Primal Scream have paid tribute to their keyboardist Martin Duffy who has died at the age of 55 after suffering a brain injury.
The band's frontman Bobby Gilliespie penned an emotional tribute to his 'soul brother' who he said was injured after a fall at his home in Brighton.
On the band's official Instagram page, the Scots rocker wrote: "Hard to write this. We never know how to speak around death other than polite platitudes. All I want to say is that our soul brother Martin Duffy passed away on Sunday. He suffered a brain injury due to a fall at his home in Brighton. We in Primal Scream are all so sad. I've known Martin since he was a teenager in Felt.
"He played keyboards on every album of ours from the first to the last. Finally joining the band in 1991. Martin was a very special character. He had a love and understanding of music on a deep spiritual level. Music meant everything to him. He loved literature and was well read and erudite. An autodidact. A deep thinker, curious about the world and other cultures.
"Always visiting museums in every city we played or looking for Neolithic stones in remote places. Opinionated and stubborn in his views. He could play piano to the level where he was feted not just by his peers in British music, but old school master American musicians such as James Luther Dickinson, Roger Hawkins & David Hood & producer Tom Dowd.
"I witnessed a session at Abbey Rd in 1997 for a Dr John album where his record company had assembled a bunch of young Indie Brit musicians where Mac Rebenac ( Dr John ) seemed bored and uninterested in the session until Martin started playing, then suddenly the good Dr started knocking some funky piano chops and I instantly knew it was because his ears had pricked up when he heard Martin play and the session at last came alive.
"Martin was the most musically talented of all of us. His style combined elements of country, blues and soul, all of which he had a God given natural feel for. He never played the same thing twice, ever. He was all about 'the moment', better have that 'record' button on when Duffy was on fire. His timing was unique, funky and ALWAYS behind the beat. George Clinton also dug Martin. I remember a session in Chicago where George said to him " go to church Duffy !" , and he did.
"Martin was also in possession of a unique wit. He had a swift eye for the absurd, the surreal and the ridiculous. He lived to laugh and play music. He was loved by all of us in the Scream. We will miss him. Bobby Gillespie."
The musician had played keyboard for the Scots rockers since 1991 and was also known for his work with indie legends The Charlatans after the death of their founder, Rob Collins.
Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess announced the tragic news on Twitter on Tuesday where he hailed Martin a “beautiful soul”.
Birmingham-born Martin started out with indie band Felt in 1985 before going on to play keys for Primal Scream’s first two albums - Sonic Flower Groove in 1987 and a self-titled record two years later.
Martin then stepped in to help The Charlatans at their huge Knebworth gig in 1996 following the death of founder Rob just three weeks prior to the show.
In a 2021 tweet, Burgess reminisced about the musician’s efforts and credited the group’s continued success to him.
Tim took to Twitter to pay tribute to his friend who he described as a 'beautiful soul'.
He wrote: "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."
Previously, Tim hailed Martin after he 'saved the band' and stepped in and learned their songs last minute so that they could support Oasis at Knebworth.
He said: "Knebworth was such a huge deal for us. Rob had died a couple of weeks before and we were ready to give up. Martin Duffy (Primal Scream’s keyboard player) saved us. He’d learnt all of our songs and said we had to do it. We knew we had to. The most emotional gig ever for us."
He added: "We thought we might never play again. It was the toughest gig we ever played. We came through."
Scots author Irvine Welsh also paid tribute to Martin, saying he had a 'golden heart'. He wrote: "Yesterday was a heartbreak. The last time I saw Martin was at my wedding in the summer when he wrapped his arms around myself and my wife and wished us all the love in the world. He had a golden heart and the craziest sense of humour. I’m really going to miss him."
Fans also paid tribute to the musical icon on social media, saying he would be sorely missed.
One wrote: "Rest in power, Martin Duffy. Deepest condolences to those who knew and loved him."
Another wrote: "Gutted to hear of the passing of Martin Duffy of Primal Scream. Massive loss to a most magic band. RIP Duffy."
Primal Scream last played Scotland in July at a gig in Queen's Park in the south side of Glasgow. They recently announced that they will be headlining Midnight Sun Weekender in May next year at Lewis Castle Green.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.
