The Cure guitarist-keyboardist Perry Bamonte is dead at age 65.
The band announced his passing Friday morning, saying that it happened "after a short illness at home over Christmas."
Bamonte started working for The Cure in 1984 and eventually became frontman Robert Smith's guitar tech. When keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left in 1990 Bamote became a full-time member. He played on seven of the band's studio albums from 1992's Wish to 2004's self-titled album.
He was fired by Robert Smith in 2005 but the two remained friends. Bamonte was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 alongside nine other current or former members of The Cure.
Bamonte rejoined the band in 2022 for their Lost World tour but didn't play on the Songs of a Lost World album. His last show with the band was in London on November 1st, 2024, which was just released as the film Show of a Lost World.
The band wrote in their website that Bamonte was "Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative. 'Teddy' was a warm-hearted and vital part of The Cure story...Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed."