Robert James Smith was born 21 April 1959 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England to Alex and Rita Smith, the third of four children. Robert lived in Blackpool until he was three and then his family moved to Horley, Surrey, where he attended St. Francis Primary school. In March 1966, his family moved to Crawley, Sussex, where he attended St. Francis Junior School until 1970 where he spent two years at an experimental middle school called Notre Dame. From 1972 to 1977 he attended St. Wilfrids Comprehensive School where he met Mary‒the girl who would become his wife. In 1976 The Easy Cure was formed by Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst and Porl Thompson. In 1978, the band dropped Easy from the name.
