Laurence Tolhurst
Encyclopedia
Laurence Andrew "Lol" Tolhurst (born 3 February 1959) is a founding member and former drummer
and keyboardist
of British
band The Cure
. He left The Cure in 1989 and was later involved in the band Presence
and his current project Levinhurst
, a portmanteau of Tolhurst and his wife vocalist Cindy Levinsons' surname
s. As of 2011, he has briefly reunited with The Cure for selected shows, but has not officially rejoined.
, Surrey
, England
, the fifth of six children of William and Daphne Tolhurst; he has three brothers (Roger, Nigel, and John) and two sisters (Jane and Barbara). He is also the uncle of Nick Tolhurst, an author on Corporate Social Responsibility and head of the Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs
He is also a distantly related to the composer George Tolhurst
. His birthday coincided with the day of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly
, Ritchie Valens
, and The Big Bopper
. Tolhurst was five years old when he first met Robert Smith
at St. Francis Primary and Junior Schools, and thus began a friendship that would culminate in the formation of The Cure
.
the album
s Three Imaginary Boys
, Boys Don't Cry
, Seventeen Seconds
, Faith and Pornography
. After the Pornography tour in 1982 Tolhurst assumed keyboard
duties. In late 1988, with the recording of The Cure's eighth studio album Disintegration, some tensions surfaced, when Tolhurst was battling with alcohol and drugs. During the mix of Disintegration, he was fired from the band, and despite getting credit, the members of The Cure have said that Tolhurst never performed on the album.
in Fools Dance
—formed the short lived band Presence
, which only released one full-length album called Inside
. He said several years later that he recorded a second album with this band, but he said it is unlikely that it will ever be released. In 1994, he sued Robert Smith
and Fiction Records
over royalties
payments, also claiming joint ownership of the name The Cure with Smith. He eventually lost after a long legal battle. He has worked as a producer for the debut album of And Also the Trees
.
In the early 2000s, Tolhurst and his second wife, Cindy Levinson
, formed a band called Levinhurst
. A few months prior to the release of their debut album, Tolhurst said in an interview that he had reconciled with Robert Smith
and that the two of them were friends again. Shortly afterward, Levinhurst released their debut album, Perfect Life, in 2004. Since then, they have also released an EP called The Grey
featuring a cover of The Cure's "All Cats Are Grey" - which he claimed credit for writing lyrically in another interview - and two other songs. Their second album, House by the Sea
, was released in April 2007. Their third album, called Blue Star
and featuring original Cure bassist Michael Dempsey
, was released in the U.S. in June 2009 and worldwide in February 2010. He has also recently composed music for the film 9,000 Needles; a documentary that recently won "Best Documentary" at the Phoenix Film festival 2010. Tolhurst is currently on a world tour with Levinhurst to promote Blue Star. The second part of the European tour "Blue Star Over Europe" is in October 2010 and then to be followed by a South and North American tour in Spring 2011.
published an article with a headline reading "The Cure's original drummer asks to rejoin band." However, Tolhurst called the article "a little misleading" saying:
As of 2011, it was announced that Tolhurst would be performing with The Cure for the first time in 22 years when the band performs their first three albums - Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, and Faith - in their entirety at the Sydney Opera House
in Australia
.
Presence
→ See Presence discography
Levinhurst
→ See Levinhurst Discography
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. He left The Cure in 1989 and was later involved in the band Presence
Presence (band)
Presence was a short-lived British new wave band started by Gary Biddles, Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. Dempsey and Tolhurst were founding members of The Cure, and Biddles was a former Cure roadie who previously played in Fools Dance with Simon Gallup...
and his current project Levinhurst
Levinhurst
Levinhurst is an independent music band formed by Lol Tolhurst, a founding member of The Cure, and his wife Cindy Levinson. Levinson provides vocals while Tolhurst writes the majority of the tracks, musically and lyrically, and programmes the drums and keyboards...
, a portmanteau of Tolhurst and his wife vocalist Cindy Levinsons' surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
s. As of 2011, he has briefly reunited with The Cure for selected shows, but has not officially rejoined.
Early years (1959–1975)
Tolhurst was born in HorleyHorley
Horley is a town in Surrey, England, situated south of the twin towns of Reigate and Redhill, and north of Gatwick Airport and Crawley.With fast links by train to London from Horley railway station, it has grown popular with commuters in recent years...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the fifth of six children of William and Daphne Tolhurst; he has three brothers (Roger, Nigel, and John) and two sisters (Jane and Barbara). He is also the uncle of Nick Tolhurst, an author on Corporate Social Responsibility and head of the Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs
Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs
The Institute for Corporate Culture Affairs , is a not-for-profit institute based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, that assists companies in mainstreaming their corporate social responsibility activities...
He is also a distantly related to the composer George Tolhurst
George Tolhurst
George Tolhurst was an English composer, resident from 1852 to 1866 in Australia.Born in Maidstone, Kent, George emigrated to Melbourne with his father, where he practised as a teacher of music. He returned to England in 1866, and died in Barnstaple in 1877...
. His birthday coincided with the day of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
, and The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
. Tolhurst was five years old when he first met Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
at St. Francis Primary and Junior Schools, and thus began a friendship that would culminate in the formation of The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
.
The Cure (1976–1989)
Tolhurst is one of the co-founders of The Cure, and as a drummer he helped write and recordSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s Three Imaginary Boys
Three Imaginary Boys
The album included an uncredited, final instrumental track informally called "The Weedy Burton". The fact was not acknowledged until the Deluxe Edition re-issue.-2004 Deluxe Edition:...
, Boys Don't Cry
Boys Don't Cry (album)
Boys Don't Cry is a U.S. debut album by The Cure, released in February 1980 in the UK and in August 1980 in the U.S. It is a compilation of songs from Three Imaginary Boys, but replacing five of that album's tracks with "Jumping Someone Else's Train", "Boys...
, Seventeen Seconds
Seventeen Seconds
Seventeen Seconds is the second studio album by The Cure, released in April 1980 by Fiction Records. It is the only Cure album to feature keyboardist Matthieu Hartley, and was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album reached number 20 on the British album charts...
, Faith and Pornography
Pornography (album)
NME reviewer Dave Hill wrote, "This record portrays and parades its currency of exposed futility and naked fear with so few distractions or adornments, and so little sense of shame...
. After the Pornography tour in 1982 Tolhurst assumed keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
duties. In late 1988, with the recording of The Cure's eighth studio album Disintegration, some tensions surfaced, when Tolhurst was battling with alcohol and drugs. During the mix of Disintegration, he was fired from the band, and despite getting credit, the members of The Cure have said that Tolhurst never performed on the album.
After The Cure (1990–2010)
Following his departure from The Cure, Tolhurst and Gary Biddles—who previously worked with Simon GallupSimon Gallup
Simon Jonathon Gallup is an English musician and bassist of the post-punk band The Cure.-Early years:...
in Fools Dance
Fools Dance
Fools Dance was a short-lived British rock band, formed in 1982 by Simon Gallup after he left The Cure, due to a conflict with Robert Smith. Initially calling themselves 'The Cry', the band played their first gig at the Covent Garden Rock Garden on the 19th April 1983...
—formed the short lived band Presence
Presence (band)
Presence was a short-lived British new wave band started by Gary Biddles, Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. Dempsey and Tolhurst were founding members of The Cure, and Biddles was a former Cure roadie who previously played in Fools Dance with Simon Gallup...
, which only released one full-length album called Inside
Inside (Presence album)
-Personnel:Presence*Gary Biddles — vocals*Alan Burgess — drums*Roberto Soave — bass guitar*Rob Steen — guitar*Laurence Tolhurst — keyboard*Chris Youdell — keyboardProduction*Produced by Presence...
. He said several years later that he recorded a second album with this band, but he said it is unlikely that it will ever be released. In 1994, he sued Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
and Fiction Records
Fiction Records
Fiction Records is a UK label founded by Chris Parry in 1978 that is best known for being the home of The Cure for over 20 years. Formerly independent, the label is now owned by Polydor, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.-History:...
over royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
payments, also claiming joint ownership of the name The Cure with Smith. He eventually lost after a long legal battle. He has worked as a producer for the debut album of And Also the Trees
And also the trees
And Also The Trees are an English rock band, formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom. They are most notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which is strongly influenced by their native English countryside.-History :...
.
In the early 2000s, Tolhurst and his second wife, Cindy Levinson
Cindy Levinson
Cindy Levinson-Tolhurst is the lead singer of the 2000s independent music group, Levinhurst, which bears the names of her and her husband Lol Tolhurst. The California native's vocals have been described by critics as "dreamy" and "austere".-Discography:...
, formed a band called Levinhurst
Levinhurst
Levinhurst is an independent music band formed by Lol Tolhurst, a founding member of The Cure, and his wife Cindy Levinson. Levinson provides vocals while Tolhurst writes the majority of the tracks, musically and lyrically, and programmes the drums and keyboards...
. A few months prior to the release of their debut album, Tolhurst said in an interview that he had reconciled with Robert Smith
Robert Smith (musician)
Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
and that the two of them were friends again. Shortly afterward, Levinhurst released their debut album, Perfect Life, in 2004. Since then, they have also released an EP called The Grey
The Grey (Levinhurst EP)
The Grey is an EP released by Levinhurst just a few months prior to the release of their second album House by the Sea in 2007. The opening track, "All Cats Are Grey", was originally done by The Cure - the band that made Tolhurst famous - off their album Faith...
featuring a cover of The Cure's "All Cats Are Grey" - which he claimed credit for writing lyrically in another interview - and two other songs. Their second album, House by the Sea
House By the Sea
House by the Sea has received mixed reviews since its release. Margaret Regesof Allmusic gave it 3 out of 5 stars, writing "House by the Sea is graced with a continuity and vision that surpasses its predecessor...
, was released in April 2007. Their third album, called Blue Star
Blue Star (album)
Blue Star is the third album by Levinhurst, released in the U.S. on June 9, 2009 and worldwide on February 2, 2010. Although Michael Dempsey had previously worked with Lol Tolhurst in The Cure and Presence, this marks the first album that the two of them have recorded together since Three...
and featuring original Cure bassist Michael Dempsey
Michael Dempsey
Michael Dempsey is a bassist from England, who has performed as a member of several post-punk and New Wave bands including The Cure and Associates.-Early years:...
, was released in the U.S. in June 2009 and worldwide in February 2010. He has also recently composed music for the film 9,000 Needles; a documentary that recently won "Best Documentary" at the Phoenix Film festival 2010. Tolhurst is currently on a world tour with Levinhurst to promote Blue Star. The second part of the European tour "Blue Star Over Europe" is in October 2010 and then to be followed by a South and North American tour in Spring 2011.
Reunion with The Cure (2011)
In 2010, The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
published an article with a headline reading "The Cure's original drummer asks to rejoin band." However, Tolhurst called the article "a little misleading" saying:
"I have not asked RSRobert Smith (musician)Robert James Smith is an English musician. He is the lead singer, guitar player and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure, and its only constant member since its founding in 1976...
to rejoin the Cure! I have my thing, he has his. I just thought it might be fun to play the old songs together again especially as Michael and I had a great time playing the TIBThree Imaginary BoysThe album included an uncredited, final instrumental track informally called "The Weedy Burton". The fact was not acknowledged until the Deluxe Edition re-issue.-2004 Deluxe Edition:...
songs this March in Europe."
As of 2011, it was announced that Tolhurst would be performing with The Cure for the first time in 22 years when the band performs their first three albums - Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, and Faith - in their entirety at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Discography
The Cure- Three Imaginary BoysThree Imaginary BoysThe album included an uncredited, final instrumental track informally called "The Weedy Burton". The fact was not acknowledged until the Deluxe Edition re-issue.-2004 Deluxe Edition:...
(1979) - Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry (album)Boys Don't Cry is a U.S. debut album by The Cure, released in February 1980 in the UK and in August 1980 in the U.S. It is a compilation of songs from Three Imaginary Boys, but replacing five of that album's tracks with "Jumping Someone Else's Train", "Boys...
(1980) - Seventeen SecondsSeventeen SecondsSeventeen Seconds is the second studio album by The Cure, released in April 1980 by Fiction Records. It is the only Cure album to feature keyboardist Matthieu Hartley, and was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album reached number 20 on the British album charts...
(1980) - FaithFaith (The Cure album)Faith is the third album by British band The Cure, released in April 1981.- Overview :Faith is generally a brooding, atmospheric, and sombre album, although it has a flash of anger in the form of the song "Doubt", and some edge in the driving single "Primary"...
(1981) - Happily Ever AfterHappily Ever After (The Cure album)Happily Ever After is a compilation double-LP comprising The Cure albums Seventeen Seconds and Faith; it was a U.S.-only issue by A&M Records...
- PornographyPornography (album)NME reviewer Dave Hill wrote, "This record portrays and parades its currency of exposed futility and naked fear with so few distractions or adornments, and so little sense of shame...
(1982) - Japanese WhispersJapanese WhispersJapanese Whispers: The Cure Singles Nov 82:Nov 83 is a compilation album by British rock group The Cure. It was released in late 1983 by their record company, Fiction Records....
(1983) - The TopThe Top (album)The Top is the fifth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1984.-Overview:The Top was the studio album to follow Pornography. After Pornography, Robert Smith found himself without his friend Simon Gallup, who departed the band due to a fight.Smith then took a radical shift in his music...
(1984) - Concert: The Cure Live (1984)
- The Head on the DoorThe Head on the DoorThe Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
(1985) - Standing on a BeachStanding on a BeachStanding on a Beach is a singles compilation released by the British rock band The Cure in May, 1986, marking a decade since the band's founding in 1976...
(1986) - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeKiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeKiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me is the seventh studio album by British alternative rock band The Cure. Released in 1987, this album helped put The Cure into the American mainstream, becoming their first album to reach the Billboard Top 40.-History:...
(1987) - Disintegration (1989) (was credited, but did not play)
- Galore (1997)
- Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (The Cure album)Greatest Hits is a 2001 compilation album by The Cure. The band's relationship with longtime label Fiction Records came to a close, and The Cure were obliged to release one final album for the label. Robert Smith agreed to release a greatest hits album under the condition that he could choose the...
(2001) - Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978–2001 (The Fiction Years) (2004)
Presence
→ See Presence discography
Presence (band)
Presence was a short-lived British new wave band started by Gary Biddles, Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. Dempsey and Tolhurst were founding members of The Cure, and Biddles was a former Cure roadie who previously played in Fools Dance with Simon Gallup...
Levinhurst
→ See Levinhurst Discography