in may 1979 their debut album "three imaginary boys" was released to great acclaim, and as the band toured extensively around the uk, the singles “boys don't cry” and “jumping someone else's train” were released. they supporting alberto y lost trios paranoias and the smirks in june and july and again with siouxsie and the banshees in august to october 1979. michael left the band at the late of the year, and simon gallup (bass) and matthieu hartley (keyboards) joined. in march 1980 the 4-piece cure embarked on an exploration of the darker side of robert's songwriting, and emerged with the minimalist classic seventeen seconds, along with their first real 'hit single' “a forest.”