When he's 13 Robert starts playing his first electric guitar received as a present and a few years later, just to spend time and avoid working, he creates a young band with Lol, Michael Dempsey and Marc Ceccagno, two schoolmates. Later Ceccagno leaves and Porl Thompson, a guitarist known by Robert in a music shop (and his future brother-in-law) joins the band. The group, first called Malice, then Easy Cure and finally The Cure, finds problems to choose a fixed singer, alternating four before Robert decides to hold that role.

They're noticed at an audition by the Hansa label and signed, probably more for their aspect than for their music. The relation is difficult and leaves the band members unsatisfied, and leads to the breaking of the contract. After Porl leaves them the three come to an agreement with manager Chris Parry and sign for the new label Fiction, a Polydor's branch. Although Robert and Parry have different opinions about the look and the choice of the songs, in 1979 they release the single "Killing an arab" and the record "Three imaginary boys", which earn a larger success than in the foresights and present The Cure to the public. They'll be followed by the singles "Boys don't cry", which earns less success, and "Jumping someone else's train", and by the record "Boys don't cry", released in the U.S. with few different songs from "Three imaginary boys".

Due to the friendship between Robert and Steven Severin, the bassist of Siouxsie & The Banshees, the Cure start to tour with them; when the Banshees find themselves in trouble for the abandonment of the drummer and the guitarist Robert offers to play in both bands.

In November 1979 Michael leaves the band feeling in contrast with Robert and seeing himself as a burden for the others. He's replaced by Simon Gallup, known the previous year and coming from Lockjaw, and moreover the keyboard player Matthieu Hartley, from Mag Spies, joins the band. In 1980 they release the single "A forest" and the record "Seventeen seconds", which surprises for the difference from the other albums, characterized by more misterious and dark atmospheres. After a long tour, which ends with 24 concerts in Australia, Matt leaves the band, not accepting the control exercised by Robert on it.

Remained a trio, the Cure record the single "Primary" and the record "Faith", which stands out for its solemn and nearly religious atmosphere, even gloomy because of the personal problems that afflicted every member of the band. The record, which in the intentions should have been more cheerful, ended up thus. They also release the single "Charlotte sometimes", which doesn't break off with "Faith"'s atmosphere. The following year (1982) their fifth record, "Pornography", is released along with the single "The hanging garden". It's a more violent record compared to "Faith", though Robert doesn't accept this definition describing it instead as the symbol of the impossibility to be violent. The tour leads to a break between Robert and Simon, who leaves the band.

It's a very difficult moment and the members left (Robert and Lol) seem resigned to the end of the band, which in this moment is in fact virtually broken. Parry understands the danger and tries to find a remedy, convincing them to produce the single "Let's go to bed", that was thought to deny the voices of the breaking up. It won't be considered by Robert in line with the style of the group, because it's too pop. Meanwhile he has taken the place of Banshees' guitarist and follows them in tour, freezing the Cure activity.

In the meantime the magazine "Flexipop" asks the Cure to write a new song, but the result is "La ment", written and played only by Robert and Steven Severin. This shows everybody the fractures inside the group.

In March 1983 he produces with Severin a record as "The glove", called "Blue sunshine". The record was a long-dated idea, and the two exploit of the moments of inactivity of their bands to achieve it. The singer is Budgie's (Banshees' drummer) girlfriend of the time, except two songs sung by Robert himself.

After this project he approaches the Cure again and begins producing with Lol the new single "The walk", which achieves a great success. As the conclusion of what Robert defines Cure's "fantasy trilogy" in October they release the single "The lovecats", that reaches the seventh place on the charts. In December "Japanese whispers", the collection of singles and b-sides of the former two years, is released.

After having restarted the activity the band starts working on the new album, "The top", that is released in 1984 with the single "The caterpillar". The record represents a return to the atmospheres of the years from 1980 to 1982, even if not so strong. The line-up is: Robert (guitar and vocals), Lol (keyboards), Porl (guitar), Andy Anderson, former Brilliant's drummer, and Phil Tornalley (bass), though he doesn't actually take part in "The top" because he was busy in Australia with Duran Duran. Phil had been the sound technician of "Pornography" and Duran Duran, then had decided to play himself, while Porl had already been a member at the beginnings and had remained in touch with Robert, being his sister's boyfriend. Both Andy and Phil had worked to the making of some songs in "Japanese whispers". In May 1984 Robert leaves the Banshees, because unable to carry on all the activities he was involved in. To this year dates back the first live album of the Cure, "Concert", recorded in few days in Oxford and London. During the tournee Robert dismisses Andy because of alcohol problems, and a short time later Phil leaves the group to dedicate himself to a solo project. They're replaced by Boris Williams, Thompson Twins' drummer, and Simon, who returns after three years leaving the Fools Dance.

In the same year (1985) they record the new album, "The head on the door", accompanied by the singles (for the first time more than one) "Inbetween days", "Close to me" and "A night like this". In May 1986 "Standing on a beach", the collection of Cure's singles since the beginning, is released. The cassette's other side contains the singles' b-sides. At the same time "Staring at the sea", its corrispondent for the videos, is released. In August 1986 they decide to film a concert in France; the video is directed by Tim Pope, the director of all the Cure's videos since "Let's go to bed". It's called "The Cure in Orange".

In the following year they release their ninth album, "Kiss me kiss me kiss me", with the singles "Why can't I be you?", "Catch", "Just like heaven" and "Hot hot hot!!!". The album contains 17 songs and is very heterogeneous, so that it's difficult to precisely define it. In 1987 the Cure also record a new song for an album promoted by Fiction and called "Stranger than Fiction". The song's title is "To the sky".

In the same year Roger O'Donnell, former Psychedelic Furs' keyboards player, who had already taken part in "Kiss me kiss me kiss me"'s tour, joins the band. He's hired to integrate Lol's limited abilities. It's the prelude to Lol's abandonment. Later on Robert will explain that he didn't give any contribute and hadn't worked in the group for years. Lol will refuse these explanations, charging him of increasing his authority in the years until he didn't leave the other members any way to express themselves and contribute to the records.

On August, 13th 1988 Robert marries Mary Poole, his girlfriend since the school years.

In May 1989 they release "Disintegration", the new studio album, preceded by the single "Lullaby", whose video, shot by Tim Pope, wins the best video award at the Brit Awards in 1989. The following singles taken from the record are "Fascination Street", "Lovesong" and "Pictures of you". The record's atmosphere is sadder and more thoughtful and the lyrics deal with the passing of time and growing old. The lyrics for the title-track "Disintegration" were written by Robert on the night of his 30th birthday. Many fans agree on considering it the best Cure album.

In 1990 they release the singles "Never enough" and "Close to me (Closest mix)", from the album "Mixed up"; it should have been at first a collection of old successes, but Robert changed his mind and decided to have them mixed by some great deejays, who gave their interpretation of songs like "A forest", "Why can't I be you?" and "Inbetween days". Meanwhile in June Roger leaves the group to concentrate himself on a solo career, or maybe for incompatibility with Simon and Boris. He's replaced by Perry Bamonte, the roadie who took care of the band's guitars in tournee. He admits he's never played keyboards in his life. In September 1990 "Entreat", an album made of "Disintegration"'s songs played live the year before, is released. It should have been a free gift for everyone who purchased two Cure records at hmv record stores, but after fans' protests and Robert's intervention in March 1991 it becomes available to everybody.

In August Lol declares the decision to undertake a legal action against Robert, maintaining to have the right to more money. The question will conclude only in September 1994 with the victory of Robert and Fiction Records, and will delay the start of the work for the new album.

In November 1991 they release "The Cure play out", a video which describes the band through interviews and public exhibitions. In 1992 they release the new record, "Wish", along with the singles "High", "Friday I'm in love" and "A letter to Elise". It's an album similar to "Disintegration" for the atmosphere of some of the songs, but also completely different from it for the pop attitude of others. In 1993 the Cure release "Show" (September, a double cd recorded in Detroit) and "Paris" (October, recorded in the French capital), two live records.

The band takes part in a tribute record to Jimi Hendrix with the cover of "Purple haze", and in the soundtrack of "The crow" with "Burn". In January 1995, before the beginning of the recordings for the new album, both Porl and Boris leave the band. To replace them Roger returns, but they're forced to search a new drummer (later found in Jason Cooper) through insertions on newspapers. In May they take part in the soundtrack of "Judge Dredd" with "Dredd song", while in October they record the cover of David Bowie's "Young Americans", which will be part of the London radio Xfm's album titled "104.9".

In April 1996 the new single "The 13th" is released. It precedes their new album, "Wild mood swings". It's very different from the former records, especially from "Disintegration", with more light and catchy songs, which disappoints many of the fans, who didn't expect this change. The other singles are "Mint car", "Strange attraction" and "Gone!". In January 1997 Robert plays in the concert for his friend David Bowie's 50 years, performing with him two songs ("The last thing you should do" and "Quicksand"). In October the Cure release the single "Wrong number" and after a break the band starts working for the new album.

"Bloodflowers" is released in February 2000, after the promotional release of the singles "Maybe someday" and "Out of this world". The album reveals a return to the sounds typical of the darkest records and is accompanied by lyrics analyzing the passing of time and the need to feel new emotions, presenting a rather pessimistic mood.

It could be the last Cure album, having Robert declared the desire to dedicate himself to the solo career before it's too late, but this possibility had already been announced many times in the past without actually happening. Today the Cure are: Robert (vocals and guitar), Simon (bass), Perry (guitar), Roger (keyboards) and Jason (drums).