Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist with The Cure, dies at 65

Perry Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, has passed away at the age of 65.

The news came on December 26 through the band’s official website, confirming that their “great friend and bandmate” had passed away “after a short illness at home over Christmas.”

Band Statement

The Cure mentioned in a statement:

“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte who passed away after a short illness at home over Christmas.
“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 12st November 2024.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”

Early Life and Entry into The Cure

Born Perry Archangelo Bamonte in London on 3 September 1960, he initially joined The Cure’s road crew in 1984 following his brother Daryl becoming the band’s tour manager. Perry then served as frontman Robert Smith’s guitar technician and personal assistant.

When keyboardist Roger O’Donnell exited the band in 1990, Bamonte became a full-time member, playing guitar, keyboards (taught by Smith’s sister Janet), six-string bass, and occasionally percussion.

Career Highlights

He contributed to many albums, from 1992’s Wish to 2000’s Bloodflowers, before leaving the group in 2005. In 2012, he joined the band Love Amongst Ruin, showcasing former members of Placebo and Julian Cope’s band. He later reunited with The Cure for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2019 and officially rejoined in 2022.

Bamonte performed on the complete ‘Shows Of A Lost World’ tour, that includes their last show at London’s Troxy in November 2024, which was immortalized in the concert movie The Show Of A Lost World. He did not, however, contribute to the last album ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, as recording had been finished before his return.

Planned 2026 Tour Dates

He had been set to perform with The Cure on a string of UK and European dates in 2026, that includes headline outdoor shows in Manchester, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Berlin, alongside festival appearances at Isle Of Wight Festival, Primavera Sound Barcelona, Rock Werchter, Open’er, Øya, and Rock En Seine.

FAQs:

Q1. Who was Perry Bamonte?
Perry Bamonte was a guitarist and keyboardist for the legendary rock band The Cure. He was also recognized for his contributions as a touring member and studio musician.

Q2. When did he die?
Bamonte died at the age of 65 over the Christmas holiday. His passing followed a brief illness.