The guitarist and keyboard player for The Cure, Perry Bamonte, has died.
The band said Bamonte died aged 65 “after a short illness at home”, in a statement on their website, which they said was posted with “enormous sadness”.
The statement said: “Quiet, intensive, 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 member of The Cure in 1990, playing guitar, six string bass and keyboard on the Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000), Acoustic Hits (2001), and The Cure (2004) albums, as well as performing more than 400 shows over 14 years.
The band said Bamonte died aged 65 “after a short illness at home”, in a statement on their website. Pic: Andy Vella
“He re-joined 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, (on) November 1, 2024.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family, he will be very greatly missed.”
Born in London in 1960, Bamonte had originally been part of the band’s roadcrew from 1984, alongside his younger brother Daryl, who worked as tour manager for The Cure.
He worked as an assistant to co-founder and lead vocalist Robert Smithwas and was then asked to join the band following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell.
Thereafter, he played on some of the band’s best-known tracks, including Friday I’m In Love, High and A Letter To Elise.
He also featured on The Cure’s 1983 live albums Paris and Show.
The Cure with Robert Smith (centre) and Perry Bamonte (right) at Hollywood’s Rockwalk in Los Angeles in 2004. Pic: AP
His ex-bandmate, drummer Lol Tolhurst, said in a personal tribute posted on Instagram: “So sad to hear about Perry Bamonte passing. Cindy (Tolhurst’s wife) and I send our condolences to all that knew him. Farewell Teddy.”
Bamonte was also the bass player in supergroup Love Amongst Ruin, alongside former Placebo drummer Steve Hewitt and Julian Cope collaborator Donald Ross Skinner.
He was known to have a keen interest in fly fishing and built a career as an illustrator, contributing to the magazine Fly Culture.
He also had a number of film acting roles, including in Judge Dredd, About Time and The Crow.
Formed in 1976 by lead singer Robert Smith and Tolhurst in Crawley, The Cure have seen regularly changes in line-up.
They are widely regarded as among the most influential 1980s bands in the indie/goth scene and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
