Reading + Leeds 2012, The Cure

The constant presence and song writing genius of frontman Robert Smith has kept the post punk, new wave stylings of The Cure one of the most popular alt rock bands in the world, racking up over 27 million album sales. Singles Friday I'm In Love, Just Like Heaven and Boys Don't Cry are just a few that have seamlessly and fondly weaved their way in to the collective consciousness.

Championed by John Peel from the beginning, the boys from Crawley are known for an almost schizophrenic approach to music, from the pessimistic misery of albums Seventeen Seconds and Pornography to the jaunty pop-inspired Love Cats, their first British Top 10 hit.

To see The Cure is to watch a defining era of British popular music, responsible for influencing ground-breaking bands such as Interpol and Metallica. Their headline set at R+L this year will be a momentous occasion, especially as it's their first appearance at the festival since 1979. As Mr Smith himself said to the NME, "It's almost like we’ve gone full circle and we’re back to the point where we’re playing Reading Festival and I'm doing it solely because I want it to be a good day."

• Read more about The Cure on BBC Music

• Open
• High
• The End of the World
• Love Song
• Sleep When I'm Dead
• Push
• Inbetween Days
• Just Like Heaven
• Pictures of You
• Lullaby
• The Caterpillar
• The Walk
• Friday I'm In Love
• Doing The Unstuck
• Trust
• Edge Of The Deep Green
• Bananafishbones
• Play For Today
• A Forest
• Primary
• Want
• The Hungry Ghost
• Wrong Number
• One Hundred Years
• Dressing Up
• The Lovecats
• Close To Me
• Just One Kiss
• Let's Go To Bed
• Why Can't I Be You?
• Boys Don't Cry

• Virtual Festivals

  http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/features/13319

  'Endearing, loved, dark-eyed and huggable'

• Virtual Festivals

  http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/news/13334

  'The depressive but groovy feel of The Cure is more relevant than ever'