The Cure in 1984: “Boys Don’t Cry” and Beyond

The Cure had been gradually building their U.S. fan base when they embarked on their third American tour to promote their 1984 album, The Top. On Nov. 16, 1984, the band visited the Ontario Theatre in Washington, D.C., where they played a mix of new material and the favorites that had made them instant icons in England.

Coming off the success of hits like “Let’s Go To Bed” and “Boys Don’t Cry,” Robert Smith and Co. had finally come to the point where they could take The Cure’s eccentric, characteristically dark sound and combine it with a more radio-friendly approach. At the time, Smith was also playing with Siouxsie and the Banshees, but musically, his true home was always with The Cure—a fact made more than apparent on this recording. The band would ultimately go through a number of musical and personal upheavals, and even though The Top wasn’t their most warmly received album, this was a fruitful period for The Cure. This show offers an impeccable live recording of one of the ‘80s biggest groups in their prime.