Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1959) is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its formation in 1976. He has been described as "pop culture's unkempt poster child of doom and gloom." Smith's guitar-playing and use of flanging, chorusing and phasing effects put him among the forefront of the gothic rock and new wave genres. He also played guitar in the band Siouxsie and the Banshees. Smith is a multi-instrumentalist, known for his unique stage look, such as teased hair, smudged makeup, and his distinctive voice.
Smith was born in the Lancashire town of Blackpool and is the third of four children born to James Alexander and Rita Mary (née Emmott) Smith. Smith came from a musical family – his father sang and his mother played the piano.
Raised Catholic, he later became an atheist. When he was three years old, in December 1962 his family moved to Horley, Surrey, where he later attended St Francis Primary School, before the family moved to Crawley, West Sussex, in March 1966, where Smith attended St Francis Junior School. He later attended Notre Dame Middle School (1970–72) and St Wilfrid's Comprehensive School, Crawley (1972–77).
Robert or Bob Smith, or similar, may refer to:
Robert Smith (born February 1, 1982) was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who played for Cumberland.
Smith made a single List A appearance for the team, in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy in August 2001. He scored 3 runs in his innings, as opponents Warwickshire CB won by a narrow margin, thanks mostly to a century from Jim Troughton.
Stringed puppets dancing,
Drawing flies to the stench
Flesh impaled with wires
Sick, amusing, painful play
Imagination, evisceration
A morbid show
With blood on the wall
Hear people’s call
Chant and applaud
Caged in mocked misery
And audience with bleeding taste
Pulling strings, open sores
Come in,
Come in and catch the art
Barbed wire, embracing like fire
Deforming architecture
Endless desires, clawing pyre
Like a living dissection
Closing ecstasy, a fevered burning plague
Temptations lost control,
Rips apart the victims whole
Artistic patterns remain
Like a puzzle in its chaos start