The Cure guitarist Perry Bamonte dies at 65 after short illness

Perry Bamonte, a longtime guitarist and keyboardist for British rock band The Cure, has died at the age of 65 after a short illness, the band said. His death occurred at home over the Christmas period.

In a statement published on The Cure’s official website, the band described Bamonte as a central figure in its history, praising his musical range and personal warmth. “Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative,” the band wrote, adding that he would be “very greatly missed.”

Bamonte played with The Cure for more than a decade during some of its most commercially and creatively significant years, contributing to studio recordings and hundreds of live performances that helped define the band’s global reputation.

A key presence during The Cure’s evolving years

Born in London in 1960, Bamonte first joined The Cure’s extended circle in 1984 as a member of the road crew. His technical skills and musical sensibility later saw him move into the band itself in 1990, following the departure of keyboardist Roger O’Donnell.

Over the next 14 years, Bamonte became a versatile presence on stage and in the studio, playing guitar, keyboards and six-string bass. He appeared on five studio albums, including Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996) and Bloodflowers (2000), records that reflected the band’s shifting balance between introspection, experimentation and mainstream success.

The band said Bamonte performed at more than 400 concerts during that period, a reflection of The Cure’s demanding touring schedule through the 1990s and early 2000s, when it remained one of the most prominent alternative rock acts in the world.

Departure, continued work, and later reunions

Bamonte left The Cure in 2005 as the group restructured its lineup. Although no longer part of the band, he continued working in music, later joining British rock supergroup Love Amongst Ruin in 2012. He appeared on the group’s 2015 album Lose Your Way, maintaining an active creative profile outside The Cure’s orbit.

His relationship with The Cure was later renewed. In 2019, Bamonte reunited with the band when it was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. During the ceremony, he joined fellow members on stage to perform several of their best-known songs, including “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Just Like Heaven” and “A Forest.”

That appearance marked the first public collaboration with the band since his departure, and it was followed by a full return in 2022. Bamonte rejoined The Cure for extensive touring, playing approximately 90 shows over two years.

Final performances and recent album era

The Cure said Bamonte’s final run with the band included some of its strongest live performances in recent memory. Those shows culminated in The Show of a Lost World, a concert staged in London on November 1, 2024.

The performance coincided with the release of Songs of a Lost World, The Cure’s first studio album in 16 years. Bamonte’s last appearance with the band took place during that period, and the London concert was filmed for a theatrical release, The Cure: The Show of a Lost World, which premiered earlier this month.

The album and tour marked a significant moment for longtime fans, reconnecting the band’s modern output with musicians who had helped shape its earlier identity.

Tributes from the band

In its statement, The Cure expressed condolences to Bamonte’s family and reflected on his importance to the group’s legacy. “He was a warm-hearted and vital part of The Cure story,” the band said.

Bamonte is survived by his wife, Donna.

The Cure’s broader legacy

Formed in 1976 by school friends Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey and Lol Tolhurst, The Cure emerged from the UK post-punk scene before developing a sound that blended gothic atmospheres with pop sensibilities. The band has received four Grammy Award nominations over its career and remains one of the most influential acts in alternative music.

Bamonte’s contributions coincided with a period when The Cure expanded both its musical range and its global audience, leaving a lasting imprint on the band’s recorded work and live performances.