True Love:
My wife, Cindy, whose selfless belief and hope is the engine that gave this book life. You are so wonderful to me.
My son, Gray, for his assistance in helping me realize this, his father’s story. I am so proud of you and your life’s path.
My live-in niece, Cailey, whom I love as my own daughter.
The other two Imaginary Boys, Robert and Michael: I’m truly blessed to have trod the boards and tripped the light fantastic with you both.
Simon Gallup and Pearl (Porl) Thompson: true friends.
My mates: Roger O’Donnell, Jason Cooper, Boris Bransby-Williams, Andy Anderson, Matthieu Hartley, and Phil Thornalley. There in the trenches with me when it counted.
Thankful:
Peter McGuigan at Foundry Literary + Media—for your vision, guidance, and enthusiasm.
Ben Schafer at Da Capo—for your faith, edits, and hiking.
Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein—for your sterling UK agency.
Richard Milner at Quercus—for your encouragement and editing.
Jim Ruland, my writing mentor—for your constructive guidance and help in refining my work into a voice worth hearing.
Rob Steen—for starting the ball rolling.
Deirdre Smerillo—for crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.
Pat Carpenter at Quercus—for UK art direction.
Sara DeNobrega and Mary Mallison—financial controls.
Marion Gibb—royalty.
Pearl Thompson—for the Mojave portrait, logo, and star art.
Brennan Wheeler—for art scans and artistic directions.
Pamela Des Barres—for encouraging my writing ambitions.
Max Bean and John Lopez at Scout Idea Ranch—for providing the writing room and a year I won’t forget.
Allison Van Etten—for caffeine and camaraderie.
With Love:
Martin Judd and Steve Forrester—for your enduring friendship and love.
Chris Mason—for heart and help along the way.
Tom, Adam, Brennan, George, K.C., Jeff, Joel, and Kevin—for sharing your wisdom, strength, and hope with me.
My family worldwide—for being there with your loving care.
Richard and Jill Smith
John and Margaret Taw
Frankie Bell
Richard and Anne Carroll
Lydie Goubard
Richard Bellia
Honorable Mentions:
Chris Parry—for helping us become The Cure.
Ita Martin—for your part in that also.
Gerald Greene and Martin Hopewell—true gents.
David M. Allen—my erudite friend.
Mike Hedges—first lord of sonics.
Angus “Mac” MacPhail—truly light fantastic.
Tim Pope—visionary direction.
Sue Berry—for encouragement and questions.
Doug Dearth—for many a good idea.
Duff McKagan—for words of wisdom.
Mike Ferrucci—for sharing your knowledge.
Meghan Gohil—for invaluable assistance, sonically and otherwise.
Stefan Goldby—digital direction.
It’s all about the chemistry! Jay Frank—for your help and friendship over the years.
Marjy Taylor—putting the show on the road.
G. Wilson—Guru of Fit.
Craig Parker and COF—getting the word out.
In the course of writing this book, I consulted several sources that I want to thank here:
The Cure Concerts Guide (www.cure-concerts.de)
The Cure: Ten Imaginary Years, by Barbarian, Steve Sutherland, and Robert Smith (Zomba Books, 1988)
All Music Guide (www.allmusic.com)
“The Cure—Pictures of You,” Autumn Jade, Facebook (www.facebook.com/picturesofyouus)
In memoriam: Gary Biddles, Mick Kluczynski, Malcolm Ross, Billy Mackenzie, David “Sandy” Sandels, Brian Adsett.