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Longtime The Cure guitarist, Perry Bamonte, has passed away at the age of 65. The band announced his death on their official website, revealing that he died at home after a short illness over Christmas.
In a note to fans, the band shared, "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. Quite, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, 'Teddy' was a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story." They also talked about all that he has contributed to the band after officially joining in 1990, including is part in making albums, "performing more than 400 shows over 14 years and more," before concluding with, "Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed."
Bamonte's journey with The Cure actually began in 1984 when he started as a roadie and personal assistant to the band's frontman, Robert Smith. In 1990, he became a permanent member of the band, stepping in as a guitarist and keyboardist after Roger O'Donnell's departure. Bamonte contributed to several of The Cure's albums, including Wish, Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, and The Cure.
Despite his departure from the band in 2005, Bamonte maintained a good relationship with Smith and rejoined The Cure for their 2022 world tour. His contributions to the band were recognized when The Cure was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
The music world mourns the loss of Bamonte, whose creativity and dedication left a lasting impact on The Cure's legacy.