183 Quotes by Robert Smith

I wore makeup when I was at school, and I wore makeup when glam started. I started wearing it again when punk started. I’ve always been drawn to wearing it. It’s partly ritualistic, partly theatrical and partly just because I think I look better with it on.

It has always seemed slightly uncomfortable, the idea of politicised musicians. Very few of them are clever enough to do it; if they’re good at the political side, the music side suffers, and vice versa.

The very first concert I ever went to on my own was actually Rory Gallagher. In a one-month period in 1973 or ’74, I saw him, Thin Lizzy and the Rolling Stones. I wasn’t really a big Rory Gallagher fan, but I thought his guitar playing was fabulous. But Thin Lizzy, they were fabulous.

Whenever I’m home, I haven’t got any makeup on. But even in the studio, before I do vocals, I put makeup on.

I don’t think of death in a romantic way anymore.

I’m not a morose person; it’s just that my best songs reflect on the sadder aspects of life.

You don’t really know a song until you play it live.

In all relationships, there are always aching holes and that’s where the impossible wishes come into it.

If you feel alienated from people around you, it’s because no one tries to understand you.