Porl Thompson
The Cure's guitarist, saxophonist, and visual artist who shaped their sound and look across two stints.
via Wikipedia: Pearl Thompson · see source
Pearl Thompson (born Paul Stephen Thompson, 8 November 1957) is an English musician and artist. Thompson is best known as a member of the English alternative rock band the Cure from 1983 to 1993 and from 2005 to 2011, during which he was credited as Porl Thompson and played mainly guitar with occasional keyboards and saxophone. After leaving the Cure he focused on a successful career as a visual artist.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 8 November 1957
- Birthplace
- Surrey, England
- Origin
- Wimbledon, England
- Instrument
- Guitar
- keyboards
- saxophone
- banjo
- Genre
- Post-punk
- gothic rock
- new wave
- alternative rock
- psychedelic rock
- lo-fi
- experimental
- Occupation
- Musician, visual artist
- Years active
- 1976–present
- Past member of
- The Cure
- Page and Plant
- Babacar
Lore & Background
Thompson was a school friend of Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst and played with them in various local bands that eventually evolved into the Easy Cure. He adopted the stage name Porl Thompson to avoid confusion with Paul Thompson of Roxy Music. His guitar style did not mesh with Smith's post-punk songwriting, so he left the Easy Cure to go to art college; the band then changed their name to the Cure. After art school, Thompson formed an artistic partnership with Andy Vella for music-related projects, later known as Parched Art. In 1981, Thompson volunteered his services for the Cure's single and album covers, with his first designs being the "Primary" single and then the Faith album. Parched Art would design most of the Cure's album and single covers until the early 1990s. While observing the Cure in the studio in late 1983, Thompson was invited by Smith to play saxophone on a song for The Top. He then officially joined the Cure, first appearing in videos and television performances for songs from The Top and playing guitar and keyboards on the ensuing tour, though he did not play on most of the album's studio recordings. When Robert Smith revamped the Cure's lineup in 1984, Thompson became the band's lead guitarist and occasionally played keyboards and other instruments. His first album as a full-time member was The Head on the Door in 1985. Thompson left the Cure in 1993 to spend more time with his young children. He rejoined in 2005 and played on the 2008 album 4:13 Dream. In 2011 he left again to focus on art. In 2019, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cure.
Reader's Guide
Thompson's career with the Cure spans two periods: 1983 to 1993 and 2005 to 2011. He played mainly guitar with occasional keyboards and saxophone. His first album as a full-time member was The Head on the Door (1985). He also contributed to The Top (1984) on saxophone, though he did not play on most of the album's studio recordings. After leaving the Cure in 1993, he joined Page and Plant's touring band in 1994. He contributed to Robert Plant's Dreamland (2002). He rejoined the Cure in 2005 and played on 4:13 Dream (2008). He left again in 2011. As an artist, he co-founded Parched Art with Andy Vella, designing most of the Cure's album and single covers until the early 1990s. He held his first exhibition in 1999, and in 2002 held an exhibition titled "100% Sky" in England and Canada. In 2015, he held his first US exhibition titled "...Through the Eyes of Birds" at MusicHead Art Gallery in Los Angeles. He earned a degree in illustration with honors from the University of Brighton. He legally changed his name to Pearl Thompson in 2012.
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