The Cure’s Perry Bamonte dies aged 65: “He was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story”

The Cure’s Perry Bamonte performing onstage in 2000.

Perry Bamonte, the guitarist and keyboard player with The Cure, has died aged 65.

The band announced the news in a statement on their website.

They wrote: “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 12th November 2024.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family.

“He will be very greatly missed.”

Born Perry Archangelo Bamonte in London on 3 September 1960, he entered The Cure’s orbit in 1984 via his younger brother, who worked as the band’s tour manager.

Bamonte initially worked as a guitar tech before being promoted to full-time member in 1990.

After leaving the group in 2005, he joined Love Amongst Ruin alongside ex-members of Placebo and Julian Cope’s band.

He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of The Cure in 2019, and rejoined the band in 2022.

Perry Bamonte (centre) with The Cure at the 2019 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony (Image credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)