Perry Archangelo Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for influential goth rock band The Cure, has died at 65 after a short illness at home over Christmas, the band confirmed.

  • Age: 65
  • Role: Guitarist, six-string bassist and keyboardist for The Cure
  • Tenure: Worked with the band from 1984; full member 1990–2005; rejoined for tours in recent years
  • Last show: Nov. 1, 2024, London — launch event for Songs of a Lost World
  • Accolades: Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Cure in 2019
  • Performed: More than 400 shows across his initial 14-year run; toured again in 2022

The Cure posted the announcement on their official site: “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 described him as “quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative,” and said he “will be very greatly missed.”

The Legacy

Bamonte joined The Cure’s inner circle after their breakthrough era around 1989’s Disintegration and became a full member in 1990. He appears on several of the band’s key albums, including:

  • Wish (1992) — features career-defining hits “Friday I’m in Love” and “High”
  • Bloodflowers (2000) — a late-period critical favorite
  • Disintegration era contributions — part of the band’s rise into mainstream and alternative-rock history

He played guitar, six-string bass and keyboards on studio records and more than 400 live shows during his first stint. After being dismissed by Robert Smith in 2005, Bamonte returned to tour with The Cure in 2022 and performed as recently as November 1, 2024, for the album-launch concert filmed for The Cure: The Show of a Lost World.

Social Proof: Reactions and Tributes

Reaction was swift from fans, fellow musicians and the music press. The Cure’s official statement framed Bamonte as a “warm hearted and vital part” of the band’s story. Fans flooded social feeds with memories of his stage presence, musicianship and steady presence behind the group for decades.

Music critics have also highlighted his role in the band’s orchestral, late-career sound — the Associated Press described the new album Songs of a Lost World as “lush and deeply orchestral, swelling and powerful.” Colleagues recalled his creativity and quiet intensity; social posts emphasized the shock of a death that occurred “over Christmas” after what the band called a short illness.

In 2019 Bamonte and the other members of The Cure were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, cementing his place in rock history. His work across studio albums and hundreds of live performances left a measurable imprint on alternative and goth rock, and his contributions will be revisited as tributes and the newly released concert film continue to circulate.

A representative for The Cure did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment.

Image Referance: https://www.mor-tv.com/article/perry-bamonte-the-cure-dies-at-65/69869284