Pearl Thompson

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. 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.

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