Perry Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, dies at 65

NEW YORK — Perry Archangelo Bamonte, who spent decades as a guitarist and keyboardist with British rock group The Cure, died at his home over the Christmas period after a short illness, the band announced Friday. He was 65.

The statement, posted on the group’s official website, described Bamonte—known affectionately within the band as “Teddy”—as a quiet yet creative presence whose contributions were integral to The Cure’s history. No cause of death beyond the reference to a brief illness was given.

Early involvement before joining the lineup

Bamonte’s association with The Cure began behind the scenes. From 1984 to 1989, he served in multiple support roles, including roadie and guitar technician. That five-year period allowed him to develop a close working relationship with founder and frontman Robert Smith as well as with other personnel, laying the groundwork for his eventual integration into the core lineup.

His formal entry came in 1990 when keyboardist Roger O’Donnell departed. Bamonte stepped in, initially to cover keyboards, but quickly expanded his duties to guitar and six-string bass. The timing placed him in the band just after the mainstream breakthrough of 1989’s Disintegration, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed titles in the group’s catalog.

Studio work and touring milestones

Bamonte is featured on several Cure studio albums recorded during the 1990s and early 2000s. His first appearance was on 1992’s Wish, which produced the global hits “Friday I’m in Love” and “High.” Subsequent releases include 1996’s Wild Mood Swings, 2000’s Bloodflowers, and the eponymous The Cure in 2004.

By the time Smith dismissed him from the lineup in 2005, Bamonte had logged more than 400 performances across 14 years. Those concerts took place on major tours that helped cement The Cure’s reputation as a pioneering act within gothic and alternative rock.

Return to the stage and Hall of Fame honor

After more than a decade away from the group, Bamonte rejoined The Cure’s touring ensemble in 2022 for a run that added roughly 90 additional dates to his performance record. Three years earlier, in 2019, he stood alongside his bandmates to accept induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing the band’s enduring influence on contemporary music.

Final appearance and recent projects

Bamonte’s last concert with The Cure took place on Nov. 1, 2024, at a special one-off event in London. The show marked the official launch of Songs of a Lost World, the band’s first studio album in 16 years. Footage from the performance became the basis of The Cure: The Show of a Lost World, a feature-length film that opened in cinemas worldwide this month and is also available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Imagem: imagem internet 18

The Associated Press described the new album as lush, orchestral, and powerful, characterizing it as one of the strongest entries in the band’s extensive discography.

Impact and legacy

Bamonte’s multi-instrumental versatility allowed The Cure to broaden its sonic palette, particularly during live performances where he switched seamlessly among guitar, keyboards, and six-string bass. His tenure encompassed periods of both commercial success and stylistic experimentation, and his stage presence remained consistent through changing lineups.

Although he spent nearly two decades away from the studio with The Cure, Bamonte’s reemergence for the 2022 tour and his participation in the 2024 London showcase underscored the enduring professional bonds he maintained with Smith and other members. The band’s public message emphasized that bond, calling him a “vital part” of The Cure’s narrative.

Details regarding memorial plans or surviving family members were not provided in the announcement. The band requested privacy for Bamonte’s relatives and said further information would be shared when available.

Crédito da imagem: The Cure official website