Rock band Primal Scream have announced a full tour of their landmark album XTRMNTR, after their first performance playing the record in full to celebrate its 25th anniversary saw them reported to police.
The gig at London’s Roundhouse last December saw the band reported over a video which played behind them showing political figures including Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Star of David combined with a swastika in their eyes as they played their track Swastika Eyes.
The band, led by Scottish frontman Bobby Gillespie, said the clip was supposed to “provoke debate, not hate”, drawing from history to “question where the actions of current world governments sit in that context”.
But the Community Security Trust (CST), who reported it, claimed it was “grossly antisemitic”.
Primal Scream’s statement added: “In a free, pluralistic and liberal society freedom of expression is a right which we choose to exercise.”
The Roundhouse, located in Camden, apologised after the concert saying it “deeply regret(ted)” the graphics, which it claimed were “highly offensive” and done entirely without their knowledge.
Primal Scream will now tour the 2000 album, which featured a pioneering mix of heavy electronica and punk rock, at venues across the UK including Glasgow, London and Manchester in September.
XTRMNTR featured the late Gary “Mani” Mounfield on bass, who died last year, with the band paying tribute before last year’s London gig with a picture of him displayed on screen before the concert. Gillespie helped to carry Mani’s coffin at his funeral in December.
Along with the concerts, Primal Scream are also planning to release The Bunker Trilogy, a collection of expanded versions of XTRMNTR, its predecessor Vanishing Point (1997) and its follow up Evil Heat (2002), with more information expected in due course.
The band, founded in the 1980s, are best known for their 1991 album Screamadelica, which featured hit singles such as Loaded, Come Together and Higher Than The Sun, winning the first ever Mercury Prize in 1992.
Primal Scream have achieved seven top 10 albums in the UK along with three top 10 singles, and released their latest album Come Ahead in November 2024.
Tickets for the XTRMNTR tour will go on sale at 10am this Friday, April 17, from the band’s website.
2026 XTRMNTR UK Tour in full
September 3 – Glasgow, Barrowland
September 4 – Glasgow, Barrowland
September 8 – Newcastle, NX
September 9 – Nottingham, Rock City
September 11 – Manchester, New Century Hall
September 13 – Bristol, Electric
September 15 – London, HERE at Outernet
