Daryl Bamonte
Biography by Alex Maiolo
Sure, people make Essex jokes, but where would the British music world be without its contributions? Daryl Bamonte came of age on a Basildon housing estate, walking the same streets as Alison Moyet, Andy Fletcher, Martin Gore and Vince Clarke. The latter three would go on to form Depeche Mode, a band that would have a profound impact on his life. After seeing T. Rex on Top Of The Pops, eight year old Bamonte aimed for a life around artists and that’s exactly what happened.
Things were changing dramatically in 1980. 16 year old Bamonte jumped into the fray, doing roadie work for the newly-formed Composition Of Sound, who would soon change their name to Depeche Mode. He would remain in their employ, full time, until 1995, assuming such roles as tour manager, project manager, and, perhaps unexpectedly, keyboard player. When Andy Fletcher departed the band for the final legs of the Devotional tour, Bamonte found himself sequestered in a hotel room with a pile of keyboards and a professor in the form of Alan Wilder. A week later, with the entire set sorted, he set off to play 39 shows with the band in North and South America.
Throughout the ‘80s, while Depeche Mode was off the road, Bamonte began touring with other bands, such as Soft Cell’s glorious, infamous, dangerous Spain 83 tour and the first half of The Cure’s The Top tour. A return to Depeche Mode left The Cure in need of a replacement. Daryl suggested his brother, Perry Bamonte, who had run in the same circles, with the same people, growing up. Not unlike his brother, Perry would eventually become a member of The Cure, where he would remain until the mid-noughties, before rejoining again in 2022. Daryl began working full time for The Cure for a decade, starting in 1995, eventually forming Bamonte Artist Management in 2005, to manage songwriters and producers.
Now into his fifth decade in the music industry, Daryl can reflect on such career highlights as being executive producer on The Cure album and Trilogy DVD, appearing in the Depeche Mode 101 film, and being project manager on their Songs Of Faith And Devotion album, and executive producer on albums from Lisa Gerrard, Jules Maxwell and Roger O’Donnell.
In 2014 Daryl became the managing director of Schubert Music Publishing UK, signing The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell and Jason Cooper, Polly Scattergood, Jules Maxwell of Dead Can Dance, and James Chapman, among others. He became active as a speaker at international music conferences and in 2020 he became head of the Schubert Music-owned record label Atlantic Curve, releasing albums from Lisa Gerrard, Jules Maxwell, I Like Trains, and Laura Carbone.
It takes a lot for a person to leave London, but the one-two punch of a pandemic and triple neck surgery inspired a move to the Kent coast, where Daryl launched Archangelo Music. The new venture includes Archangelo Songs, which is sub-published worldwide by BMG, and has already made a number of high profile signings. He has also started two record labels, Archangelo Recordings and Bamala Newtown, and continues to release music.
He is also an ambassador for the Europe in Synch organisation, a consultant for Schubert Music Europe, is the keyboard player in Norwegian post-punk band Permafrost and a member of experimental electronic band Hence.
Daryl Bamonte worked for Depeche Mode in multiple roles between 1980 and 1995, including touring keyboardist in 1994. He worked with The Cure from 1995 until 2005, which included Executive Producer on ‘The Cure’ album and the ‘Trilogy’ DVD, and formed Bamonte Artist Management during this time. In 2014 he became the Managing Director of Schubert Music UK and the head of the Atlantic Curve label. He became active as a speaker at international music conferences and formed his new company, Archangelo Music, in 2022. This includes two labels, Archangelo Recordings and Bamala Newtown, as well as Archangelo Songs, which is sub-published worldwide by BMG. Additionally, Daryl is an Ambassador for the Europe in Synch organisation, a consultant for Schubert Music Europe and a co-founder of Connected Rights, a neighbouring rights management company. He is also the keyboard player in Norwegian post-punk band Permafrost and a member of experimental electronic band Hence.
https://archangelomusic.com/biography