Hard rock titans AEROSMITH released their 4th LP,
named ROCKS on 3 May 1976, today 50 years ago.
At that point, although often derided by critics, the band had
amassed a loyal fanbase from relentless touring and their
ferocious live shows.
The album went to number 3 on the US Charts.
Producer Jack Douglas acknowledges the pervasiveness of drug use during
the album’s sessions: “Labels were giving them drugs. It was written into the project,
and in the case of Columbia Records, they had guys who delivered it to you. And they
finally got busted for that, people lost their jobs and it became a huge scandal.”
PRIMAL SCREAM was conceived in Scotland in 1982. That’s a looooong time ago. And it was a highly turbulent journey with good to sublime albums (with 1991’sScreamadelica as their magnum opus), chaotic gigs, and human drama (guitarist Robert Young passed away in 2014, only 49 and keyboardist Martin Duffy died in 2022 after a fatal fall at his home).
As of today, frontman/lyricist Bobby Gillespie and guitarist Andrew Innis (both 63 now) are the only original members, with awesome bassist Simone Marie Butler (since 2013) and relentless drummer Darrin Mooney (since 1997) as longtime additions.
Last November The Scream released their 12th, critically acclaimed LP,
named Come Ahead (with Gillespie‘s young father on the cover).
NME said: “Personal and political, Bobby Gillespie and co’s David Holmes-assisted first album in eight years wants us to dance our way to justice… ‘Come Ahead’ may have a whole lot of funk on its surface but still packs oodles of punk and grenades of protest in its trunk.” Score 4/5.
New album, new tour.
The band is in my Top-5 of best live ones for a very long time now, so when they
landed in The Netherlands, in the cozy city of Utrecht last Monday, I was upfront for
another spiritual Primal Scream gathering.
Yes, that’s what a PS concert is all about. It’s an euphoric and uplifting celebration of
life (oh yeah, just look around, hug your beloved family and friends, it’s not like if all in
our tormented world is shit), a festive jamboree for your heart, soul and vocal cords. Screamdelica‘s highlights Don’t Fight It Feel It, Movin’ Up, Loaded, as Come Together are
the emotive exponents of the exuberant mindset throughout the night.
The fact that a full orchestra is up there, including two soul-powered voices and a sultry saxophonist, shows the group’s determination to walk it like they talk it and give the people an all-in sonic gospel-like treatment.
The album’s singles Ready To Go Home, Love Insurrrection and The Centre Cannot Hold, fitted the fervent flow just perfectly. A couple of other newbies were integrated, but of course everybody went berserk when the aforementioned e-tastic highlights and 24 Carat firecrackers Rocks, Jailbird, Medication, and Country Girl made the sweaty venue shake to its foundations. What can I say. There’s no such thing as an expiration date for The Scream. Not on record, not on stage. Hail hail!
An idea of the live Scream spirit
SETLIST
1. Don’t Fight It, Feel It 2. Love Insurrection 3. Jailbird 4. Ready to Go Home 5. Deep Dark Waters 6. Medication 7. Innocent Money 8. Heal Yourself 9. I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have 10. Love Ain’t Enough 11. The Centre Cannot Hold 12. Loaded 13. Swastika Eyes 14. Movin’ on Up 15. Country Girl
Happy 63 to Pimal Scream‘s (for me, one of the best bands ever, on record and on stage) frontman/songwriter who started his career with countrymen The Jesus And Mary Chain .
Another bloody Blue Monday! Here’s a revitalizing remedy with Scottish legends Primal Scream and a rapturous rendition of their stomping 1994 hitRocks played
at Glastonbury Festival in 2013 with a little help from the gorgeous Haim sisters.
1-2-3-4…
Frontman Bobby Gillespie‘s new biography Tenement Kid out 14th October.
The track was from their fourth album Give Out But Don’t Give Up
and released as a double A-side single along Funky Jam on 28 Feb
1994, 25 years ago today and peaked at #7 on the UK singles chart.
A steamy T.Rex meet The Stones classic.
Get yer rocks off right here…
Can’t help it, but I want to play this euphoric 2013 live version below (for the
umpteenth time) again, the more that there are some really cool girls in it…
