As they near the end of their summer run of European festivals, The Cure tonight plays the U.K.’s venerable Reading Festival — exactly 33 years to the day since Robert Smith and Co. last played there. To mark the occasion, we present this tape of The Cure’s 1979 set at Reading, courtesy of YouTube uploader Matt IV (via Chain of Flowers). The audio’s admittedly a bit rough, but it’s great to hear the band — featuring drummer Lol Tolhurst and bassist Michael Dempsey — rip through a 13-song, Three Imaginary Boys-era set.
Setlist: The Cure, Reading Festival, UK, 8/24/79
1. “10.15 Saturday Night”
2. “Accuracy”
3. “Grinding Halt”
4. “Another Day”
5. “Object”
6. “Subway Song”
7. “Foxy Lady” (Vocals by Michael Dempsey)
8. “Plastic Passion”
9. “Three Imaginary Boys”
10. “Boys Don’t Cry”
11. “Fire in Cairo”
12. “Killing an Arab”
13. “Do the Hansa”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Robert Smith: The Cure to record with new lineup, enlist Mogwai, Cranes for ‘Mixed Up 2’
- Robert Smith: The Cure to mount first-ever full South American tour next year
- Video: The Cure at Germany’s Southside Festival — watch full 70-minute webcast
- Stream: The Cure’s first American concert — newly discovered tape of Cherry Hill, NJ, 1980
- Video: The Cure debuts guitarist Reeves Gabrels, digs out rarities at Pinkpop Festival
Gooood stuff!
Saw them on BBC 3 last friday, first hour was a boring greatest hits set, second half was a brilliant mixture of album tracks and b-sides, enjoyed that i must admit. 9 songs from Wish, i smell another trilogy show..