The Cure Guitarist and Keyboardist Perry Bamonte has Passed

Perry Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, has died aged 65 after a short illness. A key contributor to the band’s sound and legacy, Bamonte performed on multiple albums and tours spanning decades.

NEW YORK — Perry Archangelo Bamonte, the longtime guitarist and keyboardist for seminal British band The Cure, has died at the age of 65. The band confirmed the news on Friday via a statement posted to their official website, saying Bamonte passed away at home over Christmas following a short illness.

“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte,” the statement read. Describing him as “quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative,” the band added that Bamonte, affectionately known as “Teddy,” was “a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story.”

Perry Bamonte’s ‘The Cure’ story

Bamonte began working with The Cure in 1984 as part of their road crew, serving as a guitar technician and trusted collaborator. In 1990, he officially joined the band following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, becoming a full-time member during a period of major global success.

He went on to contribute guitar, keyboard, six-string bass and bass parts to several of the band’s most significant releases, including Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000) and the band’s 2004 self-titled album. His playing appears on enduring tracks such as “Friday I’m in Love,” “High” and “A Letter to Elise,” as well as the live albums Parisand Show.

Bamonte performed at more than 400 shows before being dismissed from the band in 2005 by frontman Robert Smith. He later returned to The Cure in 2022, touring extensively until 2024. His final performance with the group took place on Nov. 1, 2024, in London, during a special event celebrating the release of Songs of a Lost World, the band’s first studio album in 16 years.

In addition to his musical career, Bamonte was an illustrator and avid fly fisherman, contributing artwork to Fly Culture magazine. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Cure in 2019. Tributes have poured in from bandmates and fans, honoring a musician whose subtle creativity left a lasting mark on alternative music.