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Matthieu Hartley

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Matthieu Hartley
Born (1960-02-04) 4 February 1960 (age 64)
Smallfield, Surrey, England
Genres
OccupationMusician
InstrumentKeyboards
Years active1979–1983
Formerly ofLockjaw (1977–1978)
The Magazine Spies (1978–1979)
The Cure (1979–1980)
Fools Dance (1983)
Websitewww.thecure.com

Matthieu Hartley (born 4 February 1960) is an English musician, best known as the keyboardist for The Cure from 1979-1980.

Biography

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Hartley was born in Smallfield, England, near Crawley, and was a childhood friend of future bandmate Simon Gallup. Hartley and Gallup were both members of the punk bands Lockjaw and the Magazine Spies in the late 1970s.[1] These bands often played alongside early versions of the Cure.[2]

Near the end of 1979, The Cure needed a new bassist following the departure of founding member Michael Dempsey, and recruited Gallup for the position.[3] Gallup suggested adding Hartley as the band's first full-time keyboardist to broaden their sound.[4]

Hartley was a full member of the Cure for their 1980 album Seventeen Seconds and the ensuing tour. During this period he contributed to the brief Cure side project Cult Hero.[5] He left the band later that year due to disagreements with group leader Robert Smith,[1] and dissatisfaction with the minimalist keyboard requirements in Smith's songs.[3][6]

After leaving the Cure, Hartley remained friends with Gallup and was an early member of the band that became Fools Dance. He released a solo album under the name Matthieu in 1987, and in 2005 joined the psychedelic rock band The Speak.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Price, Simon (2023). Curepedia: An A-Z of The Cure. New York, NY: William Morrow. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-0-06-306864-3.
  2. ^ Walsh, Carmel (3 February 2023). "The Formation Of The Cure (Part Two): From Easy Cure To The Cure To Cult Hero And Back - Memories And Memorabilia From Crawley - God Is In The TV". Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Uncut, ed. (2016). "The Cure". The Ultimate Music Guide. pp. 14–17.
  4. ^ Buskin, Richard (December 2004). "Classic Tracks: The Cure 'A Forest'". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. ^ Price, p. 76-77.
  6. ^ "You Gotta Have Faith: The Cure's Third Album, 40 Years On". TheQuietus.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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