The Cure Mourns Perry Bamonte, 65, After Unexpected Christmas Day Death

The Cure has suffered an unexpected loss with the death of Perry Bamonte, remembered as a “warm hearted and vital” part of the band’s story after he died at home on Christmas Day.

Bamonte, who served as guitarist and keyboardist for the legendary British rock band, was 65. The Cure—now made up of founder Robert Smith along with longtime members Simon Gallup and Jason Cooper—confirmed the news in a statement posted on the band’s official website on Friday.

According to the statement, Bamonte passed away at home after a short illness on Thursday, December 25. “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,” the band wrote.

Smith, 66, and his bandmates also paid tribute to Bamonte’s character and influence, calling him “Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative,” and adding that “Teddy” was a “warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story.”

Although The Cure formed in Crawley, England, in 1976, Bamonte did not become connected to the band until the mid-1980s, officially joining as a full-time member in 1990. The statement noted that after “looking after the band from 1984 through 1989,” he became a core member in 1990, performing on multiple instruments—guitar, six-string bass, and keyboards—and contributing to albums including Wish, Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers, Acoustic Hits, and The Cure. Over the next 14 years, he played more than 400 shows with the band.

Bamonte later returned to The Cure in 2022, performing another 90 shows, which Smith, Gallup, and Cooper described as among the strongest of the band’s career. They said this run ultimately led to the Show of a Lost World concert in London on November 12, 2024.

The band ended its announcement with condolences for Bamonte’s family. “Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family,” they wrote, adding that he “will be very greatly missed.”

Representatives for Bamonte and The Cure were reportedly contacted for additional comment.

Born in London, England, on September 3, 1960, Bamonte first entered The Cure’s circle in 1984 through his younger brother Daryl, who was working as the band’s tour manager at the time. Bamonte initially worked as the band’s guitar technician before being elevated to full-time member status in 1990.

After leaving The Cure in 2005, Bamonte joined the British rock supergroup Love Amongst Ruin, alongside Steve Hewitt of Placebo and Donald Skinner of Julian Cope’s band. Despite his departure, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 as a member of The Cure, and later rejoined the band in 2022.

His final performance with The Cure was reportedly at the Troxy in London on November 1, 2024, and that appearance was captured in the newly released concert documentary, The Show of a Lost World. He was also said to be preparing to tour with the group for a schedule of shows across Europe in 2026.

Bamonte is survived by his wife, Donna.