Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy is dead

Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy has died aged 55 following a fall.

Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy has died aged 55. In a statement, his family confirmed that he suffered a brain injury after a fall and died of his injuries. ” He was loved by his mother, brothers, extended family and close friends. Everyone who knew Martin loved him “.

On Twitter, his companion Simone Butler, bassist of Primal Scream, wrote: ” No words x I miss you already Duff. It’s the saddest day and I’m in tears writing this. I love you so »

In a statement to Rolling Stone UKshe added: He was one of the best. Truly a genuine and beautiful soul in this world. He was so funny, kind, caring and naturally talented, it was a joy and an inspiration to play with him and an honor to be his friend. I’m heartbroken and I know it’s the same for everyone who knew and loved him…I feel lucky to have known him and worked with him. »

In a long tribute shared on Instagram, the frontman of PrimalScream, Bobby Gillespie, said: ” Hard to write this. You never know how to talk about death other than in polite platitudes. All I want to say is that our soul brother Martin Duffy passed away on Sunday. He suffered a brain injury following a fall at his home in Brighton. We Primal Scream are all very sad. I’ve known Martin since he was a teenager in Felt. He played keyboards on all our albums, from the first to the last. He finally joined the band in 1991. Martin was a very special character. He had a love and understanding of music on a deep spiritual level. Music was everything to him. He loved literature and was very cultured and learned. An autodidact. A deep thinker, curious about the world and other cultures. Always visiting museums in every city we played or looking for Neolithic stones in remote places. […] He played the piano at such a level that he was adored not only by his peers in British music, but also by old-school American masters like James Luther Dickinson, Roger Hawkins, David Hood and producer Tom Dowd. I attended a session at Abbey Road in 1997 for a Dr John album, where his record company had brought together a group of young independent British musicians. Mac Rebenac (Dr. John) seemed bored and uninterested in the session until Martin started playing. There, the session finally came to life.

Martin was the most musically gifted of all of us. His style combined elements of country, blues and soul, for which he had an innate sense. He never played the same thing twice, ever. He only thought right now, it was better to have pressed the record button when Duffy was on fire. His timing was unique, funky. George Clinton also loved Martin. I remember a session in Chicago where George said to him “go to Duffy’s church!”. And he did. Martin was also endowed with a unique spirit. He had an eye for the absurd, the surreal and the ridiculous. He lived to laugh and play music. He was loved by all members of the Scream. A beautiful soul. We will miss him. »

Duffy, who was born in Birmingham, first broke through when he joined indie band Felt aged 16 before they signed to Creation Records. He then became Primal Scream’s lead keyboardist after Felt broke up in 1989 and remained with the band for over 30 years, his signature touch being heard on classic albums such as the unmissable Screamadelica from 1991.

His latest contribution is on their latest album chaos in 2016, while more recently he joined frontman Bobby Gillespie on a number of solo projects, including his album Utopian Ashes of 2020 with singer Jehnny Beth of Savages.

Tim Burgess of The Charlatans (formerly Duffy’s bandmate) wrote: ” Another tragic loss of a beautiful soul “. In his tribute, he recalled how Duffy had offered to play keyboards for the Charlatans when they opened for Oasis at Knebworth in 1996, just weeks after keyboardist Rob Collins died in a car crash. car : ” Martin Duffy stepped in to save The Charlatans when we lost Rob. He played with us at Knebworth and was a real friend. He also toured with me in my solo band. It was a pleasure spending time with him. Have a nice trip Duffy “.

Duffy has also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Paul Weller, The Chemical Brothers, Beth Orton, Steve Mason and most recently Jessie Buckley, on the film’s soundtrack. wild rose of 2018.

Nick Reilly

Translated by the editor

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Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy is dead