Perry Bamonte

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Lore & Background

Perry Bamonte's path to the Cure began with family: his younger brother Daryl worked as a tour manager for the Cure and Depeche Mode. Through this connection, Perry joined the Cure's road crew in 1984, becoming guitar technician and personal assistant to Robert Smith. Already a guitarist, he learned piano and keyboards from Smith's sister Janet. When keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left in 1990, Bamonte was promoted to full member, playing both keyboards and guitar regularly, plus occasional six-string bass and percussion. His first album with the Cure was Wish in 1992. Over time, as guitarist Porl Thompson departed and O'Donnell returned, Bamonte's duties shifted to a stronger focus on guitar. He remained with the band through three more albums until 2005, when he and O'Donnell were dismissed by Smith, who wanted to reinvent the band as a three-piece. Despite the abrupt dismissal, Bamonte and Smith remained on amicable terms.

In Their Own Story

The stage lights cut through the haze, catching the chrome slide on Perry's finger as he leaned into his amplifier. The feedback screamed—a high, wounded wail that dissolved into the mournful slide of his guitar string. He wasn't just playing notes; he was carving a cathedral of sound out of the dark air, letting each note ring and decay like a ghost in the rafters. As the rhythm section locked into a slow, pulsing groove, his fingers danced over the fretboard, adding layers of shimmering distortion that turned a simple chord progression into something vast and trembling. In that moment, the darkness wasn't empty—it was alive, breathing with his music, and the audience felt it in their bones.

Reader's Guide

Perry Bamonte first joined the Cure's road crew in 1984, working as a guitar technician and personal assistant to Robert Smith. He learned piano and keyboards from Smith's sister Janet, which prepared him for his promotion to full member in 1990 when keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left. His first album with the Cure was Wish in 1992. He remained with the band for their next three albums: Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000), and The Cure (2004). Due to the departure of guitarist Porl Thompson and the return of Roger O'Donnell, Bamonte's duties shifted to a stronger focus on guitar and less on keyboards. In 2005, Bamonte and O'Donnell were dismissed by Smith, who reportedly wanted to reinvent the band as a three-piece. Despite the abrupt dismissal and lack of an official statement describing the reason, Bamonte and Smith remained on amicable terms. Bamonte kept a low profile for several years, devoting time to fly fishing and a career as an illustrator, regularly contributing to Fly Culture magazine. He lived in Devon with his wife Donna, who rehabilitated and retrained racehorses; they also ran a retirement home for elderly horses. In 2012 he joined the supergroup Love Amongst Ruin as bassist and appeared on their 2015 album Lose Your Way. In 2019, Bamonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cure. In a move that had not been previously announced, Bamonte rejoined the Cure in 2022 for their extensive Shows of a Lost World tour, performing in around 400 shows during his stint with the band. Bamonte died after a short illness at home in the southwest of England on 24 December 2025 at the age of 65.

Did You Know?

• Perry Bamonte was known as 'Teddy' during his childhood.
• He learned to play piano and keyboards from Robert Smith's sister Janet.
• Bamonte was dismissed from the Cure in 2005 along with Roger O'Donnell, but remained on amicable terms with Smith.
• He ran a retirement home for elderly horses with his wife Donna in Devon.
• Bamonte performed in around 400 shows during his stints with the Cure.

From Road Crew to Core Member

Born in London on 3 September 1960 and known as Teddy, Perry Bamonte spent his early childhood in Basildon and grew up on the coast of Essex. His younger brother Daryl worked as a tour manager for the Cure and Depeche Mode, and via this connection Perry joined the Cure's road crew in 1984. He eventually became the guitar technician and personal assistant for group leader Robert Smith. Already a guitarist, during this period Bamonte was taught to play piano and keyboards by Smith's sister Janet. When keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left the Cure in 1990, Bamonte was promoted to a full member of the band, playing both keyboards and guitar regularly, as well as six-string bass and percussion occasionally. His first album with the Cure was Wish in 1992.

A Dynamic Musical Evolution

Bamonte remained with the Cure for their next three albums after Wish. Due to the departure of guitarist Porl Thompson and the return of Roger O'Donnell during this period, Bamonte's duties for the band shifted to a stronger focus on guitar and less on keyboards. In 2005, Bamonte and O'Donnell were dismissed by Smith, who reportedly wanted to reinvent the band as a three-piece. Despite the abrupt dismissal and the lack of an official statement describing the reason, Bamonte and Smith remained on amicable terms. Bamonte's discography with the Cure includes Wish (1992), Paris (live, 1993), Show (live, 1993), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Galore (compilation, 1997), Bloodflowers (2000), The Cure (2004), and Songs of a Live World: Troxy London MMXXIV (live, 2024).

Life Beyond the Spotlight

After his dismissal from the Cure in 2005, Bamonte kept a low profile for several years, devoting his time to fly fishing and a career as an illustrator. He regularly contributed content and illustrations for the magazine Fly Culture. He lived in Devon with his wife Donna, who rehabilitated and retrained racehorses. They also ran a retirement home for elderly horses. In 2012 he joined the supergroup Love Amongst Ruin as bassist and appeared on their 2015 album Lose Your Way. In 2019, Bamonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cure.

Legacy and Final Chapter

In a move that had not been previously announced, Bamonte rejoined the Cure in 2022 for their extensive Shows of a Lost World tour. He performed in around 400 shows during his stint with the Cure. Bamonte died after a short illness at home in the southwest of England on 24 December 2025 at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife Donna.

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