The Cure is a British rock band that formed in the county of Sussex, England. The original lineup consisted of Robert Smith, Laurence "Lol" Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. They first began playing together in 1976, and went on to achieve international success with their unique blend of post-punk, new wave, and gothic rock. The band has released over 13 studio albums and continues to tour and perform to this day.