Despite being nominated in three categories, The Cure walked away from the BRIT Awards empty handed last night, with fans of the band saying they “should have won by miles”.
Robert Smith and co received their first BRIT nominations in over three decades for Group of the Year, Best Alternative/Rock Act, and Album of the Year for ‘Songs of A Lost World‘ at this year’s ceremony. Last night (March 1), they were beaten for the prestigious Album of the Year award by Charli XCX, whose culture-defining ‘Brat‘ won out.
Likewise, Best Alternative/Rock Act went to Sam Fender, and Group of the Year to Ezra Collective. Although some fans have acknowledged that the legendary goth band, famed for their reluctance to celebrate their major accomplishments, likely “probably would never want” an award, some have been more vocal in their disappointment.
“A collective gasp of horror from Cure fans worldwide,” wrote one X/Twitter user, who noticed along with many other fans that the band didn’t appear to attend the show.
“As mentioned earlier, I would not be surprised if the band did not attend this show due to the inane nature of awards shows,” they added. “Who selects the winners? A body of “experts” in the industry?” Check out more social media reactions below.
The Cure were robbed #Brits
— Julie (@mrst43) March 1, 2025
We all know that Songs of a Lost World is a masterpiece. Most of those who win these awards have millions of followers on differents platforms and therefore a lot of votes. I'm not saying this as a fan, SOALW is an undisputed masterpiece. #BRITs2025 #TheCure
— Yiya. (@YiyaLostWorld) March 2, 2025
So Sam Fender is better than The Cure #bollocks #BRITs
— David (@Ukcynicalchild) March 1, 2025
The Cure have been so robbed in the Brits, such a deserving and talented group. ❤️
— 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚 (@macy__mars) March 1, 2025
A collective gasp of horror from Cure fans worldwide.
As mentioned earlier, I would not be surprised if the band did not attend this show due to the inane nature of awards shows. Who selects the winners? A body of “experts” in the industry? https://t.co/tIhJj39kjU
— piggywigee (@piggywigee) March 1, 2025
Good to see the #BRITs are still a joke, best alternative/rock act, just a bunch of pop acts with The Cure thrown in for some credibility lol
— Terry Cole (@foresttel) March 1, 2025
This is outrageous. The Cure was supposed to win. @BRITs #BRITs2025
— Yiya. (@YiyaLostWorld) March 1, 2025
It’s 2025 and the cure are still being nominated for Brit awards (which they probably would never want)
— Amy (@amybobbles) March 1, 2025
agreed! I’m a big Sam Fender fan, but how Songs of a Lost World and The Cure were not recognised is beyond words. BRAT? Really.
— Kelly R (@kelliruston) March 2, 2025
The Brit awards are just one big circle jerk. #shitawards #BRITs The Cure should have won by miles
— Marzipan Dildo (@badger1gun) March 1, 2025
Not even alt/rock, how did the Cure not win this
— AndyCVillan (@villan_andy) March 1, 2025
The Cure were also up for it but it's less about the quality of music in the UK and more the poor quality of the BRITs and their decision making. Biggest selling albums win, not the best quality-wise.
— Philip Whitehead (@pw_deathofmusic) March 1, 2025
Fans were particularly surprised the band lost Album of the Year, given the success of ‘Songs of A Lost World’, which saw The Cure bag their first Number One album in the UK in 32 years, with NME awarding it five stars. “Merciless? Yes, but there’s always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you and place these songs alongside The Cure’s finest,” our review read.
“The frontman suggested that another two records may be arriving at some point, but ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ feels sufficient enough for the wait we’ve endured, just for being arguably the most personal album of Smith’s career. Mortality may loom, but there’s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.”
It was also included in NME’s list of Best Albums Of The Year, while lead single ‘Alone’ starred in NME’s Best Songs Of 2024.
“‘Alone’ ended a 16-year drought and proved The Cure haven’t lost any of their magic. Through swirling synths and cinematic instrumentation, paired with Robert Smith’s poignant lyricism and melodies, this epic is a masterwork of ethereal beauty and raw emotional depth,” the latter read. “One of their most captivating songs to date.”
Earlier this year, Smith named two songs likely to feature on the next album from the band. Earlier this month while appearing as a guest on X-Posure with John Kennedy on Radio X, Smith opened up further about the specific tracks that will appear on their next album, which will serve as a follow-up to their latest record.
The two songs that could appear on their next record are titled ‘It Can Never Be The Same’ and ‘Christmas Without You’, though he noted that the latter has since received a new name.
The band have been playing ‘It Can Never Be The Same’ for years, including at Smith’s curated Meltdown Festival in 2018. The year after the performance, he explained to NME that it was one of 13 “leftover songs” from their 2008 album ‘4:13 Dream‘ that had been intended to be released as part of a companion album, but it was never completed because “things got in the way”.
Elsewhere, big winners at the BRITs last night included Charli XCX, who went into the night with the most nominations with five nods, taking home four awards. As well as beating The Cure for Album Of The Year, she won Artist Of The Year and Dance Act, and her collaboration with Billie Eilish, ‘Guess’, took home the Song Of The Year prize. She had already been named as recipient of the Songwriter Of The Year award too.