Perry Bamonte

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.

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. 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.

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).

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