Martin Duffy, the keyboard player for the likes of Primal Scream and the Charlatans, has died at the age of 55. Tim Burgess, lead singer of the Charlatans, confirmed the news, paying a touching tribute to him, and calling him ‘a beautiful soul’.
In a tweet, Burgess said: “Another tragic loss of a beautiful soul. Martin Duffy stepped in to save The Charlatans when we lost Rob - he played with us at Knebworth and was a true friend. He toured with me in my solo band too - he was a pleasure to spend time with. Safe travels Duffy.”
Duffy replaced original Charlatans keyboard player Rob Collins, who died in 1996. He also played keyboards in the influential band Felt. After leaving Felt in 1989, he joined Primal Scream, and played on the albums Sonic Flower Groove and the eponymous Primal Scream.
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He was lauded for his talent at the keyboard, Burgess once calling him ‘the only musical genius I have ever met’. As well as Primal Scream and The Charlatans, he also collaborated with a host of other bands, among them the Chemical Brothers, Beth Orton, Beta Band’s Steve Mason and Paul Weller.
Duffy was also part of supergroup The Chavs, with Burgess, Libertines guitarist Carl Barat, Razorlight’s Andy Burrows. He released a solo album, Assorted Promenades, through Burgess’s label O Genesis in 2014.
Others have also weighed in on Twitter, broadcaster Marc Riley calling it ‘terrible news’. John Robb added: “The stories that surround him are legendary, and his musical soul was matched by his bonhomie and good vibes. He was a special talent and his playing was a key part of the bands from Felt who he had joined at 16 to the Primals who he added something vital to.”
Primal Scream played in Manchester just last summer at Castlefield Bowl, as part of the Sounds of the City festival.
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