Pearl Thompson

Pearl Thompson

Pearl Thompson in 2015 featuring new paintings
Background information
Birth name Paul Stephen Thompson
Also known as Pearl Thompson, Porl Thompson
Born (1957-11-08) 8 November 1957
Surrey, England
Origin Wimbledon, Surrey, England
Genres Post-punk, gothic rock, new wave, alternative rock, psychedelic rock, lo-fi, experimental
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician, 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
Quietly Torn
Babacar
Malice
Easy Cure
Exotic Pandas
The Glove
Swanson's Daughter
Gonjasufi
Website www.pearl-thompson.com
Notable instruments
Schecter Porl Thompson Signature Model

Pearl Thompson (born Paul Stephen Thompson 8 November 1957 in Surrey), previously known as Porl Thompson, is an English musician best known for his work with The Cure.

Career

Thompson was part of the original lineup of The Cure, which also included Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst when the band was first formed in 1976; however, he left by the time they released their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys, in 1979 because his lead guitar style was at odds with Smith's growing preference for minimalist songwriting.[1] He rejoined the band in 1983 on saxophone and helped record the album The Top. During the Top tour, Thompson played keyboard as well as the guitar, bass and saxophone. He also performed with The Glove when they appeared on television.[2]

Thompson performed on four more studio albums (The Head on the Door, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Disintegration and Wish) and four live albums (Concert, Entreat, Paris and Show) as well as the videos The Cure in Orange and Picture Show . He also appears on the remix album Mixed Up and the deluxe issue of Three Imaginary Boys.

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, the 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 again when he joined the singer's group for the 2002 release Dreamland.

In 2002, Thompson also had an exhibition of his paintings in Cornwall, UK & Canada entitled "100% SKY".

He officially rejoined the band for a third time in June 2005 and recorded the live DVD, The Cure: Festival 2005 and appeared on their 13th studio album, 4:13 Dream.

Thompson toured with The Cure for their 2007-2008 4Tour.

Thompson also had the distinction of being the only other person, besides Robert Smith, to have worked with every other member of The Cure both past and present. Although he and Matthieu Hartley were never in the same line-up, the two of them did work together on the single "I'm a Cult Hero".

Thompson and designer Andy Vella are the co-founders of Parched Art, which has produced many of the record sleeves found on The Cure albums, many of which Thompson drew or painted.

In 2007, Schecter Guitars released a Porl Thompson Signature model featuring graphics by the British artist Kev Grey that was also featured in the book 108 Rock Star Guitars' by photographer Lisa S. Johnson.

In 2013, now known as Pearl Thompson, he collaborated with Gonjasufi, other various artistic projects and charities such as WAR CHILD that Thompson, along with other renown artists donated their own custom made Caparelli guitar for auction.

In March 2015, Pearl had his first US painting exhibition of abstract landscape paintings at Mr MusicHead Art Gallery on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California entitled: "...Through the eyes of birds." inspired by the remote Malibu canyons and desert landscapes.

Early 2016, Pearl relocated to the Mojave desert, designed the artwork for "Lol" Laurence Tolhurst autobiography "Cured" with a limited edition of 13 laser cut books that display textured handmade silver stars.

Pearl is also heavily featured on the album Callus by Gonjasufi recently released by Warp Records.

Thompson is noted as being reclusive and private about his personal life and is primarily now dedicated to painting.

Discography

The Cure
Gonjasufi
Page and Plant
Robert Plant
Shelleyan Orphan
Babacar

References

  1. ↑ Ten Imaginary Years - ISBN 0-946391-87-4
  2. ↑ "The Glove: Information from". Answers.com. 2006-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  3. ↑ "Humroot by Shelleyan Orphan @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
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