Following his set at the Fuji Rock Festival Sunday night, Cure Frontman Robert Smith sat down with Japanese Radio DJ Chigusa to discuss returning to Japan for the third time in the past 15 years, curating a set for the festival audience, and the last-minute change in the lineup, where 29-year-old Eden Gallup filled in on bass while his father Simon Gallup, had to return home due to personal emergency.

Smith noted that this was the band’s first appearance without Simon Gallup for over 20 years.

Smith also added that given that Eden grew up knowing The Cure literally all his life—being Smith’s godson, and the bass tech for his father Simon, that he almost forgot that it was not actually on Simon on stage during the concert.

Also during the interview, when asked when we can expect the new album, for which previously an October release was suggested.

As stated before through his interview with Debatable in March, the new album’s vocal tracks have yet to be completed.

“Most of it’s done, it’s just that my singing isn’t done, it’s the vocals. It’s always the same. It just takes me a lot longer, to um—because I am very aware that we haven’t made an album in more than 10 years—I really need to get the vocals right. Just the words, not even the singing”

He then continued, reiterating that despite his own, and keyboardist Roger O’Donnell’s statements that this will likely be the last Cure album, Smith ultimately just wants the record to be good.

Watch the full interview below:

It is worth noting that at the end of the interview, Robert Smith stated his love for Japan, beginning with his first tour there with Siouxsie and The Banshees in 1983. Smith also suggests that in promotion of the new album that he would like The Cure to tour multiple cities in Japan next year, leading to the possibility of a world tour being booked and announced for 2020.

EUROPE

Aug. 3: Afisha Picnic, Moscow, Russia

Afisha Picnic, Moscow, Russia Aug. 7: Oya Festival, Oslo, Norway

Oya Festival, Oslo, Norway Aug. 8-10: Way Out Festival, Gothenburg, Sweden

Way Out Festival, Gothenburg, Sweden Aug. 11: Flow Festival, Helsinki, Finland

Flow Festival, Helsinki, Finland Aug. 16: Summer Sessions, Glasgow, Scotland

Summer Sessions, Glasgow, Scotland Aug. 23: Rock en Seine, Parc de Saint-Cloud, France

Rock en Seine, Parc de Saint-Cloud, France Aug, 31: Pasadena Daydream Festival

UNITED STATES