Perry Bamonte, guitarist for The Cure, dies at age 65

BarcelonaThe Cure guitarist Perry Bamonte has died at the age of 65, the band confirmed in a statement. Bamonte was a member of the British group from 1984 to 2005. He joined as an assistant to The Cure's singer and frontman, Robert Smith, and from 1990 onwards began performing as a guitarist, as well as playing bass and keyboards. During his time with the band, they released the albums Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000) and The Cure (2004). Together they also performed over 400 concerts worldwide.

In 2005, Bamonte left the group after Smith decided to transform it into a trio. The musician joined the band Love Amongst Ruin for a time in 2012. In 2019, he reunited with his Cure bandmates when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Three years later, the band resumed activity with Bamonte back on stage and performed nearly 90 more concerts. That tour, titled Shows of Lost WorldHis career ended in December 2023.

"He was a vital and warm part of The Cure's story," the band wrote, describing Bamonte as a "quiet, intense, intuitive, constant, and tremendously creative" musician. His death came "after battling a short illness over the Christmas holidays," the group explained. The Cure is one of the headliners of Primavera Sound 2026.