How did Martin Duffy die? Primal Scream Keyboardist Cause of death Explained.

How did Martin Duffy die? Primal Scream Keyboardist Cause of death Explained.

Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy sadly passed away at the age of 55. Let’s see more details about the Keyboardist and his cause of death in detail.

How did Martin Duffy die?

Martin Duffy, the keyboard passed away on December 2022. Duffy, a Birmingham native began his musical career when he was a teenager. Before joining on a full-time basis, he initially played the keyboard for Primal Scream on a part-time basis.

Duffy spent thirty years with the group and made a special appearance on leader Bobby Gillespie’s album Utopian Ashes in 2020 with Savages’ Jehnny Beth.

Tim Burgess, Duffy’s former bandmate in The Charlatans, tweeted a confirmation of the news with the message:

“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.”

Who was Martin Bernard Duffy?

Martin Bernard Duffy was born on 18 May 1967. He was an English keyboardist who originally played in Felt and most recently played with Primal Scream. His genres are Alternative Rock and Indie Rock.

Duffy was raised in Rednal, a neighborhood in the southern part of Birmingham, where he attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. As a child, he was a fan of 2 Tone, punk, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin.

Duffy would also work on the soundtrack to the 2018 film Wild Rose with Beth Orton, Steve Mason, Mark Stewart of the Pop Group, Chemical Brothers, Paul Weller, Vic Godard, Subway Sect, and Jessie Buckley. Additionally, Duffy contributed to the collaboration album Utopian Ashes in 2021 with front man Bobby Gillespie.

Duffy’s Career Journey

In 1985, Duffy joined Felt as the keyboard player and went on to become one of the band’s founding members. Later, Felt front man Lawrence said “I posted flyers at Virgin in Birmingham asking, “Do You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star?” When this person approached me and said, “I know this piano player,” I had already put two up. He’s 16. He recently got out of school.”

He played keyboards on Primal Scream’s first two albums and joined the band permanently after Felt disbanded at the end of 1989.

In 1985, Duffy joined Felt as the keyboard player and went on to become one of the band’s founding members. Later, Felt front man Lawrence said “I posted flyers at Virgin in Birmingham asking, “Do You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star?”

When this person approached me and said, “I know this piano player,” I had already put two up. He’s 16. He recently got out of school.”

Duffy stayed with the group until its breakup in 1989 when Lawrence claimed he had achieved his goal of putting out 10 singles and 10 albums in 10 years.

Duffy had previously contributed to Primal Scream’s first two albums, Sonic Flower Groove (1987) and Primal Scream (1989); by the conclusion of that year, he became a full-time member of the group.

Martin’s Love of Music

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. After that 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.

Duffy’s Cause of death

Martin Duffy, a keyboardist for Primal Scream sadly passed away at the age of 55. Duffy’s death was announced on 20 December 2022.  Martin Duffy, a keyboardist for Primal Scream, died at age 55 after falling and suffering a brain injury, according to a bandmate.

According to a statement posted on Twitter by his brother, Duffy died as a result of a head injury he sustained after falling. Bobby Gillespie, the main singer for Primal Scream, claims that the keyboardist passed away on Sunday at his Brighton home. According to his brother, he “went away quietly” and was surrounded by loved ones.

Duffy, a Birmingham native, joined the independent band Felt at the age of 16, and the group later signed a record deal with Creation Records. Primal Scream and Duffy’s family have yet to issue an official statement on Duffy’s death.

Duffy was a member of the Charlatans, whose leader Tim Burgess informed his death. Martin Duffy, who played keyboards for Primal Scream and Felt, died at the age of 55, according to his former Charlatans bandmate Tim Burgess.

Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess took to Twitter to pay tribute to his friend who he described as a ‘beautiful soul’.

According to Tim Tooher of Mojo, Duffy is “probably the purest musician in the band, bringing in echoes of Thelonious Monk, Johnnie Johnson, Jerry Lee, and Cecil Taylor. His voice sounds like his throat was pickled in whisky before he was even born. Martin brings the blues to Primal Scream.”

When Duffy and the band visited New York City in 1993, he was the victim of a nearly fatal stabbing.

 

Tributes Posted on Social Media

Tim Burgess Posted

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.”

Carly Heath Posted

Devastated to learn my friend Martin Duffy is no longer with us. I grew up around Primals & Duffs is a close family friend. Always there on sunny beach days, boozy boxing days & Saturday Neppy nights. Were gutted. My love goes to his son & all who knew him

And fans paid tribute to the musical icon.

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.”

While one penned: “So saddening another musically gifted artist has passed. Thoughts with his family.”

Another commented: “Oh god. What a tragic morning. Martin Duffy RIP. I remember when he joined Felt and seemed so young and so cool, bringing another dimension to their sound. And then being so pleased when Primal Scream gave him new opportunities to shine. Gone way too young.”

Primal Scream last played Glasgow back in the summer, in Queen’s Park in Glasgow’s south side, and had recently announced that they will be headlining Midnight Sun Weekender in May next year at Lewis Castle Green.

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