Perry Bamonte — the longtime guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure — has died, the band announced Friday. He was 65. In a statement shared on their official website, the group revealed that Bamonte passed away at his home over Christmas following a short illness, according to TMZ. The tribute remembered him as “quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative,” noting that he played an essential role in the band’s story and legacy.

Perry Bamonte was an English musician best known for his longtime role as a guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the past four decades. Born in London on September 3, 1960, Bamonte first joined The Cure’s crew as a guitar technician in the late 1980s before stepping into the lineup in 1990. He became a full band member during the recording of Wish, contributing guitar, keyboards, and bass across the album — including the iconic track “Friday I’m in Love.”

Throughout the 1990s, Bamonte played a key creative role during one of The Cure’s most celebrated eras, appearing on albums such as Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), and Bloodflowers (2000). He also performed on numerous world tours, helping shape the band’s atmospheric live sound with his layered guitar textures and emotive playing style.

After departing the group in 2005, Bamonte continued working as a musician and composer, collaborating on independent projects and remaining active within the alternative and gothic rock music community. He later returned to The Cure’s orbit in recent years, performing with the band again during live appearances and reconnecting with longtime fans.

Known by bandmates and collaborators as quiet, thoughtful, and deeply intuitive, Bamonte was celebrated not only for his musicianship but for his creative presence and loyalty to the band’s artistic vision. His work left a lasting imprint on The Cure’s sound and on generations of fans drawn to the band’s emotional depth and signature style.