Primal Scream
Formed: 1982
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Genre: Rock, Alternative Dance, Neo-Psychedelia
Years Active: 1982 -
Meaning of the Name: Refers to technique used in psychotheraphy. The patient unleashes a gutteral scream to express internalised trauma from childhood.
Core Members: Bobby Gillespie, Robert Young, Andrew Innes, Martin Duffy, Mani
Way of Working: Collaborative
Associated: The Jesus and Mary Chain
Essential Releases
Screamadelica (1991)
Masterpiece of alternative dance. Forged in the acid house revolution of Madchester.
XTRMNTR (2000)
The band's version of the era's dominant British dance music : Big Beat.
Drugs and music are a deadly combination that has produced some great records. But for every high, there's a devastating low, and in 2014 the years of excess finally caught up with Primal Scream's guitarist Robert Young when he died of a suspected overdose.
The other members escaped the worst, but it wasn't for a lack of trying; their dedication to chemical rushes can be clearly heard on records like Screamadelica (1991). Backing vocalist Denise Johnson said of her time with the group:
"Recording with Primal Scream was nothing like I’d experienced before. It was more like going for a night out and you might do a bit of singing in between!"
The jubilant drug taking was exacerbated by their success in the music industry. As a working-class lad from Glasgow, Bobby Gillespie (vocals) wanted nothing more than to start a band and make it big like The Rolling Stones did. His dreams came true but with them came a price.
For many, classic rock died with John Lennon in 1980. Led Zeppelin split the same year. Primal Scream were formed in 1982, dressed to the nines for a party that was already over. They inevitably chased trends, releasing their jangle-pop debut Sonic Flower Groove (1987) and its self-titled follow up without much fanfare. However, in their partnership with the independent Creation Records, they set the stage for the coming Britpop revolution, which featured Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher wearing similar rounded glasses to Lennon.
Creation founder Alan McGee and Bobby Gillespie were schoolmates, products of the same Glasgow streets. Both Oasis and Primal Scream signed to the label—one as a version of The Beatles, the other as The Rolling Stones—but before Oasis became a commercial juggernaut, Scream kept the operation afloat with the resounding success of Screamadelica (1991). The guitar music of classic rock would come back, but first it made a stop on the drug-fuelled dancefloors of Madchester.
Screamadelica was heavily influenced by the city's acid house scene, which blended rock and rave to great effect. The iconic album, which won the inaugural Mercury Prize, emulates the highs and lows of a drug experience, as can be seen on song titles such as 'Higher Than the Sun' and 'I'm Coming Down'.
The record was a genre-defying blend of dub, funk, house, psychedelia, and even gospel that heralded Primal Scream as the British band to watch. Though instead of working diligently on their future career path, they chased the dragon. Bobby Gillespie told The Guardian in 2019:
"By the end of 1992 we had to make a decision whether to be artists or drug addicts. I gave up drugs 11 years ago. (meaning in 2008)"
Although they made significant contributions to alternative dance, not only on Screamadelica but on XTRMNTR (2000) as well, in their heart of hearts Primal Scream are a rock band influenced by gospel and blues.
When the sound came roaring back in the mid-'90s, they released the hit single 'Rocks' (1994), a song so similar to The Rolling Stones hit 'Rock's Off' that it could easily be mistaken for a cover. Ultimately, they succeeded in getting away from the overcast skies and terraced houses of inner-city Glasgow, but their party lifestyle perhaps prevented them from being one of the biggest bands in the world.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
Mental Impact
Originality
Artistry
Authenticity
Live
Production
Musicianship
Singing
Songwriting
Danceability
Fun
Consistency
Range
Cool
Charisma
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- Mercury Prize WINNER! 1992 - Screamadelica
Certifications >>>
- Screamadelica - Platinum in the UK
- Give Out but Don't Give Up - Gold in the UK
- Vanishing Point - Gold in the UK & Japan
- XTRMNTR - Gold in the UK & Japan
- Riot City Blues - Gold in the UK
Charts >>>
- Screamadelica - Number 8 in the UK
- Give Out but Don't Give Up - Number 2 in the UK
- Vanishing Point - Number 2 in the UK
- XTRMNTR - Number 3 in the UK
- Evil Heat - Number 9 in the UK
- Riot City Blues - Number 5 in the UK
- Beautiful Future - Number 9 in the UK
Critics >>>
- Melody Maker - Screamadelica: Best Albums of 1991: 1st
- NME - Screamadelica: Best Albums of 1991: 3rd
- NME - Screamadelica: 100 Best Albums Ever: 23rd
- NME - Vanishing Point: Best Albums of 1997: 4th
- NME - XTRMNTR: Best Albums of 2000: 2nd
- Pitchfork - Screamadelica: Top 100 Albums of the '90s (2003): 77th
- Uncut - XTRMNTR: Best Albums of 2000: 2nd
