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Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie has accused Blur’s bassist Alex James of ‘social climbing’.
The frontman, 63, has long been outspoken about his working-class Glaswegian perspective and socialist-leaning views.
‘I find myself in the strange position of being both inside and outside of [class],’ he wrote in an essay alongside the announcement of Come Ahead, Primal Scream’s 12th album, explaining this straddle is something he ‘wrestles with’.
When asked about what he meant by this in an interview with The i, Bobby explained that when you’re ‘in a successful band, you get invited to things, know people from different classes, you’ve experienced things’.
He then added: ‘It’s not like you’re trying to be like the guy from Blur [Alex James] hanging out with David Cameron and what’s his name, the guy that does the driving?’
Confirming he meant Jeremy Clarkson, Bobby continued: ‘Yes. That’s obviously social climbing going on there, right? I don’t mean it like that. It’s just being aware.’
James moved to Oxfordshire to become a cheese farmer, and was pictured alongside the former Conservative Prime Minister – who was his MP – and the Clarkson’s Farm star in 2011.
Reflecting on the picture, James previously told the Sunday Times Culture Magazine: ‘I think you have to be careful who you get photographed with. You know, bedfellows.’
He explained that it was taken when Cameron turned up at a food festival he held and James didn’t want to appear rude.
He added: ‘That photo was a weird one. I should have moved to Wales.’
Bobby also admitted he thinks of his success as relative to others, but said he does not have working class guilt about his elevated status.
‘We wanted to be rock’n’roll stars so that we don’t have to work in a factory or be told what to do. There was no guilt,’ he said.
‘My dad always said to me, “While the money’s there, you’ve got to take it, because you’re not promised tomorrow.”‘
Elsewhere in the interview, Bobby reflected that his new songs cover topics – religion, inequality, climate doom – he ‘should be singing about’ at his age.
Formed in 1982 by Bobby and Jim Beattle, Scottish band Primal Scream became known for their evolving music which transcended genre over the years with their era-defining psychedelia hit Screamadelica.
Other hits include Movin’ on Up, Loaded, Rocks, Country Girl, Jailbird, and Come Together.
The current lineup includes Bobby, Andrew Innes (guitars), Simone Butler (bass) and Darrin Mooney (drums).
Come Ahead is their first album in eight years, and is out today, while the band are also heading out on tour.
Starting in Southampton on April 1 2025, the band will also perform in Edinburgh, Glasgow’s O2 for two nights, Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Belfast, Dublin, Leeds and Newcastle.
In another interview with AnOther Magazine, Bobby also said rock music was lacking in 2024, compared to how it used to be.
‘There’s no rebellion in rock music anymore. It’s a business, a Walt Disney f**king dream world,’ he said. ‘Just another part of the entertainment industrial complex.
He added: ‘But there are still a few good people kicking against the pricks out there.’
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