By Alan DiPerna Two hours from London, outside the picturesque town of Bath in the misty English countryside, stands St. Catherine's Court, a modest-sized, 18th Century manor house and accompanying church owned by the actress Jane Seymour. The house's ancient carved-wood front door swings opens at a touch.
Thick cables run along the narrow hallways.
Robert Smith's guitars stand at attention in one corner-everything from a funky old National to the trademark white Fender Jazzmaster of the band's early recordings to the red Gibson Chet Atkins that the Cure's leader currently favors. A figure suddenly and silently appears. He's sporting a few days' growth of beard, a flannel shirt and jeans. But the elaborately messy nest of dark hair atop his head is unmistakable. Hi, I'm Robert.