Who are Primal Scream?
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009
by Russell Shortt
Exploring Ireland
Bobby Gillespie established the band Primal Scream with Jim Beattie in 1982, they recruited Robert ‘Throb' young on bass, rhythm guitarist Stuart May, drummer Tom McGurk and tambourine player Martin St. John. They were signed by Alan McGee's independent label Creation Records and recorded their debut single All Fall Down. Much to Gillespie's chagrin the band became associated with the burgeoning C86 scene after a b-side, Velocity Girl was released on the C86 compilation. Around this time Stuart May was dismissed replaced by Martin Innes. The band's first album Sonic Flower Groove was released in 1987, it halted at number 62 in the UK album charts and received poor reviews, heads rolled, only Gillespie, Innes and Young survived, re-locating to Brighton. They changed their musical direction, leaving behind their former jangly pop sound for a harder, more edgy rock and roll sound. They released the album Primal Scream but it fared poorly both commercially and critically. The band became influenced by the acid-house scene, a collaboration with DJ Andrew Weatherall, Loaded reached number 16 in the UK singles chart. The band entered the studio with Weatherall, Hugo Nicholson, Jimmy Miller and The Orb all producing and Martin Duffy on keyboards. The album, Screamadelica was released in 1989 to ecstatic reviews, it reached number eight in the British charts and number 31 in the US. Their subsequent album was dogged with problems as many of the band members had developed drug addictions. They moved to Alabama, working with former Black Crowes producer George Drakoulis and funk legend George Clinton. The result was the Stones-influenced Give out But Don't Give Up which received mixed reviews, some deriding the band for abandoning the dance influenced sound of Screamadelica. The band considered breaking up but they were re-vitalised by the arrival of Mani from the Stone Roses on bass, they recorded the album Vanishing Point (1997) in two months, produced by Andrew Weatherall and Brendan Lynch. It contained dance/dub rhythms and contained a much darker side than their previous work, the album was received well by the critics and was a commercial success. In 1998 they released the If They Move, Kill ‘Em EP which marked the beginning of a long collaboration with My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields. They released the albums XTRMNTR in 2000 and Evil Heat in 2002, both of which were very political and contained a harsh and angry sound. They returned to their rock and roll roots with the 2006 album Riot City Blues which peaked at number five in the UK Album charts. In 2008, they released their ninth studio album, Beautiful Future, it featured a number of special guest appearances including Lovefoxxx, Josh Homme and Linda Thompson.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net
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