The Cure

On This Day 25/09/1979 The Cure

On this day, 25 September 1979 rock band The Cure played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens, supporting Siouxie and the Banshees on their Join Hands tour. The band had earlier in the year released their debut album Three Imaginary Boys on Friction Records.

The record company decided which songs were put on the album and running order, as well as the cover artwork, without Robert Smith's consent. For all Cure albums since, Smith has ensured that he is given complete creative control over the final product before it goes on sale.

The "Foxy Lady" soundcheck, with vocals sung by Michael Dempsey, was not supposed to be on the album, and was removed for the American release. Smith has stated that "songs like 'Object' and 'World War' and our cover of 'Foxy Lady' were [producer] Chris Parry's choice".

Despite Smith's displeasure with the record, Three Imaginary Boys was well received critically at the time of its release. Sounds' Dave McCullough praised it in a 5-star review and noted: "The Cure are going somewhere different on each track, the ideas are startling and disarming." McCullough noted the variety of the material and qualified "Grinding Halt" as a "pop song that reminds you of the Isley Brothers or the Buzzcocks." Red Starr, writing in Smash Hits, described the album as a "brilliant, compelling debut."

Setlist

10.15 Saturday Night

Accuracy

Jumping Someone Else's Train

Play For Today

Plastic Passion

Subway Song

Three Imaginary Boys

Boys Don't Cry

Fire In Cairo

Killing An Arab

Encore

Grinding Halt

On this day 21/6/1984 Siouxsie and the Banshees

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Images may be subject to copyright

On this day 21 June 1984 punk originals Siouxsie and the Banshees played Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on their Hyæna Tour.

Hyæna was the band’s sixth studio album released earlier the same month. Hyæna is the only studio album that guitarist Robert Smith of the Cure composed and recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Hyæna was namechecked by Brett Anderson, the singer of Suede.James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers hired producer Hedges because he loved the sound on lead single "Swimming Horses".

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Bradfield stated: "Swimming Horses' by the Banshees – what a fucking record that is! I remember thinking 'You really care about that record. I'm gonna have to chase that record down." He also mentioned the importance of the drums: "I loved Banshees records, where everything starts with the drums".

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Setlist

Dazzle

Cascade

Running Town

Feathers

Desert Kisses

Pointing Bone

Red Over White

Melt!

Red Light

Christine

Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man

Painted Bird

Arabian Knights

Spellbound

Monitor

Encore:

Helter Skelter

(The Beatles cover)

On This Day 9/12/1996 The Cure

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On this day, 9 Dec 1996, The Cure played Cardiff’s International Arena.

The Cure were formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in 1978. The band members have changed several times, and guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith is the only constant member.

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The Cardiff concert was a re-arranged date with the band cancelling the earlier 25 May date due to Robert suffering from a pernicious and lingering sinus infection affecting his ears, eyes and throat.

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Set list

Mainset:

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Want

Club America

Fascination Street

A Night Like This

High

Lullaby

Jupiter Crash

Just Like Heaven

Mint Car

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Like Cockatoos

Strange Attraction

Cold

The Walk

Never Enough

Trap

Treasure

Prayers For Rain

In Between Days

From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea

Bare

Encore 1:

Lovesong

Friday I'm In Love

Hot Hot Hot!!!

Why Can't I Be You

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Encore 2:

The Funeral Party

Charlotte Sometimes

A Forest

Encore 3:

Subway Song

Grinding Halt

Play For Today

Boys Don't Cry

10.15 Saturday Night

Killing An Arab