The Cure have generally treated Pink Floyd with respect, but they’ve also pushed back hard on being compared to them. In a 1981 interview, The Cure reportedly called the “Pink Floyd of the 80s” label “nonsense” and said, “We’re The Cure of the 80s, not Pink Floyd.”

What that suggests

That answer points to two things at once: admiration for Pink Floyd’s stature, and a desire not to be boxed into someone else’s legacy. Robert Smith has also been quoted saying Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii is his favorite rock film, which shows clear appreciation even if the band disliked the comparison game.

The vibe

So the safest read is:

  • They respect Pink Floyd as major artists.
  • They did not want critics to describe The Cure as a Pink Floyd clone or equivalent.
  • Their stance was more “don’t compare us” than “we hate them.”

Quick scoop

In plain English: The Cure seem to like Pink Floyd, but not the label people tried to stick on them.