The Cure’s Perry Bamonte Dies at 65

Perry Bamonte, who played bass and keyboard for the Cure, has died after a brief illness. He was 65. The band issued a statement on their website, celebrating the life of Bamonte. “‘Looking after the band’ from 1984 through 1989, he became a full time member of the Cure in 1990, playing guitar, six string bass and keyboard on ‘The Wish,’ ‘Wild Mood Swings,’ ‘Bloodflowers,’ acoustic hits and the Cure albums, as well as performing more than 400 shows over 14 years,” they wrote. “He rejoined the Cure in 2022, playing another 90 shows, some of the best in the band’s history, culminating with ‘The Show of a Lost World’ concert in London 1st November 2024. Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”

Born in London, Bamonte first met the Cure through his younger brother Daryl, who was their tour manager. Bamonte became their roadie in 1984. While touring, he learned how to play keyboards from Robert Smith’s sister, Janet. When Roger O’Donnell left the band in 1990, Bamonte became a full member of the band. His first album with The Cure was 1991’s Wish, which features the quintessential “Friday I’m in Love.”

Bamonte left the band in 2005, after Smith reformatted the group as a trio. He performed with the Cure for their 2019 Rock Hall induction, which paid tribute to late drummer Andy Anderson. Bamonte officially rejoined the band in 2022, during the Shows of a Lost World tour.