Scottish indie rockers Primal Scream are no strangers to being at the cutting edge of artistic creation.
The band which formed in Glasgow more than 30 years ago have a long tradition of reinvention and continue to enthral audiences with their unique blend of indie pop, acid house, dub electro and rock ‘n’ roll.
So when it was announced in the summer that the legendary rockers will headline the first day of the 3D Festival in Dundee to mark the opening of the £80.1 million V&A and the rebirth of the waterfront, it seemed like the perfect fit – and a place for creative talents to come together.
Lead singer Bobby Gillespie said: “We’re looking forward to performing at the V&A Dundee opening and collaborating with our dear friend Jim Lambie again.”
The band have had a close friendship with the contemporary visual artist and former Turner Prize nominee for years.
In 2003 the fellow Glaswegian created a cover for their compilation album Dirty Hits.
The band have a history of memorable collaborations including projects with Steve Mason, Andy Weatherall, George Clinton and more recently Haim and Sky Ferreira.
While keeping details relatively close to their chests, the band have indicated it’s this collaborative approach that will form a key part of Friday night’s headline 3D Festival performance. The set will include the band unveiling a new collaboration specially commissioned with Lambie for the V&A opening.
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There’s no doubt Primal Scream are one of the most influential bands ever to come out of Scotland. Formed by the Jesus and Mary Chain’s drummer Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie in 1982, and embracing the rave and dance culture of the late 1980s/early 1990s, the band’s classic 1991 album Screamadelica – their third studio album and first commercial success – portrayed the joy, hedonism and experimentation of the time.
Featuring tracks such as Loaded, Come Together and Movin’ On Up, the influences of soul, country, gospel, dub, psychedelia and house were all referenced in the piece of work which, when picked up now, hasn’t really dated.
Yet in this, and the albums that followed, it wasn’t just the blend of music that defined the band. It was as much to do with their attitude. It’s testimony to their impact – and survivability- that a band forged in the heat of rave culture is still going strong today.
But in an interview last year, Bobby admitted he never thought the band would run this long.
“The original band was, for many years, a day to day sort of thing,” he said. “You never really knew when the band was going to end.
The original band was quite, what’s the word? People were always leaving. When you start out you’re not famous, you’re not making money, you’re playing a few little gigs in pubs or clubs all around the country. Some people stick with that and other guys they just want to leave y’know?”
The 3D Festival – a name that pays homage to Dundee, design and the city’s spirit of discovery – will celebrate the opening of Scotland’s first design museum created by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Up to 20,000 people from Dundee, Scotland and around the world are expected to attend the two-day festival on Friday September 14 and Saturday September 15 which will take place next to V&A Dundee in the city’s waterfront park space Slessor Gardens.
www.primalscream.net
