Pearl Thompson

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

Pearl Thompson
Thompson performing with The Cure in Sweden in 2007
Background information
Also known as	Porl Thompson
Born	(1957-11-08) 8 November 1957 Surrey, England
Origin	Wimbledon, England
Genres	Post-punk, gothic rock, new wave, alternative rock, psychedelic rock, lo-fi, experimental
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, poet, artist
Instruments	Guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, keyboard, piano, saxophone, kazoo, banjo, vocals
Years active	1976–present
Associated acts	The Cure Page and Plant Shelleyan Orphan Babacar Malice Easy Cure The Glove Gonjasufi
Website	pearl113.com

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] her 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. She helped record the album The Top. During the Top tour, she played keyboard as well as guitar and saxophone, and also performed with The Glove when they appeared on television.

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. She 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.

Thompson joined the Cure again in June 2005. 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.

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.

Thompson is featured on the album Callus by Gonjasufi, released in August 2016.[3]

As an artist

Thompson and background designer Andy Vella were the co-founders of Parched Art. Parched Art produced many of the record sleeves found on the Cure's albums. The most recognisable record sleeves were primarily drawn, painted, or photographed by Thompson.

In 2002, Thompson also had an exhibition of paintings in Cornwall, UK and Canada titled "100% SKY".

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 her endeavors on her art work.[4]

Personal life

Though close friends had long used the name "Pearl" as nickname, Thompson's first name was legally changed to "Pearl" in 2011.[4][5]

Thompson is noted for being reclusive and private.[6]

Discography

The Cure

• Three Imaginary Boys (1979) (Disc 2 of 2004 deluxe issue only)
• The Top (1984)
• Concert (1984)
• The Cure Live in Japan (1984) VHS
• The Head on the Door (1985)
• Standing on a Beach (1986)
• The Cure in Orange (1986), VHS
• Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
• Disintegration (1989)
• Mixed Up (1990)
• Entreat (1990)
• Wish (1992)
• Show (1993)
• Paris (1993)
• Galore (1997)
• Greatest Hits (2001)
• Festival 2005 (2005), DVD
• 4:13 Dream (2008)

Gonjasufi

• Callus (2016)
• Mandela Effect (2017)

Page and Plant

• No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded (1994)

Robert Plant

• Dreamland (2002)

Shelleyan Orphan

• Humroot (1992)

Babacar

• Babacar (1998)

References

1. "The Cure Guitarist Pearl Thompson's Art Goes on Display". The Hollywood Reporter.
2. Ten Imaginary Years - ISBN 0-946391-87-4
3. Patrin, Nate (18 August 2016). Gonjasufi - Callus (review), Pitchfork
4. (8 March 2015). The Cure Star Legally Changes His Name As He Leaves The Music World For Art, Contact Music
5. (23 September 2014). Ex-Cure star to exhibit art for the first time, Express
6. Davroy, Gabrielle (10 April 2016). Let's Talk About Sex : Porl Thompson The Cure, RTBF

External links

• Official site