Perry Bamonte, the acclaimed guitarist and keyboardist for the iconic British rock band The Cure, has passed away at the age of 65. The band announced his death with profound sadness on Friday, December 26, stating that he died peacefully at home over the Christmas break after a short illness. The Grammy-nominated group, in a heartfelt tribute to their friend and bandmate, affectionately known as 'Teddy,' described him as a 'quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative' individual who was a 'warm-hearted and vital part of The Cure story.'

Born on September 3, 1960, in London, Bamonte initially joined The Cure as a roadie in 1984 before becoming a full-time musician with the band in 1990. During his extensive tenure, he contributed significantly to some of The Cure's most celebrated works, playing guitar, six-string bass, and keyboard on several pivotal albums. These include 1992’s Grammy-nominated album Wish, which soared to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured the chart-topping Billboard Hot 100 hit “Friday I’m in Love.” His musical talents also graced 1996’s Wild Mood Swings (reaching No. 12), 2000’s Bloodflowers, 2001’s Acoustic Hits, and the band’s self-titled album in 2004.

Bamonte departed from the band in 2005 after 14 years and a remarkable record of over 400 shows performed together. His enduring legacy with The Cure was further cemented when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the band in 2019, with Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor delivering the induction speech. In a surprising and welcome return, Bamonte rejoined The Cure in 2022, embarking on another 90 shows, which the band hailed as some of the best in their history. His final performances culminated with 'The Show of a Lost World' concert in London on November 1, 2024.

The Cure, since its debut album Three Imaginary Boys in 1979, has been a profound musical influence on countless artists, including Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, My Chemical Romance, The Smashing Pumpkins, Phoebe Bridgers, and Oasis. In their announcement, the band extended their deepest thoughts and condolences to Bamonte’s family, emphasizing that he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him and his contributions to the band’s storied career.