Perry Bamonte, Longtime Guitarist and Multi-Instrumentalist for the Cure, Dies at 65
Perry Bamonte, the guitarist, keyboardist, and longtime creative contributor to The Cure, has died at the age of 65. The band confirmed his death on Friday, Dec. 26, noting that Bamonte passed away at home after a short illness over the Christmas holiday. No further details were disclosed.
In a statement, the Cure described Bamonte as “quiet, intense, intuitive, constant, and hugely creative,” calling him “a warm-hearted and vital part of the Cure story.” Known affectionately within the band’s orbit as “Teddy,” Bamonte played a significant role during some of the most visible and sonically ambitious periods of the group’s long career.
Born Perry Archangelo Bamonte on Sept. 3, 1960, in London, he grew up in nearby Basildon. His early musical path was not straightforward; Bamonte later recalled feeling discouraged from playing guitar during his school years. Still, he took up the instrument seriously at 17, developing a style rooted in texture and atmosphere rather than flash. His eventual connection to the Cure came through his brother Daryl, who worked as a roadie for Depeche Mode and helped Bamonte secure a job as the Cure’s roadie in 1984.
Throughout the 1980s, Bamonte worked behind the scenes as a guitar technician and assistant tour manager, gradually earning the trust of frontman Robert Smith. In 1990, following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, Bamonte officially joined the band. Despite having only recently begun playing keyboards, he stepped into the role with characteristic dedication, even studying with Smith’s sister, Janet, to quickly refine his skills.
Bamonte’s first studio album with the Cure was Wish (1992), one of the band’s most commercially successful releases. He contributed guitar, keyboards, and six-string bass, notably playing on the singles “Friday I’m in Love” and “A Letter to Elise.” He remained a central figure throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, performing on Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000), and The Cure (2004). Beyond music, he also contributed to the band’s visual identity, working on art direction and photography for several releases.
When Pearl Thompson exited the band in 1994, Bamonte assumed the role of lead guitarist, a position that allowed him to focus more fully on his preferred instrument. He and O’Donnell both left the Cure in 2005, as Robert Smith briefly explored a leaner lineup. Reflecting on his departure, Bamonte later described a mix of sadness and relief, acknowledging that the decision was ultimately out of his control.
After stepping away from the Cure, Bamonte took a hiatus from music and became the artistic director of Fly Culture, a publication centered on fly fishing, a longtime passion. He later returned to recording and performing with the project Love Amongst Ruin, featuring former members of Placebo and Lamb, contributing to their 2015 album Lose Your Way.
In 2019, Bamonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside past and present members of the Cure. He rejoined the band as a touring member in 2022 for the Shows of a Lost World tour, performing approximately 90 additional concerts before his final appearance in London on Nov. 1, 2024.
Altogether, Bamonte played more than 400 shows with the Cure across multiple eras. Looking back on his career, he once described Wish as his favorite album he worked on, recalling a time when “it felt like the world was ours for the taking.” His contributions remain woven into the fabric of the Cure’s enduring legacy.
