The music world mourns the loss of Perry Bamonte, the talented guitarist from The Cure, who passed away at the age of 65. The somber news was shared on Boxing Day, revealing that he died over the Christmas period following a brief illness.

In a heartfelt statement on their official website, The Cure expressed their deep sorrow at the passing of their cherished friend and bandmate. They reflected on his invaluable contribution to the band, saying, “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.”

Perry, affectionately known as “Teddy,” was described as a quiet yet intense presence, with an intuitive and creative spirit that greatly influenced the band’s journey. He initially began working with The Cure in 1984, managing various aspects of the band’s operations until 1989. By 1990, he had become a full-time member, showcasing his versatility by playing guitar, six-string bass, and keyboard on several of the band’s notable albums, including “Wish,” “Wild Mood Swings,” “Bloodflowers,” “Acoustic Hits,” and “The Cure.” Over 14 years, he performed in more than 400 concerts.

Bamonte made a triumphant return to The Cure in 2022, gracing the stage for another 90 shows. These performances were hailed as some of the finest in the band’s history, culminating in a memorable concert in London on November 1, 2024.

The Cure extended their deepest sympathies to Perry’s family, acknowledging the profound impact of his loss. “He will be very greatly missed,” the band concluded, honoring the legacy of a beloved musician whose influence will resonate for years to come.

‘Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.’

The Cure guitarist Perry Bamonte has died aged 65

Pictured left to right in Australia, in 1992: Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Robert Smit

Perry became a fulltime member of the band after Roger O’Donnell left and was due to perform on The Cure’s UK and European tour in 2026.

Shows are scheduled for cities such as Cardiff, Dublin, Berlin, Edinburgh and Manchester.

The band’s current line-up comprises of Robert Smith, 65, Simon Gallup, 64, Roger O’Donnell, 69, Jason Cooper, 57, and Reeves Gabrels, 68.

Initially formed in 1978, The Cure has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has headlined Glastonbury Festival four times.

They were also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and are considered to be one of the most influential bands to ever come out of the UK.

Last year, The Cure celebrated a huge win as they scored their first number one album in 32 years. 

16 years in the making, Songs Of A Lost World outsold the rest of the top five combined to reach the summit and earned the group a 23rd Top 40 album overall.

Upon hearing the exciting news, The Cure’s frontman Robert told the Official Charts that he is grateful to everyone who has bought the album and supported them over the years. 

Inductees Michael Dempsey, Pearl Thompson, Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure attend the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

He said: ‘It is enormously uplifting, genuinely heartwarming to experience such a wonderful reaction to the release of the new Cure album.’

‘To everyone who has bought it, listened to it, loved it, believed in us over the years – THANK YOU!’

Songs Of A Lost World also tops the Official Vinyl Albums Chart, the week’s biggest seller on wax, and the Official Record Store Chart, proving the most popular LP in independent UK record shops.  

The cover art for their latest album features Bagatelle, a 1975 sculpture by Janez Pirnat, while Cure’s longtime collaborator Andy Vella handled the artwork and design.

The tracks were recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, and as well as a single LP and CD, the new album will also be available as a Miles Showell Abbey Road half-speed master 2LP.

More to follow…