Primal Scream's Martin Duffy Passes Away, Aged 55

Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy passed away at age 55, the band announced on social media. Lead vocalist Bobby Gillespie revealed that his bandmate's cause of death was a brain injury caused by a fall at his home in Brighton, England.

"Hard to write this. We never know how to speak around death other than polite platitudes. All I want to say is that our soul brother Martin Duffy passed away on Sunday," Gillespie wrote on Instagram. He added, "We in Primal Scream are all so sad. I've known Martin since he was a teenager in Felt. He played keyboards on every album of ours from the first to the last. Finally joining the band in 1991."

The singer continued to explain that his longtime bandmate was a unique character with a deep understanding of music on a spiritual level; "He could play piano to the level where he was feted not just by his peers in British music, but old school master American musicians such as James Luther Dickinson, Roger Hawkins & David Hood & producer Tom Dowd."

Gillespie added that Duffy was the most talented member of Primal Scream, with a "God-given natural feel for a style that combined elements of country, blues and soul". The singer concluded his touching tribute by saying: "He had a swift eye for the absurd, the surreal and the ridiculous. He lived to laugh and play music. He was loved by all of us in the Scream. A beautiful soul. We will miss him."

Duffy was also a member of the bands Felt - until they disbanded in 1989, The Charlatans, and the supergroup The Chavs, which included the Charlatans' Tim Burgess and The Libertines' Carl Barât.

Martin's brother Steve, a journalist at the BBC, wrote: "A terrible shock and we're in bits but we have such love around us. He had a gift with music but even more of one with people. Love you Martin, proud of what you did and all you were. We're with you brother".

Burgess posted: "Another tragic loss of a beautiful soul. Martin Duffy stepped in to save The Charlatans when we lost Rob - he played with us at Knebworth and was a true friend. He toured with me in my solo band too - he was a pleasure to spend time with. Safe travels Duffy".

A terrible shock and we're in bits but we have such love around us. He had a gift with music but even more of one with people. Love you Martin, proud of what you did and all you were. We're with you brother xx #MartinDuffy #RIP pic.twitter.com/iTMBwX9zZb

— Steve Duffy (@SteveDuffy99) December 20, 2022

Another tragic loss of a beautiful soul. Martin Duffy stepped in to save The Charlatans when we lost Rob - he played with us at Knebworth and was a true friend. He toured with me in my solo band too - he was a pleasure to spend time with. Safe travels Duffy 💔 pic.twitter.com/cvuEvvqYGa

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) December 20, 2022