The tour will launch on 31 March at Bristol’s Beacon before continuing on to venues including Southampton’s O2 Guildhall, Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, and the O2 Academy in Glasgow, where Primal Scream will play two back-to-back nights on 4 and 5 April. The band will also perform at Liverpool’s Mountford Hall, Manchester’s Academy 1, and London’s Eventim Apollo. Support will come from Baxter Dury on select dates, with Fat White Family confirmed to support the London performance. An exclusive pre-sale will open on 30 October for those who pre-order the album via the band’s official store.

The Come Ahead Tour signals Primal Scream’s much-anticipated return to live performance, following the highly praised Screamadelica Live tour in 2022 and a series of summer headline shows in 2023, including a headline set at Crystal Palace’s South Facing Festival.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Primal Scream (@primalscreamofficial)

Ahead of the release of the group’s 12th album Come Ahead on November 8, Primal Scream have already released the album’s lead single ‘Love Insurrection’, which is in many ways the opposite of ‘Deep Dark Waters’, being characterised by Stereogum as  a “utopian lead single, a funky, string-laden dance track.” The lead single does, however, allow peaks through to some dark undertones. Gillespie’s lyrics exhort the world for a “new direction” against an obliquely referenced backdrop of global crises.

To date, the album’s lead singles, Love Insurrection and Ready to Go Home, have already generated significant interest. Love Insurrection, remixed by UK house pioneers Black Science Orchestra, has made an impression with its deep bass and funk elements, overlaying Gillespie’s vocals with layered flutes and strings. Meanwhile, the ‘Ready to Go Home’ remix by Terry Farley and Wade Teo received praise from outlets such as DIY and Clash. In critical previews, Come Ahead has been positively received. Mojo remarked that the album ranks “up there with Primal Scream’s best,” while Classic Pop declared “Primal Scream just became important again”.

Come Ahead mark the band’s reunion with producer David Holmes in sessions that saw the band record  across Belfast, London, and Los Angeles. The album will be available in several formats, including double vinyl, CD, and special limited editions. Tickets for The Come Ahead Tour will go on general sale on 1 November at 10am, while pre-sale tickets will be accessible to fans on 30 October at 10 am for those who pre-order the album.

The band spoke of the foreboding message of the song in a post on Instagram accompanying the song’s release, saying: “Deep Dark Waters is influenced by the writings of Franco ‘Bifo’ Berardi. It contains a warning from history. Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The band drums up a sense of foreboding in the tune, channelling elements of classic horror movie soundtracks and joins them together with singer Bobby Gillespie’s eerie, detached vocals. The single begins with a sparse arrangement, with distorted, reverberating pedal notes on the low end while shrill strings tremolos bring tension to the atmosphere. The soundscape slowly fills up with dissonant ornamentation from horn-like backing vocals and fluttering synths. You can hear the full track below.

Ahead of the release of the group’s 12th album Come Ahead on November 8, Primal Scream have already released the album’s lead single ‘Love Insurrection’, which is in many ways the opposite of ‘Deep Dark Waters’, being characterised by Stereogum as  a “utopian lead single, a funky, string-laden dance track.” The lead single does, however, allow peaks through to some dark undertones, with Gillespie seemingly exhorting the world for a “new direction”, showing that the lyrical themes and sound of the band’s latest material call back to their 200 album XTRMNTR, a politically charged, industrial rock statement.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Primal Scream (@primalscreamofficial)

Formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Gillespie and Jim Beattie, Primal Scream have grown into veterans of the UK alternative rock scene. Initially part of the mid-1980s indie pop wave, the band soon evolved, embracing psychedelic and garage rock influences. Their breakthrough came with the 1991 album Screamadelica, a genre-defying work that fused rock, dance, and electronic music, earning them the first-ever Mercury Prize. The band’s line-up has seen changes over the years, with Gillespie remaining the constant driving force.

Come Ahead will be the band’s first studio output since 2016’s Chaosmosis, which, in a tone quite unlike the sneak-peaks we’ve got of Come Ahead, was described by Pitchfork as “keeping pace with 21st-century pop” and demonstrating Primal Scream’s “savvy for keeping themselves current.”

Of the band’s current darker, brooding sound and prophetic lyrical sentiments about world affairs on Come Ahead, Gillespie said in a press release: “I’m very excited about this album in a way that you would be making your first record. If there was an overall theme to Come Ahead it might be one of conflict, whether inner or outer. The title is a Glaswegian term. If someone threatens to fight you, you say, “come ahead!” It’s redolent of the indomitable spirit of the Glaswegian, and the album itself shares that aggressive attitude and confidence. They have a word for this up there, gallus. Come Ahead’s quite a cheeky title too.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Primal Scream (@primalscreamofficial)

The 11-track record sees frontman Bobby Gillespe give us some of his most personal song writing of the band’s career. According to the band the song writing process for ‘Come Ahead’ began back in 2019. At this time Bobby Gillespe wasn’t sure he would ever make another Primal Scream album. For this record Gillespe wrote the lyrics before the music was written for the first time in Primal Scream’s career. He wrote the music alone with just an acoustic guitar. Working with Producer David Holmes for this album, the recording sessions were completed between Belfast, London and Los Angeles.

Speaking about ‘Come Ahead’ Singer, Bobby Gillespe said: “I’m very excited about this album in a way that you would be making your first record. If there was an overall theme to Come Ahead it might be one of conflict, whether inner or outer.”

He continued saying that the title of the album has roots in his hometown of Glasgow: “The title is a Glaswegian term. If someone threatens to fight you, you say, ‘come ahead!’ It’s redolent of the indomitable spirit of the Glaswegian, and the album itself shares that aggressive attitude and confidence.”

To go along with the announcement of the new album, the group have shared the lead single ‘Love Insurrection’ to give us a preview of ‘Come Ahead’. The single is a funky one with groovy basslines with lyrics about how to remain positive and hopeful in uncertain times. Listen Below.

The full track listing for ‘Come Ahead’ is below:

1. Ready To Go Home
2. Love Insurrection
3. Heal Yourself
4. Innocent Money
5. Melancholy Man
6. Love Ain’t Enough
7. Circus of Life
8. False Flags
9. Deep Dark Waters
10. The Centre Cannot Hold
11. Settlers Blues

The album is arriving on the 8th of November this year and fans can pre-order the album here. The vinyl copy of ‘Come Ahead’ will come as a double LP and fans are also able to order a limited mirrorboard gatefold red version of the album. The album will also come in CD format and fans can also order an exclusive album t-shirt from Primal Scream’s website.

As well as releasing the record later this year Gillespe and co. will also be gearing uo to partake in their first live shows of 2024 in October. The Scottish group will be supporting Alice Cooper on their UK arena tour this autumn playing shows in Gillespe’s hometown of Glasgow at the OVO Hydro as well as performances in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The group will also be playing at Corona Capital in Mexico City in November. You can buy any remaining tickets for Primal Scream’s live shows here.

We’re excited to announce that ‘Reverberations (Travelling In Time)’ will be released on Friday 28th July and will be available for pre-order from 5pm BST on Wednesday 14th June here: https://t.co/rJ0a0fjwhO 1/4 pic.twitter.com/xEsn1P5oIc

— Primal Scream (@ScreamOfficial) June 7, 2023

According to the twitter post that announced the news, the archive album is ‘the Primal Scream debut album that never was: 16 perfectly crafted pop nuggets weighing in at just under 35 minutes’. The set of 16 songs is set to include five tracks from the band’s first two Creation Records EPs, along with eleven previously unheard BBC recordings, all of which was recorded from 1985 to 1986 in the band’s early years.

Listen to “All Fall Down”, an early Primal Scream single that will feature on the archive album, below:

The beautiful artwork of the cover of the LP, featuring colourful splashes of paint juxtapositioned with a black and white face portrait, was commissioned by renowned British illustrator and designer Julie Verhoeven. Primal Scream megafans should be inclined to move fast when the album drops, for there is set to be a limited number of vinyl copies available; 3000 for the clear vinyl and 2000 for the black. Fans will also know

Formed by lead singer and only ever-present member Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie in Glasgow in 1982, Primal Scream are the epitome of an ever-changing and experimental rock outfit. Starting out with indie pop, they soon moved on to develop a psychedelic rock sound in the late 80s before, in 1991, adding an alternative dance element with the release of their most renowned album to date, Screamadelica. Their latest album, Chaosmosis, was released in 2016 and their current line up, after the sad news of the death of Martin Duffy last December, consists of Gillespie (lead vocals), Andrew Innes (guitar, keyboards), Darrin Mooney (drums, percussion), and Simone Butler (bass guitar, keyboards, percussion).

Watch the music video for “Come Together”, a single off of Screamadelica, below:

See below for the track listing for Reverberations (Travelling In Time):

Side One

1. Imperial
2. Velocity Girl
3. Feverclaw
4. Silent Spring
5. I Love You
6. Tomorrow Ends Today
7. Bewitched And Bewildered
8. Crystal Crescent’

Side Two

1. Subterranean
2. Leaves
3. Aftermath
4. All Fall Down
5. It Happens
6. Crystal Crescent
7. Velocity Girl
8. Spirea X

Reverberations (Travelling In Time) will be available to pre-order on Wednesday 14th June; you can get your copy here.

Primal’s Scream’s next live show will be at On The Mount At Wasing on June 30th with The Brian Jonestown Massacre. See below for more summer tour dates (where they might possibly be joined by Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr):

30/06/2023 – Wasing Estate – Wasing
08/07 – Espacio Mad Cool – Madrid
04/08 – Crystal Palace Park – London
05/08 – Dreamland – Margate
19/08 – Escot Park – Devon
20/08 – Weston Park – Shropshire
25/08 – Royal Highland Showgrounds – Edinburgh
26/08 – Wythenshawe Park – Manchester
27/08 – Royal Hospital Kilmainham – Dublin
01/09 – Lindisfarne – Northumberland

You can purchase tickets for these shows here.

Primal Scream’s UK tour is to mark the 30th anniversary of the seminal album Screamadelica. In celebration of the album’s release, the tour’s setlist sees the band perform their third studio album in full. The group’s headlining tour began at the start of the month with a performance in Glasgow and has two more dates left. The tour’s next stop is on 21^st July 2022 with a set at Standon Calling, the concluding performance is scheduled to take place on 22nd July 2022 at Welsh venue Alexandra Head.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Johnny Marr (@johnnymarrgram)

Originally released on 23^rd September 1991 via Creation Records, Screamadelica will celebrate its official 30th birthday this autumn. The album has become a key part of the band’s history as the release confirmed the band’s adoption of a new sound. Prior to its release, Primal Scream had made a name for themselves within the indie rock genre, Screamadelica saw the band take inspiration from the house music scene which had exploded at the start of the decade. The album is steeped in musical history and holds importance for its involvement with the Mercury Music Prize, the album was crowned the acclaimed accolade’s first ever winner in 1992.

Saturday’s show was not the first time that Marr and Primal Scream have shared a stage, the 58-year-old musician joined the band in 2019 at the end of their set in Manchester’s Albert Hall. Similar to last night’s cameo, Marr also played on the live renditions of “Jailbird” and the 1994 single “Rocks”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Johnny Marr (@johnnymarrgram)

The recent collaboration with Primal Scream is one of many guest appearances Marr has made this Summer. Earlier within the month, Marr joined Grunge icons Pearl Jam on stage during their second date at BST Hyde Park. Last month also saw Marr share a stage with Alicia Keys; whilst performing at Manchester’s AO Arena, the American pianist invited Marr to perform the classic Smiths song “This Charming Man”. During the set Keys said to the crowd, “I’ve talked a lot about New York tonight, Now I want to talk about Manchester.” As the musician walked on stage Keys announced his arrival by shouting “Johnny Marr!”.

Two special new releases of the album will also drop in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Screamadelica; Screamadelica 12’’ Singles box set and Screamadelica double Vinyl picture disc will be available from 17th September 2022. Primal Scream will also release a brand-new collection of previously unreleased demos and early recordings, entitled Demodelica the new album will be released on 15th October 2022. The upcoming album will be available to order in various formats including digital, double vinyl, CD and C-90 cassettes, also included within the upcoming collection are liner notes penned by acclaimed writer John Savage.

Primal Scream UK Tour dates

21/07/2022 – Standon Calling – Standon
22/07 – Alexandra Head – Cardiff

Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here to pre-order the new releases.

Whilst writing his memoir entitled ‘Treatment Kid’ Gillespie has disclosed that he has reconnected with Primal Scream’s debut album, the singer revealed that there are certain aspects of the release in which he would want to change. He also confirmed that the band have had discussions relating to the possible reissue of the original album.

Gillespie has spoken with Uncut magazine concerning this notion, within the interview he was asked if his opinion about the album has been altered due to his recent work on his upcoming biography, to which he answered, “Yes, definitely, definitely. I wrote a lot about that record and the experience of recording it – we recorded it twice – and our inexperience. I re-listened to the record a lot and had a new respect for it. We’re maybe going to reissue it. We’ll add two songs – there’s ‘Black Star Carnival’, which was a B-side, and also this unreleased track called ‘Tomorrow Ends Today’. It sounds like it could have been on the first Stone Roses record. I’m going to re-sequence the album and do a new record sleeve.”

Gillespie continues to discuss the musicality of the album and the effect in which the era had on music. “At that point, everyone had the ‘80s drum sound – the Bunnymen, The Smiths, everybody. So, it would be good if we take the 80s drum sound off it and maybe we could add some harmonies, because when I listen to it now, I think, ‘Why didn’t we do harmonies there?’ So we might tinker with it, maybe we won’t. But ‘Tomorrow Ends Today’ sounds like a single. Why did we leave it off the album? It’s so good! The first side just runs like a dream – bang, bang, bang, bang. For some reason, we f***** it up.”

When asked what he believed fans would expect from a Primal Scream release he stated, “I actually don’t know any more… We’ve made 11 studio albums but I think we’re known for the 90s stuff, from ‘Screamadelica’ to ‘Vanishing Point’ and ‘XTRMNTR’. It’s hard because we’ve been going for so long. Maybe we’re overfamiliar?”

As state prior, ‘Sonic Flower Groove’ was the band’s debut album and was released on 5th October 1987 and peaked at number 62 within the UK Albums charts with the album’ first single ‘Gentle Tuesday‘ released in the same year. the single was also the top of the release’s tracklist. The album was released during a time when the radio was dominated by the trademark 80’s synth sound. During its original release, the album was received with a mixed critical reception and the album’s content was seemingly deemed difficult to classify by critics but in these modern times, the record is considered to be one of the greats and remains a favourite for many music fans.

In other news, Gillespie has collaborated with Jehnny Beth, front singer of English band Savages. The duo’s new album entitled ‘Utopian Ashes’ will be available from 2nd July 2021 through Jack White’s label Third Man. The release will tell the story of a dysfunctional marriage through a concept album, the album features a band made up of Primal Scream members Andrew Innes on guitar, Martin Duffy on piano, Darrin Mooney on drums and Beth’s partner Johnny Hostile playing bass.

Click here to pre-order ‘Utopian Ashes‘.

Gillespie’s memoir will be released to purchase from 28th October 2021 and will be available in two special collector’s editions.

Click here to pre-order the book.

Primal Scream UK Tour dates

18/06-20/06 2021 – Bigfoot Festival 2021 – Alcester
22/07 – 25/07 – Standon Calling 2021 – Standon
06/08 – 08/08 – Bingley Weekender 2021 – Bingley
10/09 – 12/09 – TRNSMT Festival 2021 – Glasgow
16/09 – 19/09 – Isle Of Wright Festival 2021 – Newport (Isle Of Wright)
09/08 – Kelvingrove Bandstand And Amphitheatre – Glasgow
10/08 – Kelvingrove Bandstand And Amphitheatre – Glasgow

Give Out But Don’t Give Up: The Original Memphis Sessions - out October 12th

Recently found in a box in rhythm guitarist Andrew Innes’ basement, the tapes were cut in Ardent Studios in Memphis back in 1993. With legendary producer Tom Dowd (known for his work with Eric Clapton, Duane Allman and the recently-deceased Aretha Franklin) at the console and a hard-edged backing from the Muscle Schoals, the Memphis sessions formed the basis for the band’s 1994 LP, Give Out But Don’t Give Up. Displeased with the sound, they later re-worked the album with producer George Drakoulias.

Primal Scream gave a tease into the album’s sound with a short promotional clip on social media. The sessions’ Tennessee influence is clear, with blues-country guitar riffs and barrelhouse piano whacking reminscent of southern rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ-Top.

Give Out But Don’t Give Up was the band’s follow-up to their 1991 masterwork, Screamadelica, which pushed rave culture into the mainstream. Fusing Madchester-electronica with psychedelic rock and folk, the album was intended as a sonic representation of a drug high, from the roaring, ecstatic peak to the depressing, come-down lows.

Primal Scream’s last LP, Chasmosis, was released in 2016. The band are due to appear in Dundee this September at Slessor Gardens. You can get tickets here.

In 1993 Primal Scream went to Memphis. They made an album with legendary producer Tom Dowd and the Muscle Shoals rhythm section. That album never saw the light of day until now… Give Out But Don’t Give Up – The Original Memphis Recordings. Pre-order now: https://t.co/5Les3Aevss pic.twitter.com/BgwTVVbskY

— Primal Scream (@ScreamOfficial) August 20, 2018