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The Cure achieved a major milestone at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The English rock band won its first-ever Grammy awards at the 2026 ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1. The Cure received a Grammy for both of the categories they were nominated for: Best Alternative Music Album for Songs of a Lost World and Best Alternative Music Performance for “Alone.”
However, the goth-rock legends were absent from the ceremony due to their attendance at the private funeral for their bandmate Perry Bamonte, who died in December.
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Singer-songwriter Jesse Welles, who presented the award for Best Alternative Music Performance at the ceremony, accepted the award on the band’s behalf and read a pre-written speech from the band’s frontman Robert Smith, which was posted to the band’s Instagram page on Monday, Feb. 2.
“Simon, Jason, Roger, Reeves and I would like to thank the Grammys for this wonderful award. We are very honored to receive it,” Smith wrote.
After thanking “everyone who helped in the creation” of their 2025 album, Smith shared his gratitude for their fans. “Most importantly, all The Cure fans around this world who came to our Lost World shows and enjoyed our Lost World music,” he continued. “Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you.”
The Cure beat out Bon Iver, Tyler, the Creator, Wet Leg and Hayley Williams for Best Alternative Music Album and Bon Iver, Turnstile, Wet Leg and Williams in the Best Alternative Music Performance category.
Bamonte, The Cure’s guitarist and keyboardist, died in December 2025 at the age of 65. The band announced the news of his death on their official website on Friday, Dec. 26. In their statement, they confirmed Bamonte died “after a short illness” at his home.
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“QUIET, INTENSE, INTUITIVE, CONSTANT AND HUGELY CREATIVE, ‘TEDDY’ WAS A WARM HEARTED AND VITAL PART OF THE CURE STORY,” the band wrote.
They concluded their tribute saying, “OUR THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES ARE WITH ALL HIS FAMILY. HE WILL BE VERY GREATLY MISSED.”
Bamonte was part of The Cure from 1984 through 1989 and became a full-time member in 1990 after keyboardist Roger O’Donnell left the band. After his 2005 dismissal from the band, Bamonte rejoined in 2022 and played “another 90 shows, some of the best in the band’s history.”
His last performance with The Cure was on Nov. 1, 2024, in London for their Show of a Lost World tour.
