The Scream: The Music, Myths and Misbehaviour of Primal Scream

by Kris Needs

'We just want to make beautiful music. Whatever it takes to do that we’ll do it, by any means necessary' – Bobby Gillespie, 1991 In 1991 a Scottish band called Primal Scream, who had been knocking around the music scene in London to little acclaim, released their third album. It was called Screamadelica. With its hazy fusion of punk, rock, dance and psychedelia it became an instant classic, a cutting edge monster that slayed anyone in its path, be they indie-kid or dance loony. Rock journalist, DJ and dedicated muso Kris Needs went to interview singer Bobby Gillespie at the offices of Creation records. It was a meeting of minds and before long Kris was aboard the Scream carousel, joining the band on tour and opening as DJ at their gigs. An insider with their notorious entourage, despite some riotous living Needs recounts the evolution of Screamadelica with remarkable clarity and the fervour of a true enthusiast, combining a wry take on the band’s recreational habits with detailed knowledge of their music. He credits the input from DJ/producers Andrew Weatherall and Alex Paterson of The Orb, who took tracks such as Higher than the Sun, already a beatific drugs anthem, “wrapped it in technicolour gossamer and booted it into the orbit, shimmering and reeling in a hallucinogenic mind-warp”. Others came along for the ride – Jah Wobble of Public Image Ltd, bass player Mani of the Stone Roses and fellow Scot Irvine Welsh. Primal Scream wrote and performed the title track for the hit film of his novel Trainspotting, thereby securing their place in alternative modern culture. Screamadelica is now considered a seminal work, appearing in countless lists of top albums ever made and one of only 21 chosen for BBC4’s series on the making of classic albums. Unlike so many other successful bands Primal Scream have remained together, despite the tragic death of original guitarist Throb. They have produced further hit albums and continue to tour, led by charismatic, articulate founding member Bobby Gillespie. Originally published in 2003, this edition has a 2019 foreword by Kris, now a legendary rock journo, and is the definitive biography of this iconic British band. ‘The surprisingly coherent tale of some of rock music’s most exciting underlying ideals – scattershot dissent, mind expansion through chemical excess – recurrently colliding with an intuitive need to experiment. Better still, as the songs pile up and their owners approach 40, the music becomes angrier, yet more out-there and often simply better’ - Q Magazine ‘The arrival of the Scream is like the breaking open of the heavens. At last there’s a rock band onstage, blasting through their greatest hits at 500 miles an hour’ - New Musical Express 'A rollicking tale driven by the author's unbridled enthusiasm for the group and their music' - Q magazine 'The High Priest of Scream, Needs, admits us to the Inner Temple of holy hedonism' - X-RAY Magazine 'A highly entertaining picture of the 24-hour party inside the silver Scream machine' - Mojo Magazine After running Mott The Hoople's fan club, veteran rock journalist Kris Needs wrote for NMEand Sounds, edited the seminal Zigzag, and was UK correspondent for Creem. He spent the 90s as a DJ and record producer before returning to writing.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2019

Reviews

[Jim Dunedin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a riot of a read, a riot of a story. It's a big mixed bag though. Primal Scream are an OK band, they have some of the right ingredients: charismatic lead singer with the cool factor (Bobby Gillespie, tick); musical tune-smith (Andrew Innes, tick). That is usually enough to kick start a career and make some noise and they sure did with a pretty good singles record, patchy album collection, and very good live act credentials. That's not enough for Kris Needs though he goes overboard with the greatest this, the greatest that, and only concedes Oasis are better. Where is the evidence, where is the research and analysis? Completely missing in action. Just try the all killer/no filler test on Primal Scream albums, the ratio is not that good compared to many of their contemporaries. Part of it is down to the obvious, Bobby is one hell of a front man and cool guy, but he himself is in no doubt of his limited vocal range, it's a weak just enough vocal that suits a few rockers and a few slower ones. That's it, good enough but so far from being voice of a generation. Then of course there is the drugs, no question Primal Scream were up front and honest about it and Needs is into that part and inserts himself hedonistic-ally into the stories of excess and abuse. Any reflection on the fact that it cut down the life early of guitarist Robert (Throb) Young? No. Any reflection that Bobby left the parties, went dark, cleaned up and came back better? No. Needs just shifts his association to those still boozing and drugging like there is no tomorrow. Any reflection on the songs and album's they could have done with a little less excess and bit more focus? No. He lets Mani run wild with statements about how great the Scream are, how much better it is being in the Scream than the Stone Roses, but says a big fat nothing when all that means nothing when the Stone Roses reform and Mani is gone? That's why this book is both good fun and so underdone. Needs was an insider, along for the ride, a good enough writer to narrate it well, but never took the time to detach himself and look beyond anything more that a hangover and when's the next party. The biggest failing is his ego, he was a DJ/writer/hanger on to the band and touring party, that's good we want to be up front and close. But he then fails to remove most of himself from the story, he has to make a big deal that Keef walks over to him first and not the Scream. Again and again he whines like a school boy separated from the cool kids when he gets dropped from the tour fun, even when it is for a far better DJ act (The Chemical Brothers). If only he had taken a lesson from his acknowledged hero, Stanly Booth who had a similar association with the Stones and reflected well on with his flights to close to the sun. So overall, a riot of fun, lots of great stories, and Primal Scream awaits a better book.

[Steven Vinnicombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical Musical Mayhem.

An interesting insightful inspirational read through the early days of this Glasgow band. to the 200’s Their ups and downs, their music , their numerous misadventures their drug taking their songs , their influences , the gigs .
A worthwhile read .