The family of Primal Scream member Martin Duffy blasted frontman Bobby Gillespie after an inquest heard the keyboard player died penniless and abandoned.
Louie Duffy claims his dad was cut out of a multi-million-pound deal to sell part of Primal Scream’s back catalogue and the band stayed away when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 19-year-old said his dad was devastated by the conduct of singer Gillespie and the rest of the band.
Primal Scream were one of the biggest British bands of the late 90s, with album Screamadelica widely acknowledged as a classic.
Part of their back catalogue was sold to BMG in a deal worth £5million, Louie told the inquest into
Martin’s death.
He said: “He wasn’t consulted or even told about it.
“Dad had played on every Primal Scream album and had songwriting on at least two but still the band
chose not to offer him the opportunity to get his share, at a time they knew he really needed financial help.”
His dad was shocked to be sidelined in such a way, Louie said. The teenager described his father as a functioning alcoholic with a professional attitude to his work.
Louie added: “It was during lockdown when things started going wrong for Dad.
“No gigs meant no income and he got into debt.
“He was also diagnosed with prostate cancer during lockdown and despite the band knowing this, they hardly made any contact with him during this very difficult time.
“I remember dad telling Bobby Gillespie on the phone that he was having to sign on for benefits to get by as he had no savings but the band offered no support – either emotional or financial. I saw how much this upset him.”
The inquest heard Primal Scream sent him home from their tour after a gig in Glasgow, telling him to get help with his drinking.
Louie said: “After being forced off the tour, I literally saw Dad age 10 years in a matter of weeks. He was simply not able to cope any more. He was devastated.”
Louie said he found his dad bleeding from a fatal head wound at his home in Hove, East Sussex, just
before Christmas.
A coroner ruled his accidental death was caused by severe head injury as the result of multiple falls.
He was drunk and had a history of alcohol abuse which contributed to his death.
Despite delays in getting him to intensive care, consultants at the Royal Sussex County Hospital told the inquest his injuries were unsurvivable.
The inquest in Brighton heard he had been a professional musician his entire adult life after answering an ad when he was 16 asking: “Do you want to be a rock ’n’ roll star?”
He was a member of Primal Scream for more than 30 years.
Tributes flooded in following his death, with another former bandmate, Tim Burgess of The Charlatans, describing the 55-year-old as the only musical genius he’d ever met.
Louie added at the inquest: “When I called Bobby Gillespie to tell him of Dad’s death, he explained to me how they had used the ‘tough love’ approach with Dad.
“Bobby Gillespie actually told Dad that he was finished.
“After this, he started drinking really heavily, every day. I couldn’t stop him, it was frightening.”
Louie said he has not heard from the other members of Primal Scream since his dad died but was aware of a tribute to him on social media.
He said: “In the publicity after Dad’s death, Bobby Gillespie was congratulated by many for his beautiful tribute.
“I’ve seen on Instagram how Bobby Gillespie is always urging everyone to support the strikers – fair pay for the workers – and there is nothing wrong with that.
“Dad supported the strikers too but not if at the same time you aren’t paying your own bandmate of over 30 years even a small share of the tour profits to make their life easier.”
Louie added: “I lost my dad too soon. I know his death was an accident but I just wish he hadn’t died feeling so unappreciated and distraught about having to sell our home. He didn’t deserve that.”
Assistant coroner Dr Karen Henderson said Martin died on December 18, 2022, after suffering multiple skull fractures.
She added: “I accept the tragic evidence from his son of ongoing personal, financial and work-related problems which led to a spiral of drinking which was out of control.”
Primal Scream were asked for comment.
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