This was Easy Cure, before The Cure was a reality.... Robert was not the official singer, then he took place and started as a formal singer with The Cure.... 1977
i love it...these guys are the exact opposite of ministry ...started off hard and ended up mellow unlike ministry starting off mellow and winding up chaotic
its not robert smith singin, it was the previous singer, some months after he left the band as smith was forced to being the lead singer, he only played the lead guitar.
@moevanvera I'm really sure about this, you could say Im a true hardcore fan. but you can do some search on it. Smith turned lead singer september 1977, this record was done previous to that. I think it's the only known record with the nameless pre-Smith singer
@TianhuaVideos - First officially released in 1984 only on the cassette version of The Cure's "Concert" album - aka "Curiosity (Killing The Cat): Cure Anomalies 1977-1984." Credited there as a 1977 recording by "Easy Cure." It is Robert Smith singing. He's just VERY young compared even to the "Three Imaginary Boys" album. Easy Cure's other guitarist was Porl Thompson. The base player was Michael Dempsey. "Heroin Face" author credits are "Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst."
@TianhuaVideos - source? Cause that's not what the documentation says.. Nor has Robert Smith in his interviews or his decision to release this early live recording seven years after it was made.. See the 1984 cassette only release "Curiosity (Killing The Cat) Cure Anomalies 1977-1984." There, it is credited to "Easy Cure 1977" with writers credits and copyright royalties going to "Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst."
@Satyagrahaha Porl Thompson only left the band in 1978, in 1977 he was still on the band, thus those royalties dont refer to heroin face but to curiosity in general. this is a live recording from a show from before september 1977, and the only known tape not to have smith singing. try listening to other recordings from 77 or 78, and you'll see its definitely a different person singing. I'll look for a reliable source meanwhile
@TianhuaVideos - Listen to the subtle pouting inflections in the vocal. Compare to Sound and Vision studio session from London of October 11, 1977.... early versions of "Save The Children," "Meethook," "Pillbox Tales," "I Just Need Myself" and "I Want To Be Old." Also compare to Chestnut Studios, Sussex demo of "Boys Don't Cry," May 26, 1978. Conclusion: If it is not Robert Smith singing on Heroin Face, then Robert Smith copied his vocal persona from the teenager who sings Heroin Face.
@SirBounder Haha! OK, his voice sounds so different. I don't know why I thought it was someone else (perhaps I'm thinking of another song). Thanks for letting me know.
@fjellelv - It sounds like a rawer Robert Smith with a higher pitched voice because "Heroin Face" was recorded (as a live gig cassette tape) when Smith was, at most ,18 years old... possible as young as 17. This is one of the FIRST songs Robert Smith sang with The Cure. It is NOT the original Easy Cure singer. Smith sang "Heroin Face" more than 2 years before the earliest Cure album - "Three Imaginary Boys," which contains the songs "Boys Don't Cry," "Killing An Arab," "Fire In Cairo" etc.
To those who doubt this is The Cure... This is The Cure (or possibly "Easy Cure", what they were called before shortening their name). I believe the person singing is not Robert Smith but (please, correct me if I'm wrong as this information is very old in my head and my memory may not serve me well) the person singing is a postal worker (who is a friend of the band/Robert Smith?). I wish I could be more helpful.
@fjellelv The postman guy sang 'I'm a Cult Hero' - a single they released under the name Cult Hero, which was some Easy Cure members, some soon-to-be Cure members and some friends.
@mwfossils Thanks! I knew there was a postman there somewhere. It was a long time ago and I was really young then, so I forgot the correct details. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Great song, but shame it never made it to vinyl in the early days. The Cure were, and still are, truly 'punk'-spirited. They were never careerists. They were just fortunate enough to make it through at a very exciting time in music where anything slightly left-of-centre and exciting was, for a brief while, actively encouraged by the media and its cousins. Fair play to 'em that they stuck to their guns and, indeed, have had a lot of fun along the way.
this song has been available on the b-side to Concert and Curiosity cassette since 1984! Yes the Cure, Banshees, Joy Division any loads more started as punk bands. It was a natural progression to what they are now. Damn I feel old! And little Rickhorror, he is not gay "dood". And who cares if he was? go back to metal land and a spelling lesson
@tdoesntmatter they started in the post period of punk. Punk started around 73 but goes back to "Garage Punk" as early as 1957. In the 1960s they actually had riots in the UK between rockers and "mods". The Ramones tried to bring back that early 60s garage punk sound and were label Punk in a magazine (though some argue it was the NYD). The Jam tried to revise Mod in the late 70s but was considered Post Punk as well. this sounds more mainstream 70s rock to me though.
@crustyeyegoop . Yes there was an underground scene in the 50's up to the 70's, but the term and sound and meaning of "punk rock" did not occur until the mid/late 70's. Just at the time that what is now known as the Cure were starting bands. Post Punk as you so love to call bands like the Cure, Joy Division and the lot are mainly post punk bands, but they all started their bands in the spirit of punk. Heroin Face is a nice first example of what a band can do and progress with. I LOVE it.
In the pic, l-r: Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Porl Thompson.
Robert sounds so young and naive on this recording. And I remember reading that Robert originally wanted the band to sound like the Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, and The Beatles. But then he heard Siouxsie and the Banshees and everything changed after that.
Wow! Simply amazing. It sounds like a heavy metal song. Robert's vocals and the guitar work were excellent. This must the oldest live audio version of The Cure's original song here on You Tube. Actually, this was during the Easy Cure days before they changed their name to The Cure. Where did you get this from? Who recorded this song at Rocket, Crawley? It is rare. Thank-you for posting this song.
Good comment, but I must say: it's a punk rock song, nothing like heavy metal. England. 1977. It's what The Cure were before their famous post-punk sound.
I don't disagree. The Cure always have that punk attitude. But even during the early days though some of The Cures songs were punk-rock driven, they really had art-rock sensibilities.
This song is slightly adventurous to be called punk rock straightaway. To my ears, it actually predates the sound that Metallica and Megadeth achieved because they were thrash metal bands when they started (which fused elements of punk rock and New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Just my opinion, thats all.
Ordinary appreciation at the end by the crowd
SouthernCross33 1 day ago
wow, fantastic. Thanks for sharing. Such a time capsule YouTube can be.
shmoobies 2 weeks ago
It's sound a little bit Grungy, nice !
zippper4 2 weeks ago
ROBERT SMITH IS GOD!!!
gob711 1 month ago
Brilliant!
77monipunx 1 month ago
This is good!!!!!!
chainrelease 1 month ago
bad rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rullospesso1 1 month ago
LOVE The CurE or meet the disease!!!
STEPPENMOON 2 months ago
PUNK ROCK!!!!!
GraveDustful 2 months ago
all I can say is NICE
johnsydjimi 2 months ago
punk then the natural progression was to post punk.
BrightGreyful 3 months ago
This was Easy Cure, before The Cure was a reality.... Robert was not the official singer, then he took place and started as a formal singer with The Cure.... 1977
DushanRoura 3 months ago
if this was any other of a million bands playing back then, none of you would say a fucking thing.
Just admit it. This song sucks.
spunkets 3 months ago 2
Rob's accent was so much thicker back then.
halfcabdisaster7 4 months ago
This is fucking hardcore.
MafiaCouch 4 months ago 3
What a find! This is why I waste so much time on Youtube. So much amazing stuff you'd never get to hear/see otherwise.
alscai 4 months ago 7
@alscai You´re bloody right, mate!
chainrelease 1 month ago
@alscai P.S. I never watch TV, just Youtube!
chainrelease 1 month ago
Friggin Awesome!!
ciaphascain1919 4 months ago
Great!
angelblue1912 5 months ago
I haven't heard this for ages.....thanks for posting.
Osakatunes 5 months ago
O.O Thank you You Tube. I want to marry you and have like, 10K of your babies.
sanjurodog 6 months ago 3
this is sick i didnt know the cure played music like this back in the day lol wtf
massivebig1 6 months ago
Wish there was footage of them playing this! Would love to see it.
ArchieMoore 6 months ago 2
Awesome Rif..
Dremple 7 months ago
Is this Nirvana Bleach from 1989? It's amazing how grungy punk they were in 77! wow!
OrlandoTruthfest 7 months ago
@OrlandoTruthfest
Or.. how ripoff grungers were!! Even worse, those jurnos who created the hype and named the genre as the "new" thing!!
novembrine1 6 months ago
Oh God, Robert! I love you so much!
NhadzIsCured 7 months ago
It's obviously Rob
cwocky 7 months ago
i love it...these guys are the exact opposite of ministry ...started off hard and ended up mellow unlike ministry starting off mellow and winding up chaotic
jaf7808 9 months ago
you can tell it's robert, just young - he has some vocal cadences that are clearly audible
basehead617 9 months ago
Ok guys I asked Robert, he said: I SANG IT!
moevanvera 9 months ago
easy cure no,?????
fripouylle 1 year ago
sounds awesome!
zwobn 1 year ago
punk
punk
punk
nikitawah 1 year ago
@nikitawah yay!
acid cure!
LuisCure19 1 year ago
@LuisCure19 pure acid ! lol
nice mate
nikitawah 1 year ago
its not robert smith singin, it was the previous singer, some months after he left the band as smith was forced to being the lead singer, he only played the lead guitar.
TianhuaVideos 1 year ago
@TianhuaVideos I'm not too sure about this. I think it was Robert himself singing.
moevanvera 1 year ago
@moevanvera I'm really sure about this, you could say Im a true hardcore fan. but you can do some search on it. Smith turned lead singer september 1977, this record was done previous to that. I think it's the only known record with the nameless pre-Smith singer
TianhuaVideos 1 year ago
@TianhuaVideos - First officially released in 1984 only on the cassette version of The Cure's "Concert" album - aka "Curiosity (Killing The Cat): Cure Anomalies 1977-1984." Credited there as a 1977 recording by "Easy Cure." It is Robert Smith singing. He's just VERY young compared even to the "Three Imaginary Boys" album. Easy Cure's other guitarist was Porl Thompson. The base player was Michael Dempsey. "Heroin Face" author credits are "Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst."
Satyagrahaha 1 year ago
@TianhuaVideos this is december of that year.
FatMamaCakes 1 year ago
@TianhuaVideos - source? Cause that's not what the documentation says.. Nor has Robert Smith in his interviews or his decision to release this early live recording seven years after it was made.. See the 1984 cassette only release "Curiosity (Killing The Cat) Cure Anomalies 1977-1984." There, it is credited to "Easy Cure 1977" with writers credits and copyright royalties going to "Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst."
Satyagrahaha 1 year ago
@Satyagrahaha Porl Thompson only left the band in 1978, in 1977 he was still on the band, thus those royalties dont refer to heroin face but to curiosity in general. this is a live recording from a show from before september 1977, and the only known tape not to have smith singing. try listening to other recordings from 77 or 78, and you'll see its definitely a different person singing. I'll look for a reliable source meanwhile
TianhuaVideos 1 year ago
@TianhuaVideos - Listen to the subtle pouting inflections in the vocal. Compare to Sound and Vision studio session from London of October 11, 1977.... early versions of "Save The Children," "Meethook," "Pillbox Tales," "I Just Need Myself" and "I Want To Be Old." Also compare to Chestnut Studios, Sussex demo of "Boys Don't Cry," May 26, 1978. Conclusion: If it is not Robert Smith singing on Heroin Face, then Robert Smith copied his vocal persona from the teenager who sings Heroin Face.
Satyagrahaha 1 year ago
definately more heavy rock than punk uhh !!! very astonishing
canousi 1 year ago
@coptersoisoi Are you a girl? Cause if you are, let's get married.
punkidjulian 1 year ago
Love the raw sound of this classic song!
DeadlyCreatures 1 year ago
me 2
Smiert63 1 year ago
@SirBounder Haha! OK, his voice sounds so different. I don't know why I thought it was someone else (perhaps I'm thinking of another song). Thanks for letting me know.
fjellelv 1 year ago
@fjellelv - It sounds like a rawer Robert Smith with a higher pitched voice because "Heroin Face" was recorded (as a live gig cassette tape) when Smith was, at most ,18 years old... possible as young as 17. This is one of the FIRST songs Robert Smith sang with The Cure. It is NOT the original Easy Cure singer. Smith sang "Heroin Face" more than 2 years before the earliest Cure album - "Three Imaginary Boys," which contains the songs "Boys Don't Cry," "Killing An Arab," "Fire In Cairo" etc.
Satyagrahaha 1 year ago
Comment removed
HeartstopCreations 1 year ago
To those who doubt this is The Cure... This is The Cure (or possibly "Easy Cure", what they were called before shortening their name). I believe the person singing is not Robert Smith but (please, correct me if I'm wrong as this information is very old in my head and my memory may not serve me well) the person singing is a postal worker (who is a friend of the band/Robert Smith?). I wish I could be more helpful.
fjellelv 1 year ago
@fjellelv The postman guy sang 'I'm a Cult Hero' - a single they released under the name Cult Hero, which was some Easy Cure members, some soon-to-be Cure members and some friends.
mwfossils 1 year ago
@mwfossils Thanks! I knew there was a postman there somewhere. It was a long time ago and I was really young then, so I forgot the correct details. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
fjellelv 1 year ago
@mwfossils - yes, and Cult Hero also was issued on an Australian compilation album called "Britannia Waives The Rules."
Satyagrahaha 1 year ago
great track
kiwivorn 1 year ago
this is not cure guys
vaghelisable 1 year ago
IS that Peter on vocals. Doesn't sound like Robert.
sabbath231 1 year ago
Cool pic and song !
Downbythewater73 1 year ago
Can someone recommend me something like that?
7OLGA7 1 year ago
Great song, but shame it never made it to vinyl in the early days. The Cure were, and still are, truly 'punk'-spirited. They were never careerists. They were just fortunate enough to make it through at a very exciting time in music where anything slightly left-of-centre and exciting was, for a brief while, actively encouraged by the media and its cousins. Fair play to 'em that they stuck to their guns and, indeed, have had a lot of fun along the way.
1965raj 1 year ago
wow this is is unique material i guess. 1977 The Cure i love these early vids from u2 simple minds humanleague the cure etc etc So brilliant.
petrusaloisius 2 years ago
This was a b-side recording was it not?
F*ck I can't believe it someone's posted it on youtube - what hasn't the internet got???!!! ;)
mgrauvel 2 years ago
1977??? .....This is Easy cure??
pablosiniestro 2 years ago
The cure rock and they are so unique
jag714u 2 years ago
i really like robert.. n_n
perroturcas 2 years ago
Believe it or not, the singer in the picture is Robert Smith in his teenage years and his voice too ( 17?) Roberts always SO CUTE =D
darkrebel09 2 years ago 8
que recuerdos
chonsen2008 2 years ago
love this! thanks for posting!
vealshanker 2 years ago
Isnt the singer Robert's postman ? It certainly isnt Robert. Am I right?
caitlinniamh 2 years ago
Nope,it is Robert.
Back in '77 when The Cure were him,Michael Dempsey,Porl Thompson & Lol.
Frank Bell sung only'' I'm A Cult Hero'' which wasreleased as a single back in 1979.
Cheers!
greyagain 2 years ago
They look more like Led Zepp than the Cure!
JAYROX1969 2 years ago 2
it would be impossible to guess who this was in a blindfold test...
Raymantico 2 years ago
Ah Memories! not of seeing The Cure(best band in the world) at The Rocket..But me playing there.
(though wish I had seen em there) I also worked there for 1 night! back in the 90s LOL
davecarter 2 years ago
this song has been available on the b-side to Concert and Curiosity cassette since 1984! Yes the Cure, Banshees, Joy Division any loads more started as punk bands. It was a natural progression to what they are now. Damn I feel old! And little Rickhorror, he is not gay "dood". And who cares if he was? go back to metal land and a spelling lesson
tdoesntmatter 2 years ago 19
And this song sounds damn good! Real 1977 punk!!!!
peterkvideo 2 years ago 2
@tdoesntmatter yo said that soooo right(not shoud feel old)big greatings
XPUPA 1 year ago
@tdoesntmatter they started in the post period of punk. Punk started around 73 but goes back to "Garage Punk" as early as 1957. In the 1960s they actually had riots in the UK between rockers and "mods". The Ramones tried to bring back that early 60s garage punk sound and were label Punk in a magazine (though some argue it was the NYD). The Jam tried to revise Mod in the late 70s but was considered Post Punk as well. this sounds more mainstream 70s rock to me though.
crustyeyegoop 9 months ago
@crustyeyegoop . Yes there was an underground scene in the 50's up to the 70's, but the term and sound and meaning of "punk rock" did not occur until the mid/late 70's. Just at the time that what is now known as the Cure were starting bands. Post Punk as you so love to call bands like the Cure, Joy Division and the lot are mainly post punk bands, but they all started their bands in the spirit of punk. Heroin Face is a nice first example of what a band can do and progress with. I LOVE it.
tdoesntmatter 9 months ago
@tdoesntmatter It's "who would care if he were?" Subjunctive mood. But I agree with the sentiment.
acr08807 2 months ago
where did you read it at?
Ska9Punkrock 2 years ago
In the pic, l-r: Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, Porl Thompson.
Robert sounds so young and naive on this recording. And I remember reading that Robert originally wanted the band to sound like the Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, and The Beatles. But then he heard Siouxsie and the Banshees and everything changed after that.
therealsoulproduct 2 years ago
Wow, they've certainly changed up their style since then.That song is straight up old school punk rock, but now they are classified as post-punk.
skiggy007 2 years ago 2
sounds like megadeth lol or nirvana bleached album ...probably fans of motorhead
rickhorror 2 years ago 5
This has been flagged as spam show
hes gay dood
rickhorror 2 years ago
nostalgia Im so old I remember when this came out!!!!
caitlinniamh 2 years ago 2
love is szong to love robert tooo so hott
thecurearethebest 2 years ago
I was following on from your insult to ABTE67 :)
HomoGoldfish 3 years ago
Basically I was calling him a cock
HomoGoldfish 3 years ago
A Buzzcocks minus the Buzz
HomoGoldfish 3 years ago
Yeah, Smith has said that's what he wanted to sound like.
2degucitas 2 years ago 3
OHH.
Mooka101 3 years ago
a buzzcocks copy
ABTE67 3 years ago
Comment removed
Mooka101 3 years ago
that is a pure punk!!! I was not aware of these rarities...
magnusbijec 3 years ago 13
Man I haven't heard this since high school on a used and abused tape of "Curiosity". Awesome...
modsleix6 3 years ago 3
Wow! Simply amazing. It sounds like a heavy metal song. Robert's vocals and the guitar work were excellent. This must the oldest live audio version of The Cure's original song here on You Tube. Actually, this was during the Easy Cure days before they changed their name to The Cure. Where did you get this from? Who recorded this song at Rocket, Crawley? It is rare. Thank-you for posting this song.
ajittffcure 3 years ago
Good comment, but I must say: it's a punk rock song, nothing like heavy metal. England. 1977. It's what The Cure were before their famous post-punk sound.
Tim010987 3 years ago 4
I don't disagree. The Cure always have that punk attitude. But even during the early days though some of The Cures songs were punk-rock driven, they really had art-rock sensibilities.
This song is slightly adventurous to be called punk rock straightaway. To my ears, it actually predates the sound that Metallica and Megadeth achieved because they were thrash metal bands when they started (which fused elements of punk rock and New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Just my opinion, thats all.
ajittffcure 3 years ago
It was available on the "CONCERT" album MC version side B
abcdille 3 years ago