The Cure: Ten Imaginary Years

by Barbarian, Robert Smith, Steve Sutherland

The official Cure biography, illustrated throughout with masses of private and official photographs, press cuttings, and media articles.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir

127 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I'm a Cure fan. What of it?

[Andrew Barger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of The Cure. So when I learned of this book that was published over twenty years ago, I had to read it. Initially this was no easy task because it was difficult to find. A used copy showed up on Amazon and I snatched it.

The book is physically large and filled with great photos of The Cure's early years. Contrary to other reviews I have seen, the book does contain color photos though they are outnumbered by the black-and-whites. For some reason the text is intent on establishing The Cure as a classic heavy drinking/drugging band. I am unsure why because most fans (myself included) love The Cure for their music and phenomenal lyrics. In this regard I would have liked to learn more about the songs, what inspired them and how they were written. Alas, it is not until we get to The Top album that much attention is paid to song meanings.A few snippets address Camus and Killing an Arab, but that is about it. There is nothing about the whole drama that unfolded between The Cure and Penelope Farmer, author of "Charlotte Sometimes," when the song of the same name was released. (I analyzed the lyrics vs the book on my Cure blog - http://disintegrationnation-cureblog.... ) There is not a word about "The Gormanghast Trilogy" and its impression on Robert Smith and a number of the band's songs. An entire section could have described the video shot in the insane asylum and what Robert found there. Sigh.

Many bad reviews of The Cure are included in the book and a quarter of a century later appear comical given the wild success of the band. A number of these clippings are so small that one needs a magnifying glass to read them. The exclamation point is used like it is going out of style. But these are small annoyances.

"Ten Imaginary Years" is a must for any fan of The Cure. Just the photos alone make it worthwhile, especially those of a beanpole Robert Smith. If you only know Just Like Heaven and Boys Don't Cry, however, you will likely be disappointed by this book. Now, if only The Cure would publish "Twenty Imaginary Years," or better yet "Thirty Imaginary Years!"

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've never read this book, you're not really a fan.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suspect the casual Cure fan might find this a bit much, but otherwise it's an absolute pleasure to dive into all the stories of the first 10 years of, this, one of my absolute favorite bands. Plenty of first hand accounts and perspectives as well as the little details about the music itself.

[Maja Cure · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best ever Cure biographies! It’s an amazing book, filled with so many details. It’s filled with amazing photos as well as old articles. As a Cure fan I think every true fan should read it. The only problem is that nowadays it’s very difficult to find this book. I searched for it for over a year and I found in an antique store for 40 pounds which is quite a good price for this book. People sell it for over 100 pounds on eBay which is crazy! But I mean items an amazing book so it is worth it:)

[Nöita · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I finally read this book after 45 imaginary years. It was an interesting read for a fan who had just gotten out of diapers at the time the book was published. It gave a glimpse into how the band was perceived at the time - by journalists and critics, thanks to the interviews and reviews, and by the band themselves thanks to original interviews. I wouldn’t however recommend the book to anyone else than a fan. Not that anyone else than a fan would pick up this book after all these years.

Honorable mention to Simon Gallup who confessed being jealous for Steven Severin and considered that maybe there was actually something wrong with him and not all the others with whom he didn’t get along. Some 35 years later and it’s still so hard for men to say these kinds of things. Not all the men, of course.

[Laurence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently re-read this book. It is full of interesting facts and anecdotes. I enjoyed reading it as much as when it first came out. There also are plenty of photos. A must have for all fans.

[Dragan Nanic · Rating 5 out of 5]

It never crossed my mind that The Cure can be the band that trashed a hotel room or that Robert could pick a fight in an elevator.
Excerpts from various interviews give a wonderful walkthrough through the beginning and the first ten years of the band. The book itself is done in a beautiful design with many pictures - from the private photographs to sleeve photos and newspaper clips - making an adequate counterpoint to the story.
A recommendation to every Cure fan.

[Teresa O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books about the bands/ artists I love and I came to love The Cure pretty late in my life, glad I did! "Ten Imaginary Years" is what the title suggests: an account of the first ten years of the band. It was supervised by Robert Smith himself so it may considered as a semi-official biography of the band. Very good read along The Cure's founding member Lol Tolhurst's memoir "Cured".
Now I just wish Robert Smith would write a book about the last 27 years of the band.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I owned this book new when I was a teenage Cure fan. 30 years later and my partner bought it for me as a gift and even though I'd drifted away from The Cure's music over the decades, the nostalgia flooded in! Great stories, loads of pictures and a wonderful document of a band approaching the peak of their powers. Almost impossible to believe they'll be marking 40 imaginary years in the business next year.

[R.J. Cusyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and insightful look into The Cure and the production of all their albums up to Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Would really like to see a follow-up, however it doesn't look like we'll be getting one any time soon. Still, an enjoyable read for any fan of the band. Oh, there are also a lot of really cool and rare photos throughout the book, unlike those silly biographies with pictures only on a couple pages in the middle.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Ten Imaginary Years“ might just be an essential read for fans, but it’s not more, and for anyone born in 1981 who only knows “Friday I’m in Love” from the radio it will be a waste of time. I, as a lifelong fan, found it very interesting to see how the group developed and to finally learn who, besides Robert Smith, is in it. Enjoyable book for fans who have a week to spare.

[maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting being able to read reviews from critics for every release as it showed up in the book - they were really harsh in the 80s it seems lol. Really funny anecdotes and cool pictures dotted throughout. Shame this is now out of print, would love a physical copy that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg! 3.5 stars!!!!!

[Chris Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this when it came out. Am a big cure fan and this is a thorough bio of the first 10 years.

[Esteban Leal · Rating 5 out of 5]

For real Cure fans

[Les Hutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still the definitive biography. Interesting, informative and humorous. For any The Cure fan.

[Bustagroovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got around to reading this. I liked the inclusion of some really bad single reviews, especially the one for I'm A Cult Hero which apparently "should never have seen the light of day".

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for keeping track of The Cure's voluminous output during the first 10 years of the band's existence. It still boggles my mind that some of their biggest hits came at the very beginning of their career and then again more than 10 years later on Disintegration. A testament to perseverance and not paying attention to what the critics are saying.

[Heather Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently went through some kind of nostalgia obsessive phase and I could not get enough of the cure. I ordered this book and it was just what I wanted. It tells the story of the early days of the cure through the voices of the founding members with cute pictures of these early years.

[Christopher]

This was a good primer for a young Cure fan. The writing is nothing special but the insider look at the band through Robert and the others is interesting. Plus, great photos.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big Cure fan so naturally I found this book very intriguing! A must read for fans.

[Olly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun read for Cure fans, if a somewhat monotonous story. Some great photos too. A real shame it ends before the recording of Disintegration, their masterpiece.

[Jonathon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It covers some of my favourite period in The Cure's career. It's fun and documented well. It's not a struggle and I just breezed through it.

[Xisix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving another read after quite a long while. Enjoying stories and pictures of those early days of the Cure.

[Andrea Greene Myers]

I read this ages ago. Don't remember much about it really. Down in a box in the basement...