Legendary Scottish singer criticizes modern rock stars as “boring”

PRIMAL Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie claims many modern rock stars are boring.

And the 63-year-old Scottish singer urged them to be more arrogant and cheeky.

Speaking on the Restless Natives podcast, he said he grew up watching bands like Thin Lizzie, The Clash and The Jam at the legendary Apollo venue in his hometown of Glasgow.

He said: “The whole meaning of being a stone star is to insult people. But I think a lot of people are just a little bit boring.

“A lot of artists don’t seem that exciting or interesting as people. I like my rockers to have a certain swagger and arrogance.”

Gillespie formed Primal Scream in 1982 with guitarist Jim Beattie. Their hits include Loaded, Rocks, Movin’ On Up and Country Girl.

Citing 80s band Echo and the Bunnymen as an example, he explained: “They called their second album Heaven Up Here because they said, ‘At that point we thought, yes, up here where we are is heaven.’

“They were like, in Glasgow we would say ‘gallus’. That’s how rockers are supposed to be – unapologetic.”

We previously reported how the Movin’ On Up frontman responded to allegations that he abandoned his tragic ex-bandmate Martin Duffy during his battle with cancer and alcoholism.

Gillespie spoke publicly for the first time about Martin’s death, after which Martin’s relatives claimed that he died penniless and abandoned by his fellow bikers.

The music legend suffered multiple skull fractures after a fall in his house in Brighton. Band frontman Gillespie later announced the death of their “soul brother”.

But Martin’s son Louie, 19, later sharply criticised Bobby and Primal Scream following an inquest into his death in December 2022 last year.

Louie recalled how “devastated” his father was when the band sent him home from a tour because of his drinking, amid claims they had excluded him from a £5 million back catalogue deal.

Louie told the inquest: “He was not consulted, nor was he told about it.

“The band decided not to give him the opportunity to get his share at a time when they knew he really needed financial help.”

But Gillespie, 63, now insists Martin was loved by the band, who urged him to seek help for his addiction.