Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, has died at the age of 65. The band confirmed his passing on Friday, stating that Bamonte died at home over Christmas following a short illness.
The Cure shared a heartfelt tribute on their official website, honoring Bamonte’s importance to the band across his two separate periods as a member: “Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story. ‘Looking after the band’ from 1984 through 1989, he became a full time member of the Cure in 1990, playing guitar, six string bass and keyboard on The Wish, Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, acoustic hits and the Cure albums, as well as performing more than 400 shows over 14 years. He rejoined the Cure in 2022, playing another 90 shows, some of the best in the band’s history, culminating with ‘The Show of a Lost World’ concert in London 1st November 2024. Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”
Born in London in 1960, Bamonte entered The Cure’s inner circle in the mid-1980s as part of the band’s touring operation, initially working on the road crew through his brother Daryl, the group’s tour manager. He later became Robert Smith’s personal assistant and guitar technician before officially joining the lineup in 1990.
During his time with The Cure, Bamonte contributed guitar, keyboards, and six-string bass on several albums, including Wish, Wild Mood Swings, and Bloodflowers. He played on some of the band’s best-known songs from the Wish era, including “Friday I’m in Love,” “A Letter to Elise,” and “High.”
Bamonte departed the band in 2005 when Smith temporarily restructured The Cure as a trio. He later worked with Love Amongst Ruin and reunited with The Cure for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2019.
He officially rejoined the band in 2022 for the “Shows of a Lost World” tour, performing extensively through 2023 and making his final appearance with The Cure in London in November 2024. His performances from the tour are featured in the accompanying concert film, which is currently in theatrical release.
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