Martin Duffy known as the keyboardist for Primal Scream, as well as for performing with the Charlatans, has died aged 55.
Growing up in Birmigham, Duffy joined his first band Felt aged 16. Felt were also signed by Creation Records, the same record label as Primal Scream.
He later joined up with Primal Scream fronted by Bobby Gillespie, going from a part time to a full time member of the band.
Duffy was integral to the band’s 1991 Mercury Prize winning album Screamadelica, the band’s first commerically succesful record.
In 1996, Duffy also stepped in to perform with the Charlatans, who were supporting Oasis for their record breaking Knebworth shows.
Duffy stepped into the breach, following the death of previous keyboardist Rob Collins weeks earlier.
“lovely guy so sad”
Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess and Creation Records’ founder Alan McGee confirmed the news regarding Duffy’s passing, with McGee hailing Duffy as a “lovely guy”.
“More sad news,” McGee wrote on Instagram. “Martin Duffy gone yesterday .. lovely guy so sad”.
Calling Duffy a “true friend”, Tim Burgess described Duffy’s death as “another tragic loss of a beautiful soul”.
“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”, Burgess wrote.
“He toured with me in my solo band too – he was a pleasure to spend time with. Safe travels Duffy”.
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 💔 pic.twitter.com/cvuEvvqYGa
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) December 20, 2022
Tributes Paid To Duffy
Martin Duffy’s association with Oasis does not end at Knebworth, as the keyboardist also wrote some material for the band, with Liam Gallagher leading tributes to him.
“RIP DUFFY PRIMAL SCREAM DYA KNOW WHAT I MEAN LG”, the former Oasis frontman wrote.
Duffy also penned tracks for the Chemical Brothers and Bret Orton. He also performed as part of the rock supergroup the Chavs, featuring Tim Burgess and former Libertines guitarist Carl Barat, as well as Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows.
He also performed as part of another supergoup at a fundraising concert at Manchester Cathedral, which included New Order’s Peter Hook, Charlatans’ Mark Collins, and Tim Burgess.
Martin Duffy’s cause of death is unknown at the time this article was written.
Tributes were also paid to the late Specials’ frontman Terry Hall, who passed away aged 63.
