Ex-Primal Scream Guitarist Passes Away

Primal Scream

A former guitarist for venerated Scottish alt-rock outfit Primal Scream, Robert "Throb" Young, has passed away aged 49, the band has confirmed.

"We have lost our comrade and brother Robert Young," the band wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. "A beautiful and deeply soulful man. He was an irreplaceable talent, much admired amongst his peers.

"In the words of Johnny Marr: 'Throb with a gold top Les Paul – unbeatable'."

"He was a true rock and roller," the statement continued. "He walked the walk. He had 'Heart & Soul' tattooed on his arm and I’m sure on his heart too.

"He once said to me, “When we go onstage it’s a war between us and the audience.” He never let go of that attitude."

According to Sussex police, Young was found dead at home about 3.30pm on Tuesday, September 9. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Young was a long-serving member of Primal Scream, coming on board in the early days of the mid-1980s and staying on until 2006. Originally a bass man for the band, he swapped four strings for six following Jim Beattie's exit after the release of debut full-length Sonic Flower Groove, helping to steer the band towards the sound that would see them truly break through with follow-up LP Primal Scream and Mercury Prize-winning third effort Screamadelica (1992).

Though Young had fallen out of contact with Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie in the years leading up to the former's death, the singer — who along with guitarist Andrew Innes is one of the two named parties signatory to the band's statement about Young's passing — has remained complimentary and respectful about his troubled ex-bandmate, whose departure from the band eight years ago occurred under tumultuous circumstances.

Tributes have already started to appear from contemporaries and fans offering their condolences and expressing their sadness over the loss, with several recognisable identities posting on social media about the guitarist's passing.