Roger O'Donnell
The Cure's keyboardist across three tenures — from Disintegration to the present day.
via Wikipedia: Roger O'Donnell · see source
Roger O'Donnell (born 29 October 1955) is an English keyboardist best known as a longtime member of The Cure, which he first joined in 1987 and for which he has served three different tenures. O'Donnell has also performed as a touring and session keyboardist for many artists and maintains an active solo career.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 29 October 1955
- Birthplace
- East London, England
- Genre
- Post-punk
- gothic rock
- dark wave
- alternative rock
- new wave
- synthpop
- Occupation
- Musician, composer
- Instrument
- Keyboards, tambourine
- Years active
- 1976–present
- Current member of
- The Cure
- Past member of
- The Psychedelic Furs; Berlin
Lore & Background
Roger O'Donnell was born in East London into a musical family, next to the piano in his parents' home. He briefly attended art school but left to pursue a career as a professional musician; his first paying gig was in 1976, backing Arthur Brown. He also played in local bands, primarily in the jazz fusion genre, with future Cure bandmate Boris Williams. O'Donnell joined Thompson Twins as touring keyboardist in 1983, playing alongside Williams. During this period he also served as a session and touring keyboardist for Berlin and the Psychedelic Furs. O'Donnell began a long association with synthesizers produced by Sequential Circuits, and while performing with the Psychedelic Furs he set a record for having the most Sequential models onstage at one time. In 1987, O'Donnell was recruited to join The Cure as touring keyboardist, at the recommendation of Williams who had been the band's drummer since 1984. The Cure needed an additional keyboardist to supplement founding member Lol Tolhurst, who had become unreliable due to alcohol abuse. O'Donnell joined just before the release of the album Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me and appeared in the videos for two of that album's singles, though he did not play on the studio recordings. At the end of the ensuing tour, group leader Robert Smith invited O'Donnell to join the Cure as an official member. O'Donnell was a major contributor to their 1989 album Disintegration. Unhappy with the large stadium-sized shows that the Cure played during that album's tour, and with personal differences among bandmates, O'Donnell left the band for the first time in 1990.
Reader's Guide
Roger O'Donnell's career with The Cure spans three tenures: first from 1987 to 1990, then from 1995 to 2005, and finally from 2011 to the present day. He joined as touring keyboardist in 1987, became an official member after that tour, and was a major contributor to Disintegration (1989). After leaving in 1990, he rejoined in early 1995 and played on Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, and The Cure before being dismissed in 2005. He returned in 2011 after joining the band onstage at the Sydney Opera House and remains with the Cure. Beyond the band, O'Donnell has released solo albums including Grey Clouds Red Sky (1994), The Truth in Me (2006), Songs from the Silver Box (2009), Piano Formations (2010), Love and Other Tragedies (2015), 2 Ravens (2020), 7 Different Words for Love (2022), and Projections (2025). He also formed the record label 99X/10 with Erin Lang and composed the classical suite "Quieter Trees." On 1 September 2024, it was revealed that O'Donnell was diagnosed with lymphoma the previous year; he stated the prognosis is amazing.
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