The Cure took home their first Grammy on Sunday, but weren’t able to accept the award in person.
Instead, the iconic rockers, including Simon Gallup, Roger O’Donnell, Jason Cooper, Reeves Gabrels, and Robert Smith, missed the ceremony because they were at the funeral for their bandmate Perry Bamonte.
The English musician died in December at age 65 following a “short illness.”
The Cure won for Best Alternative Music Album for “Songs of a Lost World” and Best Alternative Music Performance for “Alone.”
Despite not attending the star-studded event, the band’s frontman, Smith, 66, shared their acceptance speech via Instagram on Monday.
“Simon, Jason, Roger, Reeves and I would like to thank the Grammy’s for this wonderful award, we are very honoured to receive it,” the statement began.
“We would also like to thank everyone who helped in the creation of our ‘Songs of a Lost World’ album; particularly co-producer Paul Corkett; everyone in the Universal Music Group who worked so hard to get our lost world found; everyone in our mostly indefatigable Cure crew, including all those at Primary and CAA; and, most importantly, all the Cure fans around this world who came to our ‘Lost World’ shows and enjoyed our ‘Lost World’ music. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you.”
Many fans quickly flocked to the comments section to respond.
“Well deserved! Congratulations!!!,” one follower wrote, while a second chimed in: “About time, Grammys.”
Rounding out the sweet messages, a social media user added, “We, the fans, thank you for this masterpiece. Most deserved💜🙏,” and “There should be a retroactive Grammy for all the other Cure albums they missed. But YES, this is fantastic news. CONGRATS! It feels like 100 years,” said another.
Bon Iver, Tyler, the Creator, Wet Leg and Hayley Williams were also up for Best Alternative Music Album.
The Cure beat out Bon Iver, Turnstile, Wet Leg and Williams for Best Alternative Music Performance.
The rockers were previously nominated for Best Alternative Music Album, once in 1993 for “Wish,” and again in 2001 for “Bloodflowers.”
In December, the group announced the passing of Bamonte, who died at his home, on their official website.
“It is with enormous sadness that we confirm the death of our great friend and bandmate Perry Bamonte who passed away after a short illness at home over Christmas,” they wrote of the late guitarist and keyboardist.
“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story,” the statement added.
The group first formed in Crawley, England, in 1976, but Bamonte didn’t join in until the mid-’80s. He officially became part of the band in 1990.
“Looking after the band from 1984 through 1989, he became a full-time member of the Cure in 1990, playing guitar, six-string bass and keyboard on the ‘Wish,’ ‘Wild Mood Swings,’ ‘Bloodflowers,’ ‘Acoustic Hits’ and ‘The Cure’ albums, as well as performing more than 400 shows over 14 years,” Smith, Gallup and Cooper recalled.
“He rejoined the Cure in 2022, playing another 90 shows, some of the best in the band’s history, culminating with the Show of a Lost World concert in London 12 November 2024,” they added.
The “Friday I’m in Love” musicians concluded their message with a note to Bamonte’s loved ones.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”
