all downhill since Boris left , not that Boris is the only reason mind you . Smith’s songwriting just isn’t what it used to be , and the sound of the recent recordings has been terrible , especially the drums . Smith’s re-mixing of Entreat criminal .
@John: I used to adore them in my teens, but once i got older and saw them live a couple of times i was bitterly disappointed, they were two of the worst concerts i had ever seen and couple that with two very poor albums after 2004 and they lost me.
@James Fogel: Some of their fans are worse, i knew two guys in their early 40s (older now even) who spent everyday walking around like Smith – big hair, sloppy red lipstick, white faces….it was cool years ago when young 16 – 20 year olds did it but jesus…grow up.
Heard that, Paul. It is one thing to be a teenager looking that but try having a career with that appearance. Unless you are Smith of course. His look used to be a carefully put together mess and now he looks like the singer from Heart or Liz Taylor. I hate having to write this about my favorite band but who am I to ignore facts?
I think The Cure still puts on a fantastic live show and I’m one of those who will buy the tickets whenever they come around. If another record like 4:13 comes out, I’m not buying that. 4:13 is a horrible, horrible album that should have never been made. If something had to be released it should have just been Bestival.
Here’s a Curehead who seems to think he is the spokesperson for music fans everywhere : http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/6892448/Disintegration-The-best-album-ever
If someone had a shop with last season’s goods, no one would bat an eyelid if they were to decide to sell off goods. As a previous band member, the guitars, clothes, equipment & other memorabilia is simply ‘last season’s goods’ so you cannot criticise someone for wishing to be resourceful & clear out old stuff… Pearl, I wish you well… X
Painting by Porl Thompson is currently for sale on ebay.co.uk
My wife was given this painting by Porl in the 90s its an abstract ink and water colour, signed and dated.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271008946794?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
4:13 Dream is the best batch of songs since Wish, in my opinion. I really disliked Wild Mood Swings, and the couple that followed that up were unlistenable. 4:13 may suffer from bad loud production, but it’s still the best batch of songs and I’d take it’s bad production over the previous over-polished turds.
You know what they say — you can smear lipstick on a turd…..