The Cure Play Rousing Set At Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Cure not only got inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Friday night (March 29), they also treated the Barclays Center crowd to a five-song set that included some of their biggest hits. They began with “Shake Dog Shake” off their 1984 album The Top, and then dove into "A Forest," "Lovesong," and "Just Like Heaven."

“I think we’ve got time for about one more,” Robert Smith declared before strumming the buoyant guitar riff of "Boys Don't Cry" to roaring applause. As they played, the screen behind them flipped through photos showcasing The Cure's long, illustrious career.

Watch them perform "Lovesong" and "Boys Don't Cry" below.

Trent Reznor had the honors of inducting The Cure at Friday night's ceremony. “I struggled my whole life with feeling like I don’t fit in or belong anywhere — kind of like right now — and hearing this, suddenly I felt connected and no longer quite so alone in the world," the Nine Inch Nails frontman explained. "Immediately this band struck a deep chord with me… A lot of darkness I felt in my head was coming back at me through the speakers… all of it anchored by one of the most exquisite instruments — Robert Smith’s voice.”

“I’ve been, let’s say, ambivalent about certain award ceremonies," he continued, acknowledging his past sentiments on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "They’ll acknowledge X but they won’t even recognize The Cure. Then I got a call I wasn’t expecting and I’ve never been so happy to eat my words.”

When it was time for Smith to accept the honor, he kept his words brief. “It’s a very nice surprise to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” he simply said.

Radiohead was also part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2019 class. Along with Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson, Roxy Music, Def Leppard, and The Zombies. HBO is set to run a broadcast of the ceremony on April 27.

Photo: Getty Images