Robert Smith and Simon Gallup of The Cure play the Pasadena Daydream festival on Aug. 31, 2019. (Courtesy Pasadena Daydream & Goldenvoice)
For the second time this year, The Cure performed without longtime bassist Simon Gallup on Saturday night during the second weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival following “another serious personal situation affecting our bassist Simon.”
As he did for Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival last July, Gallup’s son — Eden Gallup, who’s also his father’s bass tech and plays in the band Violet Vendetta — filled in for the 24-song set in Austin, Texas.
Following the set, The Cure tweeted the following statement in Robert Smith’s signature all-caps:
“ANOTHER SERIOUS PERSONAL SITUATION AFFECTING OUR BASSIST SIMON AROSE YESTERDAY, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE HE HAD TO RETURN TO THE UK — WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EDEN GALLUP FOR FILLING IN ON BASS AGAIN AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE, AND EVERYONE AT THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT — WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE SHOW TONIGHT AS MUCH AS WE DID… LOVE AS EVER — THE CURE X”
There’s been no public acknowledgement of what Gallup has been dealing during the course of this tour. According to the Chain of Flowers fan site, Smith dedicated Saturday night’s performance of the song “Disintegration” to his longtime friend and bandmate.
“ANOTHER SERIOUS PERSONAL SITUATION AFFECTING OUR BASSIST SIMON AROSE YESTERDAY, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE HE HAD TO RETURN TO THE UK – WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EDEN GALLUP FOR FILLING IN ON BASS AGAIN AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE, pic.twitter.com/fZn1VAdooG
— The Cure (@thecure) October 13, 2019
AND EVERYONE AT THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT – WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE SHOW TONIGHT AS MUCH AS WE DID… LOVE AS EVER – THE CURE X” pic.twitter.com/VJ1lJoBVE9
— The Cure (@thecure) October 13, 2019
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- The Cure turns Pasadena Daydream into ‘the best day of the summer’ with scorching set
- The Cure to release 6-disc ‘40 Live: Curaetion-25 + Anniversary’ audio/video box set
- The Cure plays Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival with Simon Gallup’s son Eden on bass
- Watch: The Cure plays an epic ‘Disintegration’ in full, plus rarities, via Sydney webcast
- The Cure to play 2-weekend Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas this October
- Listen: The Cure’s Robert Smith re-records ‘Pictures of You’ for ‘Dead Good’ documentary
- The Cure at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Watch the induction, see the performances
- The absolute best of The Cure: All 225 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers
It’s over for the Cure, it seems. Good way to go out, though it would have been nice to have Simon play their last show ever…
Setbacks happen. Mick Jagger had open heart surgery last year but has it stopped The Stones? Hardly…
Micjk jagger will. never die…..
And from the looks of things, Keith Richards seems to have at least nine lives himself.
I’ve seen t THE CURE AT SPARTAN IN SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA IN 1992 OR93 THEY ARE AUSOME THE WISH TOUR THANK YOU .YOU ARE PART OF MY LIFE YOUR MUSIC IS WHAT HAS MADE ME TODAY..LOVE ALWAYS RICO
Simon’s health is not the issue. They should be able to return next year, just as Robert said.
Whatever drugs Simon is on, he should share with Bob. Smith looks like Jerry Garcia had a sex change. Have some pride, man!
You have some pride and show some respect.