Perry Bamonte, Guitarist and Keyboardist for the Cure, Dead at 65
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Perry Bamonte, the guitarist and keyboardist whose understated musicianship helped shape some of the Cure’s most enduring late-era work, died on December 25, 2025, after a short illness. He was 65.
Born Perry Archangelo Bamonte in London on September 3, 1960, his path into one of alternative music’s most influential bands began behind the scenes. He entered the Cure’s orbit in the mid-’80s as a guitar technician and close collaborator within Robert Smith’s inner circle, earning a reputation for reliability, musical fluency, and a deep understanding of the band’s evolving sound.
In 1990, Bamonte stepped into the lineup as a full member, contributing guitar, keyboards, and additional textures at a pivotal moment in the band’s history. His playing became part of the fabric of albums that followed, including Wish, Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, and The Cure. While rarely in the spotlight, his role was essential, adding atmosphere, color, and stability as the band expanded its sonic range through the 1990s and early 2000s.
Onstage, Bamonte was a constant. He performed hundreds of shows during his initial run with the band, helping define the Cure’s live sound for more than a decade. After departing the lineup in 2005, he remained closely connected to the band’s legacy and was included in their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2019, a recognition of his lasting contribution.
Bamonte returned to the Cure in 2022, rejoining the group for the Shows of a Lost World tour. Over the next two years, he appeared on stages around the world, once again anchoring the band’s performances with a calm presence and precise musical touch. His final shows took place in 2024.
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