Story: Andrew Male

Icy, calculating duo signed to Dave Stewart's Anxious label, led by premier rock vixen Halliday. On the live stage, line-up included guitarist Debbie Smith, now with Echobelly. Went 'belly-up' around the time of 'Cuckoo', released in '93.

What was the peak of your career?

"The fact that we got to make records like 'Horror Head' and 'Faît Accompli'. We never got playlisted once. Radio One was never interested. We once got this summary from them that said, 'Why have you sent this? Carter are as hard as we get.'"

What was your appeal?

"That we were as sexy as fuck? I just remember us as a musical force, hearing that rumble from the back of the stage, we amazed ourselves occasionally, but most of the time I thought we were crap."

Favourite memory of pop stardom?

"It's boring, but the touring side. America from 1992 to '93. We played with The Cure in Dallas to 45,000 people and with nirvana in Paris."

When did it all start to slide?

"I still think our second album (the aforementioned 'Cuckoo') was our best. It got to the point where Dean didn't want to tour. We did reach that point of hedonistic head-fuckery, glugging JD, hollering 'Where's the schnozz?' You finally get that out of your system and think, 'This is sad.' We couldn't have gone on like that."

Regrets?

"My only regret is Glastonbury '92. We fucked up badly. We got away with it despite the fact that I was singing in the wrong key, Debbie was playing a different song, and the three other members were on 15 lagers each."

What are you doing now?

"I'm exploring the production side, soundtracks. I did this track for Showgirls. No, I didn't know what was in store. I met Paul Verhoeven and he was just so charismatic. He wowed me into this horrible film, selling it as some intellectual comment on the sex industry. I walked out after 45 minutes, the screen went dead every time that woman was on it. That's the direction I'm going in though."

What do you think of Garbage?

"Good luck to them. I can see our influence. I'm actually quite chuffed - I know Butch Vig. He's a big Curve fan - he wanted to produce our third album. I'm not bitter. If we helped to open doors then that's good."

(article nicked from 'Select', August 1996*)

* This interview must have been conducted quite some time before this article was published, as Curve were back together and presumably recording the Pink Girl With The Blues single at the time...