The Cure’s Perry Bamonte (1960-2025)

The Cure has just announced that guitarist and keyboardist Perry Bamonte died over Christmas after a short illness. From the band’s announcement: “Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story.” He was 65 years old.

Bamonte became a member of The Cure’s road crew in 1984 and worked as Robert Smith’s guitar technician and personal assistant. After keyboardist Roger O’Donnell left the band in 1990, Bamonte became a full-fledged member of The Cure, playing guitar, six-string bass, and keyboards on Wish, Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, and The Cure. After Smith dismissed Bamonte from the band in 2005, he opted to focus on his love for fly fishing and illustration, though he joined the group Love Amongst Ruin and performed on their 2015 album, Lose Your Way.

Bamonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the rest of The Cure in 2019, and in 2022, he rejoined The Cure as a touring member. Although he didn’t contribute to 2024’s Songs of a Lost World, which had been recorded prior to his rejoining, Bamonte performed on the long-running “Shows of a Lost World” tour and appeared in the Show of a Lost World concert film, which was released earlier this month.

Never the showiest Cure member, Bamonte seemed content to remain in the background, adding texture and depth to the band’s songs with his playing, as can be seen in the opening minutes of 1993’s Show concert film. Also, on a purely aesthetic note, his left-handed guitar stance added a cool visual balance to the band, as he often played on the other side of the stage from O’Donnell or guitarist Pearl Thompson.

In addition to The Cure’s website, tributes to Bamonte have come in from Lol Tolhurst, Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), and Wayne Hussey (The Mission), as well as numerous fans from around the world.