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Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthieu Hartley (born 4 February 1960) is an English musician, best known as the keyboardist for The Cure from 1979-1980.
Matthieu Hartley | |
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Born | Smallfield, Surrey, England | 4 February 1960
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument | Keyboards |
Years active | 1979–1983 |
Formerly of | Lockjaw (1977–1978) The Magazine Spies (1978–1979) The Cure (1979–1980) Fools Dance (1983) |
Website | www.thecure.com |
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]