Martin Duffy, best known as a member of Primal Scream and The Charlatans, has died at the age of 55.
Duffy’s former bandmate and Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, confirmed the news in a Twitter statement, paying tribute to his late friend.
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.’
‘He toured with me in my solo band too – he was a pleasure to spend time with. Safe travels Duffy.’
Burgess added: ‘Love to all The Scream family.’
Duffy was also a member of the indie band Felt, which he joined in 1985 at the age of 16 after seeing an advert in a Virgin records store in his hometown of Birmingham.
He went on to join Primal Scream and played keyboard on the band’s first two albums, 1987’s Sonic Flower Groove and their 1989 self-titled record, before becoming a full-time member.
Following the death of The Charlatans’ founding member Rob Collins, Duffy went on to join the group last-minute when they supported Oasis at Knebworth, and he
played on their 1997 LP Tellin’ Stories.
Tributes have started to pour in after Burgess’ emotional post, with broadcaster Justin Robertson tweeting: ‘Waking up to the news about Terry Hall and Martin Duffy.The cycle of life and death is cruel at times and these two had so much more to give to the world.
‘Thank you for the music,memories and the inspiration that will live on long after all faulty and fallible flesh fails.’
A writer recalled fondly: ‘The late Martin Duffy of Primal Scream bought me a cider and black once in 1995. There, that’s my story.’
He was referring to the news that The Specials star Terry Hall had died aged 63.
Duffy released his first solo album, Assorted Promenades, in 2014 under Burgess’ O Genesis record label. In a previous interview, Duffy revealed the record was inspired by him and Burgess witnessing a car catching fire.
‘Tim saw it as a sign,’ he told the Quietus.
Most recently, Duffy appeared on his Primal Scream bandmate Bobby Gillespie’s 2021 album Utopian Ashes.