LOS ANGELES (LVN) — Perry Archangelo Bamonte, a longtime guitarist and keyboardist for the influential British band The Cure, whose textured playing helped define the group’s sound for more than three decades, has died. He was 65.
The band confirmed Bamonte’s death in a statement, saying he died after a short illness. No additional details were released.
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Bamonte was born Sept. 3, 1960, in London. He became part of The Cure’s inner circle in the mid-1980s, initially working behind the scenes as a guitar technician and assistant during the band’s rise as one of the most influential acts in post-punk and gothic rock. His close working relationship with frontman Robert Smith eventually led to his promotion as a full-time band member in 1990.
As a member of The Cure, Bamonte played guitar, keyboards and six-string bass, contributing to a period widely regarded as one of the band’s most ambitious and commercially successful eras. He appeared on several major albums, including Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000) and The Cure (2004).
Known for his understated stage presence, Bamonte played a central role in translating the band’s dense, atmospheric studio recordings into expansive live performances. His layered guitar parts and ambient keyboard textures became a defining element of The Cure’s concerts throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Bamonte toured extensively with the band from 1990 to 2005, performing hundreds of shows worldwide. After leaving the group in the mid-2000s, he remained closely associated with The Cure’s legacy and later rejoined the band for touring in 2022, appearing in dozens of shows through 2024.
In 2019, Bamonte was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cure, recognizing his contributions to a band whose influence spans generations and genres.
In its statement, the band described Bamonte as a creative and intuitive musician whose presence was integral to The Cure’s story. Fans and fellow musicians alike remembered him as a quiet but essential force behind the band’s enduring sound.
Bamonte is survived by family members. Funeral arrangements were not announced.
