‘The Cure’ Guitarist Perry Bamonte Dead At 65

Longtime guitarist for The Cure, Perry Bamonte, died in his home at the age of 65 after a short illness.

The band announced his death Friday on their website, noting he died over the Christmas holidays. The band described Bamonte as “quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative.”

“‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story,” they said as they paid tribute to their friend and band mate.

HOLLYWOOD – APRIL 30: Members of the English rock band The Cure (from left): Roger O’Donnell, Jason Cooper, Robert Smith, Simon Gallup and Perry Bamonte pose during their induction into the Rock Walk at the Guitar Center on April 30, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

The Cure’s statement continued by listing Bamonte’s many accomplishments.

“‘Looking after the band’ from 1984 through 1989, he became a full time member of the cure in 1990. Playing guitar, six string bass and keyboard on ‘The Wish,’ ‘Wild Mood Swings,’ ‘Bloodflowers,’ acoustic hits and The Cure albums, as well as performing more than 400 shows over 14 years.”

Perry began his career with The Cure in 1984 as a roadie, according to TMZ. He was lead singer Robert Smith’s personal assistant and guitar technician before stepping up to replace keyboardist Roger O’Donnell in 1990. He lent his talents on the keyboard and guitar before the band let him go back in 2005, though he remained friendly with Smith.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 29: (L-R) Inductees Michael Dempsey, Pearl Thompson, Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony – Press Room at Barclays Center on March 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

The band noted that after Bamonte departed the group, “he rejoined 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 1st November 2024.”

Bamonte was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 along with his band mates. (RELATED: ‘Buck Rogers In The 25th Century’ Star Gil Gerard Dead At 82)

The band closed off their statement by writing, “Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”