This is Michael Dempsey. He played on the band's first album but left in 1979, right as they were recording Three Imaginary Boys and on the cusp of international fame. The tension with Robert Smith over the band's musical direction became too much. So, he walked away and joined The Associates. A brave move or a huge miscalculation? 👇 Want more untold stories from music history? I share deep dives, rare facts, and secret anecdotes you won't find anywhere else in my exclusive subscribers' group.