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Pearl Thompson

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Pearl Thompson
Thompson in 2015 featuring new paintings
Thompson in 2015 featuring new paintings
Background information
Birth namePaul Stephen Thompson
Also known asPorl Thompson
Born (1957-11-08) 8 November 1957 (age 66)
Surrey, England
OriginWimbledon, Surrey, England
GenresPost-punk, gothic rock, new wave, alternative rock, psychedelic rock, lo-fi, experimental
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, poet, artist
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, keyboard, piano, saxophone, kazoo, banjo, vocals
Years active1976–present
Websitepearlthompson113.com

Pearl Thompson (born Paul Stephen Thompson on 8 November 1957 in Surrey),[citation needed] previously known as Porl Thompson, is an English musician and artist best known for being a former guitarist of the Cure.

Career

Thompson was a member (alongside Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey and Lol Tolhurst) of the Easy Cure, which was a precursor to The Cure.[1] Thompson left Easy Cure to go to art college;[2] his style did not mesh well with Smith's approach to songwriting.[1] Thompson went on to become of member of The Exotic Pandas and occasionally played with The Glove, a collaboration between Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Steven Severin and Smith.[1] Thompson joined The Cure in 1983, playing saxophone. He helped record the album The Top. During the Top tour, he played keyboard as well as guitar and saxophone, and also performed with The Glove when they appeared on television.[3]

Thompson left the Cure in 1994 to play with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin during the Page and Plant tour of 1995. He also played with Babacar, a band formed by Boris Williams, following his departure from the Cure. Later, Thompson formed another project called Quietly Torn. Thompson continued working with Robert Plant, joining the singer's group for the 2002 release Dreamland. In 2002, Thompson also had an exhibition of paintings in Cornwall, UK & Canada entitled "100% SKY".[citation needed]

Thompson joined the Cure again in June 2005.[citation needed] Thompson was with the band for the recording of the live DVD The Cure: Festival 2005; for the recording of the band's 13th studio album, 4:13 Dream; and for the band's 2007-2008 4Tour.[citation needed]

Thompson and designer Andy Vella are the co-founders of Parched Art. Parched Art has produced many of the record sleeves found on the Cure's albums. Many of those record sleeves were drawn or painted by Thompson.[citation needed]

In 2007, Schecter Guitars released a Porl Thompson Signature model featuring graphics by the British artist Kev Grey. The guitar was featured in the book 108 Rock Star Guitars by photographer Lisa S. Johnson.[citation needed]

Thompson announced in May 2012 that he had again left The Cure.[4]

In March 2015, Thompson's first US painting exhibition of abstract landscape paintings was held at Mr MusicHead Art Gallery on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The exhibition was entitled "...Through the eyes of birds". The work was inspired by remote Malibu canyons and desert landscapes.[1] Also in 2015, Thompson announced that he would focus his endeavors on his art work.[5]

Thompson is featured on the album Callus by Gonjasufi, released in August 2016.[6]

Personal life

Though close friends had long used the name "Pearl" as nickname, Thompson's first name was legally changed to "Pearl" in 2011.[7][8]

Thompson is noted for being reclusive and private.[9]

Discography

The Cure
Gonjasufi
Page and Plant
Robert Plant
Shelleyan Orphan
Babacar

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The Cure Guitarist Pearl Thompson's Art Goes on Display". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. ^ Ten Imaginary Years - ISBN 0-946391-87-4
  3. ^ "The Glove: Information from". Answers.com. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Chain Of Flowers: A note from Porl". 1 May 2012.
  5. ^ "The Cure Star Legally Changes His Name As He Leaves The Music World For Art". Contactmusic.com. 5 March 2015.
  6. ^ Patrin, Nate (18 August 2016). Gonjasufi - Callus (review), Pitchfork
  7. ^ (8 March 2015). The Cure Star Legally Changes His Name As He Leaves The Music World For Art, Contact Music
  8. ^ (23 September 2014). Ex-Cure star to exhibit art for the first time, Express
  9. ^ Davroy, Gabrielle (10 April 2016). Let's Talk About Sex : Porl Thompson The Cure, RTBF
  10. ^ "Humroot by Shelleyan Orphan @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
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