Perry Bamonte, best known as guitarist and keyboardist in the Cure, has died at the age of 65 after battling a short illness at home over Christmas.
The Cure confirmed Bamonte’s death on the band’s website on Friday, remembering his contributions to the group during his two stints in the band, first from 1990 through 2005, and then from 2022 until now.
“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story,” the statement reads. “‘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 world as part of its road crew in 1984 through his brother Daryl, who served as the band’s tour manager. Bamonte became lead singer Robert Smith’s personal assistant and guitar technician before officially joining the Cure lineup in 1990 following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell.
During his tenure with the band, he performed on tour and on several of the group’s albums beginning with 1992’s “Wish” through 2000’s “Bloodflowers.” He left the group in 2005 after Smith reconfigured the Cure as a trio, and in 2012 joined the band Love Amongst Ruin before reuniting with the Cure for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
On the Cure’s most commercially successful album “Wish,” Bamonte played six-string bass and keyboards on songs including the hit “Friday, I’m in Love,” “A Letter to Elise” and “High.”
Bamonte officially rejoined the Cure in 2022 for the global “Shows of a Lost World” tour, which kicked off in Latvia in October and continued through December 2023. He played with the Cure their most recent show at London’s Troxy in November 2024, and was slated to perform at international shows through 2026.
Bamonte’s playing on the tour is captured in the concert documentary following the “Shows of a Lost World” tour, which is currently in theatrical release.
