The renowned British dark rock group Cure announced on Friday that guitarist and keyboardist Perry Bamonte had passed away at the age of 65.
According to a statement on the band’s website, Bamonte, who joined The Cure as a full member in 1990, “passed away after a short illness at home over Christmas.”
“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte,” it said.
“Quiet, intensive, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story.”
It added: “Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family, he will be very greatly missed.”
The Cure — whose 66-year-old frontman Robert Smith is famous for his innovative approach to music as well as on-stage stamina — has transformed itself throughout its prolific decades-spanning existence.
After joining The Cure’s road crew in 1984, Bamonte enjoyed two spells as a musical member, playing keyboard, guitar, and six-string bass. The Cure was founded in 1976.
The first one began in 1990 and lasted for 14 years; the second one began in 2022.
The Cure stated that he has contributed to the creation of multiple albums, such as “Wish” (1992), “Wild Mood Swings” (1996), “Bloodflowers” (2000), “Acoustic Hits” (2001), and “The Cure” (2004).
It further stated that during his initial 14 years with the band, he played in over 400 gigs, and after returning three years ago, he played in an additional 90.
Those later gigs were “some of the best in the band’s history”, the statement said.
Led by Smith’s plaintive, wailing voice and rich guitar textures, The Cure helped shape Goth rock with albums including 1982’s “Pornography”, which was full of suicidal imagery.
The band later had hits with much cheerier material, including “Friday I’m in Love”.
It had kept up touring but before last year’s release of “Songs of a Lost World” had not released a new studio album since 2008’s “4:13 Dream”.
The band’s former drummer, Lol Tolhurst, said in a tribute posted on Instagram that he was “so sad” to learn of Bamonte’s death, adding that he and his wife “send our condolences to all that knew him”.
“Farewell Teddy,” he added.
Bamonte was also the bass player in supergroup Love Amongst Ruin, which has released two studio albums.
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