Primal Scream are an experimental rock supergroup from Scotland, headed by former Jesus & Mary Chain drummer Bobby Gillespie. Other members include guitarists Andrew Innes and Robert 'Throb' Young, former Felt keyboardist Martin Duffy, former Stone Roses bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, and touring guitarist and producer Kevin Shields, formerly of My Bloody Valentine. The band was signed to Alan McGee's Creation label until its closure in 2000; they are now signed to Sony/Columbia.
Primal Scream has been through several lineups and musical styles, with Gillespie, Innes and Young being the only constant element. The band began as a psychedelic rock group, with a formless, loud, guitar-based sound influenced by the primal scream therapy theory (which also gave the band its name). The music was intended to be somewhat instinctual and primal in nature.
The band's debut album, Sonic Flower Groove, was heavily influenced by The Byrds, The Velvet Underground and the C86 scene (BMX Bandits, The Mighty Lemondrops, The Soupdragons, The Wedding Present etc.) of which they were pioneers. The highlight of their early work is undoubtedly the "Crystal Crescent" B-side "Velocity Girl" which had quite an influence on much indie music for the next decade; The Stone Roses' "Made Of Stone" and their debut album in particular are indebted to its sound, as are a host of others.
The following, self-titled album had a much heavier edge, influenced by MC5, Iggy Pop and The Stooges and the 1960s Detroit garage scene. The band's dramatic change in sound risked alienating their initial fanbase, and the album was criticised negatively in the music press. Founder member Jim Beattie left to form Spirea X, continuing the early psychedelic sound, while the central trio of Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes and Rob Young (augmented by drummer Philip "Toby" Tomanov and bassist Henry Olsen of Nico's band The Faction) relocated to Brighton and ditched their trademark "jangly" sound for good. Primal Scream remains a curiously underrated album and several critics have opined that a critical reassessment is overdue, particularly given its relatively contemporary style.
